Chapter 9: A Visitor at Midnight
392 Words
Emma’s heart pounded.
Liam was outside her apartment.
She gripped her phone tightly, her mind racing.
> "This is your only warning. Stay away from the past. Or you’ll disappear too."
Was it him who sent that text?
Or… was someone else involved?
Another knock.
"Emma, please. Open the door."
She swallowed hard.
Should she trust him?
Or was she about to make a deadly mistake?
---
A Dangerous Decision
Emma took a slow, shaky breath.
She had two choices:
1. Let Liam in and hear him out.
2. Pretend she wasn’t home.
But before she could decide—
Her phone buzzed.
A new message.
From Daniel.
> "Emma, whatever you do, don’t open the door."
Her blood ran cold.
---
Liam’s Plea
“Emma,” Liam’s voice was softer now. “I know you’re awake.”
She clenched her fists.
Liam sighed. “Look… I know you read about Sophie.”
Emma stiffened.
“I should have told you earlier,” Liam continued, “but I didn’t want to scare you.”
Her heart hammered.
> Scare me?
Liam exhaled. “Sophie didn’t disappear because of me.”
Emma’s pulse pounded.
“Then what happened?” she whispered.
Silence.
Then—
“I’ll tell you everything. But you have to let me in.”
---
Emma’s Fear
Emma looked at the message from Daniel again.
> "Whatever you do, don’t open the door."
Her instincts screamed at her not to trust Liam.
But what if he was telling the truth?
What if Daniel was the one hiding something?
Emma’s hand hovered over the doorknob.
Then—
Her phone buzzed again.
Another message.
> "Emma, I’m on my way. Don’t let him in. Please."
Daniel was coming?
But would he arrive in time?
---
A Split-Second Choice
Liam knocked again, his voice calm.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Emma. I just want to talk.”
Emma’s hands shook.
This was it.
She had to choose—
Trust Liam… or wait for Daniel?
Her heart raced as she reached for the door—
And then—
The lights went out.
Emma gasped.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Her breath hitched.
A blackout? Or… something worse?
Outside, Liam’s voice was suddenly tense.
“Emma… don’t move.”
Her blood turned to ice.
Something in his voice made her realize—
They weren’t alone.
- Writer
