Chapter 6: Whispers in the Dark

Ava woke up feeling like she had barely slept at all. Her mind was still clouded with the lingering weight of last night’s fear. The rational part of her knew she had probably just psyched herself out, but there was another part of her—the part that remembered Noah’s warning—that wasn’t so sure. She forced herself out of bed, trying to shake off the unease. Today was a new day. She had work to do, assignments to complete, and she wasn’t going to let Noah, or her paranoia, ruin it. But the feeling of being watched never left her. She tried to ignore it as she made her way to campus, brushing off the occasional shiver at the back of her neck. She had always been good at compartmentalizing, at pushing down things that she didn’t want to deal with. But this was different. This wasn’t just a feeling—this was something real. Something tangible. She just didn’t know what. Noah had spent the entire night awake. He knew Ava wouldn’t believe him, not yet. And maybe that was for the best. He couldn’t drag her into this until he had proof, until he knew what they were actually dealing with. But the signs were there. He had seen them for weeks now—shadows moving where they shouldn’t, figures that disappeared the moment he looked at them directly. And then there were the messages. The ones that showed up on his phone from an unknown number, warning him to stay away from Ava, to let things be. He had ignored them at first, thinking they were just some cruel joke. But then he started seeing things that shouldn’t be possible. Like the man with no face standing outside his apartment last night. He shook the thought away, dragging a hand through his hair. He had to figure this out before it was too late. Before Ava got caught in the middle of something she didn’t even know existed. Ava had just settled into her usual spot in the library when she noticed it again—that strange, prickling sensation of being watched. She glanced up, scanning the rows of bookshelves, the scattered students hunched over their work. Nothing. She let out a slow breath, forcing herself to relax. It was fine. Everything was fine. Except it wasn’t. Because when she turned back to her laptop, there was a message waiting for her on the screen. She hadn’t heard a notification. Hadn’t seen anyone near her. And yet, there it was. It’s not just in your head. Ava’s blood ran cold. Her eyes darted around the library again, but this time, she wasn’t just looking for reassurance. She was looking for whoever had sent this. A slow, creeping dread settled over her. She didn’t know what was happening, but one thing was certain. Noah had been right. Something was coming. She snapped her laptop shut, her pulse hammering in her ears. The library, usually a place of quiet solitude, now felt stifling, suffocating. She gathered her things, trying to appear calm as she shoved her notebook and pens into her bag. But her hands were trembling. As she left the library, she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was following her. She turned a corner, quickening her pace, and finally stopped outside a small café. The warm glow of the lights was comforting, a stark contrast to the growing darkness in her mind. She ordered a coffee and sat in the farthest booth, her back pressed against the cushioned seat so she could see the entire room. It was a habit she didn’t even realize she had developed—always watching, always on guard. Her phone buzzed. Unknown number. She hesitated before answering. “Hello?” Silence. Then, a distorted voice. “You should have listened to him.” Her blood ran cold. “Who is this?” No response. Just breathing. A slow, deliberate inhale and exhale that sent chills crawling down her spine. Then the line went dead. Ava swallowed, gripping the phone so tightly her knuckles turned white. She needed answers, and she knew there was only one person who had them. She needed to find Noah. Noah was already waiting when she arrived at his apartment. He opened the door before she could knock, his eyes scanning her face. “You saw something, didn’t you?” She stepped inside, crossing her arms. “I got a message. Someone is watching me.” His jaw tightened. “I told you. This isn’t just paranoia.” She let out a shaky breath. “What do they want?” Noah hesitated before answering. “They don’t want you to remember.” Ava frowned. “Remember what?” He motioned for her to sit. “Everything.” A silence stretched between them before Noah finally spoke again, his voice heavy with something that sounded almost like guilt. “Ava, this isn’t the first time we’ve been through this.” She stared at him, confusion flickering across her face. “What are you talking about?” Noah sighed, running a hand through his hair. “The nightmares you’ve been having. The feeling that something is watching you. It’s because we’ve been here before. And they’ve erased your memories of it.” Ava’s breath hitched. “That’s impossible.” “I wish it was.” She shook her head. “No. I would remember—” “They don’t let you remember,” he interrupted. “Not until it’s too late.” Ava’s heart pounded in her chest. If what he was saying was true, then everything she thought she knew—about herself, about him, about the world—was a lie. She gripped the edge of the couch. “Who are they?” Noah’s expression darkened. “The ones who took everything from us.” Ava’s mind reeled. If this was true, if someone had erased parts of her memory, then what else had she forgotten? Had she known Noah longer than she realized? Had they fought this fight before? She looked at him, her anger simmering beneath her fear. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” “I tried.” “Not hard enough.” Noah clenched his jaw. “You wouldn’t have believed me.” “Well, I don’t have much of a choice now, do I?” she snapped. “Whoever they are, they know I’m starting to remember.” Noah nodded grimly. “Which means we don’t have much time.” Ava exhaled, trying to steady her thoughts. She didn’t trust him. Not completely. But she trusted the fear curling in her gut. And if Noah was the only one with answers, then she had no choice but to stay close. “Fine,” she said finally. “Tell me everything.”

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