Chapter 4: The Truth in the Shadows

...The next day felt longer than it should have....

Nick barely spoke.

Jay watched him.

Rowand watched both of them.

And the distance between the three brothers grew… quietly.

That evening, Jay made up his mind.

“We’re going back,” he said.

Rowand didn’t argue. “Same time?”

Jay nodded. “We finish what we started.”

The night air was colder this time.

Still.

Too still.

They reached the same narrow path and hid again, waiting.

And just like before—

Nick appeared.

But this time, Jay and Rowand were ready.

They moved closer.

Close enough to finally see clearly.

Ava stood at the front, exactly where she had been before.

Confident. Sharp. Watching everything.

“You’re late again,” she said, but her voice carried something else this time—worry.

Brian stood beside her, calmer than the rest, eyes focused on Nick’s bag.

“Did anything change?” he asked.

Tim paced slightly, glancing behind them every few seconds.

“We shouldn’t be here,” he muttered. “I don’t like this.”

Jay leaned closer to Rowand. “So these are the people…”

Rowand whispered back, “Nick’s been hiding them?”

“Or protecting them.”

Back in the alley, Ava stepped closer to Nick.

“Tell us,” she said. “Is she still stable?”

Nick’s expression changed instantly.

Serious.

Focused.

“No,” he said quietly. “It’s getting worse.”

Jay froze.

She?

Brian ran a hand through his hair. “That’s not good. If her energy spikes again—”

“It won’t,” Nick cut in quickly.

“You don’t know that,” Ava replied. “Last time, she almost—”

“Stop,” Nick snapped.

Silence.

Rowand’s grip tightened on Jay’s arm.

“This is bad,” he whispered.

Jay nodded slightly. “We’re not leaving.”

Tim spoke again, voice shaking slightly. “We should just tell someone. This is too much for us.”

“No!” Nick said immediately.

Too fast.

Too strong.

Everyone looked at him.

“We can’t involve anyone else,” Nick continued, quieter now. “If people find out… they won’t try to help her.”

Ava’s voice dropped. “They’ll try to control her.”

Brian added, “Or worse.”

Jay’s heart started pounding again.

What are they talking about?

“Where is she now?” Ava asked.

Nick hesitated.

Then—

“At the old house,” he said.

That was enough.

Jay stepped forward.

“So you’re just going to keep lying to us?”

Everything stopped.

Nick turned sharply.

“Jay…?”

Rowand stepped out beside him. “You really thought we wouldn’t find out?”

Tim jumped back. “I knew it—I told you we were being followed!”

Brian tensed.

Ava didn’t move—but her eyes sharpened instantly.

Nick looked between his brothers, panic flashing across his face.

“You weren’t supposed to be here.”

Jay’s voice was firm. “Then start explaining.”

Silence filled the space.

Heavy.

Unavoidable.

Finally, Ava spoke.

“Nick,” she said slowly, “who are they?”

Nick swallowed.

Then looked at Jay… and Rowand.

“My brothers.”

A pause.

Then Rowand said quietly,

“Whatever this is… we’re already part of it.”

Ava studied them.

Brian stayed silent.

Tim looked like he wanted to run.

Then Ava made a decision.

“…Fine,” she said.

She stepped forward slightly.

“If they’re staying,” she added, “then they deserve to know the truth.”

Jay’s chest tightened.

“What truth?”

Ava looked directly at him.

And said the words that changed everything:

“The girl we’re trying to save…”

“…is not normal.”

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