"Wait."
Ava suddenly stopped.
Rayan turned instantly. "What happened?"
Ava didn't answer right away.
Her eyes moved slowly across the empty street.
"I don't like this," she whispered.
Rayan narrowed his eyes. "Why?"
Ava swallowed.
"…We're not alone."
A pause.
Rayan's voice dropped.
"Where?"
"I don't know," Ava said. "But I can feel it."
Rayan went still.
Then quietly—
"Yeah… you're right."
Ava looked at him.
"You feel it too?"
Rayan nodded slightly.
"We're being watched."
Silence fell between them.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Ava let out a nervous breath.
"Great. So we walked straight into a trap."
Rayan corrected her calmly.
"No."
Ava frowned. "No?"
"We've been in the trap for a while," he said.
Ava forced a weak smile.
"Even better."
Rayan stepped closer and grabbed her hand.
"Stay close."
Ava looked at him.
"You're not going to disappear again, right?"
Rayan held her gaze.
"Not this time."
She studied him for a second.
Then nodded.
"Good."
Suddenly—
A phone vibrated.
Ava flinched. "Was that yours?"
Rayan pulled it out.
Unknown number.
Ava whispered, "Don't answer it."
Rayan looked at her.
Then back at the phone.
"Too late for that."
He picked up.
"Talk."
A calm voice came through.
"Hello, Rayan."
Ava's heart skipped.
Rayan's tone stayed cold.
"Say what you want."
The voice chuckled softly.
"You're getting closer."
Ava whispered, "Is that him?"
Rayan didn't respond.
"Where are you?" Rayan asked.
"Closer than you think," the voice replied.
Ava turned slowly, scanning everything.
Her pulse rising.
"Then show yourself," Rayan said.
"Not yet," the voice answered. "You're not ready."
Ava snapped, "Stop playing games!"
A short laugh echoed through the phone.
"Ah… Ava."
She froze.
"Nice to finally hear your voice," the man said.
Ava clenched her fists.
"If you know me, then come out."
"Soon," he replied. "But first… a question."
Rayan cut in. "We're not doing this."
"You already are," the voice said calmly.
Silence.
Then—
"Tell me, Ava… do you still trust him?"
Everything went still.
Rayan said immediately, "Don't answer that."
The voice pressed, "Why not? Afraid of the truth?"
Ava took a breath.
Then said—
"I trust him more than I trust you."
A pause.
Then the voice responded—
"Wrong answer."
Suddenly—
A loud crash echoed somewhere nearby.
Ava jumped. "What was that?!"
Rayan's eyes sharpened.
"Distraction."
"Of what?" Ava asked.
Rayan's voice turned colder.
"Of what's coming next."
The call ended.
Silence swallowed everything.
Ava whispered, "I don't like this…"
Rayan replied, "You don't have to."
She looked at him.
"Are you scared?"
Rayan paused.
Then—
"…Yes."
Ava blinked.
"You actually admitted that?"
Rayan met her eyes.
"For you? Always."
Ava didn't know what to say.
Then she whispered—
"Then we're in serious trouble."
Suddenly—
A car pulled up nearby.
Rayan reacted instantly.
He pulled Ava behind him.
"Stay behind me."
Ava shook her head. "No—"
"Now," Rayan said sharply.
She didn't argue this time.
The car door opened.
Someone stepped out.
Slow.
Confident.
Ava's breath caught.
As the figure walked closer—
She froze.
"…No way," she whispered.
Rayan stiffened.
The man stopped in front of them.
A faint smile on his face.
"Ava."
Her voice trembled.
"…You?"
The man tilted his head.
"Miss me?"
Rayan muttered under his breath—
"This just got worse."
Ava shook her head slowly.
"You were supposed to be gone…"
The man smiled wider.
"People like me don't disappear."
Rayan tightened his grip on the gun.
"Say your next word carefully."
The man looked at him.
"You always were predictable, Rayan."
Ava suddenly shouted—
"Stop it! Both of you!"
Silence.
She stepped forward.
"Answer me," Ava demanded. "Did you put my name on that list?"
The man paused.
Then—
Smiled.
"That depends."
Ava's eyes burned with anger.
"Depends on what?!"
He replied calmly—
"On whether you're ready to hear the truth."
Rayan said firmly, "She is."
Ava glanced at him.
"…Am I?"
Rayan didn't answer.
The man stepped closer.
"Because once you hear it…" he said—
"…there's no going back."
Ava clenched her jaw.
"I'm already past that."
Silence.
The man studied her carefully.
Then nodded slightly.
"Good."
A pause.
Then he said—
"Because the story you think you're in…"
Ava's heart pounded.
"…it didn't start with you."
Rayan's eyes darkened.
"And it definitely won't end with you."
Silence stretched.
Ava finally spoke.
"Then where did it start?"
The man smiled faintly.
"Chapter one," he said—
"…was never yours."