Ava’s breath hitched, the sound swallowed by the heavy silence of the mansion. The crash echoed again—louder, closer—like a gunshot in the stillness. Her heart hammered against her ribs, wild and desperate. Stay put, Noah’s warning burned in her mind like a lifeline.

She pressed herself flat against the cold, unforgiving stone wall. Her fingers trembled, scraping against the rough surface as her eyes locked onto the shadow-draped staircase. Every nerve screamed to run, but the mansion felt like a steel trap closing around her.

The air was thick, almost suffocating, heavy with the scent of rain seeping through cracked windows and the faint musk of old wood and secrets. A soft creak sliced through the stillness—the slow, deliberate sound of footsteps descending the stairs.

Noah appeared beside her like a silent phantom, his presence commanding and sharp. His eyes, dark and relentless, met hers with a fierce intensity.
“Get down. Now,” he ordered, voice low and sharp as a blade.

Before Ava could react, a tall figure materialized at the top of the staircase, cloaked in darkness. The stranger’s face was lost in shadow, but the cruel curve of his smile was unmistakable—cold and mocking.

Noah stepped forward, his stance rigid and unyielding, voice ice-cold.
“You’re not welcome here.”

The stranger’s smile deepened into a slow, sinister curl.
“On the contrary,” he said, voice smooth as silk but laced with venom, “I’m exactly where I need to be.”

Noah’s gaze hardened, a storm brewing behind his eyes.
“This ends tonight.”

A low chuckle echoed from the stranger, dark and dangerous.
“Oh, I think it’s only just beginning.”

Ava’s pulse thundered in her ears. The battle wasn’t just about survival anymore—it was a war, and the enemy was closer, darker, and deadlier than she’d ever imagined.

To be continued...