Chapter 1

A seven-year-old girl was walking home from school when she realized a stranger had been following her for several minutes. She didn’t run or scream… Instead, Sofia did something the man clearly never expected
Seven-year-old Sofia knew the way home very well.
Every day after school, she walked past a small bakery, an old house with a green fence, and a large tree on the corner. Her mother had told her many times to stay on the familiar route and never take shortcuts.
That day began like any other.
Sofia walked slowly along the sidewalk, adjusting her heavy backpack and thinking about her homework. Home was not far away.
But suddenly, the girl felt uneasy.
It seemed like someone was following her.
Sofia did not turn around immediately. First, she quickened her pace.
The footsteps behind her became faster too.
The girl felt her whole body tense.
She carefully glanced back.
About twenty meters behind her was a strange man. He was tall, wearing a dark jacket and a cap pulled low over his forehead.
Sofia quickly looked away.
“Maybe he is just going in the same direction,” she tried to tell herself.
Then she crossed to the other side of the street.
A few seconds later, the man did the same.
Now Sofia was truly frightened.
Her house was only one block away, but her mother had always warned her: if you think someone is following you, never lead the stranger to your home.
Sofia remembered those words.
The man was getting closer.
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She could hear his footsteps more clearly with every second.
She wanted to run.