Chapter 3: The Answer That Shouldn’t Exist

The storm raged through the night, rattling Lily’s windows and shaking the very foundations of her quiet world. Yet, despite the howling wind, despite the unease curling in her stomach, she fell into a restless sleep, the letter still pressed between her fingers.

She didn’t remember dreaming.

But she remembered the voice.

"Lily..."

Soft, aching, familiar in a way that made her chest tighten.

"You have to remember."

Her eyes snapped open.

For a moment, she stayed completely still, her breath uneven, the darkness of her room stretching endlessly around her.

Then, slowly, she turned her head toward the window.

The envelope was gone.

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

No. That wasn’t possible.

Lily sat up abruptly, shoving the blankets aside as she moved toward the windowsill. The paper—her note—was no longer where she had left it. The latch on the window remained closed, the glass fogged from the cold night air.

She swallowed hard.

Had she imagined leaving it there?

No. She had written it. She had placed it there with her own hands.

And now, it was gone.

A tremor ran through her fingers as she backed away from the window.

A prank. It had to be a prank.

But then she saw it.

A new envelope.

Sitting neatly on her nightstand.

Her stomach twisted into knots.

It hadn’t been there before.

Lily’s breathing turned shallow as she reached out, hesitating before her fingers brushed against the thick parchment. Her entire body tensed at the sensation—it was warm. As if someone had just placed it there moments ago.

A sickening chill ran down her spine.

With unsteady hands, she broke the wax seal.

Lily,

You asked who I am.

I wish I could tell you.

I wish I could hold your face in my hands and remind you of everything you’ve forgotten. I wish I could say your name the way I used to, whisper it into your skin, remind you that once—long ago—you loved me.

But time is cruel.

And it has taken me from you.

Yet, even now, across the distance of something I cannot explain, I still find my way back to you.

But you are in danger, Lily.

You must not look for me.

No matter how much you want to.

No matter how much your heart tells you to.

Because if you do, they will find you.

And they will take you away from me.

Forever.

James

Lily’s breath came in shallow, uneven gasps as she stared at the letter.

Her mind screamed at her to rationalize it—to find some explanation.

But there was none.

The letter had appeared out of nowhere.

And worse…

She wasn’t afraid of what it said.

She was afraid of the way it made her feel.

A deep, aching grief settled in her chest, one that had no explanation, no memories to match it.

"Once—long ago—you loved me."

The words shouldn’t mean anything.

But they did.

A sharp knock at her door made her jump.

Lily’s head snapped up, her heart pounding violently in her chest.

It was past midnight.

No one should be here.

The knock came again, firmer this time.

Swallowing hard, she placed the letter down and moved toward the door, every instinct screaming at her to stay still, to pretend she wasn’t home.

But something pulled her forward.

She pressed her eye against the peephole.

A shadowed figure stood outside, their face hidden by the dim hallway lighting.

A man.

Tall. Broad shoulders. Dressed in dark clothing.

Lily’s stomach twisted.

A deep, unshakable feeling told her that whoever was on the other side of the door… they weren’t here by accident.

And they weren’t a friend.

The air in her apartment felt heavier, suffocating.

Slowly, carefully, she stepped back, her fingers pressing lightly against the doorknob—

Another knock.

Louder.

More impatient.

She sucked in a sharp breath.

Then, the voice came.

Deep. Measured. Familiar in a way she didn’t understand.

“Lily.”

She froze.

Her entire body went cold.

Whoever was standing outside her door knew her name.

And somehow, she knew—

This was only the beginning.

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