AVA's EDGE

six

"What book?" Ava finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper, trying to sound calm even though panic stirred within her. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Liam's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Of course you don't. Your mother made sure of that before she died. But trust me, Ava, the key you're so desperately searching for is nothing compared to the book. You think this house holds secrets? That's just the beginning. The real secret is in that book, and your mother hid it well."

Ava took a step back,and said "Why should I believe anything you say?"

"Because," Liam said, his eyes narrowing as he stepped closer to her, "you've already felt it, haven't you? The way that house whispers. The way it bends reality, Ava. The real power, the real truth, lies within that book. And if you don't help me find it..."

His threat hung in the air, unspoken but clear.

Ava's mind raced back to her mother. The woman who had raised her with love but also an undeniable sense of mystery. There were always strange moments, things left unsaid, half-told truths. Now, it seemed, those mysteries were unraveling, threatening to pull her into a darker reality. The flashbacks of night came in front of her.

"Let me make this simple for you," Liam said, breaking the silence. "You help me find the book, or I make sure you never get that key. And without the key, you'll never find out what really happened to your mother."

The revelation hit her like a punch to the gut. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice shaking.

Liam chuckled darkly. "Oh, Ava, did you really think she died naturally? No. Your mother got too close to the truth, and it killed her."

Her world tilted. The ground felt unstable beneath her feet. Everything she thought she knew, everything she believed, was a lie.

"You killed her," Ava whispered, the rage bubbling up from a deep well of pain.

"You really think ava?" Liam replied, Ava, you have a choice. Find the book for me, and you might just survive. Refuse, and you'll end up just like her."

Ava clenched her fists, her body trembling with the weight of her emotions. But beneath the shock, the fear, there was something else-a spark. Her mother had been trying to protect something. Something bigger than Ava could understand. And whatever that was, Liam could not have it.

"No," Ava said, her voice steady now, despite the storm raging inside her. "You're not getting that book. And you're not getting the key, either."

Liam's smile faded, replaced with a cold, murderous glint in his eyes. "You think you can stop me? You don't even know what you're up against."

"I don't need to," Ava replied, stepping closer to him. "Because I'm not afraid of you ."

Liam's face twisted with anger. He lunged toward her, but before he could reach her, Ava ducked to the side and ran. She was not scared of liam but the truth liam revealed made her.She didn't know where she was going, but her instincts screamed for her to get away. To find the answers her mother had left behind. To protect the truth at all costs.

Behind her, she heard Liam's voice, cold and venomous. "Run all you want, Ava. But know this: Death is always watching. And when it catches up to you, it won't be kind."

As she fled into the night, Ava knew one thing for certain. Her mother had been protecting something-something worth dying for. And now, it was up to her to finish what her mother had started. The key, the book, the truth-all of it was tied to a darkness that threatened to consume her. But she wouldn't let it. Not without a fight.

She had nothing left to lose.

Except, perhaps, her life.

But some truths, she realized,..
The only matter going in AVA'S mind was only about that book, that liam was talking about.

Now, she has to find that key, and thinking she remembers about what liam had said to her to work as a partner and get what we want.

She clenched her fist, saw at her phone want to text liam, but her ego made her not to text liam for help,

From no where, liam text came" unraveling truth you can never find coz they are behind the bars, and u can't reach there without me".

She filled with anger and frustration that liam has created, she clam herself and replies," truth behind bars?please,I break through walls, I don't need a guide when I'm the one writing the map".
Saying in ferocious way but need aid to reach key and that book.

Liam replies,"sure, but if you want to tag along, you better keep up- I'm the one doing all the heavy lifting here".

Ava in savage,"okay but don't get in my way- I'm the one making this happen".

Liam in rad way,"okay, but just remember who's driving this train".

Ava mind raced and all this made her mind to find that key and find out all the secrets that hide from years ago.

Liam text came, saying her to meet at" st. John's Lutheran church", which is near that crime scene.

Ava,"get it".

Ava reached there liam was standing near the entrance of the church his hand shoved deep into the pockets in his pants.

As she approached, liam looked her, silence was there only rustling of leaves were there, liam broke the silence and said,"oh, u really come,I didn't think that u will.."

Ava replied in rude manner but with subtle smile,"of course, I have to find all the truth and specially that book".

Ava saw that she was standing just few steps ahead from that crime scene, ava looked there for a second and flashbacks were coming in front of her and haunting her.

Liam broke the silence and said to go there at crime scene,ava muttered" why we have to go there". And looking liam from stunned eyes.

Liam knows why she was looking him like that, he said,"I know all that bloody shit,now stop looking me like this".

They reached there, ava looked here and there, and remember everything the echoe, murder, her breath almost stood in her throat, her feet stood frozen.