The Stranger

The rain finally began to slow.

Students disappeared one by one until only a handful of us remained under the school's entrance.

Emma glanced at the time on her phone.

"It's been almost thirty minutes."

"I know."

She frowned. "Want me to call my mom? She can drive you home."

I shook my head.

"Dad said to wait."

Even as I said the words, they didn't sound convincing.

My phone buzzed.

Unknown Number.

Don't leave the school.

I stared at the screen.

"What?" Emma asked.

I quickly locked my phone.

"Nothing."

But it wasn't nothing.

Who would send me a message like that?

Another vibration.

Unknown Number.

Whatever happens, don't get into a black SUV.

My heart skipped.

Slowly, I looked across the street.

The same SUV was still there.

Its engine was running.

Emma followed my gaze.

"That's the same car from before."

Before I could answer, another car pulled into the school parking lot.

It wasn't Dad.

A tall man stepped out, dressed in a black coat. He looked around the nearly empty parking lot before his eyes landed on me.

He smiled.

It wasn't a friendly smile.

He started walking toward us.

Every instinct told me to leave.

My phone buzzed again.

Unknown Number.

Run.

The man was only a few steps away now.

"Elena Romano?" he asked calmly.

"Who are you?"

He ignored my question.

"Your father sent me."

My stomach twisted.

"My dad would've called."

The man's smile disappeared.

"He doesn't have that option anymore."

Before I could process what he meant, headlights flashed behind him.

A familiar car turned into the parking lot.

Dad.

"Dad!" I shouted.

The man spun around.

For a split second, our eyes met.

Then he walked back toward the black SUV without saying another word.

It drove away before Dad's car even came to a stop.

Dad jumped out, breathing hard.

"Get in the car," he said.

His face was pale.

His hands were shaking.

I had never seen my father look afraid.

Not until now.