Ava's eyes were drawn to the figure before her, the shadow that had once been a memory, now flesh and bone, as real as the pounding in her chest. The world narrowed to this moment, to this confrontation—one she had dreaded but never anticipated. The betrayer stood beside her, his breath sharp, each inhalation a reminder of the peril that enclosed them. His presence was a constant thorn, a silent accusation that pierced the fragile peace she had attempted to rebuild.
"Ava, it's been a long time," the figure spoke, voice dripping with familiarity, laden with a sinister nostalgia that wrapped around her heart like a noose.
Ava took a step back, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief. "You're supposed to be dead." Her voice wavered, barely masking the storm of emotions that brewed within her—a tempest of anger, fear, and confusion. "This... this isn't possible."
