Never Just Friends

Secrets in the Shadows

The clock on Hanna’s nightstand glowed 2:14 AM, casting faint light across her room. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, Ciara’s voice still echoing in her mind.

“I don’t need proof to destroy you.”

Every shadow in her room felt heavier, every creak of the house sharper. Sleep was impossible.

Unable to stand the silence any longer, Hanna grabbed her phone and scrolled through her messages. Her fingers hovered over Finn’s name for a moment before she shook her head and opened the thread with Elordi instead.

Hanna: She confronted me tonight.

Her hands trembled as she pressed send. The three dots indicating Elordi was typing appeared almost immediately.

Elordi: And?

Hanna frowned, her frustration bubbling. She quickly typed back.

Hanna: She knows it’s us. She’s going to retaliate.

The pause before his next reply felt like an eternity.

Elordi: Let her try.

Hanna stared at his message, her grip tightening on the phone. His confidence was maddening and almost… comforting. It felt like he knew exactly what to do, like he’d already calculated every possible move Ciara could make.

Hanna: This isn’t a joke. She’s serious.

Elordi: So am I. Don’t worry, sweetheart. We’re ahead of her.

Hanna exhaled sharply, the knot in her chest loosening slightly. But she couldn’t shake the unease that settled in her stomach. Elordi’s brand of confidence was dangerous, but it was also intoxicating.

Her phone buzzed again.

Elordi: Get some sleep. You’ll need your strength for what’s next.

Hanna set her phone down, her mind racing. She trusted Elordi’s cunning, but every part of her knew they were walking a razor-thin line.

She rolled over, pulling the covers tighter around her. The faint glow of her phone lit up again, but this time it wasn’t Elordi.

It was another message from the unknown number.

Unknown Number: You think you’re ahead? You have no idea what’s coming.

A chill ran through Hanna as she read the words. Her pulse quickened, her fingers gripping the phone so tightly her knuckles turned white.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to steady her breath. The real battle hadn’t even begun, but she knew one thing for certain—Ciara wasn’t bluffing.

And this time, Hanna couldn’t afford a single misstep.