Nana could feel the tension in the air, thick and charged. She knew this wouldn't end quietly.
As they stepped out of the restaurant, the cold night air hit them, and Nana exhaled a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. The unsettling encounter still lingered in her mind, but the further they got from that place, the more her nerves began to settle. She glanced at Max, who kept his eyes on the street ahead, his jaw clenched, still processing the tension that had just unfolded.
"Are you okay?" Max asked, his voice soft but concerned as he turned toward her for a brief moment, his eyes flicking over her face.
Nana nodded, offering him a small but reassuring smile. "Yeah. Just... That guy was weird."
Max didn't seem fully convinced, but he didn't press her. Instead, he started the engine, and the car hummed to life, the sound of the engine a small comfort against the silence between them.
"We don't have to eat anymore," Max said, glancing at her as he pulled out of the parking lot. "Where do you want to go?"
Nana's eyes drifted to the dark road ahead. She didn't want to think about food, or the strange encounter. She needed a moment to clear her head. "Let's just drive for a while. Anywhere but here."
Max gave a small nod, understanding the need for space. The road stretched out before them, and the city lights flickered in the rearview mirror as they left it all behind.
As they drove, the tension began to ease, and the quiet hum of the car became soothing. Nana leaned back in her seat, staring out the window, lost in her thoughts. The memory of the man's unsettling presence still clung to her, but she pushed it away, focusing instead on the feeling of safety Max had provided by getting her out of there.
"You know," Nana said after a few moments, breaking the silence, "I wasn't expecting tonight to go like that."
Max let out a small, humorless chuckle. "Yeah. Me neither."
She smiled faintly, looking over at him. "Thanks for being there."
Max turned to her with a reassuring smile.
Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly looked away, focusing on the road ahead, unsure of what to say next. The night was far from over, but for now, it felt like they were finally away from the chaos, free from the tension that had been building between them.
As they drove through the darkened streets, the promise of the unknown seemed to linger in the air—what was next, and how would their lives continue to intertwine after everything that had just happened?
As Nana entered her room, she leaned against the door, taking a deep breath. The air in the room felt heavier, as though it was thick with the remnants of her unease. She locked the door behind her and walked over to her bed, her mind swirling with thoughts of the incident.
Despite the comfort she felt with Max's presence earlier, the unsettling feeling still lingered. The man in the bathroom, his behavior, his eyes—everything about it gnawed at her. She couldn't shake the thought that it was something more than a random encounter. But what?
Sitting down on her bed, Nana pulled her knees up to her chest and stared out the window. The city lights blinked softly in the distance, but there was no peace in them for her tonight. She kept replaying the man's words in her mind, wondering if there was something she had missed.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, and Nana grabbed it, relieved to find that it was a message from Max.
Max: Hey, just wanted to check in. You sure you're okay? I'm here if you need to talk.
A wave of gratitude washed over Nana, but also a sense of guilt. She didn't want to drag him into her mess, but she couldn't deny that she needed someone who understood her. Someone who was there when things felt off.
Nana typed a quick response: I'm fine. Thanks for being there tonight. Really.
She stared at the screen, the cursor blinking, but didn't send anything more. She didn't know what else to say.
The sound of a knock at the door startled her, making her heart race. She jumped up and cautiously walked toward the door, her mind racing.
She peered through the peephole, her pulse quickening when she saw a familiar figure standing in the hallway.
It was the man from the bathroom.
Nana's breath caught in her throat, panic rising. He shouldn't be here. How did he find her?
She stepped back, heart pounding in her chest. She needed to think. Fast. Should she call Max? The authorities? What was his plan?
The man knocked again, louder this time, followed by a chillingly calm voice.
"Open up, Nana. We need to talk."
Her body tensed. This wasn't just some random creep anymore. This man, this encounter—it was something far worse.
And she knew it wasn't over.
The man outside knew her name.
She clenched her jaw. Her immediate instinct was to lock herself in, but she couldn't keep hiding forever. She needed information. She needed to find out why this man was following her.
Taking a deep breath, she checked her phone. Max hadn't replied yet. She quickly opened the text thread and typed:
Max? That guy earlier… he's here.
Her fingers hovered over the "send" button for a moment, but she hit "send" without thinking twice. Max needed to know what was happening. He was the only person she trusted enough to help her in situations like this. As soon as the message went through, she hit record on her phone.
She wasn't planning to open the door, but she needed to buy herself time. If she could get him to talk, to say something incriminating, she might be able to use it later. The message from Max would come soon enough, but until then, she had to keep her wits about her.
"I'm not opening the door," Nana called back, trying to make her voice as steady as possible. "Talk through the door, or leave. I'm not interested in anything you have to say."
There was a long pause. Then, the man spoke again, his voice suddenly softer, almost coaxing.
"You think you can hide, don't you?" he said, his tone chilling. "But you can't. I know who you are, Nana. I always will."
Nana's stomach tightened. How does he know me? She hadn't recognized him earlier, but now it seemed clear he had some kind of knowledge about her life. She gripped her phone tighter, trying to think of a way to diffuse the situation.
She quickly typed another message to Max, hoping for a quick reply.
Please hurry. He's outside the door. I don't know what he wants, but I don't trust him.
As she waited for a response, she carefully placed her phone in her pocket and took a step back from the door. The man's voice came again.
"I don't have all day, Nana. You can't keep hiding behind that door forever. You know you can't avoid me."
Her mind raced. She couldn't stay trapped here for long. But there was still one thing she could do—she needed to stall for more time.
"I'm not hiding," Nana called out, her voice more confident now. "I'm just making sure I don't make a mistake by opening the door to someone I don't trust."
The silence on the other side of the door was unnerving. For a moment, she thought he had given up, but then she heard a faint sound—a light tap against the door, as if he was testing her.
"Trust me," he said in a low, dangerous tone. "You should be the one worried. Not me."
Nana's mind raced again. There was no way she could just stand here forever. She couldn't wait for him to make the first move.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her pocket. Her heart skipped a beat.
Nana steadied her breathing, her pulse pounding in her ears as she waited for a response. She could hear the faint shuffle of feet on the other side of the door. Her phone buzzed again, snapping her attention back to the screen.
Max: Don't engage with him. I'll be there soon. Hold tight.
Her heart lifted slightly at the words, but she knew she couldn't just sit here and wait. The man was clearly persistent and wasn't about to give up. There had to be a way out of this—she just had to think quickly.
She glanced around the small room. No windows. No escape route. The door was her only way out, but opening it wasn't an option. If she could just keep him talking long enough…
The man's voice broke through her thoughts. "You know, I'm getting tired of waiting, Nana," he called, his tone becoming more impatient. "I came here to settle things, and I don't like being kept in the dark."
Nana remained silent, trying to gauge his next move. She needed to stay calm, but the tension in the air was suffocating. She could feel the fear creeping back, but she squashed it down. Max will be here soon. Just hold on.
The man's voice grew louder. "I know you're there. You can't hide forever. You've been running from me for too long."
Nana's heart skipped a beat. He knows I've been running from him? She hadn't realized how much this man knew, but it was clear now that he wasn't just some random stranger.
She gripped her phone tighter, trying to formulate a plan. Should she call the police? No. That could take too long. She needed a quicker solution, something to get her out of this alive.
Just as the man's footsteps moved closer to the door, Nana heard a sound—faint at first, but growing louder. A car engine.
Max.
Her breath caught in her throat as she heard the unmistakable hum of an approaching vehicle. She wasn't sure how far away Max was, but he was definitely on his way.
The man on the other side of the door seemed to sense the shift in the atmosphere. He stopped tapping on the door and fell silent for a few moments. Nana took the opportunity to send another quick message to Max.
Please hurry. He's getting more aggressive.
Just as she hit send, the man spoke again. "I don't need anyone else interfering. You and I, Nana, we have unfinished business."
Nana's hand shook slightly as she responded, her voice steady but laced with tension. "I'm not afraid of you."
There was a pause before the man chuckled darkly. "We'll see about that."
The sound of footsteps retreated for a moment, and Nana's mind raced. What is he doing?
Suddenly, she heard a loud crash from down the hall—a heavy object hitting the floor, followed by a muffled shout.
Her heart skipped a beat.
That wasn't Max. That was the man, and it sounded like he was getting more desperate.
Nana moved back from the door, not daring to open it yet. She needed to be ready. The door was the only thing between her and a man who clearly had no intention of leaving her alone.
Her phone buzzed again. It was Max.
I'm here. Don't make a move until I get there.
Nana felt a surge of relief, but she couldn't afford to let her guard down. The man was still out there, and he wasn't going to wait for Max to show up.
Just then, she heard the distinct sound of footsteps approaching again—this time, slower, more deliberate.
Nana pressed her back against the wall, holding her breath. She had no idea what the man was planning, but one thing was certain: she couldn't let him catch her off guard.
Nana's heart raced as she pressed herself against the cold, unforgiving wall, the sound of footsteps drawing closer. She couldn't afford to panic. She couldn't afford to make any noise.
The door creaked slightly as the man outside shifted his weight, his voice low and menacing.
"I know you're in there," he called again, his voice mocking, "You can't hide forever, Nana."
She clenched her fists, the edge of panic just starting to bleed through. Max was on his way. She had to trust that he would make it in time. But until then, she couldn't let him find a way in.
Nana tried to steady her breathing, trying to focus on what she could do. The man was persistent, and his words—his tone—told her he wasn't just some random thug. He knew her. He'd been watching her, maybe even waiting for the right moment. She couldn't give him the upper hand.
The footsteps stopped. There was silence. Absolute silence.
Nana's pulse pounded in her ears as the minutes dragged on. Was he just waiting for her to make a move? Or was he trying to find another way in? The silence felt unbearable, and she could feel herself getting more anxious with each passing second.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, startling her. She quickly grabbed it, relieved to see Max's name on the screen.
I'm here, Nana. Where are you?
She typed back quickly, trying to keep her voice calm. He's out there. Don't let him in. Please hurry.
The man on the other side of the door seemed to sense her sudden tension. His voice broke the silence again, this time lower, almost a whisper. "You think you can hide from me? You think you can make a phone call and everything will just disappear?"
Nana gripped the phone harder, trying to quiet her shaking hands. Stay calm, she reminded herself. Max is close. He'll get here. He will.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door handle turning.
Her heart stopped.
The man was trying to open it.
Her body went rigid, but she knew she couldn't wait any longer. She had to act.
As the door handle jiggled again, Nana darted to the side, grabbing a heavy metal object from the desk in the corner—a small paperweight—and clutching it tightly in her hand. If he came through that door, she would fight.
The door creaked louder now, and with each sound, the fear in her chest grew. She didn't know if she could take him down. She didn't know if she could stop him without getting hurt.
But she had no choice.
The man's voice came again, more insistent now, but also… amused. "You've got nowhere to run. Let me in, and we'll finish this. It's better for you."
Just as Nana tightened her grip on the paperweight, she heard the unmistakable sound of a door slamming open down the hallway. A loud, forceful bang.
Max.
She froze, hope flooding her chest as the sound of footsteps grew louder.
The man outside heard it too. His voice grew tense. "Who's that?" he demanded, and Nana heard him step back from the door.
Max was getting closer. The pounding of his footsteps filled the silence.
Nana's mind raced, trying to find a way to make this moment count.
She stayed still, listening closely. She could hear Max's voice now, calling out. "Nana? Are you okay? Where are you?"
The man on the other side of the door cursed under his breath. Then, Nana heard the telltale sound of him backing away, footsteps retreating quickly down the hall.
Her heart skipped a beat. He was leaving. Was it a trap? Was he trying to draw Max in?
But Nana couldn't risk it. She bolted toward the door and threw it open just as Max's shadow appeared in the hallway.
Max stopped in his tracks, eyes wide when he saw her standing there, alive, and in one piece. His gaze shifted to the hallway, the look of confusion and concern still written all over his face.
"Nana, what the hell happened?" he asked, rushing toward her.
"I'm fine. I'm okay," Nana said quickly, though her hands were shaking as she gripped his sleeve. "But he's still out there. He's not gone."
Max's expression hardened. "Let's go. Now."
Before they could take a step, the sound of a door slamming echoed from the far end of the hallway. It was followed by rapid footsteps.
They weren't safe yet.
Nana's heart skipped a beat as the unmistakable sound of rapid footsteps echoed down the hall. The noise was growing closer, and the air around her seemed to grow heavier, thicker with dread.
She quickly turned to Max, her breath catching in her throat. "Max, what is that sound?" Her voice was low, barely a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might bring whatever it was crashing down on them.
Max's face hardened in an instant, his eyes scanning the hallway, searching for the source of the sound. His body was tense, every muscle coiled and ready for whatever was coming.
"I don't know," he murmured, his hand instinctively moving to the gun tucked under his jacket. "But it's not good."
The footsteps didn't slow down, only growing louder, more frantic. Whoever was out there wasn't trying to hide. They were coming straight for them.
Max motioned for Nana to move back into the room. "Get inside, now." His voice was sharp, commanding, but there was a fear behind his words—fear for her safety.
Nana hesitated, eyes flicking toward the hallway. But she knew better than to question him right now. She moved quickly, stepping back into the room, her body trembling from the adrenaline still coursing through her veins.
Max was right behind her, slamming the door shut with force, the sound of the lock clicking into place.
"Stay down," Max instructed, crouching next to her and pulling out his gun. He kept his eyes on the door, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring.
The footsteps stopped. Then, everything went silent. The kind of silence that pressed down on your chest, made it hard to breathe.
Nana's pulse raced, her eyes never leaving the door. "What do we do now?" she whispered, barely able to keep her voice steady.
Max didn't answer at first. He was too focused, too alert, waiting for the next move. Then, he spoke, his voice low but firm. "We wait. And we're ready for whatever comes next."
Suddenly, a loud bang echoed from the other side of the door—a forceful knock that shook the entire frame. Then another.
And another.
Nana's blood ran cold. "They're here," she breathed. The man was here, and he wasn't backing down.
Max's grip tightened around the gun, his stance unwavering. "Stay behind me," he growled. "I won't let him hurt you."
Another knock. This time, it was accompanied by a voice—one that made Nana's stomach twist with unease.
"I know you're in there," the voice called, low and mocking. "You can't hide forever, Nana. I'm coming for you."
The door rattled with another forceful knock, but Nana couldn't tear her eyes away from Max, who was bracing himself for whatever was to come.
This time, when the man spoke, his words dripped with malice. "I'm going to make you regret this, you and your little friend."
The silence that followed was deafening.
The man's gaze never left Nana. His eyes burned with malicious amusement as he spoke her name with a mocking tone. "Nana," he said, dragging her name out slowly, as if savoring every syllable. He leaned in closer, a twisted grin curling across his lips. "Why don't you tell your precious boyfriend about your job in Canada? Hm?"
Nana's breath hitched, her heart racing. The man's words felt like daggers, slicing into the fragile calm she had built around herself. Max—he didn't know. He had no idea what she had done, the things she had been involved in. Obsidian Veil, her mission, her secrets—they were all buried, hidden from him. And now, here this man was, taunting her with the very thing she had tried so hard to keep buried.
The man laughed, a wild, deranged laugh that echoed in the room. "You really thought you could keep it all a secret, huh? How cute."
Nana stood frozen, unable to respond. Her mind was a whirlwind, a flood of thoughts colliding with each other. She couldn't tell Max. She couldn't. The truth was too dangerous, too much to unravel. She had to protect him, keep him away from this darkness.
But her silence only fueled the man's twisted amusement. "What's the matter, Nana? Can't speak? Afraid to reveal the truth?" His eyes gleamed with sick satisfaction as he waited for a response that never came.
Max, who had been quiet up until now, took a step forward, his voice a growl. "SHUT UP!" he snapped, his anger boiling over.
The man's grin didn't falter, but there was a flicker of something—defiance, maybe, or perhaps madness. "Why are you pretending to be normal? Why do you fake your skin?" His voice dripped with contempt. "I heard you got metallic arms and bodies… You're not even human, are you?"
The words hit Nana like a cold wave. Metallic arms? Bodies? How did he know? It felt like the walls were closing in on her. Everything she had fought to keep hidden, all the things she had done in the shadows, were being dragged into the light. Her past—her secrets—were no longer safe.