Ava's pulse pounded in her ears. The crash outside wasn't just noise,it was a warning.
Noah's entire body went rigid, his eyes darting toward the door. He moved fast, pressing a finger to his lips before stepping forward, his posture shifting from tense to controlled, like he had done this before.
Jasper was already ahead of him. He crossed the room in two strides, pressing himself against the wall near the door. His hand hovered near his jacket pocket,Ava didn't need to see what was inside to know he was ready for anything.
The room felt smaller, the walls tighter. Ava held the photograph tighter against her chest, her mind racing. Who was out there? And how much had they already heard?
The silence stretched, thick and unrelenting.
Then,another noise. A slow, deliberate creak of floorboards.
Noah moved first. In one smooth motion, he reached for the door, his grip firm but careful. He cracked it open just an inch, his breath slow and measured.
Ava felt the tension in the air shift. It was subtle, but it was there,something outside, someone waiting.
Noah didn't open the door further. He didn't need to. Instead, he turned back to Jasper and gave him a look. A silent conversation passed between them, one Ava wasn't a part of.
Jasper gave a short nod before stepping back.
Noah inhaled deeply. "Ava," he said quietly, his voice steady. "I need you to listen to me, and I need you to trust me."
Ava's fingers clenched around the photograph. "I'm getting real tired of those words, Noah."
Noah exhaled sharply but didn't argue. "We need to leave. Now."
Ava hesitated. "Who's out there?"
Noah didn't answer. He just reached for her hand, his grip firm, insistent. Jasper moved beside them, already scanning the exit routes.
Ava had a choice. Stay and demand answers,or go with them and find out the hard way.
She took a breath. And then, against every instinct telling her to run the other way,she followed them into the unknown.