"I'm coming with you."
Naira stood in front of Arsen, her eyes still wet.
"I'm not going to let you go alone."
"Naira, this isn't a game."
"I know."
"The people we're dealing with are dangerous."
"I know that too."
Arsen sighed.
"You don't know what's going to happen."
Naira looked at him.
"I've spent fifteen years living without knowing anything. Now I want to know the truth."
Arsen fell silent.
For the first time, he had no reason to argue.
It was late at night when they left the old house.
Darren chose to stay behind and look for more clues, while Arsen took Naira to a place no one knew about.
There was no conversation inside the car.
Only the sound of rain tapping against the windows.
Naira stared at the road ahead.
"Arsen."
"Hm?"
"Why did you come back now?"
Arsen tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
"I never really left."
Naira turned to him.
"What do you mean?"
"I've always been watching you from afar."
"For fifteen years?"
"Yes."
Naira fell silent.
"Why?"
Arsen gave a faint smile.
"Because I made a promise to your mother."
"And if it weren't for that promise?"
Arsen didn't answer.
Naira looked at him.
"If you hadn't promised my mother, would you still have looked for me?"
Arsen finally turned to her.
Their eyes met.
"Ever since."
Naira's heart began to beat faster.
"Since we were kids?"
"Since the first day I met you."
Naira smiled faintly.
"I don't even remember you."
"I remember everything."
"What?"
Arsen smiled.
"The first time you cried because you fell off your bike."
Naira let out a small laugh.
"You still remember that?"
"I also remember you getting mad because I laughed at you."
"You were so mean."
"I know."
For the first time that night, they laughed together.
But the laughter lasted only a few seconds.
Arsen grew serious again.
"Naira."
"Yes?"
"There's something I want to tell you."
"What?"
Arsen pulled the car over to the side of the road.
The rain was still falling.
He looked at Naira.
"I actually..."
His sentence trailed off.
Naira waited.
"I actually never..."
Arsen drew a long breath.
"...stopped loving you."
Naira froze.
Their eyes met.
There was no other sound.
No more lies.
Only two people who had been separated by circumstances for fifteen years.
Naira whispered,
"Why are you only telling me now?"
"Because I was afraid."
"You?"
"Yes."
Arsen smiled bitterly.
"I was afraid that if I said it, I'd ask for something I had no right to ask for."
"What?"
Arsen moved closer.
"A chance."
Naira held her breath.
"A chance for what?"
"To love you again."
Naira's heart pounded violently.
She wanted to answer.
But suddenly, Arsen's phone rang.
An unknown number.
Arsen answered it.
"Hello?"
A man's voice came through.
"You're late."
Arsen's expression changed.
"Where is she?"
"You know where."
"Don't touch her."
"Then come alone."
The call ended.
Naira stared at Arsen.
"Who was that?"
Arsen didn't answer.
"Arsen."
"I have to go."
"I'm coming with you."
"No."
"You promised you wouldn't leave me."
Arsen looked at her.
"I didn't promise that."
Naira fell silent.
Arsen opened the car door.
But before he could get out, Naira grabbed his hand.
"Don't go."
Arsen stopped.
Their eyes met.
Naira held back her tears.
"I don't know what's going to happen after this."
Arsen squeezed her hand.
"Neither do I."
"Then don't go alone."
Arsen remained silent for a long time.
Then he leaned closer and whispered,
"If tonight is my last chance..."
Naira looked at him.
"I want you to know one thing."
"What?"
Arsen gently touched Naira's face.
"In my entire life, there has never been another woman who could make me forget you."
Naira closed her eyes.
Her tears fell.
Arsen almost kissed her forehead.
But he suddenly stopped.
"Naira..."
"Yes?"
"Don't fall in love with me."
Naira opened her eyes.
"Why?"
Arsen smiled sadly.
"Because I'm not sure I can get you out of all this safely."
He let go of Naira's hand.
Then he left.
Naira watched him walk away in the rain.
But a few seconds later...
a black car appeared at the end of the road.
The car stopped right in front of Arsen.
Two people got out.
Arsen tried to fight back.
But one of them pulled out a weapon.
Naira covered her mouth.
"Arsen!"
Arsen turned around.
Their eyes met from a distance.
And just before one of the men dragged him into the car...
Arsen shouted:
"NAIRA, DON'T TRUST ANYONE!"
The car sped away.
Naira stood there, frozen.
Then her phone vibrated.
A message came in.
"Now it's your turn to choose, Naira."
A second message appeared.
"Save Arsen..."
Then the final message:
"...or find your father."
Naira stared at the screen with trembling hands.
For the first time...
she realized that the two most important people in her life were in danger.
And she had only one choice.
TO BE CONTINUED...