Chapter 8: The Intruder.
797 Words
Chapter 8: The Intruder
The mansion had never felt so quiet.
After the security breach, every hallway seemed darker, every shadow more threatening.
Armed guards rushed through the estate while alarms continued flashing red throughout the security system.
Ava stood in the center of her room, frustration building inside her.
Two guards had been stationed outside her door.
Two.
As if she couldn't protect herself.
As if she were helpless.
"I am not a child," she muttered.
The sound of footsteps echoed outside.
The guards were moving again.
Curiosity got the better of her.
Before anyone could stop her, Ava slipped out of the room and headed toward the main hallway.
The mansion was enormous, and for the first time since arriving, she noticed just how empty some parts of it were.
The further she walked, the quieter it became.
Soon she found herself in a section of the mansion she had never seen before.
The lights here were dim.
Dust covered some of the furniture.
It looked abandoned.
Ava frowned.
Why would someone own an entire wing of a mansion and never use it?
A sudden noise interrupted her thoughts.
A thud.
Somewhere ahead.
Ava froze.
The sound came again.
This time louder.
Her heartbeat accelerated.
Someone was there.
Slowly, she moved toward the source of the noise.
Every instinct told her to turn around.
Instead, she continued forward.
The corridor ended at a large storage room.
The door stood slightly open.
Ava pushed it gently.
The room was dark.
Too dark.
Then she saw movement.
A figure dressed entirely in black stepped out from behind a shelf.
Ava's breath caught.
The intruder.
For a brief moment, neither moved.
Neither spoke.
Then the masked figure lunged.
Ava reacted instantly.
Years of training from her grandfather took over.
She stepped aside just as the intruder grabbed for her.
The man's hand sliced through empty air.
His eyes widened beneath the mask.
Clearly, he hadn't expected resistance.
Big mistake.
Ava drove her elbow into his ribs.
The impact forced a grunt from him.
He stumbled backward.
She didn't give him time to recover.
Spinning quickly, she delivered a sharp kick to his chest.
The intruder crashed into a table, sending boxes flying across the room.
Ava immediately grabbed a metal rod from the floor.
"Come on," she challenged.
The masked man stared.
Then laughed.
Actually laughed.
The sound sent chills down her spine.
"You fight well."
His voice was rough.
Dangerous.
Ava tightened her grip.
"You picked the wrong girl."
The intruder charged again.
This time faster.
Ava blocked his attack with the metal rod.
The impact nearly knocked it from her hands.
He was strong.
Far stronger than she expected.
They exchanged blows across the room.
Punch.
Block.
Kick.
Counterattack.
Furniture shattered around them.
Dust filled the air.
For a few moments, Ava actually managed to keep up.
Then the intruder caught her wrist.
Pain shot through her arm.
The metal rod fell.
Ava's eyes widened.
The intruder twisted her arm behind her back.
Suddenly she was trapped.
Her heart pounded.
The masked man leaned closer.
"Interesting."
Ava struggled.
"Get off me."
Instead of listening, he pulled something from his pocket.
A photograph.
Her photograph.
The same one sent to Ethan.
The intruder held it up.
"You're important."
A cold chill ran through her.
Very important.
Then footsteps thundered through the hallway.
The intruder's head snapped toward the door.
Guards.
Lots of them.
Someone had heard the fight.
The masked man cursed.
Before Ava could react, he shoved her away and sprinted toward a hidden door at the back of the room.
"What—"
The wall swung open.
A secret passage.
Ava stared in disbelief.
The intruder disappeared inside.
Seconds later, Ethan burst into the room with several armed guards behind him.
His eyes immediately found Ava.
For the first time since she met him, genuine alarm flashed across his face.
"What happened?"
Ava pointed toward the hidden passage.
"He got away."
The guards immediately rushed forward.
Lucas appeared moments later.
His eyes widened at the destruction.
Broken furniture.
Scattered boxes.
Ava covered in dust.
"What on earth happened here?"
Ava folded her arms.
"I happened."
Lucas looked impressed.
Ethan looked furious.
Not at her.
At the fact that the intruder had escaped.
His gaze landed on the bruises forming on her wrist.
The room seemed to grow colder.
Dangerously colder.
"Did he hurt you?"
Ava looked down.
Only then did she notice the bruises.
"It's nothing."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
Something dark flashed through his eyes.
The kind of look that made even his guards uncomfortable.
Because everyone in the room knew exactly what it meant.
Whoever had touched Ava Carter had just made a very serious mistake.
And Ethan Blackwood was not known for forgiveness.
- Writer
