The tension in the air thickened as Ava walked further into the house, the stranger's presence looming like a shadow behind her. She tried to push the unease away, but it clung to her, wrapping itself around her thoughts. Who was this man? What was his connection to Alexander? And why did it feel like she was being pulled deeper into something dark, something beyond her control?
She could hear his footsteps behind her, slow and deliberate, as if he was taking his time. Ava's fingers tightened around the edge of the journal, still lying on the bed, the verse from before echoing in her mind. It was as if the words were trying to tell her something, to warn her, but she couldn't make sense of them.
She stopped at the living room, unsure of what to do next. The stranger was standing just behind her now, his presence filling the space in a way that made her feel small, trapped.
"You're not from around here, are you?" Ava's voice broke the silence, the words coming out more forcefully than she intended.
The man didn't immediately respond. His eyes flickered over the room, examining the details with an unsettling precision. His gaze lingered on the shelves, the paintings on the walls, and then finally, he looked back at Ava, his lips curling into that same strange smile.
"No," he replied quietly. "But I know enough."
Ava's brow furrowed. "Enough about what?"
His smile faded slightly, and for a brief moment, his expression became serious, even intense. "Enough to know that things are not what they seem here. But I'm not here to talk about that."
Ava's heart skipped a beat. She wasn't sure if it was his words or the way he said them, but something in his tone sent a chill down her spine. Her fingers instinctively reached for the journal again, as if the mere touch of it would provide some kind of answer.
"Then why are you here?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly despite her efforts to keep it steady.
The man stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her. "Because," he began slowly, "Alexander isn't just anyone. And neither are you."
Ava felt her pulse quicken. Her breath hitched, and she instinctively took a step back, her eyes darting to the door. Was it time to leave? Was it even safe to stay?
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice more forceful this time, trying to mask the fear creeping into her chest.
The man's lips parted, but before he could speak, the door behind him opened with a sudden creak, startling both of them. Ava froze, her heart racing. Was it Alexander?
But no. It was someone else.
A figure stood silhouetted in the doorway, their presence immediately filling the room with an air of authority. Ava couldn't make out their face, but the way the person stood—tall, poised, and commanding—sent an instinctual warning through her.
The man at the door turned, his posture shifting as if he recognized the newcomer.
"Alec," he murmured, his tone one of reluctant recognition.
Ava's breath caught in her throat. She had never heard that name before. Who was this person? What was going on?
But before she could ask, the figure in the doorway spoke, their voice smooth but carrying an unmistakable weight.
"I think it's time for us to talk."
The words hung in the air like an invitation and a threat, and Ava had a sinking feeling that the conversation about to unfold would change everything.
She glanced quickly at the man who had been waiting for Alexander, his face now masked with a strange mixture of respect and apprehension.
"Are you…" Ava began, her voice faltering, "Are you with him?"
The man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned toward the figure in the doorway, as if awaiting confirmation. There was a moment of silent understanding between them, before the man finally spoke.
"You could say that," he said, his voice carrying a strange finality.
Ava's pulse raced as her mind spun with a thousand questions. Alexander had been distant recently, and now this? She couldn't piece it together. But the overwhelming feeling that something was wrong, something far bigger than her, weighed heavily on her chest.
The stranger in the doorway stepped forward, his gaze now fully focused on Ava. "I think it's time you learn the truth," he said, his words sending a ripple of fear through her.
"Al...."