Emma Carter's heart stopped for a moment.
Her fingers froze on the doorknob as those words echoed inside her mind again and again.
The man who was supposed to be dead…
For a few seconds she couldn't breathe.
Slowly, almost mechanically, Emma turned the handle and opened the door.
The hallway outside was dimly lit.
And there he was.
Standing right in front of her.
Tall. Familiar. Terrifyingly familiar.
Her eyes widened.
"No… this can't be…"
The man lifted his head.
His eyes locked with hers.
Those same cold grey eyes she had seen before.
"Hello, Emma."
Her heart started pounding violently.
"Daniel…?" she whispered.
But Daniel Hayes had died two years ago.
At least, that's what everyone believed.
Emma stepped back instinctively.
"This… this isn't possible. I saw the news. I saw the report."
Daniel gave a small, bitter smile.
"People see what they're meant to see."
The air around them felt heavy.
Emma's mind was racing.
If Daniel was alive… then everything she knew was a lie.
And worse—
That meant Adrian Blake had lied to her.
Her chest tightened.
"Why are you here?" she demanded.
Daniel glanced inside the apartment.
"I think we should talk somewhere safer."
Emma crossed her arms.
"Start talking here."
Daniel studied her face carefully, as if trying to decide how much to reveal.
Finally he spoke.
"Adrian Blake isn't the man you think he is."
Emma's jaw clenched.
"Don't."
Daniel tilted his head.
"You already doubt him, don't you?"
Emma stayed silent.
Because the truth was… he was right.
Adrian had been hiding things.
Secrets.
Dangerous ones.
Daniel continued quietly.
"Two years ago, the accident that 'killed' me wasn't an accident."
Emma felt a chill run through her spine.
"What are you saying?"
Daniel's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Someone tried to erase me."
Emma's mind immediately went to one name.
"Adrian?"
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he stepped closer.
"So tell me something, Emma. Did Adrian ever tell you about Project Orion?"
Emma frowned.
"No."
Daniel laughed softly.
"Of course he didn't."
Emma's patience snapped.
"Stop speaking in riddles!"
Daniel's eyes suddenly turned serious.
"Because Project Orion is the reason people are dying."
Emma felt her stomach drop.
"What does that have to do with Adrian?"
Daniel looked straight into her eyes.
"Everything."
The word hit her like a shockwave.
Before Emma could say anything—
Her phone buzzed loudly in her hand.
She looked down.
The screen showed a name.
Adrian Blake.
Her heart skipped.
Daniel noticed.
"Answer it."
Emma hesitated… then picked up.
"Adrian?"
His voice came through the phone, sharp and urgent.
"Emma, listen to me carefully."
Something in his tone made her nervous.
"Lock the doors. Close the curtains."
Her eyes widened.
"Why?"
Adrian's voice lowered.
"Because someone is coming for you."
Emma slowly turned her head.
Daniel was watching her closely.
"Who?" she whispered.
There was a pause.
Then Adrian spoke three words that made her blood run cold.
"Daniel Hayes survived."
Emma's grip tightened on the phone.
"I know," she said quietly.
Silence filled the line.
Adrian spoke again, but this time his voice was completely different.
Dark.
Dangerous.
"…He's with you right now, isn't he?"
Emma's breath caught.
Daniel's expression didn't change.
"How did you know?" Emma whispered.
Adrian let out a slow breath.
"Emma… listen to me."
Her heart pounded.
"You have to get away from him."
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
Emma felt trapped between two truths.
Two lies.
Two men.
"Why?" she asked.
Adrian's voice became deadly serious.
"Because Daniel Hayes isn't the victim."
Emma's chest tightened.
"Then what is he?"
For a moment… Adrian didn't answer.
When he finally spoke, his voice sounded colder than she had ever heard.
"He's the man who started everything."
Emma slowly looked at Daniel.
He was still standing there.
Watching her.
Smiling slightly.
As if he already knew what Adrian had said.
Emma swallowed hard.
"Daniel…"
He took one step closer.
"Let me guess," he said softly.
"Adrian told you I'm the villain."
Emma didn't answer.
Daniel sighed.
"That's exactly what he would say."
Emma felt the room spinning.
Nothing made sense anymore.
Daniel leaned closer and whispered something that made her entire world shatter.
"Emma… Adrian Blake was the one who tried to kill me."
Her eyes widened.
"What?"
Before she could react—
A loud bang suddenly echoed from the staircase outside.
Footsteps.
Fast.
Heavy.
Coming toward the apartment.
Daniel's expression instantly changed.
"Too late," he muttered.
Emma's heart pounded.
"Who is that?"
Daniel looked straight at the door.
Then back at her.
And his next words were filled with dark certainty.
"Adrian found us."
Emma's breath stopped.
The footsteps outside suddenly stopped.
And someone knocked slowly on the door.
Three times.
Emma's phone vibrated again.
Adrian's voice came through the speaker.
Cold.
Calm.
And terrifying.
"Emma…"
Her hands trembled.
"Don't open that door."
But before she could respond—
The doorknob outside slowly began to turn.
To be continued…