"Stop."
Ava's voice was firm.
Rayan slowed down, then stopped completely.
"We're not running anymore," she said.
Rayan looked around quickly. "This isn't the place—"
"There is no place," Ava cut in. "It's always like this with you."
Rayan exhaled. "Ava—"
"No," she interrupted. "You said trust you. I did. Now you trust me."
Silence.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"The truth," she replied. "All of it. No more half answers."
Rayan looked away.
"That's not a small request."
"I'm not asking for small anymore."
He let out a slow breath.
"You won't like it."
"I already don't."
A pause.
Then—
"Fine."
Rayan leaned against the wall behind him.
"You already know I worked with them."
Ava nodded. "Yeah. The part you didn't tell me."
"They're not just some random group," he continued. "They control things. Information, people… outcomes."
"Like a mafia?"
"Bigger."
Ava frowned. "Government?"
"Worse."
She crossed her arms. "You're being dramatic."
"I'm being honest."
Ava studied him. "So what were you?"
Rayan hesitated.
"…I was the one they sent when things needed to disappear."
Silence.
Ava blinked. "Disappear?"
"People. Evidence. Problems."
Her voice dropped. "You're saying… you—"
"Yes."
The word landed heavy.
Ava looked away for a second.
Then back at him.
"How many?"
Rayan didn't answer.
"That many?" she whispered.
He stayed silent.
That was enough.
Ava shook her head slowly. "I don't even know who you are."
"Neither do I," he said quietly.
That wasn't what she expected.
"You don't just do something like that and not know," she said.
"You do when you stop feeling."
Ava stared at him.
"You stopped feeling?"
"A long time ago."
She stepped closer.
"Then what is this?"
Rayan looked at her.
"This is a problem."
Ava laughed bitterly. "Of course it is."
"I mean it," he said. "You weren't supposed to matter."
"Wow. That's comforting."
Rayan ran a hand through his hair.
"I didn't plan any of this."
"Neither did I," Ava replied. "But here we are."
Silence.
Ava's voice softened slightly.
"Why did you leave?"
Rayan didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"Because they gave me a job."
"And?"
"I couldn't do it."
Ava frowned. "You've done worse."
"I know."
"Then what was different?"
Rayan looked at her.
"You."
Ava froze.
"What?"
"I saw you," he said. "Before you even knew me."
"That doesn't make sense."
"It doesn't have to."
Ava shook her head. "Explain it."
Rayan sighed.
"You were on a list."
Everything stopped.
"A… list?" Ava repeated.
"Yes."
"For what?"
Rayan's voice dropped.
"Targets."
Ava stepped back.
"No."
"Yes."
Her breathing got heavier.
"You're lying."
"I wish I was."
Ava's eyes filled with disbelief.
"You were supposed to… kill me?"
Rayan didn't respond.
That silence—
Said everything.
Ava laughed weakly. "This is a joke."
"It's not."
She shook her head harder now.
"No. No, this doesn't make sense. Why me?"
"I don't know."
"That's not good enough!"
"I know!"
Ava's voice cracked.
"And instead of telling me… you stayed?"
"Yes."
"Why?!"
Rayan stepped closer.
"Because I couldn't do it."
Ava's eyes searched his.
"Or because you wanted to finish the job later?"
That hurt.
"You think I'd still be here if that was the case?" he asked.
"I don't know what to think anymore!"
Silence.
Ava turned away.
"I trusted you."
"I know."
"You lied to me."
"I didn't lie—"
"Stop saying that!" she snapped. "Not telling is lying!"
Rayan didn't argue this time.
Ava wiped her eyes quickly.
"So what now?"
Rayan hesitated.
"They're not going to stop."
"I figured."
"They'll keep coming."
"Also figured."
"And now they know about you."
Ava laughed dryly. "Great. So I'm officially in danger."
Rayan stepped closer again.
"I'll fix it."
Ava turned sharply.
"No."
Rayan frowned. "No?"
"You don't get to 'fix' this alone."
He sighed. "Ava—"
"No. I'm serious," she said. "You made decisions without me before. Not anymore."
"This isn't something you can just be part of."
"Too late."
Rayan looked at her.
"You don't understand how deep this goes."
"Then make me understand."
Pause.
"They don't forgive," he said. "They don't forget."
"Neither do I."
That caught him off guard.
Ava stepped closer.
"You said I was a target."
"Yes."
"And now?"
Rayan didn't hesitate.
"Now you're the reason I'm still fighting."
Silence.
Ava's expression softened slightly.
But only slightly.
"That doesn't fix what you did," she said.
"I know."
"Or what you almost did."
"I know."
Another pause.
"But it's a start," Rayan added quietly.
Ava looked at him.
Long.
Carefully.
"Start by not lying again."
"I won't."
"Promise?"
"…I promise."
She held his gaze.
"Good."
A moment passed.
Then Ava asked—
"Who put me on that list?"
Rayan's expression changed.
Darker.
More serious.
"That's the part you're really not going to like."
Ava's heart sank.
"Just say it."
Rayan hesitated.
Then—
"It's someone you know."
Silence.
Ava's voice dropped to almost nothing.
"…Who?"
Rayan looked straight at her.
And said the name.
Ava's eyes widened.
"No… that's not possible."
Rayan didn't look away.
"It is."
Ava shook her head slowly.
"No… they wouldn't…"
Rayan's voice was quiet.
"They already did."
Everything changed again.
🔥