64. WHAT'S GOING ON?

Taliya was a whirlwind of organized chaos as she prepared for her day. The morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting stripes of light across her room. She dressed quickly, her movements precise and efficient, her mind a thousand miles away. Just as she was about to head out, her phone rang. It was an unknown number, causing her to pause. A frown creased her forehead as she picked it up.

“Hello?” she said, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

“Hi, how are you?” The voice on the other end was smooth, almost too smooth, and unnervingly calm.

“I’m sorry, who is this?” Taliya continued packing her things into her bag, trying to keep her tone neutral.

“Your death.” The voice was deadpan, with a chilling finality that sent a shiver down her spine.

Taliya’s hand shook slightly, and she stared at the beeping phone as if it had betrayed her. What the hell was that? She muttered under her breath, her nerves frayed. As she strode out of her penthouse, she tried to push away the creeping sense of dread that tightened around her chest. Each step down the hallway seemed heavier than the last, her heart thudding in her ears like a war drum.

The elevator ride felt interminable. As soon as the doors opened, she hurried out, scanning the lobby for Haroon. There he was, waiting by the building’s entrance with his usual casual air. Seeing him brought a sliver of relief, but the unease never quite left her.

“Why didn’t you come to my house?” she asked, her tone a mix of frustration and concern. She approached him with quick, purposeful strides, her eyes searching his face for answers.

Haroon looked up, his expression inscrutable. “No reason,” he said simply, his voice lacking its usual cheerfulness.

Taliya felt her irritation flare. “Haroon, what’s going on? You’re acting strange, and that call I just got,” She stopped herself, realizing she was almost shouting. Taking a deep breath and forcing herself to remain calm, she heaved a sigh rkaing her hand through her hairs.

“Look, I need to know if something’s wrong. You’ve been so quiet. Are you okay? Is there something I should know about?”

Haroon’s gaze shifted away, his face a mask of indifference. “It’s nothing,” he mumbled, avoiding her eyes as he opened the car door for her.

“No, it’s clearly not nothing. You’re not talking, and it’s making me anxious.”

Taliya’s frustration was palpable as she followed him to the car. She noted the tension in his shoulders and the way his jaw was set tightly. “Come on, Haroon. Don’t shut me out. I’ve got this weird feeling like someone’s watching me, and that call—”

Haroon cut her off with a shake of his head, his expression resolute but unreadable. “It’s just a bad day, Taliya. Let’s not make it worse.”

Taliya wanted to argue more, to press him until he broke down and told her what was happening, but something in his tone made her hesitate. It was clear that pushing him further wouldn’t get her any closer to the truth. Reluctantly, she settled into the passenger seat, her mind racing with questions she couldn’t yet answer.

The car ride was tense and silent. Taliya stared out the window, watching the cityscape blur by, each passing building a stark reminder of how unsettled she felt. Haroon’s usual chatter was absent, replaced by a heavy silence that seemed to amplify her growing sense of dread.

When they arrived at the café for breakfast, Taliya forced a smile as she stepped out of the car, trying to shake off the disquiet that had settled over her. Haroon still said nothing, his face a mask of carefully controlled emotions. As they walked inside, Taliya couldn’t help but feel that something was terribly wrong. Haroon’s demeanor, combined with that ominous phone call, was more than enough to keep her on edge.

The café was its usual cozy self, filled with the rich aroma of coffee and the soft murmur of conversation. But even in this familiar setting, Taliya felt out of place, as if she were a character in a story she didn’t fully understand. Haroon’s silence only deepened her unease. She could feel the loneliness bug her skin making her scratch her wrist.

As they made their way to a table, Taliya’s thoughts were interrupted by the sudden ringing of her phone. She glanced at it with a start, her pulse quickening. The caller ID showed a different unknown number, but she hesitated before picking it up.

“Hello?” she said, her voice betraying her anxiety.

The voice on the other end was smooth and chilling, just like before. “You’re not safe, Taliya. The danger is closer than you think.”

Her heart stopped. The world seemed to blur around her as she looked at Haroon, who was now watching her intently. The gravity of the situation hit her with full force, and she realized that whatever was coming, it was happening now.

As the line went dead, Taliya’s eyes locked with Haroon’s. The silence between them was thick, laden with unspoken words and hidden truths. She could see the concern in his eyes, the edges of his fear mirroring her own.

“Haroon, what is going on?” she finally demanded, her voice barely more than a whisper. Her eyes rounding on his figure with disbelief.