The Silent Witness

Chapter 7- The Secrets We Keep

As the door clicked shut behind Ryan, a deep sense of dread settled over Emma. She slumped back onto the bed, her mind buzzing with the impossible weight of his words. A part of her wanted to believe it was a mistake—that she wasn't some hidden key to unlocking dangerous secrets, that there was no grand conspiracy revolving around her. But another part, the part that had seen Sasha's cold eyes, heard the gunshots, and felt the betrayal in her gut, knew the truth.

This wasn't a mistake. There were things buried deep in her past—things she had either forgotten or forced herself to forget.

Felix brushed against her leg, his soft fur a small comfort in the midst of the turmoil. She absently reached down and scratched behind his ears, but her focus was elsewhere. If Ryan was right, then whatever was hidden in her memory wasn't just a relic of the past. It was something powerful enough to make Mr. Black send people after her, to make Sasha betray her.

Her stomach twisted at the thought of Sasha, the girl she had once trusted, standing there with a gun aimed at her. Why hadn't she seen this coming? Could she have stopped it somehow?

She let out a shaky breath. No use dwelling on what was already done.

Her mind snapped back to Ryan's words: a contact who might be able to help us unlock whatever's hidden in your memories. She had agreed to go with him, but now the gravity of what he had said was sinking in. It wasn't just about running anymore. It wasn't about staying one step ahead. If she was going to unlock whatever secrets were hidden in her mind, it would mean delving into parts of her past she had long buried.

That terrified her.

She stood, pacing the small room, her thoughts spiralling. Memories swirled in her head—flashes of her time with Sasha, of their shared rebellion against a corrupt system. But that had been years ago. The stakes had felt different then, simpler. It had been about justice, about making things right. Now, it felt like she was on the edge of something much darker. Something far bigger than the two of them could have ever anticipated.

Emma's pacing was interrupted by the sound of a faint knock at the door. She froze for a moment, her heart skipping a beat. Ryan had just left—who could be knocking now? The knock came again, firmer this time.

"Emma, it's me," came Ryan's voice, steady but low, as if he was trying not to draw attention.

She crossed the room and opened the door cautiously. Ryan stood there, his face set in grim determination. Behind him was a tall woman dressed in black, her dark hair pulled into a tight bun. Her eyes were sharp, assessing Emma with the kind of precision that sent a shiver down her spine.

"This is Ava," Ryan said, stepping aside to let the woman into the room. "She's the contact I mentioned."

Emma nodded, stepping back to give them space. Ava moved with an air of quiet confidence, her gaze never leaving Emma's face. It was clear she was used to sizing people up, reading them.

"Nice to meet you," Emma said, though her voice felt small in the presence of this stranger.

Ava gave a curt nod but didn't return the pleasantries. Instead, she glanced at Ryan before focusing on Emma again. "Ryan told me about your situation. You're carrying something buried in your mind—something you can't remember, but others want badly enough to kill for."

Emma swallowed hard. Hearing it said so bluntly made it even more real.

Ava continued, "My job is to help you retrieve those memories. It won't be easy. You'll have to confront things you've repressed, things you don't even know you've forgotten. Are you sure you're ready for that?"