Ethan was leaning on his car when Kira approached him. He looked nervous, like he already knew this conversation was coming.
"You wanted to talk?" Ethan asked.
Kira nodded. "I need answers. And don't lie this time."
Ethan swallowed. "Okay."
They walked a few steps away from the house.
Kira crossed her arms. "You knew Judith was alive."
Ethan froze, eyes widening. He didn't deny it.
Kira continued, "Ava never told you everything about that summer, so how did you know anything? Someone told you. Someone came to you."
Ethan sighed shakily. "She came to me two years ago."
Kira blinked. "At sixteen?"
"Yeah." Ethan looked down. "I was walking home from school. A girl stopped me. She looked older, different, but she kept staring like she knew me. Then she said her name used to be Judith."
Kira's stomach dropped.
"She asked about Ava," Ethan said. "If she ever visited. If she remembered anything about the lake. I told her Ava moved to Spain and hadn't come back."
Kira felt her chest tighten.
Ethan continued, "She made me swear not to tell Kira or your moms. She said… Ava wasn't safe if people knew she was alive. That the man from that summer wasn't working alone."
Kira's mouth went dry.
"Did she say who?" she asked.
Ethan shook his head. "No. But she said something that scared me. She said she wasn't supposed to survive. That escaping the lake meant someone would come for her eventually."
Kira whispered, "Oh my God…"
Ethan's voice lowered. "Kira… Judith wasn't running from the stalker we caught. She was running from someone else. Someone who wanted all three of you gone."
Kira took a step back, chills running through her body.
And then Ethan pulled out his phone.
A new message had arrived.
The sender was still "Unknown".
The message said:
She's starting to remember
And this time she won't escape
Kira felt her blood run cold.
"Ava…" she whispered.
______________
The night was quiet, almost too quiet.
Ava stepped outside for some air, her chest tight again — that strange pressure she always felt when something from the past tried to surface.
She sat on the porch swing, rubbing her palms together.
Then she felt it — a presence.
Not threatening.
Just… familiar.
A shadow moved near the trees before stepping into the soft porch light.
Judith.
Wearing the hoodie Ava remembered from that day at the lake — only she didn't remember the full memory, just flashes, colors, sensations.
Ava let out a soft breath.
"You came."
Judith nodded slowly.
Her voice was gentle. "I shouldn't be here. But I needed to see you… to make sure you're okay."
Ava studied her carefully.
"You're supposed to be dead."
Judith's eyes darkened with something Ava couldn't name.
"I know."
Ava hugged her arms around herself. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? Why didn't you come back?"
Judith stepped closer but stopped herself …intentionally keeping space so Ava wouldn't feel pressured.
"I wanted to," she whispered.
"But your parents… they said you weren't ready. They said your memories needed time. Forcing anything could hurt you."
Ava felt her throat tighten.
She wasn't mad.
She was just… overwhelmed.
Judith looked at her carefully, almost afraid.
"I'm not here to make you remember everything. I just want to answer what you're ready to ask."
Ava looked down at her hands.
"I keep seeing things. Flashes. The lake. Someone holding my hand. Running. Someone calling my name."
Judith's breath caught, but she didn't push, didn't correct, didn't finish the memory for her.
She only said softly:
"Whatever you remember… let it come slowly. You don't have to force yourself for me."
Ava looked up at her, eyes warm and confused.
"You're real. You're alive. And you're here. That's… enough for now."
Judith smiled ….. the sad kind, the relieved kind.
"Ava… I've always been here. Just not close enough to touch."
Ava stepped forward.
"Why now? Why come to me now?"
Judith glanced around nervously.
"Because someone else is looking for you. And I don't trust them."
Ava stiffened.
"Who?"
Judith shook her head gently.
"You're not ready to know. But I'll stay close. When you're ready… I'll tell you everything."
She took one small step backward, preparing to leave.
"Ava… please be careful. And don't tell anyone I saw you. Not yet."
Ava nodded slowly.
"I won't."
Judith's eyes softened …..relief, affection, fear — all in one look.
Then she slipped into the shadows again.
Leaving Ava standing there, heart pounding…
Not from fear.
But from the feeling that her past wasn't lost.
It was waking up.
Ava slipped back into the house quietly, trying not to make noise.
But Kira was sitting on the couch, hoodie on, hair messy, scrolling her phone like she hadn't been waiting ….. but she definitely had.
She didn't even look up when she spoke.
"You took long."
Ava froze. "I just needed fresh air."
Kira hummed, still not looking up.
"That's funny. Because you usually come back smelling like outside after two minutes… but right now you smell like cold air and pine trees."
Ava blinked.
Kira noticed everything.
Ava swallowed.
"I'm fine."
Kira finally lifted her eyes ….soft, worried, searching Ava's face.
"You look… shaken. Did someone say something? Did someone text you again?"
Ava shook her head too quickly.
Kira leaned forward, elbow on her knee, and said quietly:
"Ava… you can tell me if something's wrong. I'm not going anywhere."
And that almost broke Ava.
She forced a small smile.
"I'm just tired. I think everything that happened today got to me."
Kira didn't believe her, not fully ….. but she didn't push.
Instead, she reached out and fixed a loose strand of Ava's hair behind her ear.
"Go to bed. I'll lock the doors."
Ava nodded and headed upstairs, feeling Kira's eyes follow her the whole way.
⸻
Scene: Ava's Flashback in Her Sleep
That night, Ava's dream wasn't like the usual blurry ones.
This one had clarity… pieces… whispers.
She saw:
*A girl's hand holding hers tightly
* Running through trees at sunset
*Shadows chasing them
*Someone gasping her name …."Ava, faster!"
*A silver bracelet with a tiny moon charm
*Water… glowing orange from the fading sun
*Two silhouettes pulling her away
*A voice: "Don't let go of me."
Ava's heart raced in her sleep.
But the surprising part?
The hand holding hers…
It wasn't Kira's.
It wasn't Ethan's.
It was Judith's.
Except she didn't look like Judith now.
Younger. Softer. Happier.
Someone Ava once trusted deeply….. almost too much.
The dream shifted:
A faint memory of laughter.
A secret meeting spot.
A promise whispered:
"I'll find you again… even if you forget."
Ava woke up with her hand clutching the bedsheet, breathing hard…. but not scared.
More like her heart recognized something before her mind did.
She sat up slowly.
"Judith…"
The name escaped her lips in a whisper.
Downstairs, Kira stirred on the couch…. like she felt something too.
Scene: Morning After — Breakfast (Ava & Kira)
Ava stirred her cereal slowly, trying to seem normal.
Her mom, Yuri, poured juice into their glasses, chatting happily about the day ahead.
Kira slid into the chair beside her, grabbing a piece of toast, but her eyes never left Ava.
Finally, she leaned closer and softly asked in Korean:
"Gwaenchanayo?" (You okay?)
Ava blinked, surprised at the sudden Korean, and managed a small smile.
"Yeah… just sleepy," she said, voice light.
Kira didn't look convinced. She studied Ava, her expression a mix of concern and sharp awareness.
"You've been… acting weird since last night. Did something happen? Someone text you?"
Ava shook her head quickly. "No… nothing."
Kira hummed, not pressing further. Instead, she reached over and adjusted a strand of Ava's hair behind her ear.
"I notice everything, Ava. Just… don't hide it too long."
Ava nodded, feeling the warmth in that small gesture, even as unease lingered in her chest.
⸻____
Kira Meets Judith — The First Clue Trail
Later that morning, Kira received a discreet text from an unknown number.
The message was short:
"Meet me at the old park bench behind the lake. Alone. —Helen"
Kira's heart skipped.
Helen. Judith. Alive. And deliberately reaching out.
She didn't tell Ava. Not yet.
Her instincts screamed this was important.
Kira arrived at the bench, cautiously scanning the area. A girl sat there, looking small and deliberate in her movements, sketching something quietly.
"Thanks for coming," the girl said softly as Kira approached.
"You asked for me," Kira said, voice low.
The girl nodded. "I needed to make sure you understand… some things are happening again. Things Ava can't see yet. You're the one she trusts most. I need your help."
Kira's chest tightened.
She nodded slowly, realizing the gravity of what Helen — Judith — was saying.
"This isn't just about the past. Someone is still out there. And they're waiting for Ava to slip."
Kira swallowed hard, the first clue trail starting to thread itself together in her mind.
She had to protect Ava... and figure out the rest before it was too late.
Scene: Kira & Ava — The Reveal
After school, Kira met Ava at their usual quiet spot near the park.
Ava was scrolling her phone, but Kira's eyes were sharp, scanning her face.
Kira folded her arms. "Ava… we need to talk."
Ava looked up. "About what?"
Kira took a deep breath. "Judith… she's alive."
Ava froze. Her heart skipped. "I know… she came to me."
Kira's eyes narrowed slightly. "You know, but you didn't even tell me?"
Ava fidgeted. "I… I wasn't ready. I didn't know what to say."
Kira huffed, a mix of frustration and worry bubbling up.
"You're lucky she trusts you enough to come to you, Ava. And you… you couldn't even tell me, your best friend?"
Ava's chest tightened. "I didn't want to put you in danger… or stress you out."
Kira's face softened slightly, but the tension lingered. "Next time… don't keep me out of this. Not anymore."
⸻—————
Later, Kira got another discreet message from Helen…. Judith.
It read:
"Watch closely. The person you least suspect is the one who made everything happen.
They've been hiding in plain sight… but I see them."
Kira's stomach churned.
She knew exactly who Judith was hinting at.
The puzzle pieces of the past, the stalker, and the missing accomplice were slowly coming together.
Her mind raced.
She had to figure it out — before anyone else got hurt.