The ticking clock echoes louder now, each beat dragging the seconds through the thick tension that fills the room. My heart pounds in my chest, faster and faster, until it feels like it might explode. Time has never felt so precious, so heavy.
Elias's eyes lock onto mine, his expression unreadable. The woman, the one who's caused all of this chaos, glares at him as if she's trying to decide her next move. But what are they really after? What's at stake?
"You have no idea what you're walking into, Elias," the woman spits, her voice bitter with the weight of years of hatred and regret. "None of you do."
Her words make no sense. They're fragments of something much bigger, much more dangerous than anything I've ever dealt with before. The air in the room feels like it's thick with secrets—secrets I'm desperate to uncover.
Vance steps closer, his hand hovering near his side. I know he's ready for whatever comes next, but there's a hesitancy in his eyes. His gaze flickers between Elias and the woman, as if he's trying to make sense of something he never thought he'd see.
"We're not backing down," Vance says, his voice steady despite the tension. "Whatever this is, it ends tonight."
"You think you have control?" The woman laughs bitterly. "You think you can stop what's already in motion?"
Elias steps forward, his every movement calculated, deliberate. His gaze never leaves the woman. "I'm not here to stop it," he says, his voice low, as if the weight of his words carries the gravity of the situation. "I'm here to finish it."
I don't understand. I don't understand any of this. My head spins as I try to piece together the puzzle, but the more I hear, the less it makes sense.
"Finish what?" I ask, the words slipping from my mouth before I can stop them.
Elias turns his gaze to me, his eyes cold, but there's something there—something buried deep beneath the surface. "You're a part of this, Amara," he says, his tone almost gentle. "You've always been. Whether you realized it or not."
The words hit me like a wave, crashing into me, leaving me breathless. I try to wrap my mind around what he's saying, but the pieces don't fit.
I glance at Vance, who's still standing by my side. His expression is hard, determined, but I can see the flicker of doubt in his eyes. He doesn't have the answers either. None of us do.
The woman raises her knife again, her hand shaking slightly, but she's still dangerous. "You don't understand," she says, her voice trembling with emotion. "This is bigger than all of you. It's bigger than me. It's about power—control over everything."
She doesn't finish her sentence. Instead, she lunges at Elias, the knife cutting through the air with terrifying speed.
Everything happens in an instant.
Vance moves, but I barely see it. His body is a blur as he steps in between them, grabbing her wrist and twisting it, forcing the knife out of her hand. She screams, a sound full of rage and frustration, but it's too late.
The knife clatters to the floor, and Vance stands between her and Elias, his stance protective, defensive.
For a moment, everything is still. The room seems to hold its breath, waiting for something—anything—to happen.
Elias steps forward, his gaze hard and focused on the woman. "This ends now."
But before he can take another step, the sound of a door slamming open behind us cuts through the air. My heart skips a beat, and I turn just as another figure steps into the room. A man, tall and imposing, his eyes hidden beneath the shadow of his hood.
"Not so fast," the man says, his voice low, full of authority. "I think you've all forgotten who's in charge here."
My pulse races as I try to process the new arrival. Who is he? What does he want?
The woman turns, her expression changing from rage to something else—something more calculated. "You," she says, her voice dripping with venom. "I knew you'd show up eventually."
Elias doesn't flinch, his eyes narrowing as he takes in the man's presence. "You're too late."
The man chuckles darkly. "I think you'll find that I'm right on time."
The air thickens with tension, every second stretching longer than the last. I can feel it now—feel the danger closing in, like a tightening noose around my neck. Everything is spiraling, and I'm caught in the middle, unable to break free.
"Who are you?" I finally manage to ask, my voice barely a whisper, but it cuts through the heavy silence.
The man looks at me, and for a moment, I see a flicker of recognition in his eyes. "You don't remember me, do you?" he asks, his voice strangely calm.
My breath catches in my throat. No. I don't remember him. But there's something in his gaze—something that unsettles me.
And then, the man pulls back his hood, revealing his face.
It's someone I never expected to see.
Someone from my past.
Someone who I thought I'd left behind long ago.
"Hello, Amara," he says, his words cold and chilling. "It's been a long time."