WITCH - ARA

Twenty four

It's been two weeks. Two long, agonizing weeks since Ava vanished, and it feels like everything is falling apart. The police haven't done a damn thing-or at least, that's what Keith said. Her parents, though? They hate me now more than ever. They even tried to file a case against me, but Silas's parents have been my saving grace. They know what happened wasn't intentional, and their support keeps me from breaking down completely. I owe them more than I can say.

Keith, Ethan, and I have been doing everything-everything-humanly possible to find her. Calling old contacts, through the usual suspects, retracing steps, and trying every spell I can think of. But still, nothing. Ava is just... gone. The helplessness is a weight in my chest, making it hard to breathe. Every time I come home, it feels emptier. I feel emptier.

I'm home alone tonight, and the silence is too loud, suffocating me. I can't hold it in anymore. I scream into the emptiness, my voice echoing off the walls. "Why is this happening to me? Why Ava? Why now?" My fists clench at my sides, nails digging into my palms as my vision blurs with tears.

And then, just as suddenly, I see it again-the woods. That same dark, cursed place. My teeth grit together in anger because everything started from those stupid woods. Silas, Ava, this nightmare... it all comes back to that one moment.

I don't even think. I grab my jacket and storm out of the house, my feet carrying me toward the woods before I even realize it. I don't care how dangerous it is; I'm done being scared. If the answers are there, then that's where I need to be.

But just as I'm about to step into the shadow of the trees, I slam into someone. Hard. I stumble back, my heart pounding, already too on edge to deal with this.

"Blaze? Is that you?" a familiar voice asks, surprised. I blink, my breath hitching when I look up and realize who it is. It's him. Aiden, the guy Silas had the biggest crush on back in the day. But he moved away from Ashbourne City years ago. Seeing him here, now, of all times? My mind reels with disbelief.

"Aiden?" I whisper, stepping back, still in shock. "You're back?"

He nods, his face still filled with surprise. "Yeah, I just got back. What's going on? You look... different. And where's Si?"

At the mention of Silas, my throat tightens painfully. Guilt slams into me like a tidal wave. I can't say it. Not here. Not like this.

"Can we... Can we talk somewhere else?" I stammer, desperate to get out of this moment.

He frowns, confused, but nods. "Yeah, sure. Let's go to the café."

Without another word, we walk in silence, my heart still racing as we head to the nearest café. I can feel his curious gaze on me, but I'm too wrapped up in my own thoughts. How do I even begin to explain?

Once we reach the café, I pick the farthest corner, hoping no one will overhear the conversation. I still feel the heaviness in my chest-Silas, Ava, everything. It's all too much, but I need to tell Aiden what's happened. I have no choice.

We sit down, the low murmur of conversations around us barely registering in my mind as I fidget with the edge of my sleeves. Aiden's eyes are on me, waiting.

"Aiden..." I start, my voice low, unsure of how to even say it. "Silas... she went missing."

He sits up straighter, the surprise clear on his face. "What? Missing?"

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. "She was found... dead." The words leave my mouth, but they feel so wrong. So final.

Aiden's face loses all color, his shock turning his pale skin a blotchy red. His eyes go wide, and he whispers, almost to himself, "I... I came here for her, Blaze."

I blink, confused. "What do you mean? After all these years?"

He runs a shaky hand through his hair, his voice strained. "So... she didn't tell you, did she? We got connected through social media a few months ago. It felt so good talking to her again. And then... we confessed." He takes a deep breath, looking like he's holding on by a thread. "We told each other we had feelings. I told her I'd come to see her once I got my holidays from work... being a chef in Liverpool." His words start to crack, breaking apart with emotion. "But then, she just... stopped responding to my texts. No explanation. Nothing. So I came, hoping to surprise her... and then I saw you."

His words hang between us, the weight of them almost unbearable. My heart sinks deeper into my stomach as I process what he just said. Silas had been talking to him this whole time? My Silas? How dare she not tell me?

But I push that thought away, guilt seeping in. It's not her fault. She didn't deserve any of this.

I reach out, grabbing his hand gently. "Aiden, I didn't want this either. I didn't know. I'm sorry... I really am."

He grips my hand tightly, like he's trying to ground himself in the middle of this nightmare. We sit in silence for a moment, both trying to hold back the tears threatening to fall.

I break the silence, my voice trembling slightly. "Do you remember Ava?"

Aiden furrows his brow, raising an eyebrow. "That little brat? Yeah, what about her?"

I let out a humorless chuckle, nodding. "She's missing too now."

Aiden's face twists in disbelief, his confusion growing. "What? Ava's missing?"

"Yeah..." I feel the tears welling up again. "I don't know what's happening, Aiden. It's like everything's just falling apart."

He stares at me, completely dumbfounded, as if trying to comprehend the enormity of what I'm saying. "What the hell is going on, Blaze?"

"I'll explain once everything is in line, okay?" I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "How long are you staying here for?"

"Planned a week, but I'm making it a month now," Aiden replies firmly. "My chef work can wait. My assistant will manage the restaurant, but I know you need someone right now. I need to know what's going on."

Just as I'm about to smile, a deep voice cuts through the air.

"Want who?"

I freeze, turning slowly to see Keith Wolfe standing there, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable but his tone demanding.

"Keith?" I stammer, caught off guard.

"Want who, young man?" Keith repeats, stepping closer to the table, his gaze cold.

Aiden raises an eyebrow, looking between us. "Blaze, who is he?"

I blink, my mind racing. Keith's eyes are locked on Aiden, as if I'm not even in the room anymore.

"I'm talking to you," Keith snaps, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Answer me."

Aiden doesn't flinch, matching Keith's intensity. "I said she needs someone to comfort her."

Keith scoffs, his lips curling in a mocking smirk. "She has me. You can go back to your Liverpool and swim there."

My frustration bubbles over as I glare at Keith. "Keith, stop it," I say sharply. "He's Silas's boyfriend."

Keith's eyes narrow slightly, processing my words, but his possessiveness doesn't waver. He steps closer, his presence overwhelming. "Blaze doesn't need anyone but me. You're wasting your time."

Aiden stands his ground, crossing his arms. "I'm here for her. Not for your approval."

The tension between them is suffocating, both refusing to back down. Keith's jaw tightens, his focus entirely on making his dominance clear.

"Keith, enough," I say, standing up to put some distance between them. "This isn't the time for this."

Keith's eyes flick to me, but his control never slips. He gives Aiden one last dismissive glance. "Just know, Blaze, I'm the one who's going to make sure you're safe. No one else."

Aiden mutters under his breath, "Yeah, well, I'm not going anywhere."

I sigh, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "Alright, can we all focus on what matters? Ava is still missing."