Chapter 2 -Old Wounds
373 Words
The morning started the way it always did.
Her mother's voice. Father's emptiness. The smell of tea drifting in from the kitchen.
Every morning of Aria Matthews' life began like this. A small flat, her mother, and an office routine — that was her world. Ordinary. Quiet. Safe.
But this morning felt different.
There was a white envelope under the door.
Aria knelt down and picked it up. No name. No address.
Her hands were trembling.
She opened it.
"You're not safe. But as long as I'm here, nothing will happen to you."
— E
She read it a second time. A third.
Then she opened the door and looked into the hallway. Empty.
No one.
But someone had been here. In her building. At her door.
Someone who knew where Aria lived.
Her phone rang. Unknown number.
She didn't answer. It rang again. Still nothing.
The third time, she picked up.
"Hello?"
"What you saw last night — forget it."
A man's voice. Calm. That same familiar coldness.
"Don't go outside today."
The line went dead.
Aria stood still for ten seconds.
Then she put on her coat.
And walked out the door.
The café was small. She sat at a corner table, ordered a coffee, and pulled out the letter to read it again.
"Haven't seen this place in a long time."
Aria looked up with a start.
A guy was standing there. Tall, broad shoulders, a easy smile on his face. There was warmth in his eyes — but something hidden underneath it.
Max.
Three years ago he had left without warning. No reason. No goodbye.
"What are you doing here?" There was surprise in her voice — and something older, something she couldn't quite name.
Max pulled out a chair and sat down. Like he had every right to be there.
"I came to see you."
"After three years?"
"Yes." He looked her straight in the eye. "After three years."
What Aria didn't know was that a black car was parked just outside the café.
She didn't know that someone inside was watching — Max, Aria, both of them together.
And she didn't know that Max coming back out of nowhere was no coincidence at all...!!
To be continued......!!!
- Writer
