The Trap
473 Words
Ava had barely made it three blocks before she realized she had a problem.
At first, she thought she was imagining things.
The feeling of being watched.
The occasional shadow flickering at the edge of her vision.
But as she turned onto a quieter street, her instincts screamed at her.
She wasn’t alone.
Her steps slowed.
The sound of footsteps followed.
Deliberate. Measured.
Not just someone casually walking.
Someone following her.
Ava swallowed hard.
She could feel it now—the weight of unseen eyes burning into her back.
Her grip tightened on the strap of her bag.
She had two choices:
Run. Or confront.
Her heartbeat thundered.
Then—a voice.
“Going somewhere, scholarship?”
Lucas.
Ava whirled around.
He stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets, smirking like this was a game.
Behind him, Jace leaned casually against a lamppost.
Waiting. Watching.
Ava’s stomach churned.
She was alone.
No teachers.
No students.
No Damian.
Lucas took a slow step forward.
“You looked a little lost back there,” he drawled. “Figured we should keep you company.”
Ava’s pulse pounded.
This was bad.
Very, very bad.
But she refused to show fear.
“Move,” she said, her voice steady.
Lucas chuckled.
“And miss out on the fun?” He tilted his head. “What’s the rush, Carter? Afraid of a little friendly conversation?”
Ava clenched her fists.
She wasn’t stupid.
She knew what this was.
A message.
She had embarrassed Lucas in front of the entire gym class.
Now, he wanted to remind her that she didn’t belong.
That she was powerless.
Her breath came quicker.
She had to think—fast.
Then, suddenly—tires screeched.
A car pulled up beside them.
The door swung open.
“Ava,” a familiar voice called.
Damian.
Ava’s stomach flipped.
Lucas’s smirk faltered.
Damian sat in the driver’s seat, his expression blank.
His gaze locked onto Lucas.
“Get in,” he ordered.
Ava hesitated.
She didn’t want to be saved.
Not by him.
But she also wasn’t stupid.
Lucas wasn’t backing down.
Jace was still watching, waiting for an opportunity.
She could fight.
Or she could be smart.
Her teeth clenched.
Then—she moved.
Before Lucas could react, Ava strode toward the car and slid into the passenger seat.
The door slammed shut.
And just like that—they were gone.
Lucas’s furious expression was the last thing she saw before the car sped down the street.
Silence filled the space between them.
Ava stared straight ahead.
She didn’t want to thank him.
Didn’t want to owe him.
So she said nothing.
But in the reflection of the window—she saw Damian’s grip on the steering wheel tighten.
And for the first time… she wondered why he had come back.
- Writer
