chapter 11:The Open Door
505 Words
The drive to Ava's apartment was unusually quiet.
Dark clouds covered the sky as Ethan's convoy moved through the city. Inside the SUV, nobody seemed interested in talking.
Ava sat by the window, staring at the passing buildings.
Her mind kept returning to the photograph they had found.
The man standing beside Ethan's parents.
The man she was almost certain she had seen in one of her grandfather's old photo albums.
The more she thought about it, the more nervous she became.
What if her grandfather had been hiding something all these years?
What if he knew secrets connected to Ethan's family?
Across from her, Ethan remained silent.
His expression was unreadable.
But Ava could tell he was thinking about the same thing.
Lucas glanced up from his phone.
"We're five minutes away."
Nobody responded.
The closer they got to the apartment, the heavier the atmosphere became.
Ava couldn't explain it, but something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
When the vehicles finally stopped outside her building, she climbed out immediately.
The familiar apartment complex stood exactly as she remembered.
Nothing seemed unusual.
Nothing seemed out of place.
Yet her chest tightened.
A feeling of dread settled deep inside her stomach.
Ethan noticed.
"What is it?"
Ava shook her head.
"I don't know."
But she did know.
Something was waiting for them.
She could feel it.
The group entered the building.
Two guards remained downstairs while the rest followed Ava toward the elevator.
The ride to the third floor felt endless.
Every second stretched painfully long.
Finally, the elevator doors opened.
Ava stepped into the hallway.
Then froze.
Her heart stopped.
The apartment door was open.
Only slightly.
But open.
Ava's face instantly turned pale.
"No."
The word barely left her lips.
"No... no..."
Ethan immediately moved in front of her.
His entire body tensed.
Lucas reached for his weapon.
The guards spread out.
Nobody spoke.
The hallway suddenly felt suffocating.
Slowly, Ethan pushed the door open.
The apartment was silent.
Far too silent.
Ava's pulse pounded in her ears.
"Grandpa?"
No answer.
Fear shot through her chest.
She tried to rush forward.
Ethan blocked her path.
"Stay behind me."
For once, she didn't argue.
The living room looked normal at first.
The couch was in place.
The television was untouched.
Everything appeared fine.
Then Ava noticed the overturned chair.
A broken lamp.
An open drawer.
Signs of a struggle.
Her stomach dropped.
"Grandpa?"
Still nothing.
The silence became terrifying.
One room after another was searched.
The kitchen.
Empty.
The bathroom.
Empty.
The guest room.
Empty.
Ava's breathing became uneven.
Her grandfather was nowhere.
Then they reached his bedroom.
The door stood open.
Ava pushed past Ethan and entered.
The room was empty.
Her grandfather was gone.
The realization hit her like a physical blow.
"He wouldn't leave."
Her voice cracked.
"He wouldn't just leave."
No one disagreed.
Because everyone knew she was right.
This wasn't a voluntary disappearance.
Someone had taken him.
Someone wanted him gone.
And suddenly, Ava realized she wasn't the only target anymore.
- Writer
