The danger was already here.
The air shifted, growing heavier as the last knock faded. Rowan pulled me closer behind him until I could feel the tense rise and fall of his breath. Elias didn't move. He stood at the door like he'd been carved there, hand hovering near something hidden beneath his jacket. Another knock came. Not loud. Not impatient. Just steady. Confident. Rowan whispered, "Why is he knocking like this is his house?" Elias's voice was quiet and sharp. "Because he wants us to open it." My heart hammered. "But why?" Elias didn't blink. "Control." Rowan whispered, "Or he wants to see what you'll do." Elias inhaled slowly. "He already knows what I'll do." Rowan swallowed. "And what is that exactly?" "Not what he wants." The knock came again, this time softer. Almost playful. My stomach twisted. Rowan hissed, "Elias, if he breaks that door—" "He won't," Elias said. "Not yet." "How do you know?" I whispered. Elias turned his head slightly toward me, eyes dark and calm. "Because he's savoring this." The word made my blood run cold. A faint scrape sounded near the lock, like a fingertip or a nail dragging slowly across the metal. Rowan stiffened. "He's touching the lock." Elias stepped closer to the door. "He's testing boundaries." "And if he pushes further?" I whispered. Elias's voice lowered. "Then I'll push back." The scraping stopped. Silence. Then a whisper. A voice. Right outside the door. "Ava…" My breath froze. Rowan's grip tightened. "No. No, no, no he knows your name." Elias didn't react outwardly, but I saw his jaw clench. "He's done watching," Elias murmured. "He's starting the game." Rowan whispered harshly, "Elias, open that door and I swear—" "I'm not opening it," Elias said. "He wants that. He wants a confrontation on his terms." "Then what do we do?" I whispered. Elias's eyes found mine. "We change the terms." He reached for the light switch. Rowan panicked. "Elias, don't! If he sees us—" "He already sees us," Elias said, flicking the light on. The room brightened. I gasped. A shadow moved outside the window. Quick. Sharp. A tall silhouette stepping out of view. Rowan cursed under his breath. "He's right outside this is insane—" Elias cut him off. "Ava." I looked at him, shaking. "You're going to sit on the couch. Slowly." "Why?" "Because he needs to see you calm. Not running. Not panicking. Calm." That felt impossible, but Rowan guided me gently. "Come on. Just breathe, okay?" I sat. My hands trembled uncontrollably. Elias stood near the door again, listening. The voice returned, lower this time. "Ava… open the door." Rowan's breath hitched. "Don't listen to him." I whispered, "Why does he sound so… calm?" Elias answered, "Because he thinks he's already won." Another scrape. This time right under the doorframe. Elias moved instantly, leaning down to listen at the bottom. Rowan pulled me closer to him on the couch. "Don't look," he whispered. "Just don't look." But I couldn't stop myself. I stared at Elias's face as he suddenly stiffened. "What? What is it?" Rowan whispered. Elias straightened slowly. "He's not alone." Fear punched through me. "What do you mean who is with him?" Elias remained still. "Two more people. At least." Rowan's face drained of color. "You've got to be kidding me…" Elias moved away from the door, stepping back into the center of the room. "He's surrounding the apartment." My heart dropped. "They're trying to corner us?" "No," Elias said. "They're trying to break your nerves." Another whisper slid under the door. "Ava…" This time it wasn't calm. It was excited. Hungry. Rowan grabbed my hand. "Ava, don't move. Don't answer. Don't breathe too loud." Elias turned toward us. "Both of you. Listen closely." Rowan whispered, "Say it fast." "He isn't here to hurt you tonight," Elias said. "He wants to test how far he can get." My voice cracked. "So what do we do?" Elias answered without hesitation. "We don't give him anything. Not fear. Not noise. Not a reaction." The whisper came again this time with a quiet laugh. A soft, chilling chuckle that felt like it crawled across the room. I froze. Rowan pressed closer to me. Elias's voice hardened. "He wants to hear you scream. He wants to know he can break you." He looked me directly in the eyes. "Don't let him." The laugh faded. Silence returned. Elias held up one hand. "Quiet." We waited. Seconds felt like hours. Then footsteps. Slow. Dragging. Moving away from the door. Toward the window. Rowan cursed. "He's checking every exit—" "No," Elias said suddenly. "He's leaving." Rowan stared. "How can you tell?" A final sound vibrated through the wall. A soft, closing click. Like a phone snapped shut. Elias exhaled quietly. "He got what he came for." Fear rippled down my spine. "And what was that?" Elias stepped closer, eyes locked on mine. "Your voice." My breath halted. "But I didn't speak." Elias nodded once. "Exactly." Rowan stared between us. "Elias… what does that mean?" "It means," Elias said quietly, "you didn't give him what he wanted." Then he added something that made my heart drop. "So he'll come back for it." Rowan whispered, "When?" Elias looked at the door. "Soon."