You Came Back

Lila’s breath was still jagged in her throat when the door sealed behind them. The metal groaned under the pressure of whatever force was trying to follow them. Harper’s hand was on her arm, steadying her even though Lila could feel the tremor beneath his skin. The girl was still clinging to her side, her fingers curled tightly around Lila’s wrist. Her breath was sharp and fast, ragged with fear. Lila’s eyes darted toward Elias. His form was sharp against the dim light, his gaze cold and hard. “You good?” Elias’s voice cut through the tension, low and sharp. Lila’s chest heaved. “I’m breathing.” “That’s not what I asked.”

She slid her gaze toward him. His eyes were dark beneath the glow of the emergency lights. His jaw was tight, his mouth thin with restrained tension. His gaze swept over her, lingering for a beat too long on the bruises already forming on her skin. Lila swallowed hard. “We need to move.” The girl’s breath hitched. Lila turned toward her. The girl’s eyes were wide and dark, almost too large for her face. “He’s still here,” she whispered. “You don’t understand.” “Make me understand.” The girl’s gaze sharpened. “He’ll find you. He’ll get inside you.”

Lila’s pulse tightened. “That’s not happening.” “You can’t stop him,” the girl breathed. “Watch me.” Harper’s gaze flicked toward the corridor behind them. The metal wall groaned, a low sound that vibrated through the floor beneath their feet. Lila’s breath sharpened. Her hand curled around the girl’s wrist. “Can you walk?” The girl hesitated. Then nodded.

Lila started forward. Harper fell into step beside her. Anya was close behind, her hand hovering over the grip of her weapon. Elias lingered at the back, his gaze scanning the dark edges of the corridor. Lila could feel the heat of his presence even from a distance. The low sound of his breathing threaded beneath the sharp hum of the lights.

They moved fast. Lila’s pulse hammered against her ribs. The girl’s breath was sharp beside her ear. The hallway twisted and stretched ahead, the walls narrowing as they descended deeper. The air was colder here, thin and stale. Lila’s skin prickled with a deep sense of wrongness. “It’s down there,” the girl whispered. Lila’s breath sharpened. “What’s down there?” The girl’s gaze darkened. “Him.” Harper’s jaw flexed. “We don’t have another option.” “That’s what he wants,” the girl said. “Then we make him regret it.” Lila’s voice was steady, cold.

The corridor widened ahead of them. The lights were dimmer here, barely enough to cut through the dark. The girl’s hand trembled in Lila’s grip. Lila’s gaze sharpened as the space opened up into a large circular chamber. Lila’s pulse slowed. The chamber was empty. But the silence was wrong. Heavy. The sound of their breathing echoed beneath the high curve of the ceiling. Harper’s gaze narrowed. “This is too easy.” “It’s not easy,” the girl whispered. A low breath slid through the air. Lila’s heart tightened. Her gaze flicked toward Elias. He was still at the edge of the chamber, his stance hard and tense.

Then the lights flickered. The girl’s hand tightened around Lila’s. Her breath hitched. The air sharpened. And the shadows shifted. Lila saw it too late. The dark shape moved toward them, fast and fluid. Harper shouted. Lila pulled the girl behind her. The figure hit her hard. Lila’s back slammed into the wall. Her breath ripped from her throat. Cold fingers curled around her throat. “Lila!” Elias’s voice was sharp. The figure’s face hovered inches from hers. His mouth curled. “Told you it was too late.” Lila’s hand shot toward her weapon. The figure’s hand closed over her wrist, twisting hard. Lila’s breath sharpened. Her vision blurred at the edges. “Lila!” The gunshot exploded through the room. The pressure on her throat vanished. Lila gasped, her knees hitting the floor hard. Her vision sharpened. Elias was there, his weapon raised, his gaze hard and dangerous.

The figure staggered backward. His hand lifted toward his chest where the bullet had struck. Then his mouth curled into a sharp smile. “That won’t work.” Lila’s breath sharpened. The figure’s body dissolved into the dark. Elias’s jaw tightened. He stepped toward her, his hand curling around her arm. His grip was hard, steady. “You okay?” Lila’s breath tore through her chest. “Yeah.” Elias’s gaze sharpened. His thumb brushed over her wrist, lingering against her pulse. Lila’s breath stilled. His eyes were dark beneath the dim light, his jaw tight with quiet rage. “I’ve got you,” Elias said softly.

Her pulse quickened. His hand slid down her arm, his thumb brushing her skin as he steadied her. Lila’s breath caught in her throat. Elias’s gaze lingered. His face was too close—his breath sharp against her cheek. “You don’t have to” “I’m not leaving you.” Lila’s breath hitched. His hand tightened around her wrist. Their eyes locked. Her chest ached. “Movement,” Harper’s voice snapped through the tension. Lila pulled away first. Her pulse hammered in her throat. Elias’s gaze followed her, his jaw flexing. Lila forced her breath to steady. She pulled the girl to her feet. The girl’s hand curled around Lila’s wrist.

“You can’t kill him,” the girl whispered. “Then what’s the point?” Lila’s voice was sharp. The girl’s gaze darkened. “Survival.” Lila’s jaw flexed. “Not enough.” A sharp breath drifted through the chamber. The lights flickered. Lila’s gaze snapped toward the far edge of the room. The figure’s shape flickered beneath the dark. His mouth curled. “Come and get me.” Lila’s breath sharpened. “Don’t,” Elias said. Lila’s gaze narrowed. “Watch me.” She pulled the girl behind her and started forward. The figure’s mouth widened into a jagged smile. “I’m not going to stop,” Lila said coldly. The figure’s smile sharpened. “Good.”

A blast of force ripped through the chamber. Lila’s breath tore from her throat. The floor buckled beneath her feet. Elias’s arm shot around her waist, yanking her back before the floor crumbled beneath her. Lila gasped as Elias pulled her against his chest. His breath was sharp against her ear. “I’ve got you,” Elias whispered.

Lila’s breath trembled. His hand curled against her back. His mouth brushed her temple. Her pulse hammered through her veins. Her hand curled against his chest. “Elias” “Don’t,” he said. Their gazes locked. The heat between them sharpened. Elias’s breath ghosted across her cheek. Lila’s breath hitched. Her mouth parted. Elias’s gaze darkened. His thumb brushed the edge of her jaw. A sharp sound cracked through the air.

Elias’s gaze sharpened. Lila pulled away first. The girl was standing at the edge of the room. Her eyes wide. “He’s already inside,” the girl whispered. The walls trembled. The figure’s smile widened. “You can’t stop this,” the figure whispered. The lights shattered. Darkness swallowed the room whole.