Silent Promise

1

Gabrielle was laid back on her couch, one leg tucked under her, TV humming low. Some rerun she wasn't even watching for real. The room smelled like vanilla candles and clean laundry, that quiet late night calm where the world felt paused.

Then-

A sharp crack.

Her head snapped to the hallway.

"Hello she called, heart already picking up speed.

Another sound. Closer. footsteps.

Gabrielle's body went rigid. She slid her phone off the couch, thumb hovering over the screen

A hand clamped over her mouth.

She screamed anyway. Or tried to.

"Don't make a sound," a voice growled right by her ear.

Her breath hitched. Panic surged so fast it made her dizzy. She clawed at his wrist, nails scraping skin, and he tightened his grip just an enough to let her know he could.

"Relax," he whispered. "I ain't here to hurt you."

She slowly turned her head, and froze.

He was... unfair.

Tall, broad shoulders filling her living room like he belonged there. Dark hoodie pushed back just enough to show sharp cheekbones, full lips set in a hard line and eyes.

Cold. Focused. The kind of eyes that looked like they seen too much and didn't lose sleep over it.

Killer eyes, for real.

Her fear tangled with something she didn't ask for.

Before she could process that contradiction

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Police open up

Both of them stiffened.

"Shit," he muttered under his breath.

sirens blaring somewhere down the block, fading, circling, hunting.

He released her mouth but didn't step back, instead, his hand dipped to his waistband and came back up with a gun, black and heavy, like it had history.

"Open it," he said low. "And keep it short."

Her pulse thundered in her ears.
"You serious" she whispered.

His eyes looked onto hers. "Dead."

Another knock. Louder this time.

"Police."

Gabrielle swallowed hard, nodded once, and walked to the door on legs that didn't feel like hers, she opened it just enough.

Two officers stood there, hands on their belts, eyes already scanning past her shoulder.

"Evening ma'am," one said "You hear or see anything unusual tonight"

She forced her face into neutral. "No what happened."

The words came out steadier than she felt.

"You sure" the other asked. "There was killing a few blocks over."

Her heart skipped a beat. "Oh No, i ant hear nothin."

They exchanged a look.

"Alright," the first officer said "if you see or hear anything call us. Stay inside tonight."

They lingered a second longer then stepped away.

She closed the door and leaned her forehead against it for half a second before turning around.

He was still there.

standing in the middle of her living room like he owned airspace. Gun still in his hand. Eyes burning into her like he was memorizing her face.

"Can you put that away now" she asked voice tight.

A beat.

Then he slowly tucked the gun back into his waistband.

Silence fell heavy. Sirens faded completely.

She crossed her arms, trying to reclaim her space.
"You can get out my house now."

He studied her for another long moment.
then nodded.

"aight," he said casually, like he hadn't just flipped her whole night upside down. He moved toward the back door, hand on the knob. "imma see you."

Her eyebrows shot up. "What"

He glanced over his shoulder, one corner of his mouth lifting a little. Not a smile something Sharper.

"You heard me."

then he was gone.

the door clicked shut behind him.

she stood there, heart still racing, candle flicking like nothing happened.

She exhaled slowly.

..."What he mean by he finna see me" she muttered to herself. "ion like that."

But even if she said it,
those killer eyes still burned into her mind.