The 11:07 PM Guest

The knock

"Elena? Open the door. It’s me."

The voice was familiar. Too familiar. It made Elena’s chest hurt.

Elena stared at the door. Her brother. After 2 years. The brother she cried for. The brother she buried in her heart.

Aryan stood behind her, gun in hand, eyes fixed on the door. "Don’t," he whispered. "It could be a trap. They could be using his voice."

Another knock. Harder this time. The wood shook a little.

"Elena, please," the voice said again. "They’re 2 minutes away. If you don’t come with me now, they’ll take you. I can’t lose you again."

Elena’s heart was breaking. "Aarav?" she said softly, barely audible.

"Yes, it’s me, sis," the voice said quickly. "Remember when we were kids? You used to hide under my bed during thunderstorms. You used to call me ‘Aaru’. I’m here. I’m not gonna let anything happen to you. I promise."

Tears filled Elena’s eyes. That was true. Only Aarav knew that. Only Aarav called her that.

She took a step toward the door. Her hand reached for the handle.

Aryan grabbed her arm. His grip was firm but not painful. "Wait. Think. The note said don’t trust anyone. Especially him. What if ‘him’ means Aarav?"

"But what if ‘him’ means you?" Elena whispered back, looking at him. "What if you’re lying to me?"

Aryan didn’t answer. He just kept the gun pointed at the door. His jaw was tight.

"Elena, last chance," the voice outside said. "I’m counting to 3. Then I’m breaking the door down. 1... 2..."

Elena made a decision. She pulled her hand away from Aryan and unlocked the door. The click sounded too loud in the quiet room.

The door swung open.

Standing there was a man. Tall. Wet from the rain. Hair dripping. Scar on his left cheek. He looked exactly like the man in the photo. Older. Tired. But it was him.

Aarav.

He pulled Elena into a hug immediately. Tight. Desperate. "I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry I left you. I’m so sorry I made you think I was dead."

Elena hugged him back, crying. "I thought you were dead. I went to your funeral."

"I had to be dead," Aarav said into her hair. "To keep you safe. To keep them off you."

From behind, Aryan didn’t lower the gun. "Step away from her," he said coldly.

Aarav turned, still holding Elena’s shoulders. "Aryan. I should’ve known you’d be involved in this mess."

"You know each other?" Elena asked, wiping her tears, confused.

"We used to," Aarav said. He looked at Aryan with hate. "Before you betrayed us. Before you sold us out."

"I didn’t betray anyone," Aryan said. "You left me to die in that warehouse. You ran and didn’t look back."

"Enough," Aarav said. He pushed Elena gently behind him. "We don’t have time for this. They’re coming. Car, black, 2 men. I saw them from the roof of the building across the street."

As if on cue, headlights flashed outside the window and then disappeared.

Aryan moved to the window and peeked through the curtain. "They’re here. 2 of them. Armed."

Aarav grabbed Elena’s hand. "We have to go. Now. Through the back. There’s an alley."

"Where?" Elena asked, scared.

"To the safe house," Aarav said. "I have people there. People I trust. We can protect you there. We can figure out what’s on the USB."

Aryan laughed bitterly. "Your people? The same people who sold you out 2 years ago, Aarav? The same people who are probably working for them now?"

Aarav’s face hardened. "At least I’m not pointing a gun at my own sister."

Gunshots. Two. From downstairs. Loud. Echoing in the stairwell.

All three of them ducked instinctively.

"They’re inside the building," Aryan said. He looked at Aarav. "You take her. I’ll hold them."

"What? No—" Elena started.

"Go!" Aryan shouted. "Now!"

Aarav didn’t argue. He dragged Elena through the kitchen and out the back door into the dark alley. Rain hit her face immediately.

Behind them, more gunshots. And Aryan yelling.

Elena was running, but her mind was stuck on one thing.

Who was telling the truth? The brother she thought was dead? Or the stranger who risked his life for her?

The alley ended at a car. Aarav opened the passenger door and pushed her in. He got in the driver seat and started the engine.

As he pulled away, he looked at her and said, "I promise I’ll explain everything. But first we need to survive tonight."

Elena nodded, but she couldn’t stop thinking about Aryan.

Alone. With a gun. Against them.

And somewhere in the dark, footsteps were getting closer.