Twisted Devotion

Chapter Eight

The car hummed quietly as it sped down the highway, the city lights fading into the distance behind them. Jess gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white, while Ava sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window. The quiet hum of the engine was the only sound between them, though the tension was palpable, thick and suffocating.

Ava's mind was spinning, replaying the distorted voice from the phone call over and over. *We're watching.* She couldn't shake the feeling that no matter how far they drove, she couldn't escape whoever was behind this. The idea of staying with Jess's parents felt comforting for a moment, but now the dread gnawing at her told her it wouldn't be enough.

Jess glanced at her. "You okay?" she asked softly, breaking the silence.

Ava nodded mechanically, though she wasn't sure if she was answering Jess or trying to convince herself. "Do you think we're being followed?"

Jess's eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. "I haven't seen anyone following us," she replied, though there was uncertainty in her voice. "I think we're safe for now."

Safe. The word felt meaningless. Ava's gaze drifted back to the dark road ahead, her pulse quickening again. They hadn't seen anyone, but that didn't mean they weren't there. The voice on the phone had been so confident, so chillingly certain. *We know where you are.*

"How far are we from your parents' place?" Ava asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"About another hour," Jess replied, her voice calm but tense. "We'll be there soon."

The minutes dragged by, and Ava found herself staring at every passing car, every shadow on the side of the road. The feeling of being watched clung to her like a heavy blanket, suffocating her thoughts. Her phone sat in her lap, silent for now, but every few minutes she would glance at it, half-expecting it to buzz again with another call, another threat.

After what felt like an eternity, the road began to narrow, the tall buildings and endless concrete of the city giving way to trees and empty stretches of land. Jess's grip on the steering wheel loosened slightly, though her eyes remained focused on the road. The tension between them began to ease, but Ava's mind refused to let go of the fear.

"We're almost there," Jess said, glancing at Ava with a small, reassuring smile. "My parents' place is just up the road. It's quiet out here. You'll feel better once we're inside."

Ava nodded again, but the knot in her stomach tightened. She wanted to believe Jess, wanted to feel safe. But something still felt wrong. The call, the voice—there was more to this than just a break-in. It was personal, and whoever it was wouldn't stop just because she'd left the city.

As Jess turned onto a narrow, tree-lined road, Ava's phone buzzed in her lap. Her heart lurched, her breath catching in her throat. Jess's eyes darted to the phone, her face instantly clouded with worry.

"Don't answer it," Jess said quickly. "Just ignore it."

But Ava couldn't. Her hand trembled as she reached for the phone, her eyes widening when she saw the number. It wasn't the same one as before, but something told her it was them. The same feeling of dread from earlier washed over her like ice water.

"Ava, don't," Jess warned, her voice firm. "It's probably them again."

Ava hesitated, her finger hovering over the screen. She knew Jess was right, but she had to know. She had to hear the voice again, if only to confirm her growing suspicion that whoever this was wasn't going to stop. She pressed the button and held the phone to her ear.

"Ava," the voice said, no distortion this time. It was calm, almost soothing, but unmistakable.

Ava's heart stopped. She knew that voice.

"Who are you?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

A soft laugh crackled through the phone, sending a chill down her spine. "You'll find out soon enough," the voice said. "But you can't run, Ava. It's too late for that."

Ava's blood ran cold, her mind struggling to process what she was hearing. She knew that voice—it was familiar, close, like a forgotten memory suddenly resurfacing.

"Why are you doing this?" Ava demanded, her voice rising with panic. "What do you want from me?"

The voice paused, as if considering the question. Then, with a chilling calmness, it replied, "It's not about what I want. It's about what you've forgotten."

The call ended abruptly, leaving Ava staring at the phone, her hand trembling violently.

"What did they say?" Jess asked, her voice tight with fear as she glanced between the road and Ava.

"They... they said it's not about what they want," Ava whispered, her eyes wide, her pulse racing. "It's about what I've forgotten."

Jess's brow furrowed. "What does that mean? What could you have forgotten?"

Ava shook her head, her mind spinning in a thousand different directions. She didn't know. She couldn't remember. But the voice—she knew that voice. It wasn't just some random person stalking her. This was someone from her past, someone who knew her.

But how? And why?

As they pulled into the driveway of Jess's parents' house, Ava's mind was in overdrive. She couldn't shake the feeling that whatever this was, it went deeper than she could possibly understand. The answers were there, lurking in the corners of her memory, but they remained just out of reach.

Jess parked the car and turned to her, her face pale with worry. "We're here," she said softly, trying to keep her voice steady. "Let's get inside. We'll figure this out."

Ava nodded, but as they stepped out of the car and approached the house, the weight of the voice's words lingered in her mind.

*It's about what you've forgotten.*

The problem was, Ava had no idea what that could be. And now, she was more afraid than ever to find out.