The Introvert

Lena barely made it through the school day.

Her thoughts were a tangled mess—half-formed questions, lingering fear, and something else she didn't want to name.

The Vanished had approached her. Openly.

Not in the shadows, not through whispers in the dark, but right here, in the daylight, inside her world.

And the worst part?

Somewhere deep inside her, she knew this wasn't the last time she'd see him.

The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

Who was he?

She didn't even know his name, yet he had spoken to her like they were already connected. Like she had already chosen—

Lena clenched her fists. No.

She wasn't one of them. She wouldn't be.

But the doubt was there, slithering in the back of her mind.

Did Ethan really tell her the full truth?

What was The Watchers' real goal?

And why did The Vanished think they could get to her so easily?

She needed answers.

Now.

---

The Unspoken Truths

By the time the final bell rang, Lena was exhausted.

She had spent the whole day pretending—pretending she wasn't shaken, pretending her mind wasn't filled with shadows, pretending she was just another student, sitting through mundane classes.

But the moment she stepped outside the school gates, the weight of it all crashed down on her.

She pulled out her phone and texted Ethan.

Lena: We need to talk. Now.

The reply came almost instantly.

Ethan: Where?

Lena: The rooftop. 15 minutes.

She didn't wait for a response.

Instead, she walked, her legs carrying her on autopilot. The school rooftop was empty, as expected. Most students weren't allowed up here, but Lena and Ethan had always found their way past the rules.

Minutes passed.

Then—

The door creaked open.

Ethan stepped through, his eyes scanning the area before locking onto her.

"You look like hell," he said, frowning.

Lena exhaled sharply. "Thanks."

Ethan leaned against the railing, arms crossed. "What happened?"

Lena didn't hesitate. "One of them approached me."

Ethan's body tensed immediately. "What?"

Lena nodded, gripping the cool metal railing. "A boy. Tall. Dark hair. Golden eyes."

Ethan cursed under his breath.

Lena's stomach dropped. "You know him."

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, looking more frustrated than surprised. "Of course, I do."

Lena's pulse quickened. "Who is he?"

For a moment, Ethan didn't answer. His jaw clenched, his expression unreadable.

Finally, he exhaled.

"His name is Riven," Ethan said, voice sharp. "And he's dangerous."

Lena's breath hitched.

Riven.

Somehow, the name fit—dark, sharp, and undeniably unsettling.

Ethan continued, his tone colder than she had ever heard it. "He's one of The Vanished's strongest. A hunter. If he's after you, it means they're done watching."

Lena swallowed. "Done watching?"

Ethan's eyes darkened. "It means they're coming for you. For real this time."

A chill ran down her spine.

This wasn't just a warning anymore.

It was a declaration.

---

The Tension Between Them

Lena took a step closer. "Tell me everything, Ethan. No more half-truths. No more 'protecting me.' I need to know."

Ethan sighed, looking away for a moment before nodding.

"You know how The Watchers have been trying to keep you safe?" he started. "It's because they know what The Vanished do to people like you."

Lena's fingers tightened around the railing. "And what do they do?"

Ethan's jaw clenched. "They turn them."

Lena's breath caught.

"They take people with abilities like yours and make them their own," Ethan explained. "Some go willingly. Others…" His voice dropped. "Others don't get a choice."

Lena felt nausea rising in her stomach. "And Riven?"

Ethan's expression turned hard. "He was one of us. Once."

Lena's head snapped up.

"What?"

Ethan's grip on the railing was tight enough to turn his knuckles white. "He was a Watcher. Before he betrayed us."

Lena felt the world shift beneath her.

A former Watcher. Now a Vanished.

And now, he was after her.

"Why?" she whispered.

Ethan shook his head. "I don't know. But I do know one thing." His eyes burned with intensity.

"You can't trust him."

Lena swallowed past the lump in her throat.

But a dangerous thought had already taken root in her mind.

What if Ethan was wrong?

What if Riven wasn't lying?

What if the truth wasn't as black and white as she had been told?

---

The Shadow in the Distance

By the time she left the rooftop, the sun had started to set.

Lena's mind was spinning, her heart heavy with doubt.

Everything she had believed—about The Watchers, The Vanished, even herself—was beginning to unravel.

And worst of all?

She wasn't sure who to believe anymore.

She turned the corner toward her apartment, her steps slower than usual. Her body was exhausted, but her mind refused to rest.

Then—

She felt it.

That eerie sense of being watched.

Lena's breath caught.

She stopped walking, scanning her surroundings. The streets were empty. The dimming sunlight cast long shadows across the pavement.

But she knew.

Someone was there.

Her fingers curled. Her body tensed.

And then—

A figure stepped out of the shadows.

Tall. Dark-haired.

Golden eyes.

Riven.

Lena's heart pounded.

"I told you we'd see each other again," he murmured, his voice like silk and smoke.

Lena took a slow step back.

"I don't want to hear whatever it is you have to say," she said firmly.

Riven smiled lazily, but there was something sharp behind it. "Then don't listen."

Lena narrowed her eyes. "Then why are you here?"

Riven tilted his head. "Because whether you like it or not, Lena, your life as you knew it is over."

Lena swallowed hard.

Riven took a step closer, his golden eyes gleaming.

"And soon," he murmured, "you'll have to decide what side you're really on."

Lena's breath hitched.

She wanted to fight back. To argue. To say she had already chosen.

But deep inside—

She wasn't sure anymore.

And that scared her more than anything else.

---