As Lisa turned to leave, she felt Liam's hand brush her arm. His fingers, cold and stiff, tightened just slightly, enough to stop her. She turned to face him, her frustration fading as she saw the haunted look in his eyes.
"Lisa," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "There's something… something I need to tell you."
She frowned, her chest tightening with concern. "What is it, Liam?"
He seemed to hesitate, his gaze drifting to the floor as though he were struggling to gather the words. "When I was out there tonight… I—I remembered something."
A chill swept over Lisa, but she nodded, trying to keep her voice steady. "Go on."
Liam leaned back against the wall, his eyes distant. "It was a memory, but… different. Darker. It wasn't like the other memories I have of being alive. This one… it was as if it belonged to someone else." He shook his head, his hands clenched into fists. "But it felt real. So real."
Lisa moved closer, her own heart racing. "What did you see?"
He closed his eyes, his face twisting as though reliving a painful dream. "I was… standing somewhere. In a room, dimly lit. There were voices—whispering, muttering things I couldn't understand. And then… there was this figure. A man. He was just a shadow, but I knew he was watching me."
Liam opened his eyes, his gaze filled with terror. "He said something. Told me I didn't belong here… that I was crossing a line. I felt this… this suffocating fear, like I couldn't breathe."
Lisa shivered, the horror in his voice sending a chill through her. But there was something else—an edge of mystery that pulled her in. She was desperate to know more.
"What else did he say?"
Liam hesitated, then shook his head. "I can't remember. It's like… like the memory slipped away the moment I tried to hold onto it. All I know is that it's connected to my death somehow. And to you bringing me back."
Lisa bit her lip, torn between fear and the urge to dig deeper. Her mind was racing with questions, each one adding another layer to the mystery of Liam's life and death. She knew she shouldn't push him—he'd already been through so much—but her curiosity gnawed at her, refusing to be ignored.
"Do you think… do you think this figure might have had something to do with how you died?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Liam glanced at her, his eyes filled with a dark uncertainty. "Maybe. I don't know. But I do know one thing." He paused, taking a shaky breath. "If he's real… if he's out there somewhere… then he's going to come for me."
A shiver ran down Lisa's spine, but she refused to let fear control her. "Then we'll figure this out together. We'll find out who he is and why he's haunting you."
Liam's gaze softened, a hint of warmth returning to his expression. "Thank you, Lisa. I don't deserve this, but… thank you."
Lisa managed a faint smile, but her mind was already spinning, trying to piece together the fragments of his memory. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were on the verge of something dark, something that went far deeper than they'd ever imagined. The more she thought about it, the more determined she became to unravel the mystery.
"Listen, I'm not letting you go through this alone," she said firmly. "We'll start with what we know. Maybe if we can figure out who that figure was, we'll understand why this memory came back to you now."
Liam nodded, his expression a mix of relief and anxiety. But as they stood together, a sense of resolve settled over them both. This was more than a haunting memory—it was a clue, a key that might unlock the truth about Liam's past.
A sudden sound jolted them both—a creak from the door, the faintest whisper of movement. They froze, glancing toward the shadows as the air seemed to grow colder, heavier.
"Did you hear that?" Lisa whispered, her heart pounding.
Liam nodded, his face tense. "Yeah. It came from outside."
They stood in silence, listening as the faint sound of footsteps echoed from beyond the door. The footsteps grew louder, closer, until they stopped right outside. Lisa held her breath, clutching Liam's arm as they waited, each second stretching into eternity.
The door creaked open slowly, and a figure stepped inside—a shadowed silhouette barely visible in the dim light. Lisa's heart leapt into her throat as she recognized the shape of the figure, the familiar posture, the dark look in his eyes.
It was the man from Liam's vision.
Liam's grip on her arm tightened, his face pale. "That's him," he whispered, barely able to contain his fear.
The figure took a step closer, his gaze fixed on Liam. His voice was low, filled with a chilling calmness that sent a shiver down Lisa's spine. "You should never have come back, Liam. You're breaking the rules."
Liam stared at him, his fear mingling with defiance. "Who are you? What do you want from me?"
The man's lips twisted into a sinister smile. "I'm the one who makes sure things stay the way they should. And you, Liam… you're an anomaly, a mistake."
Lisa's heart pounded as she tried to think of something—anything—that could protect Liam. But she felt helpless, trapped by the eerie presence of this stranger.
"You were supposed to stay dead," the man continued, his voice dripping with malice. "Your existence here is unnatural, a violation of the order of things. And I'm here to set it right."
Lisa moved in front of Liam, her voice trembling but filled with resolve. "I won't let you hurt him."
The man's gaze shifted to her, his eyes cold and unfeeling. "You're meddling with forces you don't understand, girl. Forces that will consume you both."
Liam stepped forward, his face set with determination. "You can threaten me all you want, but I'm not going anywhere. I didn't ask to come back, but now that I am… I'm staying."
The man's eyes narrowed, a look of dark satisfaction flickering across his face. "Very well. But remember this, both of you… your time is limited. And when the time comes, there will be no escape."
With a final, menacing glare, the man vanished into the shadows, leaving a cold emptiness in his wake.
Lisa and Liam stood in silence, the weight of his words settling over them like a dark cloud. Whatever they were dealing with, it was far more dangerous than they'd realized.
Lisa turned to Liam, her voice barely above a whisper. "We have to find out who he is… and why he's so determined to take you back."
Liam nodded, his expression grim but resolute. "Then let's get to work. If he thinks he can scare us off… he's in for a surprise."
A fierce determination sparked in Lisa's eyes as she looked at him. Together, they would face whatever lay ahead—no matter how dark, or how dangerous.