Chapter 5: Hidden truths

Ava woke before her alarm, the words RUN and Do not trust what you see still echoing in her mind. Every sound outside her window seemed sharper, every shadow longer. She moved like a ghost through her morning routine, avoiding mirrors and the gaze of her mom, who hummed cheerfully in the kitchen. Rick was already at the table, reading the newspaper, oblivious to the tension that clung to Ava like a second skin.

She grabbed a granola bar, shoved it in her bag, and left without a word. Eli was waiting outside, leaning against the lamppost. His grin faded when he noticed her pale face.

“You okay?” he asked again, his voice soft this time.

“I… yeah,” she said, forcing a smile. “Just didn’t sleep well.”

He didn’t seem convinced but didn’t press. Together, they walked to school in a quiet rhythm, the letters heavy in her bag, an invisible compass guiding her toward secrets she didn’t want to confront.

By mid-morning, Ava’s curiosity won. During study hall, she slipped a hand into her backpack and retrieved the second letter. She carefully unfolded it. The words stared back at her:

You are running out of time. Do not trust what you see. Some truths are hidden for a reason.

Her pulse quickened. Hidden truths. Someone close. She had to know.

The bell rang, pulling her from the spiral of thoughts. She shoved the letter back into her bag just as Eli tapped her shoulder. “We should get to the library. I found something that might help with the project.”

Ava nodded, but her mind wandered. She remembered the small key she had noticed in her mom’s drawer a few days ago, tucked behind a stack of old photos. It had no label, no obvious purpose—but it had called to her in the same way the letters did.

After school, while Eli went to check out more notes for their project, Ava slipped away. The hallway seemed impossibly long, echoing her every footstep. She approached her mom’s study, heart pounding. The door was slightly ajar. Perfect.

Inside, the room smelled of old books and polished wood. Shadows from the late afternoon sun stretched across the floor. Her mom’s desk was a mess of papers, notebooks, and photographs. Ava moved quickly, scanning for anything unusual. That’s when she saw it: a small envelope, tucked beneath a stack of letters and bills, marked with her name.

Hands trembling, she opened it. Inside was a photograph she didn’t recognize—an old black-and-white image of her mom standing with a man Ava had never seen, both of them smiling, holding a baby. The back of the photo had a single line:

Some secrets are buried to protect those you love.

Ava’s chest tightened. This wasn’t just about her mom. Or Eli. This was bigger. And the letters had led her here.

A noise from the hallway made her spin around. Her mom stood in the doorway, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. “Ava. What are you doing?”

Caught, Ava froze. “I… I found something,” she admitted, voice small. “I… I don’t understand. Why is this hidden?”

Her mom sighed, stepping aside. “Some truths… aren’t ready for you yet,” she said softly, but her eyes flickered with something Ava couldn’t read—fear? Sadness? Guilt?

Before Ava could respond, a sound outside the window made her jump. She looked up and saw a figure retreating down the driveway, tall and cloaked, just like the one in the library. Another letter? Another warning?

Her mom’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Ava. You have to promise me—you’ll be careful.”

“I don’t understand!” Ava shouted, her voice trembling. “Who is lying to me? Why are these letters following me? What am I supposed to do?”

Her mom hesitated, then looked away, jaw tight. “Some answers… you’ll find on your own. But know this: not everyone you trust is your enemy, and not everyone you love is completely safe.”

The words hit Ava like ice. Her mom wasn’t lying outright, but neither was she telling the whole story. The letters had been right again—someone she loved was keeping a secret.

Eli’s voice over her phone startled her. Ava? Are you okay?

She hesitated, staring at the photo, then whispered, “I think the next choice is bigger than I imagined.”

By evening, Ava returned home, exhausted but determined. The letters had shown her glimpses of the future, fragments of danger, and decisions, but the full picture remained hidden. Someone was lying. Someone was watching. And she was running out of time.

She pulled out the letters again, laying them side by side on her desk. Do not trust what you see. Some truths are hidden for a reason. If you expose them, you’ll lose him.

Her hands shook as she realized the truth: she had to act carefully. One wrong move could shatter everything—friendships, family, even her sense of self. But standing still wasn’t an option.

The final line in the latest envelope seemed to pulse with urgency: The next choice will define everything.

Ava pressed her palms to her eyes. The weight of the letters, the warnings, and the mysteries pressed down on her like a storm. But amidst the fear, a spark of resolve ignited. She would uncover the secrets. She would find out who was lying. And she would survive.

Whatever it took.

Because the letters weren’t just guiding her—they were testing her.

And Ava had no intention of failing.