Twisted Devotion

Chapter Eleven

Ava's breath caught in her throat as she crouched to pick up Jess's phone. The screen was cracked, but the faint glow still illuminated the room enough to make out the scattered tools and boxes around her. Her heart raced faster now, her mind spinning with fear and confusion. *Where was Jess?*

She held the phone tightly, scanning the room for any sign of her friend. A soft shuffle of footsteps on the stairs behind her snapped her attention back to the danger. The man was coming. His presence loomed like a dark cloud, oppressive and closing in.

Ava moved quickly, her eyes darting around the basement for a place to hide or something to defend herself with. The walls were lined with old shelves filled with tools, paint cans, and boxes of forgotten memories. She grabbed a rusty wrench from a nearby shelf, clutching it like a lifeline.

"Jess," she whispered under her breath, hoping against hope that her friend was somewhere nearby, hidden in the shadows. But the basement was small, and Jess wasn't anywhere she could see. Ava's mind raced, battling the terror rising in her chest. She was on her own.

The sound of footsteps on the stairs grew louder, each creak of the wood signaling that the man was getting closer. Ava backed into the farthest corner of the basement, the cold wall pressing against her back. She forced herself to steady her breathing, gripping the wrench so tightly her knuckles turned white.

The door at the top of the stairs swung open, and the dim light from the hallway spilled into the basement. The man stood in the doorway, his shadow stretching across the floor as he descended the steps, slow and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey.

"Ava," his voice called out, smooth and menacing, as if he already knew where she was hiding. "You can't run from this. You can't hide. You'll have to face the truth sooner or later."

Ava's mind raced. She couldn't stay cornered here. She needed a plan, something to distract him, something to give her a chance to escape. Her eyes fell on the shelf beside her, cluttered with boxes and cans. Without thinking, she reached up and pushed a heavy box off the shelf, sending it crashing to the floor.

The noise echoed through the basement, and for a split second, the man paused on the stairs, startled by the sudden sound. That was all the time Ava needed.

She bolted toward the opposite side of the basement, weaving through the scattered debris and ducking behind an old tool bench. Her heart pounded in her chest as she crouched low, trying to stay out of sight. The darkness closed in around her, and she prayed that the shadows would keep her hidden.

The man's footsteps resumed, slower now, more deliberate as he moved through the basement. He wasn't in a hurry. He knew she was trapped. His voice floated through the room, sending a shiver down Ava's spine.

"You're scared. I get that. But there's no need to be. I'm not here to hurt you—unless you make me." His voice dripped with false calm, but there was an undercurrent of malice that chilled her to the bone. "You don't remember, do you? That's the part that hurts the most. After everything, after all this time... you've forgotten."

Ava squeezed her eyes shut, trying to keep her breathing quiet and steady. Her thoughts raced back to what he had said before. *It's about what you've forgotten.* But nothing made sense. No matter how hard she tried to remember, she couldn't place him.

The man's footsteps were close now, too close. Ava peeked out from her hiding spot, her eyes darting around the room, looking for anything she could use to escape. The basement door was too far away, and the man was between her and the only exit.

Suddenly, a low groan came from the far side of the basement. Ava froze, her heart leaping into her throat. It was faint, but unmistakable—Jess.

The man turned sharply toward the sound, his eyes narrowing as he moved in that direction. Ava's blood ran cold. Jess was still here, still alive, but she was hurt. Ava couldn't leave her, but if she didn't do something soon, neither of them would make it out.

Desperation clawed at Ava's chest. She had to act now. Her eyes fell on a set of shelves near the man, filled with heavy paint cans. Without thinking, she reached for a small tool on the bench beside her and threw it toward the shelves. The metal clanged loudly against the wood, and the shelves teetered for a moment before several cans fell, crashing to the floor with a loud thud.

The man spun toward the noise, startled for the first time, his focus momentarily distracted. This was her chance.

Ava bolted from her hiding spot, rushing toward the far corner where she had heard Jess. She found her friend lying on the ground, her face pale and her eyes half-closed. Jess's arm was bruised, and there was a small gash on her forehead, but she was breathing.

"Jess, I'm here," Ava whispered, her voice thick with fear and urgency. "We need to get out of here."

Jess groaned softly, trying to sit up, but her movements were sluggish, disoriented. Ava glanced back over her shoulder. The man was already turning toward them, his expression darkening with rage. He started toward them, his steps quickening.

"Get up, Jess!" Ava urged, grabbing her friend's arm and pulling her to her feet.

But Jess could barely stand, her body weak and unsteady. There wasn't enough time. The man was getting closer.

With a surge of adrenaline, Ava grabbed a nearby hammer from the floor and swung it toward the man as he approached. It wasn't a direct hit, but it was enough to make him stumble backward, cursing under his breath.

"Run!" Ava screamed, her voice breaking with fear.

Jess, fueled by the urgency in Ava's voice, managed to move, stumbling toward the stairs. Ava followed, her heart pounding in her chest. She could hear the man behind them, recovering quickly, his footsteps fast and heavy.

They reached the stairs, scrambling up them as fast as they could. Jess's breathing was labored, but they couldn't stop. Ava reached the door at the top, throwing it open just as the man's hand grabbed the back of her shirt, yanking her backward.

Ava screamed, twisting and kicking as she tried to break free from his grip. She could feel his breath on her neck, the weight of his presence pressing down on her like a dark cloud.

"You won't get away," he snarled, his voice filled with venom. "You belong to this, Ava. You always have."

But Ava wasn't going to let him win. She kicked backward with all her strength, connecting with his shin. The man grunted in pain, his grip loosening just enough for Ava to wrench herself free. She stumbled through the door, grabbing Jess by the arm and pulling her outside.

They burst into the cold night air, running as fast as they could into the darkness, the man's angry shouts echoing behind them.