Elias sat slouched on his couch, a lukewarm cup of coffee in hand, the TV humming faintly in the background. He wasn’t paying attention to the rerun playing on the screen, his thoughts drifting as they often did lately. Every glance toward the black duffel bag on the counter brought a fresh wave of unease, a reminder of the tangled mess his life had become.

  A knock on the door startled him from his thoughts. He frowned, placing the coffee mug on the table and standing. He wasn’t expecting anyone. The thought of another unannounced encounter with Axiom agents sent a chill down his spine, but when he opened the door, it was Lila.

  “Hey,” she said, smiling faintly. She looked casual, her hands tucked into the pockets of her jacket, but there was something about her posture that felt… off.

  “Lila,” Elias said, blinking in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

  “Thought I’d drop by,” she said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. She glanced around the apartment, her gaze lingering on the duffel bag for a moment before she turned back to him. “You’ve been hard to reach lately.”

  Elias closed the door behind her, scratching the back of his neck. “Yeah, sorry about that. Things have been… complicated.”

  “Complicated how?” she asked, tilting her head. Her tone was light, but there was an edge to it, subtle but unmistakable.

  “Just work stuff,” Elias said quickly, brushing past her and moving to the kitchen. “You want something to drink? Coffee? Tea?”

  “No, I’m good,” Lila said, following him. Her gaze scanned the apartment again, her eyes sharp and attentive. “So, this new job of yours—what’s it like?”

  Elias hesitated, feeling the familiar weight of her questions. “It’s fine,” he said, keeping his tone casual. “Pays well. A little… unusual, but nothing I can’t handle.”

  “Unusual how?” Lila pressed, stepping closer. “You never really told me what you’re doing. Freelance architecture, right?”

  “Yeah,” Elias said, forcing a smile. “Private clients. High-paying, high-pressure stuff. That’s all.”

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  Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn’t push further. Instead, she leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. “You know, it’s weird,” she said, her tone almost conversational. “You’ve been so secretive lately. Not like you at all.”

  Elias laughed nervously, trying to deflect. “Yeah, well, life’s been a little weird lately.”

  “Is it about that bag?” she asked, nodding toward the duffel on the counter. “What’s in it?”

  Elias froze for a moment, his heart skipping a beat. “Just some supplies for a project,” he said quickly, turning away to avoid her gaze. “Nothing exciting.”

  “Hmm.” Lila’s response was noncommittal, but the weight of her gaze made his skin crawl.

  The tension was interrupted by the buzz of his phone on the coffee table. Elias grabbed it, grateful for the distraction, but his relief turned to confusion as he read the message:

  "Hey, Elias. It’s Kaida from the cafe. Are you free to talk? Something’s been on my mind."

  He stared at the message, his mind racing. Why now? And what could she possibly want?

  “Who’s that?” Lila’s voice snapped him back to the present. She was standing closer now, her arms still crossed, her eyes fixed on his phone.

  “Uh, just someone I met at a cafe,” Elias said, pocketing the phone quickly. “Nothing important.”

  “Nothing important?” Lila’s voice sharpened, her posture stiffening. “She has your number?”

  “It’s not what you think,” Elias said, holding up his hands. “She’s just someone I bumped into. We talked for a bit, and she asked for my number. It’s nothing.”

  Lila’s eyes narrowed, her jaw tightening. “Nothing? You didn’t think to mention her to me? And now she’s texting you?”

  “Lila, come on,” Elias said, his voice rising slightly. “It’s not a big deal. I barely know her.”

  “Then why is she texting you?” Lila snapped, her voice full of accusation. “What, am I supposed to believe this is some innocent coincidence?”

  Elias’s patience began to wear thin. “I don’t know what you want me to say,” he said, his tone sharper than he intended. “She’s just a random person. There’s nothing going on.”

  Lila shook her head, her expression hardening. “I need time to think,” she said abruptly, grabbing her jacket from the couch. “Clearly, you have things you’re not telling me.”

  “Lila—” Elias started, but she was already heading for the door.

  “Don’t,” she said, her voice cold. “Just… don’t.”

  The door slammed behind her, leaving Elias standing in stunned silence. He stared at the door for a long moment, his mind racing. Her reaction had been so sudden, so intense, and it didn’t sit right with him. Something about it felt… wrong.

  After a few minutes, Elias sat back down on the couch and pulled out his phone. His fingers hovered over the screen before he finally typed a reply to Kaida:

  "I’m free. Want to come over?"

  The response came quickly.

  "On my way."

  Elias leaned back, his mind churning. Lila’s reaction, Kaida’s sudden message—it all felt like pieces of a puzzle he couldn’t quite fit together. He glanced at the duffel bag again, the faint hum of paranoia rising in his chest.

  Whatever was happening, he had a sinking feeling it was about to get worse.