Chapter 4 The Return of Shadows (Part 1)

The voice outside the door sent a shiver down my spine. Cold. Familiar. Dangerous. My heart raced so fast I thought it might burst.

David tightened his grip on my hand. "Emma... stay behind me. Whatever happens, stay calm and stay here."

I nodded, my chest heaving. Every instinct screamed at me to run, but I was frozen in place. David moved slowly, his hand brushing the doorknob. He peeked through the crack, eyes narrowing.

The figure stepped forward slightly, and the hood fell back, revealing a face that made my blood run cold. I gasped.

"Lucas?" David muttered under his breath.

My head snapped toward him. "Lucas? Who's Lucas?"

David's jaw clenched. "He's... someone from my past I thought I'd left behind. Dangerous, smart... and relentless. I never wanted you involved."

I swallowed hard. "So... he's the one sending the messages? The warnings?"

David shook his head. "I don't know if he's the one sending the messages... but he's definitely involved. And if he's here, he won't stop until he gets what he wants."

I felt my stomach twist. "And what does he want?"

David's eyes darkened, haunted. "I don't know. But he knows about us... about you. That makes you the target now."

A cold gust of wind blew through the slightly open door, carrying with it a faint, familiar scent that made my pulse pound. Lucas smiled-a cruel, knowing smile that promised trouble.

"David... it's been too long," Lucas said casually, as if time hadn't passed. "And now... she's exactly where I want her."

I clutched David's arm, panic surging. "What does that mean? Who is he talking about?"

David's hand squeezed mine. "Emma... he means you. He's dangerous. He doesn't play by rules. And he's not leaving until he's had his way."

I felt fear tighten around my chest like a vise. Everything I thought I knew-everything I thought was safe-was gone. And yet, even in the face of danger, my heart beat faster at David's side, his presence like a lifeline I couldn't let go of.

Lucas took a step closer, the sunlight from the street behind him casting long, threatening shadows across the hallway. "Open the door, David. Don't make this harder than it has to be."

David's jaw tightened. "Not a chance. You're not touching her. Not while I'm standing here."

Lucas chuckled softly, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Oh, David... always so protective. Always so stubborn. But rules don't matter anymore. Time to play."

The words made my blood run cold. Play? What did he mean by that? And why did my gut scream that the danger was just beginning?

David turned to me, eyes fierce, unwavering. "Emma... whatever happens, stay close to me. Trust me. I won't let him hurt you."

I nodded, even as fear clawed at my chest. But deep down, a part of me wondered-could I really trust him? Could I trust anyone... not even David-when someone from his past had returned, and nothing would ever be the same again?

Lucas's shadow stretched across the hallway, the sunlight behind him turning him into a dark, menacing silhouette. My stomach knotted. Every instinct screamed at me to run-but where could I go?

David stepped in front of me, protective and unyielding. "Emma, stay behind me. Don't move."

Lucas's lips curved into that cruel, confident smile. "So predictable, David. Always the hero. But heroes... don't always win."

My heart pounded. The fear clawed at my chest, but beneath it, a small part of me-the part I tried to ignore-felt that familiar surge of adrenaline whenever David was near. His presence was grounding, his strength unwavering. And for the first time in five years, I felt the bittersweet pull of longing mixed with fear.

"Emma," David whispered, his hand brushing my arm. "I'm not letting him touch you. Not now. Not ever."

I nodded, clutching his hand tightly. The sound of Lucas's footsteps echoed in the narrow hallway, deliberate, slow, and taunting. He stopped just outside the door. "Open it, David. Or things are going to get... very unpleasant."

David's jaw tightened. "Not happening. Leave. Now."

Lucas laughed softly, the sound icy. "Leave? Oh no... we're just getting started."

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the street below. I jumped, my heart racing. David grabbed me and pulled me away from the window, shielding me instinctively.

"What... what was that?" I whispered, fear dripping from every word.

Lucas's voice called up from outside, low and threatening. "Consider that a warning. Don't test me."

David's hands gripped mine tightly. "Emma... listen to me. You're not alone. But we need to move. Now. We can't stay here."

I hesitated. "Move? But... where? He's outside."

David's eyes softened briefly, then hardened with resolve. "Someplace safe. Somewhere he can't find you. Trust me-this isn't just about the past anymore. He won't stop."

I nodded, swallowing hard, trying to steady my racing heart. I trusted him-or at least, I wanted to. But a nagging thought whispered in the back of my mind: what if trusting him isn't enough?

David pulled me toward the bedroom, quickly gathering essentials from the apartment. My fingers brushed against a framed photo on the dresser-a picture of us years ago, smiling, happy, unaware of what life would throw at us. I touched it briefly, my chest tightening with both fear and longing.

"Emma," David said urgently, snapping me out of my thoughts. "We need to leave. Now."

I nodded, following him silently. Every step was heavy with tension. Every creak of the floor felt like an alarm.

As we reached the door, Lucas's voice carried again, chilling and deliberate: "You can run, David... but the past always catches up. And she... she will be mine eventually."

I froze, my blood running cold. David stopped, his body rigid.

I looked up at him, fear and frustration mixing in my chest. "Eventually? What does that mean?"

David's face was pale, his eyes dark with anger and worry. "It means... this is far from over. And we're about to find out just how dangerous the past can be."

The last thing I saw before we slipped out of the apartment was Lucas's shadow in the hallway, stretched long and menacing, a promise that nothing would ever be the same again.