The gunshot echoed through the night.

Meher screamed.

“Aariz!”

For one terrifying second…

Everything stopped.

The rain.

The wind.

Her heartbeat.

She couldn’t see anything.

Smoke filled the air.

Aariz was standing in front of her.

Still.

Silent.

Meher’s eyes moved down.

There was no blood.

No wound.

Aariz was alive.

Then she saw someone lying on the ground.

The stranger.

Blood was spreading across his coat.

Behind him stood a man.

Holding a gun.

Meher froze.

She recognized him.

Samuel Cross.

The same man who had once helped Aariz.

The same man everyone believed was dead.

Cross lowered his weapon.

“Are you both alive?”

Meher couldn’t speak.

Aariz stared at him.

“You shot him.”

Cross nodded.

“I had to.”

Aariz looked at the wounded man.

“He was going to kill her.”

“I know.”

Meher ran toward Aariz.

She grabbed his coat.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not bleeding?”

“No.”

She touched his face.

His shoulders.

His chest.

Aariz caught her hands.

“Meher.”

She stared at him.

“I thought you were dead.”

“I know.”

“I thought…”

Her voice broke.

Aariz pulled her into his arms.

She held him tightly.

He closed his eyes.

For a few seconds…

The world disappeared.

There was only her.

Only him.

Only the desperate feeling of two people who had almost lost each other.

Meher whispered:

“Don’t ever do that to me again.”

“I’ll try.”

“No.”

She pulled away.

“Promise.”

Aariz looked at her.

“I promise.”

Cross cleared his throat.

“Beautiful.”

They both looked at him.

Cross raised an eyebrow.

“But perhaps we can postpone the emotional reunion.”

Meher frowned.

“Who are you?”

Cross smiled.

“I’ve been asking myself that question for years.”

Aariz sighed.

“Samuel Cross.”

“I know your name.”

“Then you know enough.”

“No.”

Meher stepped forward.

“You know everything.”

Cross looked at her.

“About what?”

“About my father.”

“Yes.”

“My mother.”

“Yes.”

“Aariz.”

Cross looked at Aariz.

“Unfortunately.”

Meher’s eyes narrowed.

“Then tell me the truth.”

Cross became silent.

Aariz spoke.

“Not here.”

Meher turned toward him.

“Why?”

“Because we’re not safe.”

“Where are we supposed to go?”

Cross answered.

“Blackwood Manor.”

Meher froze.

The old house.

The house she had spent years trying to forget.

The house where her father had supposedly died.

The house where her childhood memories had disappeared.

“No.”

Aariz looked at her.

“Meher.”

“I’m not going there.”

“We need to.”

“No.”

Her voice broke.

“I can’t.”

Aariz stepped closer.

“You don’t have to do it alone.”

She looked at him.

“That’s what you always say.”

“Because it’s true.”

“You keep telling me you’ll protect me.”

“I will.”

“But who protects you?”

Aariz became silent.

Meher took his hand.

“I don’t want you to die protecting me.”

“You won’t lose me.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Neither do you.”

She stared at him.

Then Aariz gently squeezed her hand.

“But I’m still here.”

Meher looked into his eyes.

And somehow…

That was enough.

For now.

---

An hour later…

They reached Blackwood Manor.

The house stood beneath the moonlight.

Dark.

Silent.

Waiting.

Meher stood outside the gate.

Her hands were cold.

Aariz noticed.

He took her hand.

She looked at him.

“You’re shaking.”

“So are you.”

“I’m not.”

“You’re lying.”

He smiled.

She almost smiled back.

Almost.

Then the gate opened.

By itself.

Meher immediately moved closer to him.

Aariz looked at her.

“Still not scared?”

“No.”

“Your hand says otherwise.”

“Stop looking at my hand.”

“I like holding it.”

Meher looked at him.

“You’re impossible.”

“I’ve been told.”

She squeezed his fingers.

“Don’t let go.”

Aariz’s expression softened.

“Never.”

They walked inside.

The door opened.

The house smelled of dust and old wood.

Meher looked around.

Memories began returning.

Her father’s study.

The staircase.

The hallway.

The old clock.

Then…

A flash.

A little girl.

Running.

Someone shouting.

Fire.

Meher stopped.

Aariz immediately turned.

“What happened?”

“I remember.”

“What?”

She looked toward the staircase.

“I was here.”

Aariz nodded.

“Yes.”

“That night.”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you weren’t ready.”

“Who decides that?”

“You.”

Meher stared at him.

“What?”

“You were twelve.”

“You had forgotten everything.”

“Your mother wanted you to live.”

“Not remember.”

Meher shook her head.

“I hate this.”

“I know.”

“Everyone decided what I should remember.”

“Everyone decided what I should forget.”

Aariz moved closer.

“Meher…”

She looked at him.

“Do you know what hurts the most?”

“What?”

“I don’t know which memories are mine anymore.”

Aariz’s eyes softened.

She continued:

“What if my whole childhood is a lie?”

“It’s not.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I remember you.”

Meher froze.

Aariz looked at her.

“I remember the girl you were.”

“The girl who used to sit by the window.”

“The girl who hated thunderstorms.”

“The girl who cried when her father left for work.”

“The girl who always pretended she wasn’t afraid.”

Meher’s eyes filled with tears.

“You remember me?”

“I never forgot you.”

She stared at him.

“Then why didn’t you find me?”

Aariz’s expression changed.

“Because I wasn’t allowed to.”

“By whom?”

“Your mother.”

Meher froze.

“Why?”

“She said if I found you…”

Aariz looked away.

“…I would put you in danger.”

Meher whispered:

“But you found me anyway.”

Aariz looked at her.

“No.”

“Then how?”

“You found me.”

Meher frowned.

“What?”

“You came into that café.”

“You sat beside me.”

“You looked at me.”

“And I knew.”

“Knew what?”

“That it was you.”

Meher’s heart stopped.

“You knew me?”

“From the first moment.”

“Then why did you pretend?”

“Because I was afraid.”

“Of me?”

“No.”

Aariz stepped closer.

“Of loving you.”

Meher stared at him.

“Why?”

“Because I knew I had no right.”

“No right?”

“Your father died because of my family.”

“And your life was destroyed because of mine.”

“We were supposed to hate each other.”

Meher whispered:

“But we didn’t.”

“No.”

Aariz touched her face.

“We did something much more dangerous.”

“What?”

“We fell in love.”

Meher closed her eyes.

A tear slipped down.

Aariz wiped it away.

Then he whispered:

“I spent years believing that love was supposed to feel like happiness.”

His thumb touched her cheek.

“Then I met you and learned the truth.”

Meher opened her eyes.

“What truth?”

Aariz smiled sadly.

“Sometimes love feels like fear.”

“Fear of losing someone.”

“Fear of not being enough.”

“Fear that one day you’ll wake up and realize the person you love deserves someone better.”

He looked into her eyes.

“But even with all that fear…”

He leaned closer.

“I would still choose you.”

Meher couldn’t speak.

She wrapped her arms around him.

Aariz held her tightly.

Then…

A voice came from upstairs.

“Meher.”

They both froze.

Aariz immediately turned.

“Stay behind me.”

The voice came again.

“Meher.”

She recognized it.

Her mother’s voice.

“Mom?”

Aariz grabbed her hand.

“Wait.”

But Meher was already moving.

They ran upstairs.

At the end of the hallway…

A door was open.

Meher’s mother’s voice came from inside.

“Come in.”

Meher stepped inside.

The room was empty.

Aariz looked around.

“She’s gone.”

Meher saw something on the table.

A letter.

Her name was written on it.

MEHER.

She opened it.

Her mother’s handwriting.

Her hands trembled.

My dearest Meher,

If you are reading this, then you have finally returned to the house where everything began.

I am sorry.

I am sorry for every lie.

I am sorry for every birthday I missed.

I am sorry for every night you cried for a mother who was still alive.

But I had no choice.

Your father was not the man you believed him to be.

And neither was I.

The night your father died, I was trying to save you.

But someone betrayed us.

Someone we trusted.

Someone who is still close to you.

If you want the truth, find the room beneath the house.

But remember one thing.

Do not trust the man you love.

Because he knows why your father really died.

And he has never told you.

I love you.

Forgive me.

Meher’s hands began shaking.

She looked at Aariz.

He was staring at her.

“What’s wrong?”

She handed him the letter.

Aariz read it.

His face became pale.

Meher whispered:

“What does she mean?”

Aariz didn’t answer.

“Aariz.”

Still nothing.

She stepped closer.

“What do you know?”

“Meher…”

“Tell me.”

“I can’t.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“You promised.”

“I know.”

“You promised you wouldn’t lie.”

“I’m not lying.”

“Then tell me!”

Aariz closed his eyes.

Meher stepped backward.

“You know.”

“Yes.”

“You knew why my father died.”

“Yes.”

“You knew my mother was alive.”

“Yes.”

“You knew everything.”

“Not everything.”

“But enough.”

Aariz looked at her.

“Enough to be afraid.”

“Afraid of what?”

“Of losing you.”

Meher laughed bitterly.

“You already lost me.”

Aariz froze.

The words destroyed him.

Meher turned away.

“Meher.”

“Don’t.”

“Please.”

“I trusted you.”

“I know.”

“I loved you.”

“I know.”

“And you knew the whole time.”

“I was trying to protect you.”

“Stop saying that!”

She turned.

“Everyone says that!”

“My mother.”

“My father.”

“You.”

“Everyone lies and then calls it protection.”

Aariz stepped closer.

“I never wanted to lie to you.”

“But you did.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because the truth is dangerous.”

“Then let me be in danger.”

“Meher.”

“I don’t want your protection.”

Her voice broke.

“I want your honesty.”

Aariz stared at her.

Then slowly…

He said:

“Your father wasn’t killed by a stranger.”

Meher stopped.

“Who?”

Aariz’s voice was barely audible.

“He was killed by someone inside your family.”

“Who?”

Aariz looked at her.

“Your uncle.”

Meher’s face went pale.

“My uncle died before I was born.”

“No.”

“What?”

“He disappeared.”

Meher shook her head.

“That’s impossible.”

“Your family said he died.”

“Why?”

“Because he wanted to escape.”

“From what?”

Aariz looked at her.

“From your father.”

Meher stared.

“What did my father do?”

Aariz took a breath.

“He was part of an organization.”

“An organization?”

“Five people.”

“Powerful.”

“Rich.”

“Dangerous.”

Meher whispered:

“The Five Men of Blackwood.”

Aariz nodded.

“You’ve heard the name.”

“From my father’s papers.”

“Yes.”

“Who were they?”

Aariz looked at her.

“Your father.”

“My father?”

“Your uncle.”

“My grandfather.”

Aariz paused.

“And two others.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’re lying.”

“No.”

“You know.”

“I know one.”

“Who?”

Aariz’s eyes became dark.

“Someone you met.”

Meher froze.

“Who?”

Aariz didn’t answer.

Suddenly…

The lights went out.

Meher grabbed his hand.

“Aariz.”

“I’m here.”

“Don’t leave me.”

“Never.”

A sound came from downstairs.

A door opening.

Aariz pulled out his gun.

Meher stared.

“You have a gun?”

“Not now.”

“That’s not reassuring.”

Despite everything…

He smiled.

“You still make jokes when you’re scared.”

“I’m trying not to scream.”

“You’re doing great.”

They slowly moved downstairs.

Aariz kept Meher behind him.

The sound came again.

A footstep.

Then another.

Someone was inside the house.

Aariz whispered:

“Stay here.”

“No.”

“Meher.”

“You said you wouldn’t leave me.”

“I’m going ten steps away.”

“That’s still leaving.”

He looked at her.

She held his hand.

“Together.”

Aariz smiled.

“Together.”

They walked into the hall.

A shadow moved.

Aariz raised his gun.

“Stop!”

The figure turned.

Meher gasped.

“Mom.”

Her mother stood there.

But this time…

She wasn’t alone.

A man stood behind her.

An old man.

Meher stared.

She had seen his photograph.

Her grandfather.

Dr. Alan Cole.

But that was impossible.

He had been dead for twenty-five years.

Aariz immediately raised his gun.

The old man smiled.

“Put it down.”

Aariz didn’t move.

Meher whispered:

“Grandfather?”

The old man looked at her.

“Hello, Meher.”

She couldn’t breathe.

“You’re dead.”

“That’s what they wanted you to believe.”

Aariz stepped forward.

“Who are you?”

The old man laughed.

“Still protecting her?”

“Always.”

“How touching.”

Meher looked at her mother.

“You knew he was alive.”

Her mother nodded.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because he is the reason I disappeared.”

Meher looked at her grandfather.

“Why?”

He smiled.

“Because your mother discovered the truth.”

“What truth?”

He looked at Aariz.

Then at Meher.

“The truth about the night your father died.”

Aariz stepped forward.

“Tell her.”

The old man smiled.

“You want me to?”

“Yes.”

“Very well.”

He looked at Meher.

“Your father didn’t die because of money.”

“Or power.”

“Or revenge.”

“He died because he was going to expose us.”

Meher’s heart stopped.

“Us?”

The old man nodded.

“The Five Men of Blackwood.”

Meher looked at Aariz.

Then at her mother.

Then back at her grandfather.

“Who are the other two?”

The old man smiled.

“One is dead.”

“And the other?”

He looked at Aariz.

Meher’s heart stopped.

“No.”

Aariz’s face became pale.

The old man laughed.

“The fifth man…”

“…is standing right beside you.”

Meher slowly turned toward Aariz.

He looked at her.

His eyes were filled with tears.

“No.”

Meher stepped backward.

“Tell me he’s lying.”

Aariz couldn’t speak.

“Aariz.”

He closed his eyes.

“Tell me.”

“I’m sorry.”

Meher’s heart shattered.

She shook her head.

“No.”

Aariz moved toward her.

She stepped away.

“Don’t.”

“Meher.”

“You were one of them.”

“No.”

“You knew my father.”

“Yes.”

“You knew everything.”

“Yes.”

“You knew my mother.”

“Yes.”

“You knew the organization.”

“Yes.”

“You were there the night he died.”

“Yes.”

“Then you were part of it.”

Aariz looked at her.

“I was seventeen.”

“I didn’t know what they were.”

“I was forced.”

Meher shook her head.

“Everyone has an excuse.”

“Meher…”

She cried.

“I trusted you.”

“I know.”

“I loved you.”

“I know.”

“How could you?”

Aariz’s voice broke.

“Because loving you was the only thing I ever did that was real.”

Meher looked at him.

Aariz stepped closer.

“Everything else in my life was a lie.”

“But you…”

He touched his chest.

“You were never a lie.”

Meher’s tears fell.

“I don’t believe you.”

Aariz stopped.

Those four words destroyed him.

The man who had survived death.

The man who had survived guilt.

The man who had spent years running from his past.

Finally…

He was afraid.

Not of death.

Not of danger.

But of losing her.

Meher turned away.

Her mother reached for her.

“Meher.”

“Don’t touch me.”

She looked at her mother.

“You lied to me too.”

Her mother began crying.

“I had no choice.”

“You always have a choice!”

Meher ran upstairs.

Aariz followed.

“Meher!”

She entered a room and locked the door.

Aariz stood outside.

“Please.”

“Go away.”

“Open the door.”

“No.”

“Meher.”

“Just go.”

Aariz leaned his forehead against the door.

“Okay.”

Silence.

Then Meher heard his voice.

Quiet.

Broken.

“I’ll go.”

She didn’t answer.

“But before I do…”

He paused.

“I want you to know something.”

Meher closed her eyes.

“I loved you before you knew my name.”

Her tears began falling.

“I loved you when you hated me.”

“I loved you when you didn’t trust me.”

“I loved you when you were angry.”

“And I’ll love you when you forget me.”

She covered her mouth.

Aariz continued:

“You were never my weakness.”

“You were the only reason I wanted to become stronger.”

“Maybe I don’t deserve you.”

“Maybe I never did.”

“But if loving you was a crime…”

His voice broke.

“…I would still choose to be guilty.”

Meher pressed her hand against the door.

She wanted to open it.

She wanted to hold him.

But she couldn’t.

Not yet.

Aariz stepped away.

Then she heard his footsteps disappear.

Meher opened the door.

The hallway was empty.

She ran to the window.

Aariz was walking away from the house.

Alone.

In the rain.

Meher pressed her hand against the glass.

Her heart screamed his name.

But her lips remained silent.

Then…

She saw something.

A man standing behind Aariz.

A gun in his hand.

Meher’s eyes widened.

“Aariz!”

Aariz turned.

The gun fired.

Meher screamed.

And Aariz fell.

To Be Continued…