Lia didn't sleep that night. Not because she couldn't, but because silence always got louder the longer you stayed in it. The ticking clock, the hum of the fridge, a car passing in the distance—each sound reminded her that time was moving, even when she wasn't.
Outside, the city held its breath. The rain had stopped hours ago, but the asphalt was still wet. Streetlights reflected on it like memories refusing to fade.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
[Unknown Number] You think it ends with her?
Lia stared at the message. Her thumb hovered over the screen. No name. No context. Just one sentence—and it felt like a rope slowly tightening around her throat.
Her stomach clenched. She wanted to delete it. Block the number. Forget. But instead, she read it again. And again.
Keira.
Was this about Keira?
Her head throbbed. The last time someone mentioned Keira, it ended in a fight. And now this.
She locked her screen. Unlocked it. Read the message once more.
She thought of Arven.
He was in the other room. Maybe asleep. Maybe pretending. Lately, it was hard to tell. Their conversations had become short. His phone always face down. He'd stopped laughing the way he used to—like something heavy sat on him, and he wouldn't let her close enough to help carry it.
Lia walked barefoot to the kitchen. The cold tiles jolted her, but she didn't mind. It felt real. She poured a glass of water and stared out the window.
Her reflection stared back.
"Who are you talking about?" she whispered into the glass, though no one could hear.
Buzz.
[Unknown Number] You think you know him?
Her grip tightened around the glass.
She typed back: Who is this?
Delivered. Read.
Typing...
Then nothing.
Ten seconds. Silence.
"Fuck," she muttered. Her hand shook slightly as she set the glass down.
The last few weeks started to rearrange in her head. Arven's late nights. The way he tensed up when Keira's name came up. The therapy sessions he suddenly quit. The way he said there was nothing left to talk about.
Was it ever really over? Or had it never truly ended?
She walked back to the bedroom and stood in the doorway. Arven lay on his side, back turned toward her. Breathing steady.
Or pretending?
She watched him. Part of her wanted to shake him awake, demand the truth. The other part feared it.
She picked up his phone from the nightstand.
Locked.
Of course.
She used to know the passcode. Not anymore.
Buzz.
[Unknown Number] You should ask him what happened the night she left.
That was enough.
No threats. No names. Just fragments of a story she never asked for—but now couldn't walk away from.
She stepped out into the hallway, gripping her phone. Scrolled through old messages with Keira. The last one was over a year ago.
Keira: I'm sorry, but I can't stay in the middle of this. You know what he's like.
Lia: Then tell me.
Keira: I can't. Not like this.
That was it.
No answers. No closure.
Lia whispered, "You knew something, didn't you?"
Buzz.
[Unknown Number] Want to know where she is now?
Her throat went dry.
She typed fast: Yes.
Delivered. Read.
Typing...
Gone again.
It was a game. A cruel one. But it was working.
She returned to the bedroom. Stood at the foot of the bed.
"Arven," she said, low.
He stirred. "Hmm?"
"Where's Keira?"
He opened his eyes, slowly. Confused. Or pretending.
"What?"
"There's someone texting me. About her. About you."
He sat up. "Who?"
"You tell me."
He looked at her. Jaw clenched. Silent.
She held up her phone. "They said I should ask what happened the night she left."
His face changed. Just for a second. Something flickered in his eyes. Then gone.
"Give me the phone."
"No."
"Lia—"
"What happened?" she cut him off. "I'm done guessing. Just tell me the truth."
He stood up, running a hand through his hair. Anxious. Angry. Both.
"It's not what you think."
"Then what is it?"
He was quiet. Too long.
"I told you it was over," he said softly. "But the truth is... it never really ended."
"So you lied?"
He looked at her, tired. Worn down.
"Keira left because she couldn't keep pretending. She... she couldn't live between us anymore."
"I don't understand. Between us?"
He looked down. "We... got close. After things got bad between you and me. But I didn't know who to choose. And in the end, I didn't choose anyone."
Her chest tightened. "Did you love her?"
Silence.
"Arven."
"She wasn't you," he said finally. "But she knew too much. And that... that ruined everything."
Lia took a step back. "Did you sleep with her?"
He turned to her. Didn't answer.
And that was all she needed.
Her phone buzzed.
[Unknown Number] Try the lake.
Her hands went cold. Her vision blurred. She stared at the screen, frozen.
Then she slowly looked up at Arven. "What does that mean?"
His face hardened. "Don't go there."
"You know what's out there?"
He closed his eyes. "Lia... please. Don't."
She didn't say anything. Just turned and walked out of the room, into the hallway again. Her phone still in her hand. Her thoughts louder than ever.
She opened the map app. Searched the lake. It wasn't far.
Her fingers hovered. Should she call someone? Police? Keira's sister?
No.
If there was anything out there—any trace, any truth—she had to see it for herself.
She grabbed her keys. A coat. Didn't even change out of her pajamas. Arven followed her out to the hallway.
"Lia, please," he said. "It's not safe."
"Then why did you let her go alone?"
He didn't answer.
She walked past him. Down the stairs. Out the door.
The city was still asleep. But inside her, everything was awake.
And whatever was waiting by the lake—she would find it.
Even if it broke her.
Even if it changed everything.
Because some things weren't meant to be guessed.
They were meant to be said out loud.