The air shifted instantly.
"…Adrian?" Luna's voice dropped.
Ethan nodded once. "He's close."
Her heartbeat started racing again. "How do you know?"
Ethan looked at his phone, jaw tight. "Security alerts. Movement detected outside the perimeter."
A chill ran down her spine.
"He came back…" she whispered.
"Yes."
And this time—
He wasn't hiding.
Ethan grabbed his coat. "Stay inside."
"No," Luna said immediately.
He looked at her.
Serious.
"You're not coming."
"I'm not staying here alone while he's out there," she replied.
Silence.
A tense one.
Then—
"Fine," Ethan said. "But you stay behind me. No arguments."
They moved quickly.
Down the stairs.
Through the silent hallway.
Out the front door.
The night was cold.
Too quiet.
Luna stepped closer to Ethan unconsciously.
"Where is he?" she whispered.
Ethan scanned the area.
Eyes sharp.
Focused.
Then—
"There."
Near the gate.
A figure stood.
Still.
Waiting.
Luna's breath caught.
It was him.
Adrian didn't move.
Didn't run.
He was watching them.
Ethan stepped forward.
Slow. Controlled.
"Stop right there."
Adrian smiled faintly.
"You came faster than I expected."
His voice—
Calm. Almost amused.
Luna's chest tightened.
That voice…
It felt familiar.
Again.
"Why are you here?" Ethan asked coldly.
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
"To see her."
That one line—
Made everything worse.
Ethan stepped in front of Luna instantly.
"You've seen her. Now leave."
Adrian chuckled softly.
"You're still the same."
His eyes shifted—
Straight to Luna.
"You don't remember me, do you?"
Her breath stopped.
"…No."
Something flickered in his eyes.
Not anger.
Not surprise.
Something darker.
"That's unfortunate," he said quietly.
Ethan's voice cut in sharply.
"Don't talk to her."
Adrian ignored him.
"Do you remember the rain?" he asked Luna.
Her heart skipped.
Fragments—
Rain.
A hand.
A voice.
Her head started hurting again.
"Stop," Ethan said firmly.
But Adrian stepped closer.
"Or the night everything changed?"
"Enough!"
Ethan moved instantly—
Grabbing Adrian's collar.
The tension snapped.
For a second—
It looked like a fight would break out.
But Adrian didn't resist.
He just smiled.
"You're scared," he said quietly.
Ethan's grip tightened.
"I'm warning you."
"You're not scared of me," Adrian continued calmly.
His gaze flickered toward Luna.
"You're scared of what she'll remember."
Silence.
That line—
Hit exactly where it needed to.
Ethan let go.
Pushed him back.
"Stay away from her."
Adrian straightened his coat.
Unbothered.
"That depends," he said.
"On her."
Luna's heart pounded.
"What does that mean?"
Adrian looked at her again.
Deep.
Knowing.
"It means," he said softly,
"you were never as innocent as you think."
Her breath stopped.
"That's not true—"
"Isn't it?"
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"Ask him," Adrian added, nodding slightly toward Ethan.
Silence.
Luna looked at Ethan.
But Ethan didn't speak.
And that silence—
Was louder than anything.
Her chest tightened.
"You're lying…" she whispered.
Adrian smiled faintly.
"Then remember."
And before anyone could react—
He stepped back.
Turned.
And disappeared into the darkness.
Just like that.
Luna stood frozen.
Her mind racing.
Heart pounding.
"You were never as innocent…"
The words echoed again and again.
Slowly—
She turned to Ethan.
"…What did he mean?"
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
Because this time—
The truth was too close.
And if he said it—
Everything would change.
"He's trying to confuse you," he said finally.
But Luna didn't look convinced.
"Then why didn't you deny it?"
Silence.
Again.
And that was enough.
Something inside her shifted.
Because now—
It wasn't just about trusting Ethan.
It was about questioning everything
Even herself.