Later that night, Ava lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and desire. The room was dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of the streetlamp outside her window. The kiss with Ethan kept replaying in her mind—his warmth, the tenderness in his touch, the way his lips had felt against hers. It was intoxicating, and yet… unsettling. She had never let herself get swept away like this, and now she was questioning everything.
What are you doing, Ava?
She rolled onto her side, pulling the sheets up to her chin. She could still feel the weight of his presence, like an echo in the air. There was so much about him she didn't understand. His sudden interruptions, his cryptic remarks, his strained relationship with his family—what was really going on behind those carefully composed eyes?
As if on cue, her phone buzzed on the nightstand, making her jump. She glanced at the screen. It was an unknown number.
Curious but hesitant, she picked up the phone, her thumb hovering over the message.
Unknown Number: "Ava, I think it's time we had a real conversation. Meet me tomorrow night at 7. I'll explain everything. – Ethan."
A chill ran down her spine. The message was so… urgent. She wasn't sure if it was the tone of his words or the fact that he had sent it so late at night that made her heart skip a beat. Was he pushing too hard? Or was there something he needed to tell her—something important, something that explained the tension she had sensed earlier?
Ava's mind raced. He wanted to talk? After everything that had happened? She glanced at the time—nearly 1 AM. What could he possibly have to explain this late at night?
Her fingers hovered over the phone as she wrestled with the thought of texting back. Why would he need to meet so urgently?
Just as she was about to respond, a knock on her door echoed through the silence of her apartment.
Ava froze.
Her heart thudded in her chest. The knock had been light but deliberate. She quickly glanced at the window—there was no sign of movement outside. No car parked by the curb. No shadow under the door. Just the cold, unnerving silence of the night.
Her pulse quickened. No one ever came to her apartment this late, especially unannounced. She hadn't been expecting anyone, and Mia—her best friend—always texted before showing up, even at odd hours.
Was it Ethan? Had he come to see her after all?
But no, that didn't make sense. Ethan knew she was home. She had just left his place hours ago. So who could be knocking at her door?
Ava swallowed, trying to steady her breath. She was being paranoid, she told herself. It was probably nothing. But still… she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Her hand trembled as she set the phone down and quietly slid out of bed, moving toward the door. Her footsteps were muffled by the soft carpet, and she paused just before reaching the handle.
Another knock. Louder this time.
She stood still, listening. Whoever it was, they weren't leaving.
Her mind raced. What should I do? Should I open it?
Taking a deep breath, Ava reached for the door handle. She didn't have a peephole, so she could only see shadows through the frosted glass of the door. Her grip on the handle tightened, and with one final glance over her shoulder, she pulled it open.
There, standing in the doorway, was a tall figure. He was dressed in a dark jacket, the collar turned up, and his face was half-shadowed by the dim light from the hallway.
Ava's breath hitched.
"I—uh, I'm sorry to bother you," the man said, his voice low and raspy, but there was something oddly familiar about him. His eyes were sharp, cold, but she couldn't place them. He wasn't someone she recognized from her everyday life.
"I've been trying to reach you," the man continued, glancing over his shoulder as if making sure no one was watching. "You're Ava, right?"
Ava's heart pounded in her chest. Who was this?
"Yes," she said slowly, stepping back slightly as instinct screamed at her to be cautious. "Can I help you?"
The man hesitated, his gaze flickering nervously. "I know this is going to sound strange, but you need to listen to me. I don't have much time."
Ava's stomach twisted. She hadn't expected this—this late-night visit from a stranger. And his presence seemed… out of place. The last thing she needed was some stranger showing up at her door, making vague claims.
Who are you?" Ava asked, her voice steady but laced with caution.
"I'm a friend of Ethan's," the man said quickly. "Ethan Blackwood."
The name hit her like a bolt of lightning. Her mind raced. What was going on? Ethan had never mentioned any friends, especially not ones who showed up uninvited at her door in the middle of the night.
"Ethan?" she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. "What do you want with me?"
The man glanced around again, his eyes darting nervously. "I'm not sure how much he's told you, but you're in danger, Ava. You're too close to something. Something Ethan doesn't want you to know. Something you shouldn't be involved in."
Ava's breath caught in her throat. Her mind spun. Danger? What was he talking about?
Before she could say anything else, the man took a step back, his expression becoming more intense. "I'm not here to hurt you. I just needed you to know. Don't trust everything he tells you. If you know what's good for you… you'll stay away from him."
Ava's heart pounded in her chest. She couldn't understand what was happening—who this man was, why he was saying these things, and why he had come here to tell her.
The man took another step back, and with one last cryptic look, he turned and disappeared down the hallway. His footsteps echoed faintly before fading into the distance.
Ava stood frozen, the door still half-open, her hand gripping the handle as if she might collapse at any moment. Her head swirled with questions. What was that?
Her phone buzzed again. Another message from Ethan.
Ethan: "Ava, we need to talk. I wasn't honest with you before. Meet me tomorrow night at 7. There are things you don't know. Please trust me."
Her body went cold.
The words on her phone were a sharp contrast to what the stranger had just said. She could feel the tension in her chest tighten.
She didn't know what was going on, but one thing was clear now: There were forces at play that she didn't fully understand. Forces that Ethan was either a part of—or a victim of.
Her hands shook as she put the phone down. She wasn't sure who to trust. But something inside her told her that tomorrow would bring the answers she desperately needed.
And the more she thought about it, the more she realized: the stakes were much higher than she could ever have imagined.