The shadow between us

Iris couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
Avelia was hiding something—something deep, something dark. But the worst part? Iris wasn’t sure if she even wanted to know the truth.
The image of Avelia standing in the shadows, speaking in hushed tones with that unknown figure, haunted her mind. And those eyes... the way Avelia looked at her. It wasn't anger. It wasn't annoyance. It was fear.
But fear of what?
Or who?

---
The next morning, Avelia was her usual self again—carefree, teasing, laughing. If Iris hadn’t seen what she had last night, she would have believed nothing was wrong. But now, every little action, every flicker of emotion across Avelia’s face, felt like a puzzle piece waiting to be put together.
Iris kept quiet. She didn't mention what she had seen at the library. Instead, she observed.
At breakfast, Avelia hummed a song under her breath. A strange tune, one that sent a shiver down Iris’s spine.
"What's that song?" she asked casually.
Avelia froze for a fraction of a second. Then, with a small laugh, she shrugged. "Just something I heard a long time ago."
Iris nodded, but deep down, she knew Avelia was lying.

---
Later that day, at the university...
Iris had planned to focus on her classes, to distract herself from the growing tension between her and Avelia. But it wasn’t that easy.
Because Avelia was missing. Again.
No texts. No calls. No sign of her anywhere.
Iris wandered through the halls, checking their usual spots—the café, the art studio, the library. Nothing.
Then, she saw it.
A small slip of paper tucked between the pages of one of her sketchbooks.
Her hands trembled as she unfolded it.
"Stop searching. Some things are better left buried."
No signature. No clue who had left it.
But Iris already knew.

---
That night, she waited.
Avelia came home late, acting as if nothing had happened.
But Iris couldn’t pretend anymore.
"Avelia," she said, voice firm.
Avelia paused, halfway through taking off her jacket. "Hmm?"
"Where were you today?"
Avelia blinked, then smiled. "I told you—I had to run some errands."
Iris held up the note. "Then who left this in my sketchbook?"
The smile faded.
For the first time, Iris saw something raw in Avelia’s expression.
Not just fear.
But guilt.
Avelia sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I was hoping you wouldn’t find that."
"Find what?" Iris demanded. "What are you hiding?"
Avelia didn't answer right away. Instead, she looked at the window, as if searching for something outside.
Then, softly, she whispered:
"I never wanted you to be a part of this, Iris."
Iris’s blood ran cold.
Before she could ask what that meant, a knock echoed through the apartment.
A slow. Deliberate. Knock.
Avelia’s face drained of color.
Iris turned toward the door.
Outside, in the dim hallway light, a shadow moved.
Someone was watching them.

---
To be continued...