Sofia was taken aback by the absolute finality in his tone.
The idea of him going alone to face that group was so foreign so dangerous that her first instinct was to find a more sensible path.
"We should go to the police," she insisted. A flicker of her former self re-emerged the part of her that still believed in rules and institutions. She looked at him her eyes pleading.
"If you come with me I think I can face them. I'll have the courage to tell them everything."
The moment the word "police" left her lips a sudden cold stillness came over Adam. He stopped moving his expression hardening into something unreadable.
It was like a mask had fallen over his face.
He stared at her his gaze so intense it felt as if he were looking straight through her.
When he finally spoke again his voice was flat. It was devoid of any of the warmth he had shown just moments before. "I need your clothes."
The request was so bizarre so out of context that Sofia simply blinked.
Her hand instinctively moved to touch the sleeve of her school uniform. "My clothes? Why would you need my clothes?" She couldn't understand what one thing had to do with the other.
"Not these," Adam clarified a sharp edge of impatience creeping into his voice. "Other clothes. Spare ones. Any will do."
Confusion washed over her face deepening the lines of worry around her eyes. The situation was spiraling into territory she couldn't comprehend. He wasn't making any sense.
"What are you planning to do?" she asked her voice a nervous whisper. "Adam, this is scaring me. Please just tell me."
A flash of raw irritation crossed Adam's face. The constant need to explain to reassure was a luxury he didn't have. He was on a clock. A clock that reset with death.
"If you have any spare clothes bring them to me," he said. His voice dropped into a low heavy tone that tolerated no argument. "After you give them to me just go home. Do you understand?"
His commanding tone crushed her burgeoning courage. She looked down at the grass intimidated by this new harder version of Adam.
The comforting presence from before was gone replaced by someone cold and demanding.
"I don't carry extra clothes in my bag," she admitted quietly her voice barely audible. "But... I have some at my house."
Adam let out a short sharp exhale a sound of pure frustration.
"Fine," he conceded after a moment of tense silence. He had to adapt his plan. "I'll follow you to your house."
The thought of him coming to her home of bringing this strange and dangerous situation to her family's doorstep worried her immensely.
What would her mother think? What if he was seen? But then she remembered his hug in the park the inexplicable sense of security she had felt when he had promised to handle everything.
He was terrifying but he was also the only person who had offered to help. Taking a deep shaky breath she gave a small resigned nod.
Adam pulled the brim of his black cap down low casting his face in shadow. Still dressed in his gym clothes a stark contrast to her school uniform he gestured with his head for her to lead the way.
They left the quiet seclusion of the park. They re-entered the quiet residential streets. Sophia walked a few paces ahead acutely aware of his presence behind her.
He had insisted on this arrangement telling her in no uncertain terms not to walk beside him.
"Stay in front of me where I can see you." The whole situation felt surreal and deeply unsettling. A boy she barely knew who had moments ago held her while she cried was now following her like a silent operative on a mission.
Her fear kept her questions locked away.
All the while Adam's eyes were never still. They were constantly moving scanning the streets the alleyways between houses the windows of the upper floors—a predator watching for other predators.
Soon the familiar sight of her home came into view. It was a modest two-story building its age showing in the faded paint and worn signage of the small shop on the ground floor.
The shop window displayed a random assortment of old dusty toys and a single lonely arcade machine from a bygone era. It was the kind of place that rarely saw customers a nostalgic relic run more out of habit than for profit.
As She approached a woman with a kind tired face stepped out of the shop's front door. She was wiping her hands on an apron. It was Sophia's mother.
She smiled warmly when she saw her daughter. Sophia forcing a smile of her own exchanged a few brief mundane words with her about her day at school.
All the while Adam watched from a safe distance across the street a nondescript figure leaning against a telephone pole. He blended into the background perfectly.
His sharp eyes noticed a narrow shadowed alley running alongside the house. It was a sliver of space between her building and the next a perfect blind spot.
He caught Sophia's eye over her mother's shoulder. He gave a slight almost imperceptible nod towards the alley before he stepped off the curb and disappeared around the corner.
Understanding his silent signal Sophia quickly made an excuse to her mother about needing to grab something she forgot. She hurried inside the house her heart pounding.
She ran to her room pulled some clothes from her drawer and stuffed them into a bag.
Moments later she slipped out through a rickety side gate that led directly into the back alley. The air there was cool and damp. She was clutching a small plain bag.
She found Adam waiting for her. He was standing behind a large overflowing recycling bin. He was using its bulk to conceal himself from the main street. His cap was pulled down so low that his eyes were completely lost in the deep shadow.
She held out the bag.
"Here," she whispered. Inside was a spare set of her clothes a simple blouse and skirt. Confusion was still plain on her face.
He took the bag from her without a word. "What are you going to do?" she asked again her voice trembling slightly. The need to know was overwhelming.
"You'll find out tomorrow," Adam said his voice a low even murmur.
He lifted his head just enough for her to see the intense unwavering look in his eyes. "Remember what I said," he continued his tone becoming firm and absolute a clear and undeniable order.
"Go inside. Lock the door. And don't leave the house today. No matter what happens."
His final words were delivered with a chilling gravity that left no room for argument. Sophia's expression remained puzzled but the intensity in his gaze was something she couldn't bring herself to question.
It was the gaze of someone who had seen things she could never imagine. She simply nodded in agreement a silent promise.