"Chapter one… wasn't mine?"
Ava's voice was low.
Careful.
The man smiled slightly.
"No."
Ava took a step forward.
"Then whose was it?"
The man didn't answer immediately.
Rayan cut in, voice sharp—
"Stop playing games. Say what you came to say."
The man looked at him.
"I already am."
Ava's eyes moved between them.
"Enough riddles," she said. "I want answers."
The man sighed, almost bored.
"You always were impatient."
Ava froze.
"What did you just say?"
The man's smile grew.
"You don't remember that, do you?"
Rayan stiffened.
"Don't."
But Ava stepped closer.
"No… say it again."
The man leaned slightly forward.
"I said… you always were impatient."
Ava shook her head slowly.
"That doesn't make sense. We've never met."
The man raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure?"
Silence.
Ava's breathing became uneven.
Rayan stepped closer to her.
"Ava, don't let him mess with your head."
"I'm not," she said quickly.
But her voice wasn't steady.
The man watched her carefully.
"Oh, he's right," he said. "I am messing with your head."
Rayan snapped—
"Enough."
The man ignored him.
"But only because your head is already… incomplete."
Ava's heart skipped.
"What does that mean?"
The man tilted his head.
"You really don't remember anything before five years ago, do you?"
Everything went silent.
Ava's eyes widened.
"How do you know that?"
Rayan turned sharply.
"…What?"
Ava didn't look at him.
"I… I told you. I don't remember parts of my past."
Rayan frowned. "Not like this."
The man chuckled softly.
"That's because he doesn't know everything."
Ava whispered, "Know what?"
The man stepped closer.
"You didn't lose your memory by accident."
Rayan's voice dropped dangerously.
"Say one more word—"
"You were made to forget," the man continued.
Ava staggered back slightly.
"No…"
Rayan grabbed her arm.
"Don't listen—"
"Then tell me I'm wrong," the man said calmly.
Rayan stayed silent.
That silence—
Spoke too loudly.
Ava looked at him.
"You knew?"
Rayan hesitated.
"…I suspected."
Ava pulled her arm away.
"You suspected and didn't tell me?!"
"I wasn't sure!"
"You're never sure but you still act like you know everything!"
Rayan clenched his jaw.
"This isn't the time—"
"It's exactly the time!" Ava snapped.
The man watched them with quiet amusement.
"See? Truth creates chaos."
Ava turned back to him.
"What happened to me?"
The man's expression shifted slightly.
More serious now.
"You were part of something," he said.
Ava's voice trembled.
"What kind of something?"
"A project."
Silence.
Rayan muttered, "No…"
Ava looked at him. "You know this?"
Rayan shook his head slightly.
"I've heard rumors."
The man nodded.
"Then you've heard right."
Ava's chest tightened.
"What kind of project?"
The man answered slowly—
"One that creates people like him."
He pointed at Rayan.
Ava frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Rayan's voice was cold.
"It means they train, control, and use people."
The man smiled.
"And improve them."
Ava shook her head.
"No… no, I wasn't part of that."
The man stepped closer.
"You were more than part of it."
Ava's breath stopped.
"You were the center of it."
Silence crashed down.
Rayan stared at her.
"That's not possible."
The man shrugged.
"And yet… here we are."
Ava's voice barely came out.
"Why would they… do that to me?"
The man looked at her deeply.
"Because you're not ordinary."
Ava shook her head.
"I am."
"No," he said quietly.
"You just don't remember what you are."
Rayan stepped in front of her.
"That's enough."
The man smiled again.
"Afraid she'll find out?"
Rayan's voice dropped.
"I'm afraid of what you'll do if she does."
A pause.
Then Ava spoke—
"Let him talk."
Rayan turned to her.
"Ava—"
"I said let him talk."
Silence.
Rayan stepped back slowly.
The man nodded.
"Good choice."
Ava's hands were shaking slightly.
"What did you do to me?"
The man answered—
"Not me."
A pause.
"Your brother."
Everything stopped again.
Ava whispered—
"…No."
The man didn't look away.
"He was part of it."
Rayan's voice turned deadly.
"You're lying."
The man shrugged.
"Believe what you want."
Ava's head spun.
"This… this doesn't make sense…"
"It will," the man said. "When you remember."
Ava looked up.
"How?"
The man reached into his pocket.
Rayan raised his gun instantly.
"Don't."
The man held up a small object.
Ava froze.
"What is that?" she asked.
The man smiled faintly.
"Your past."
Rayan's grip tightened.
"Ava, don't take it."
But Ava couldn't look away.
"What does it do?" she asked.
The man replied—
"It shows you the truth."
Rayan said sharply, "Or destroys you."
Ava whispered—
"Same thing."
Silence.
The air felt heavier.
The choice—
Right in front of her.
Rayan's voice softened.
"Don't do this."
Ava looked at him.
"If I don't… I'll never know."
"And if you do…"
She finished his sentence.
"I might lose myself."
A pause.
Then Ava took a step forward.
Rayan's voice broke slightly—
"Ava…"
She didn't stop.
Because this time—
Running wasn't an option.
🔥