Ava’s POV:
I froze in place, my heart hammering so loudly I was sure the shadowed figure could hear it. My hands tightened at my sides, nails pressing into my palms. Every instinct in me screamed to turn and run, but the figure stayed where they were, waiting, silent and still.
“Who are you?” I asked quietly, my voice trembling even as I tried to keep it steady.
The figure stepped forward slowly. Light from the hallway caught the edges of their face. I blinked. Recognition should have been immediate. It was not. It was someone I had never seen before. A stranger. And yet, the presence felt deliberate, heavy, almost like they owned the space.
“You shouldn’t be here,” I said, trying to keep my voice firm.
“I’m where I need to be,” the figure replied. Their voice was calm, but there was
