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Chapter 4: The Voice in the Dark
publish date:
2026-08-18 19:30:31“Aria!”
The voice came from upstairs.
Aria's blood ran cold.
Her mother's voice.
She knew it.
She had spent years trying to remember it clearly, afraid time would erase the sound forever.
But there it was.
Soft.
Shaking.
Real.
Aria pulled her hand from Julian's.
“Mom?”
Julian immediately stepped in front of her.
“Stay behind me.”
“That was my mother.”
“I know.”
“I have to go to her.”
“You don't know who that was.”
Aria stared at him.
“I know my mother's voice.”
Julian's eyes hardened.
“And someone knows that.”
A floorboard creaked upstairs.
Aria flinched.
Then silence.
Julian reached inside his jacket and pulled out his phone.
He called security.
“Lock every exit. Nobody leaves.”
A voice answered immediately.
“Yes, sir.”
“Search the second floor.”
“Understood.”
Aria looked toward the staircase.
“I'm going with you.”
“No.”
“Julian—”
“You stay here.”
“My mother could be up there!”
“And whoever wants you to believe that knows exactly what button to push.”
Aria shook her head.
“You don't understand.”
“I understand more than you think.”
She stepped around him.
“Then prove it.”
Julian caught her arm.
“Aria.”
She looked down at his hand.
He released her.
His voice softened.
“If that's really your mother, we'll find her.”
Aria searched his face.
For once, she believed him.
They climbed the stairs together.
Julian walked ahead.
Aria stayed close behind.
The hallway was dark.
Too dark.
The security lights flickered above them.
“Mrs. Rose?” Julian called.
No answer.
They reached Aria's bedroom.
The door was open.
Aria stopped.
Blood covered the white carpet.
Her breath caught.
“No…”
Julian stepped inside.
Aria followed.
A red trail led from the bed toward the bathroom.
Then stopped.
There was no body.
Only blood.
And words written across the mirror.
SHE SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU THE TRUTH.
Aria covered her mouth.
“Who did this?”
Julian walked toward the mirror.
His face was unreadable.
Then he noticed something.
A small silver necklace lay beneath the mirror.
Aria's eyes widened.
She knew it.
Her mother had worn it every day when Aria was a child.
She rushed forward.
Julian grabbed her waist.
“Don't touch it.”
“That's my mother's.”
“That's why you shouldn't touch it.”
He pulled out a handkerchief and picked it up.
Aria stared.
“How did they get this?”
Julian's eyes moved to her.
“I don't know.”
A sound came from the bathroom.
A soft sob.
Aria froze.
“Mom?”
Julian raised one hand.
“Stay here.”
He opened the bathroom door.
Empty.
Aria stepped closer.
“Julian…”
He looked inside.
Nothing.
Then the bathroom mirror fogged.
Slowly, letters appeared through the steam.
RUN, ARIA.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
“She's here.”
Julian turned.
“Who?”
“My mother.”
Suddenly, the bedroom lights went out.
Aria screamed.
Julian grabbed her hand.
“Stay with me.”
Something moved behind them.
Julian turned.
A shadow ran down the hallway.
“Stay here.”
He released her and chased it.
“Julian!”
His footsteps disappeared.
Aria stood alone in the darkness.
Then she heard breathing behind her.
Slow.
Close.
She turned.
Nothing.
“Who's there?”
No answer.
A hand suddenly covered her mouth.
Aria struggled.
The person dragged her backward.
She bit down hard.
The attacker cursed.
Aria spun around.
A hooded figure stood in front of her.
Before she could scream, the figure pulled down the hood.
Aria froze.
“Mrs. Rose?”
The older woman was crying.
“Please don't hurt me.”
Aria stared at her.
“Why would I hurt you?”
Mrs. Rose's hands shook.
“Because you know.”
“Know what?”
Mrs. Rose looked toward the door.
“Your mother.”
“What about her?”
“She came here tonight.”
Aria's heart stopped.
“She was here?”
Mrs. Rose nodded.
“She came to see you.”
“Where is she?”
“I don't know.”
“Mrs. Rose!”
The woman began crying.
“She said she couldn't stay.”
“Why?”
“Because they were watching.”
“Who?”
Mrs. Rose looked terrified.
“The Sterlings.”
Aria stepped back.
“Julian?”
“No.”
Mrs. Rose shook her head quickly.
“Not Julian.”
“Then who?”
“His father.”
Aria's breath caught.
“Alexander?”
Mrs. Rose nodded.
“But he's dead.”
“He's not.”
Aria stared at her.
“What?”
Mrs. Rose covered her mouth.
“I shouldn't have said that.”
“Mrs. Rose, tell me everything.”
The woman looked at her with pity.
“Your mother didn't abandon you.”
Aria's eyes filled with tears.
“Then why did she leave?”
“To keep you alive.”
“From Alexander?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Mrs. Rose hesitated.
“Because he wanted something your mother refused to give him.”
“The document.”
Mrs. Rose's eyes widened.
“You know about it?”
“Nathaniel told me.”
Mrs. Rose looked toward the door.
“Nathaniel shouldn't have told you.”
“Why?”
“Because he was there.”
Aria's stomach dropped.
“Where?”
“The night your mother disappeared.”
“What did he do?”
Mrs. Rose shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“You do.”
“I saw him.”
Aria's voice trembled.
“What did you see?”
Mrs. Rose lowered her voice.
“He was standing beside Alexander Sterling.”
Aria felt sick.
“And my mother?”
“She was begging them to let her go.”
Aria couldn't breathe.
“No.”
Mrs. Rose grabbed her hand.
“Your mother escaped.”
“Where did she go?”
“I don't know.”
“Then how do you know she's alive?”
Mrs. Rose reached into her pocket.
She pulled out a folded piece of paper.
“She left this for you.”
Aria's fingers shook as she opened it.
The handwriting was familiar.
The letters were uneven.
My sweet Aria,
If you're reading this, then they failed to keep me away from you.
Aria's vision blurred.
She continued.
Do not trust the Sterling family.
She looked up at Julian's name.
Then read the next line.
But most importantly, do not trust Nathaniel Hayes.
Her heart cracked.
Mrs. Rose whispered,
“There's more.”
Aria looked down.
The next sentence made her stop breathing.
Nathaniel knows who your real father is.
Aria's fingers went numb.
“My real father?”
Mrs. Rose nodded.
“You need to leave.”
“Where?”
“Anywhere.”
“Tell me who my father is.”
Mrs. Rose's eyes filled with tears.
“I can't.”
“You have to!”
“Because if I tell you, they'll kill you.”
“Who?”
Mrs. Rose looked toward the doorway.
Her face suddenly went white.
“Too late.”
Aria turned.
Julian stood there.
His shirt was torn.
Blood stained his shoulder.
But he wasn't alone.
Nathaniel stood behind him.
Aria stared at both men.
“What are you doing here?”
Julian looked at Mrs. Rose.
Then at the letter in Aria's hand.
“Give me that.”
Aria stepped backward.
“No.”
“Aria.”
“You knew.”
“I didn't.”
“You knew my mother was alive.”
“No.”
“You knew Nathaniel was involved.”
“I suspected.”
She shook her head.
“You're all lying to me.”
Nathaniel stepped forward.
“Aria, listen to me.”
She backed away.
“Don't come near me.”
His face fell.
“I never wanted this to happen.”
“What happened three years ago?”
He looked at Julian.
Then at Aria.
“I can't tell you here.”
“Why?”
“Because we're not alone.”
The room became silent.
Julian's eyes narrowed.
“What do you mean?”
Nathaniel slowly pointed toward the open bedroom door.
“Because someone else is listening.”
A sound came from the hallway.
Footsteps.
One.
Two.
Three.
Getting closer.
Julian moved in front of Aria.
Nathaniel moved beside him.
The footsteps stopped outside the room.
Then a man's voice spoke from the darkness.
“Hello, son.”
Julian froze.
Aria looked at him.
The voice came again.
“I think it's time you introduced me to my granddaughter.”
Aria's heart stopped.
Julian whispered one word.
“Father.”
The bedroom door slowly opened.
And the man standing outside was Alexander Sterling.
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