HIRED BY HIM

Episode 6: Where Memories Bleed

The passage felt endless.

Dark walls. Narrow space. The echo of our footsteps chasing us like a second heartbeat.

Adrian didn’t slow down.

Didn’t let go.

His hand was still wrapped tightly around mine, pulling me forward like stopping wasn’t an option.

Maybe it wasn’t.

“Where are we going?” I asked, breath uneven.

“Somewhere they won’t find you.”

“You keep saying they—who are they?”

No answer.

Just silence… and faster steps.

The passage finally opened into a private underground garage. A black car waited like it had been expecting us.

Of course it had.

Nothing about Adrian felt unplanned.

Within seconds, we were inside.

The engine roared to life.

And just like that—we were gone.

I didn’t speak during the drive.

Not because I didn’t have questions.

But because I had too many.

And for the first time… I wasn’t sure I wanted all the answers.

The car eventually slowed in front of a secluded house.

No neighbors.

No noise.

Just stillness.

“A safehouse,” Adrian said, stepping out.

I followed, wrapping my arms slightly around myself as the quiet pressed in.

“This is where I’ve been staying?” I asked.

“For now.”

That didn’t sound temporary.

It sounded like a decision already made.

Inside, the space was surprisingly warm.

Minimal… but not cold.

Soft lighting. Clean furniture. A calm that felt almost unnatural after everything that just happened.

“You’re safe here,” Adrian said.

I turned to him.

“Are you?”

That made him pause.

Just for a second.

“I will be,” he replied.

Not convincing.

Not at all.

Silence settled between us.

Different this time.

Less chaotic.

More… aware.

I became suddenly conscious of everything.

The closeness.

The way his gaze lingered a second too long.

The way my heart reacted every time he stepped closer.

“You should sit,” he said.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not.”

His tone softened slightly.

And somehow… that made it harder to resist.

I sat.

He moved toward a cabinet, pouring a glass of water and handing it to me.

Our fingers brushed.

And just like that—

Everything shifted.

It wasn’t loud.

It wasn’t dramatic.

But it was there.

That spark.

That dangerous, undeniable pull.

“Why do you care so much?” I asked quietly.

He stilled.

“For someone who claims this is just about keeping me alive… you’re doing a lot more than that.”

He turned slowly.

And this time—

He didn’t hide it.

“Because it’s not just that.”

My breath caught.

“Then what is it?”

He stepped closer.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

Like he was crossing a line he knew he shouldn’t.

“You were never just someone I was protecting,” he said, his voice lower now. “You were someone I was trying not to lose.”

My heart skipped.

“That doesn’t make sense… I don’t even remember you.”

A flicker of something passed through his eyes.

Pain.

“I know.”

The space between us disappeared.

I didn’t even realize when I stood up.

Or when he moved closer.

Now—

We were inches apart.

“You keep talking like we had a past,” I whispered. “But I don’t feel it. I don’t see it.”

His hand lifted slowly… hesitating for the first time since I met him.

Then—

He touched my cheek.

And everything shattered.

A flash.

A sound.

A memory.

Laughter.

Bright. Young.

Carefree.

A boy.

Standing in front of me.

Familiar.

Too familiar.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” I heard myself say—but my voice was younger.

“I’ll always be here,” the boy replied.

His eyes…

The same.

Adrian’s eyes.

I gasped, stumbling back as the vision snapped.

My breathing turned sharp.

Uneven.

“What… was that?” I whispered.

Adrian’s expression had changed completely.

No control.

No mask.

Just truth.

“You remember.”

It wasn’t a question.

“That was you,” I said, my voice shaking. “When we were younger…”

He nodded slowly.

“You said I wouldn’t remember,” he added quietly. “But something must’ve triggered it.”

I shook my head, trying to steady myself.

“This isn’t possible… I would’ve known… I would’ve—”

“You weren’t allowed to.”

Before I could respond—

The front door opened.

Both of us froze.

Adrian’s entire body went still.

Then tense.

Then dangerous.

A woman stepped inside.

Confident.

Elegant.

And far too comfortable in a place that was supposed to be hidden.

Her eyes landed on him first.

Then—

On me.

And just like that—

Everything shifted again.

“Well,” she said slowly, a sharp smile forming. “So it’s true.”

My stomach tightened.

Adrian didn’t move.

Didn’t speak.

But I felt it.

That tension.

That history.

“Still protecting her, Adrian?” she continued, walking closer. “After all these years?”

My heart dropped.

She knew.

“Leave,” Adrian said coldly.

Her smile widened.

“Oh… I don’t think I will.”

Her gaze moved back to me.

Sharp.

Assessing.

Almost… irritated.

“You don’t even remember, do you?” she said.

I swallowed.

“Remember what?”

She let out a soft laugh.

And whatever patience Adrian had left—

Snapped.

“Enough,” he warned.

But she ignored him.

“You were never supposed to survive that night,” she said, her voice dropping slightly.

My chest tightened.

“That night?” I repeated.

Her eyes gleamed.

“The night everything burned.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Terrifying.

I turned slowly to Adrian.

But this time—

He didn’t interrupt.

Didn’t stop her.

Because whatever she was about to say…

Even he couldn’t control it anymore.