The storm never truly left.
Danny should have known.
He had walked away, claimed his so-called freedom… but the Fate Exchange never lets go that easily.
That night, as the clock struck 11:11 PM, every light in their small coastal home flickered and died.
Claire stirred in her sleep, her brows creasing as if she were caught in a nightmare.
Danny rose from the bed, the air unbearably cold despite the summer heat.
And then…
He heard it.
A faint knock.
Not at the front door.
At the bedroom closet.
Three soft knocks.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
His heart pounded as he stood before the closet.
He remembered too well…
Some doors never need to be opened. Sometimes… they open by themselves.
The handle turned slowly on its own.
The door creaked open.
Inside wasn't the small, cluttered space he knew.
It was darkness. Endless, consuming, alive.
And from that darkness, a familiar voice whispered.
"Danny Wong. You forgot one final deal."
The air turned sharp and metallic.
A cold, black-gloved hand reached out from the void, holding a single, blood-stained contract.
Danny stepped back, shaking his head.
"No. I'm done. I finished this!"
The voice echoed again, deeper this time, carrying the weight of forgotten oaths.
"You broke your chains… but not your promises."
A second hand reached out, this time holding… a key.
Ancient. Rusted.
Its handle shaped like a grinning mouth.
Before Danny could react, Claire woke with a scream.
Her eyes were wide with horror as she clutched her chest.
"Danny… my heart… it hurts…"
His blood turned ice.
The final contract hadn't been about his own freedom.
It had always been about her.
His phone lit up one last time.
📧 FROM: Fate Exchange"Payment Due: One Heart. Target: Claire Lin. Final Collection Imminent."
Danny collapsed to his knees, realization crashing down like a tidal wave.
He had never escaped.
The Exchange had been waiting patiently.
It didn't need to chase him.
It just needed him to believe he was free… until the debt became too steep to ignore.
Claire's breathing grew shallow, her skin pale as paper.
Danny stood.
His fists clenched.
The black key in his hand burned cold against his palm.
He had one last choice.
Open the door… or lose her forever.
And this time, there would be no going back.
[End of Chapter 17 – The Door Between Life and Death Awaits]