LUNA
The sun had barely peeked out when my phone vibrated like a hysterical alarm full of bad intentions.
— "Get up, bitch. Workout, breakfast, and then outfit hunting for the party." — Julia's message was as blunt as a slap.
I replied with an eye-roll emoji and a selfie of my sleep-crushed face. Minutes later, she was honking in front of my building like an impatient psychopath. Marina was already in the passenger seat, chugging an energy drink and yelling along to some 2000s song.
— "Come on, Luna, that ass won't lift itself!" — Julia yelled, waving a water bottle.
I laughed, half-asleep, and got in the car. With them, everything felt lighter. Even the past few days — with all the strange sensations, invisible glances, and Ethan's constant presence — even if I liked having him around — all of it faded a bit in their laughter.
ETHAN
Faking normalcy was an art. And I had become a tragic artist. Between bookshelves at the store, reorganizing titles that were already in place, my eyes scanned my phone screen — Luna's profile, her friends, the party they were planning.
I knew about the invitation. And I knew she expected me to be there.
And I would be.
Not just for her.
But for control.
LUNA
In the gym locker room, while we sweated and laughed about the hot instructor who only had eyes for Julia, Marina pulled out a red dress from her bag.
— "This one's just to humiliate. You girls are gonna need a bib."
— "And who exactly are you trying to humiliate?" — I asked, raising an eyebrow.
— "Everyone. Especially the ex who's gonna be there. He cheated on me with a Zumba girl."
Julia burst out laughing and nudged me.
— "And you, Luna? What's your vibe? Sexy librarian or haunted mystery?"
— "Maybe both. Depends on my mood."
ETHAN
From a distance, I watched Luna leave the building. Her black dress hugged her like a secret. She laughed loudly with her friends, unaware that I was just a few steps away, in a car parked down the street.
I liked that.
Liked the illusion of her feeling free.
By the time they arrived at the party, I was already there.
LUNA
The house was packed. Red lights, pulsing music, colorful drinks. Julia vanished with a tattooed bartender. Marina strutted in like she promised, leaving at least three girls speechless.
And then, in the middle of the crowd, I saw him.
Ethan.
Black shirt, serious gaze, a drink in his hand like it was the last place he wanted to be — yet there he was. And he came to me.
— "You look beautiful." — he said, straight to the point.
— "And you look like a spy movie character." — I replied, smiling.
He smiled back, but something about it felt… sharp. Like he was hiding razor blades behind the sweetness.
We talked for a while. He offered me a drink, walked with me to the backyard, and we stood in silence for a moment — the kind of silence that screams things no one wants to say out loud.
JULIA
I watched.
Ethan was too polite. Too serious. Looked at her too much.
And Luna… she seemed smitten. But also… watched. Like every step she took was under a microscope. I didn't want to be the paranoid friend, but there was something about that guy that gave me chills.
The way he averted his eyes when he noticed me watching. Like he was calculating. Rehearsing each word.
When Luna stepped away for a moment, I walked up to him.
— "Do you really like her?"
He looked at me. For a second, I thought he'd say something rude, but then he replied:
— "More than you can imagine."
But the way he said it wasn't sweet. It was… possessive.
And for some reason, that made me want to get Luna out of there.
ETHAN
Julia wasn't stupid. I could see it in her eyes. The spark of doubt was already lit, and soon it would become a fire.
But fires can be contained. With water — or with more fire.
And I knew how to use both.
Bonus Scene – "Didn't You Find Him Weird?"
Location: Marina's apartment, late night after the party. The two sprawled on the couch, giggling over nonsense, heels off, still slightly tipsy. Luna had already left with Ethan.
Julia: — Ugh, my head's spinning… But… (she sits up, looking serious) I need to tell you something.
Marina: — Oh no. Here comes the bomb… — she laughs, sipping leftover wine.
Julia: — It's about Ethan. What did you think of him?
Marina (shrugs): — Hot. Mysterious. A little quiet… but I don't know, he has that dark charm. Why?
Julia (crossing her arms): — That's exactly why. He's too quiet. Too observant. Looks at Luna like… like she's a project. Like he knows everything about her. Gives me the creeps.
Marina (laughing): — Girl, you see things in everything. What, you planning a documentary now? "The Silent Obsessive: A Love Thriller"?
Julia (not laughing): — I'm serious. Did you notice how he knew where everything was in her house? How he opened her building's gate without even asking? And she just met him this week, right?
Marina (stopping her laugh): — Now that you mention it… yeah. That's kind of weird.
Julia: — And there's more. He barely talks about his life. Where's his family, friends, a real job? He just shows up, slips into her world, and boom. He's glued to her.
Marina: — Well, Luna seems to like him… and he's hot, right?
Julia: — And that's how we walk into traps. Just because of a pretty face. I'm telling you, Marina… something's off with that guy. And I'm going to find out what.
Marina (half-scared, half-skeptical): — You turning into a detective now?
Julia: — If I have to. I'm not letting her fall for a psychopath.
Silence. They share a look. The tension hangs in the air like smoke after a disguised fire. Marina takes a deep breath.
Marina (breaking the tension): — If you disappear, I swear I'm running.
Julia (laughs, but serious): — Then start running, girl. Because I don't trust Ethan. Not one bit.
Location: Julia's room, the day after the party. Late afternoon. Sunlight filters through the blinds, casting lines across a messy desk with papers and an open laptop. Julia sits cross-legged in a spinning chair, still with dark circles but focused.
Julia (to herself): — Okay, Ethan… let's see who you really are.
She types "Ethan + bookstore name" into the search bar. Nothing relevant. She frowns. Changes the search to just the bookstore's name. Clicks on its Instagram. Scrolls through the feed.
Julia: — Come on… where are you, you weirdo…
After some event photos and book launches, she finds a discreet image. An old team photo from almost two years ago. Four smiling employees. And there, in the corner, standing apart like he didn't want to be photographed: Ethan.
Julia (raising an eyebrow): — So you've worked there for a while… why were you never around before?
She zooms in on his face. The same neutral expression. Eyes nearly lifeless.
Julia (murmuring): — Who are you, Ethan?
She opens an incognito tab. Tries more specific searches. Bookstore name, location, owners. No "Ethan" listed as partner. Checks the bookstore's tagged posts. Notices Ethan is never tagged in any.
Julia: — You're hiding on purpose, aren't you?
She spins in her chair, grabs her phone, opens Luna's profile. Taps the most recent party photo with Ethan. Taps his face. No tag. Just his face. Smiling at the camera with an expression she can't quite explain. A smile with no soul.
Julia (softly): — I know something's wrong with you. And if Luna can't see it… I'll open her eyes.
She lays on the bed with her phone, but her eyes stay fixed on the screen, trying to spot something hidden between pixels and shadows. She takes a deep breath, her heart tight with fear and anger.
Julia (determined): — If you hurt her… I swear I won't let it slide.
Fade out.
Bonus Scene – "Wolf Teeth"
[POV: Julia]
The elevator in the old building creaked its way to the fifth floor. Julia's heart pounded like it was screaming "bad idea!" But she ignored it. Curiosity and stubbornness were addictions. And Ethan Crowne… was an obsession born of pure instinct.
She clenched the screwdriver in her bag. Just in case. Not that she planned to use it — probably. But the silence on Ethan's floor was oppressive.
She knocked on apartment 507.
Nothing.
Knocked again. Waited.
Then pretended to tie her shoelace while glancing at the lock. Locked. Camera above the door. Small, but there. Damn.
She sighed and ran down two flights until she saw an elderly woman exiting apartment 503.
— "Hi! Sorry to bother you… I'm a friend of Ethan. He lives here, right?"
The woman squinted at her, suspicious.
— "That boy in 507? I hardly ever see him. Keeps to himself. One of these days I thought he didn't even live there anymore."
— "You never see him?" — Julia forced a smile. — "That's just how he is. Do you know what he does for work?"
The woman thought.
— "All I know is he always leaves with a black backpack and comes back late at night. I've seen him wiping his hands with gloves on… thought he was a doctor. But there's something off about him. Handsome, but cold. Eyes that don't smile."
Julia froze inside. That was exactly it. Eyes that don't smile.
She thanked her and hurried downstairs, already pulling out her phone.
Ethan Crowne. Black backpack. Cameras in the building. No online footprint. Surgical discretion.
She started mentally building a dossier.
This man isn't normal.
[Cut – POV: Ethan]
Across town, Ethan Crowne cleaned his camera lens with surgical precision.
On his tablet, a notification of the doorbell being rung by Julia. The image of her, leaning down, caught by the overhead door camera.
"Predictable." He smiled.
On his sound panel, he recorded a new voice note to himself:
"Julia. Persistent. The type that digs deep. She's crossed the line. From now on, direct interference will be necessary. First: fear. Then: silence."
He turned off the light, slipped on a dark jacket, and slung a black backpack over his shoulder.
Inside, nothing a normal person would carry.
He already knew where she lived.
And that night, Julia would learn some things are better left unsearched.
[POV: Julia]
— "He's dangerous, Marina."
— "You mean Ethan? Ugh, Ju, are we doing this again?"
Julia jumped off the bed with the restlessness of someone who had sniffed out the truth. The room was bathed in low light, the window open, letting in the muffled city noise.
— "I'm serious. I went to his building yesterday. Talked to a neighbor. The guy has no history. No Instagram, no friends, no past. It's like he came out of nowhere. And that's not normal."
— "So what do you want to do? Please don't say you're going full professional stalker."
— "Just help me. Go to the bookstore. Pretend you want to buy a book and leave this recording." — she showed a tiny recorder in her palm. — "Just a precaution. If he's just a normal guy… great. If not… I'll know."
— "You're paranoid, Ju."
— "Or I'm just seeing what no one else wants to."
[Point of View: Ethan – Internal Narration]
"Julia. Always the loudest in the group. Always trying to outsmart her own shadow. I saw her plan before it even happened. Her curiosity pulses so loudly it pierces through walls. And now… she sent the puppet to me. Marina. As easy to read as an open book."
⸻
[Scene – Bookstore, the next morning]
The bell chimed. Marina walked in.
Ethan didn't move immediately. Eyes locked on the page of an old book, he listened to her footsteps, to the subtle slide of the recorder being placed on the counter between the Russian literature section.
"Good morning," she said, trying to sound casual.
"Good morning," he replied, looking up and offering a barely noticeable smile.
She picked up a random book.
"Have you worked here long?"
"Long enough," Ethan said, resting his arms on the counter. His gaze was calm but sharp, as if speaking more than his words let on.
"Nice… I love this place. It has good energy."
"Quiet places usually do," he said, stepping closer. "But be careful. Silence hides echoes. And they're not always yours."
[Narration – Ethan]
"She's nervous. Her eyes flicker, her fingers dance along the spines. The recorder is ten centimeters from my elbow. She thinks I didn't see it. I did. I heard. I was already expecting it."
He pulled a book from the shelf behind the counter: The Stranger, by Camus.
"This one might suit you."
"Why?"
"It's about a man who feels nothing. Who lives on the margins. But in the end, everyone wants to know why he did what he did."
She swallowed hard. Paid for the book with restless hands. Left before the silence could weigh more than she could bear.
[Narration – Ethan]
"I left the recorder there on purpose. I want Julia to hear my voice. I want her to feel like she knows something — but that it will never be enough. Doubt is a far more elegant prison than the truth."
⸻
[Parallel Scene – Night, Ethan's apartment – with Luna]
Luna laughed, barefoot, dancing clumsily with a glass of wine. His shirt covered only half of her thighs. Ethan watched her from the armchair, eyes fixed on her like a living shadow.
"You always look at me like that," she said. "Like you're about to devour me."
"Maybe I am."
She came closer, sitting on his lap, her knees on either side of his body. Ethan's fingers slid up her thighs — cold and meticulous.
"Tell me a secret," she whispered in his ear.
"I've told you plenty. I just didn't say they were secrets."
"And this wine?"
"French. Fake. But good enough to make you want more."
They laughed. But her laughter faded when his eyes darkened.
"And you, Luna? Do you want more?"
She didn't answer. She just kissed him. And there, between the walls of the apartment, the two sank into another raw night — made of desire, of silence, and of something Luna still couldn't name.
⸻
[Narration – Ethan, end of scene]
"While one tries to expose me, the other undresses for me without fear. Little do they know I'm not made of flesh alone. I'm made of secrets. And no one passes through what I am without getting lost along the way."