Ava barely slept that night. Every time she closed her eyes, the shadows seemed to press in on her, and the words Ethan had shared replayed in her mind like an endless loop. She couldn't shake the feeling that the walls were closing in, that something was lurking just out of reach, ready to pull her into a deeper, darker world.
She had asked for the truth. But now that she had it, it felt like the weight of the world rested on her shoulders.
By the time the sun began to rise, casting pale light across the city, Ava had made a decision. She was done waiting for Ethan to protect her. If this world was as dangerous as he said it was, then she needed to face it head-on, with him, or without him.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, snapping her out of her thoughts. She grabbed it instinctively, half-expecting it to be a message from Ethan. Instead, it was from Nadia.
Meet me at the usual spot, tonight. It's time.
A chill ran through her as she read the message, her fingers tightening around the phone. Nadia. There was always something unsettling about her—too calm, too composed for someone who was clearly involved in something far beyond what Ava had ever imagined.
But she had no choice. The pieces were falling into place, and Nadia was the only person who could provide the answers Ava desperately needed.
That night, Ava arrived at the dimly lit alleyway just a few blocks from the university where she and Nadia had met before. The street was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Ava's heart was pounding, each step echoing in the emptiness around her.
Nadia was already there, leaning against the brick wall, her figure a silhouette against the faint glow of a distant streetlamp. She straightened when she saw Ava approach, a smile curling on her lips, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"You came," Nadia said softly, almost as if surprised.
"I need to know what's really going on, Nadia," Ava replied, her voice steady despite the nerves twisting inside her. "I can't keep walking around in the dark."
Nadia regarded her with a curious look, her gaze lingering for a moment before she pushed off the wall and stepped closer. "You're not ready for this, Ava. It's deeper than you think. And once you know, you can't un-know. You'll never be the same again."
"I'm already in this," Ava said, her voice firm. "I've made my choice. Now tell me what you're involved in. What's this 'organization' you and Ethan are part of?"
Nadia's eyes flickered, a brief moment of hesitation crossing her face before she spoke. "The organization is called Noxis. They've been operating in the shadows for years, manipulating the world from behind the scenes. Information, money, influence—they control it all. And they don't just target governments or corporations, Ava. They target people like you and me. People who have the potential to change things."
Ava's mind raced. Noxis. The name felt like a dagger, its weight heavy with implications she couldn't yet understand. "And what does that have to do with me?"
"You're a part of it, Ava," Nadia said, her voice colder now. "Whether you like it or not. Noxis saw something in you. Something they could use. That's why you're here, why you've always been a part of this. Ethan's role was to protect you. Mine was to keep you... contained."
Ava recoiled slightly, her chest tightening at the realization. "Contained? You've been manipulating me this whole time?" The anger in her voice was sharp, cutting through the stillness.
Nadia sighed, her expression softening for a brief moment. "It wasn't personal, Ava. It was about control. And you've never truly been free. None of us have. We're all pawns in this game."
Ava took a step back, the enormity of the situation crashing down on her. "You're telling me that I've been a pawn in a game I never even knew existed?"
"That's exactly what I'm telling you," Nadia replied, her gaze unwavering. "But it's not too late. You can still choose a side. You can stay with Ethan, or you can leave all of this behind."
Ava's pulse quickened as the weight of the decision hit her. Leave it behind? Could she really just walk away from this world? From Ethan? Could she even trust him anymore?
"Why are you telling me this now?" Ava asked, her voice low. "What do you want from me?"
"I'm not the one you need to be worried about," Nadia said, her tone hardening. "You need to be worried about the people who are coming for you. The ones who are going to force you to make a choice. And if you don't make the right one... well, let's just say they won't hesitate."
Ava swallowed, her heart racing. She couldn't ignore the chill in Nadia's voice, the coldness that hinted at a much larger, more dangerous world than she had ever imagined.
"Ethan won't let them hurt me," Ava said, more to convince herself than anything else.
Nadia's lips curled into a bitter smile. "You think Ethan can protect you? He's just as deep in this as you are, Ava. And when the time comes, he'll choose his side over yours."
The words hit Ava like a slap to the face. It was hard to believe, but something in Nadia's eyes told her there was truth to what she was saying. Ethan had kept so many secrets from her, and now, with Noxis involved, it seemed as though nothing was as it appeared.
"I can't stay in the dark anymore, Nadia," Ava said, her voice stronger than she felt. "I'll figure this out. But I need to know—who's after me? Who else is involved in this?"
Before Nadia could respond, a faint sound caught their attention—footsteps, deliberate and heavy, growing closer in the alley. Ava's pulse quickened, and she instinctively stepped closer to Nadia, her eyes scanning the darkness.
"They're here," Nadia said in a whisper. "Time's up."
The footsteps stopped. And in the silence that followed, Ava felt the weight of the moment settle in. She had crossed the line. There was no going back now.