Episode4:The Distance He Chose
362 Words
The black car appeared the next morning.
Parked across the street from Aria’s apartment.
It didn’t move.
It didn’t need to.
She noticed it when she left for the hospital. It was still there when she returned home that evening. Its windows were dark. Silent.
Watching.
Her phone rang that night.
She answered it.
No sound.
Just breathing.
Slow. Calm.
She hung up with shaking hands.
The next day, she told Sebastian everything.
The car. The calls. The feeling of being followed.
His reaction crushed her.
“You need to leave the city,” he said.
Aria stared at him. “What?”
“It’s not safe,” he replied. His voice was sharp. Controlled. Final.
“You don’t get to decide that for me,” she said, her voice breaking.
“I do,” he snapped. “Because you’re in danger because of me.”
Her chest tightened. “So that’s it? You just erase me?”
Sebastian’s eyes darkened. “This was never meant to be anything.”
The lie sat heavy between them.
Aria felt tears burn her eyes. “Then why does this hurt so much?”
He didn’t answer.
That was when the man stepped forward.
“I believe I can help.”
Aria turned.
The man from the hallway stood beside her now. Older. Calm. Dressed neatly. His smile was gentle, almost kind.
“Who are you?” she asked.
“Jack Loosa,” he said smoothly. “A friend of the past.”
Sebastian froze.
Jack continued, “You’re being watched. Followed. I can offer protection. A place to stay. Answers.”
Aria looked at Sebastian, waiting for him to say something.
Anything.
He didn’t.
Finally, he spoke. “Go with him.”
Her heart cracked.
“What?” she whispered.
“It’s safer,” Sebastian said, his voice empty. “I don’t care what you do.”
Jack smiled.
Aria nodded slowly, swallowing her pain.
She walked away without looking back.
Sebastian watched her leave, his hands shaking at his sides.
Because he had just made the hardest choice of his life.
And Jack Loosa had just won the first move of the game.
- Writer
