**Chapter 3: Shadows of Doubt**

October's eyes scanned the text message again, her mind racing with questions. Who was behind the message, and what did they mean? The words seemed to sear themselves into her brain, casting a shadow of doubt over her interactions with Ethan. She had felt so at ease around him, so comfortable, but now she couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something sinister lurking beneath the surface. As she walked home from school, October's thoughts swirled with possibilities. Was Ethan hiding something from her? Was he in some kind of trouble? She tried to recall every detail of their conversation, every gesture, every smile. Had she missed something? When she arrived home, October sat down at her desk, her eyes fixed on the phone. She stared at the text message, willing it to reveal its secrets. Who could have sent it? A jealous classmate? A rival suitor? Or someone who genuinely cared about her? October's fingers itched to respond, to ask for more information, but something held her back. The number was unknown, and she didn't want to risk revealing her own number to a potential stranger. Instead, she decided to do some digging of her own. She pulled out her laptop and started searching for information about Ethan. She scrolled through social media, read reviews of his favorite books and movies, and even checked out the school's sports teams to see if he was involved. But the more she learned, the more questions she had. As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across her room, October felt a sense of unease settle over her. She had always been a trusting person, but now she wasn't so sure. Was she just being paranoid, or was there really something to be concerned about? Just as she was starting to calm down, October's phone buzzed again. This time, it was a text from Ethan. "Hey, want to study for our math test together?" he asked. "I'm free tonight if you are." October hesitated, her mind torn. Part of her wanted to say yes, to spend more time with Ethan and get to know him better. But another part of her was screaming to be cautious, to heed the warning from the mysterious text message. She took a deep breath and typed out a response. "I'm not sure, I have a lot of homework to do. Can we study another time?" As she hit send, October felt a pang of guilt. She didn't want to hurt Ethan's feelings, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. And as she waited for his response, she couldn't help but wonder what secrets he might be hiding.