The night didn't feel normal. Even in the silence, something was off.
Luna shifted on the bed, her sleep light and restless, as if her mind refused to fully let go.
Across the room, Ethan was still awake, sitting on the couch with his eyes fixed on the window. He hadn't moved once, because he knew this wasn't random.
Slowly, he stood up, careful not to make any noise. He walked toward the window and pulled the curtain aside just slightly.
Darkness stretched outside. Still. Silent.
Too silent.
His jaw tightened. "They're testing boundaries…" he muttered under his breath.
A soft voice came from behind him. "Ethan…?"
He turned.
Luna was awake, half sitting up, her eyes heavy but aware.
"You're not sleeping," she said softly.
"Neither are you."
She gave a small, tired smile. "I can't."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then he said quietly, "Come here."
She blinked. "Where?"
"Sit." He gestured beside him.
She hesitated for a second, then slowly got up and walked toward him. She sat down beside him, closer than before.
Silence filled the space between them, but this time it wasn't uncomfortable. It felt real.
"You're scared," Ethan said.
Luna didn't deny it. "Yes."
Her honesty did something to him.
"I won't let anything happen to you," he said.
She studied him carefully. "You sound like you already know what's coming."
Ethan didn't answer.
"See?" she said softly. "You're doing it again."
"I'm thinking," he replied.
"No," she shook her head slightly. "You're hiding."
For a moment, there was silence. Then Ethan exhaled slowly.
"You're right."
That surprised her.
He leaned back slightly, his eyes still sharp but his voice calmer. "There's something I didn't tell you."
Luna's heart started racing again. "About that night?"
"Yes."
She straightened, focusing on him.
Ethan looked down for a second before speaking again. "The accident wasn't just an accident."
Her breathing slowed. "You said that before…"
"This time I'll explain."
The silence that followed felt heavy.
"I wasn't there by coincidence," he said.
Luna frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I was following someone."
That changed everything.
"Following who?"
Ethan's gaze darkened. "A man."
Her heart skipped. "The same one I saw?"
"Yes."
A chill ran down her spine. "So you knew he was there?"
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you stop him?"
"I didn't know he would target you."
Silence filled the room again.
"Target me?" she whispered.
Ethan nodded slightly. "He wasn't watching randomly."
Her hands clenched. "Then why me?"
That question again.
But this time, Ethan didn't avoid it.
"Because of your father."
Everything inside her stilled.
"…What?"
"You don't know everything about your past," he said.
Luna shook her head slowly. "No… that's not possible…"
"It is."
Her breathing became uneven. "What does my father have to do with this?"
Ethan looked at her seriously. "More than you think."
The silence that followed felt suffocating.
Luna stood up suddenly. "This is too much…"
She ran a hand through her hair, trying to process everything.
"Someone followed you, someone was watching me, and now my father is involved?"
Her voice cracked. "I don't even remember half of my childhood!"
That hit harder than anything else.
Ethan stood up too, and before she could step away, he gently caught her wrist. Not forcefully, just enough to stop her.
"Luna."
His voice was softer now. "Look at me."
She hesitated, then slowly lifted her gaze.
For the first time, she saw it clearly. Not control. Not distance. Concern. Real concern.
"You're not alone in this," he said.
Her eyes softened slightly. "You don't even trust me fully."
"I trust you enough to tell you this," he replied. "More than anyone else."
That shifted something inside her.
He slowly let go of her wrist, but this time the distance between them didn't grow.
"Then don't stop halfway," she said quietly. "If you start telling me the truth, tell me all of it."
Ethan looked at her for a long moment, as if making an important decision.
"Not all at once," he said finally.
She sighed. "But soon?"
"Soon."
Luna sat back down, tired, confused, but a little calmer.
Outside, the night remained still.
But somewhere in that darkness, someone was watching again, listening, waiting.
Because the truth wasn't just dangerous.
It was connected.
To Luna. To Ethan.
And to something neither of them was ready to face yet.