CHAPTER 11: DON'T OPEN THE DOOR
1424 Words
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Asher still held the black slip of paper, but his attention wasn't on it anymore. His eyes were fixed on me like he'd finally connected something I hadn't said out loud.
He exhaled hard. “Lala… this isn't a stranger.”
My stomach tightened. “Then who?”
He didn't answer. He walked to his table.
One second he was infront of me, the next he was crossing the room, grabbing his jacket, phone and keys. His whole energy had shifted. Less anger. More purpose. Like he already knew where he was going to.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“Somewhere I should have gone a long time ago.”
“That’s not an answer.”
He stopped at the door, hand on the knob.
“Someone is pulling strings around you. Someone who knows exactly which buttons to hit.” His jaw hardened. “And I'm done playing blind.”
“Asher.” I walked up to him, holding his arm. “What are you not telling me?”
He looked at me the way he always did right before he shut down completely. But something in him cracked this time. His shoulders dropped, just a little.
“You're not safe like this.” His voice was soft. “And it's my fault.”
My heart skipped. “How is any of this your fault?”
He didn't answer me.
Instead he opened the door.
“I'll be back. Don't go anywhere. And please–”
his eyes swept over me, careful, worried. Don't meet Jaden again today.”
I folded my arms. “You can't tell me who to talk to.”
“I know.” His voice lowered. “But I'm asking.”
He shut the door behind him.
What's really happening?
I could feel something shifted in Asher. Something real.
Not anger.
Not jealousy.
Fear.
Fear for me.
And fear of something catching up with him.
I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, ready to text stassie, but it lit up before I touched anything.
JADEN: Are you okay? Why did you run off like that?
I closed my eyes. The last thing I needed was another layer of confusion.
Before I could send a reply, a knock hit my door.
Not a loud one.
Soft. Quick. Almost polite.
I froze.
“Asher?” I called.
No answer.
My chest tightened. I moved slowly, peeking through the peephole.
It wasn't Asher.
It was the same man that came into the room asking for Asher just like I remembered. Dark Suit, polished shoes,the kind of presence that made the room shrink around him.
Hands in pockets. Calm expression. Eyes serious in a way I'd never seen before.
I hesitated, then opened the door halfway.
"Good morning sir. Any problem?”
He stepped inside without waiting for permission, closing the door softly behind him.
“You need to come with me,” he said.
“What? Why?”
“Because something’s happening that you don't understand,” he looked around the room, checking the corners like he expected someone to jump out. “And Asher isn't the only one who should be worried.”
My heart dropped. “Can you please tell me what's going on?”
He sighed like he had been holding it in for too long.
“This isn't just about you,” he said.
“It's about Asher. His family. And the reason he watches you like you're the only thing he can't afford to lose.”
I stared at him, my throat tightened as I swallowed hard.
“What reason?”
He met my eyes.
“The one he's been hiding since the day he met you.”
The room suddenly felt too small. Too quiet. Too charged.
Before I could ask anything else, another message buzzed my phone.
Not from Jaden.
Not from unknown.
ASHER: Don't leave your room. I'm on my way back. And whatever Owen tells you … don't let him take you anywhere.
My breath caught. Who's Owen?
I looked up at him.
His expression didn't change.
“Lala,” he said calmly, “you need to choose who you trust.”
My pulse thudded in my ears. “Why would Asher tell me not to go if you're here to help?”
Owen took a deep breath, a tiny sound of frustration, almost like he'd expected that question.
“Because Asher does not understand the full situation. Not yet.” His eyes swept over me again, sharp this time. “And because he reacts first, and thinks later.”
“That doesn't answer anything.”
He stepped closer, and I found myself taking a small step back without thinking.
“Do you trust Asher?” He asked, voice low.
The question hit deeper than it should have sounded.
Did I?
After everything?
After the notes, the warnings, the way he watched me like he was waiting for me to fall apart.
My silence must have been enough.
Owen nodded once, like he'd just confirmed a theory. “Asher thinks he can protect you on his own. He can't. Not from this.”
“From what?” I snapped. “No one's telling me anything.”
Something flickered through his eyes. Not coldness. Something closer to… pity.
“Lala you were never supposed to be part of this.”
My stomach tightened. “Part of what?”
Owen opened his mouth like he was finally ready to tell me whatever he'd been holding back.
But before a single word left him, the door swung open.
Just like that.
No knock.
No warning.
Just a soft push and then heels stepping aside.
A girl walked in like the room belonged to her.
A short light skinned girl, who looks five foot five approximately, with long brown hair that fell in soft curls. Warm brown eyes that sharpened the second they landed on me, lipgloss catching the light.
Everything about her was effortlessly and expensive, like she was used to being the center of attention without trying.
“Oh,” she said with a tiny smile. “I didn't know Asher had company.”
My chest tightened. Who's She?
Owen took a step in between us with a polite yet firm posture.
“Can I help you?” He asked.
She blinked slowly, her eyes sweeping over him.
“I'm looking for Asher,” she said. “He isn't in his room. And he's not picking up. So…”
Her gaze lingering around the room.
“Oh- you're his roommate? How cute.”
There was something in her tone. Familiarity. History. It scraped something in my chest even though I didn't understand why.
“Miss,” Owen said, voice calm but stiff, “this isn't the time—”
“Do I know you?” She cut in.
“You don't.” He stuttered.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, like she didn't believe him but couldn't place it.
Owen moved closer to the door, guiding her towards it without touching her.
“Wait! Before you leave, what's your name?”
“Marilyn.” She said, sounding cold and firm.
“You should leave,” Owen said. “Now.”
Marilyn's lip curved. “Asher won't like that you're chasing me away, he never did.”
A strange heaviness filled my throat.
Never did?
Before I could speak, Owen stepped into the hallway with her,shutting the door behind him. Their voice dropped low, but I caught bits of tension through the window.
“You were told to stay away…”
“Asher doesn't get to decide.”
“This Isn't safe for anyone.”
I stepped back, pulse racing.
Why did she talk like she knew him?
Why isn't her coming here safe for anyone ?
I didn't hear footsteps leave.
Only silence.
Then– my phone buzzed.
OWEN: Stay inside. Don't talk to her again.
Another message appeared instantly.
ASHER: I’m coming back right now. Do not open the door for anyone until I get there.
Before I could breathe, heavy steps rushed down the hallway.
Then a voice.
“Lala? It's me. Open the door.”
I moved slowly towards it.
“Uhm… Asher?”
“Yes, it's me Lala open the door.”
My hand hovered over the lock. Something in his voice felt off. Too calm… almost practiced.
“Asher, just say something only you'd say.”
Silence.
Then–
“Lala, please. Don't make this difficult. Just open the door.”
- Writer
