The glass rattled. The wind pushed. The curtains lifted like ghosts.
Aria froze. Her throat locked.
A man stood outside. Tall. Still. His face was hidden, only a dark outline against the city lights. He didn't move. He only watched.
Her fingers clutched the necklace. Hard. Too hard. It cut into her palm. She didn't feel the pain. She only felt her heart slam against her ribs.
"Who's there?" her voice cracked.
No answer. Just silence.
Her phone buzzed again. Another message. She almost dropped it. She read with shaking eyes:
"Open the door, queen. Or I break it."
She gasped. Stepped back. The balcony handle shook. Once. Twice.
He wanted in.
Aria turned and ran. She rushed to the hall door, but stopped. If she opened it, what if another shadow waited outside? The hotel hallway was just as dangerous. Traps everywhere.
Her body shook. She pressed her forehead to the wall, closing her eyes. She whispered to herself. "Think. Think. Don't panic."
