Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Echoes in the Dark

The morning after their quiet moment together, Lena woke up feeling uneasy. It was like the calm they found was weak and could break easily. She sensed that something was coming. Clara was already in the kitchen, drinking coffee and looking at a worn paperback when Lena walked in. Jace was by the counter, half-listening to Clara talk about a fantasy book, but Lena noticed the tension in his shoulders and how his hand twitched. Something was not right. "You feel it too, don't you?" Jace asked quietly when Lena got close. She nodded slowly. "Like a storm just over the horizon." Before they could say more, a loud knock shook the front door. Clara jumped, almost spilling her coffee. "That's... strange. No one knocks that hard." Jace moved quickly, positioning himself between the girls and the door as he approached cautiously. Lena's heart raced as she grabbed a heavy flashlight from the side table—just in case. Jace opened the door a little, looking outside. A man stood there, wearing dark clothes and a tight leather jacket. His face was unfamiliar—sharp jaw and cold eyes—but something about him made Lena uncomfortable. "Jace Carter?" the man asked, his voice low and threatening. "Who's asking?" Jace responded carefully, tension thick in the air. The man smiled—an expression that was not kind. "Someone who has been looking for you." Suddenly, the man lunged forward, slamming the door open. Jace stumbled back but quickly recovered, grabbing Lena's arm and pulling her behind him. "Run!" he shouted at Clara, who hesitated for a moment before running toward the back of the house. The intruder moved quickly—too quickly for a normal man—and Lena realized with a shock that he was not ordinary. Adrenaline rushed through her, sharpening her senses. Jace fought him, blocking a hard punch and hitting the man in the ribs. But the stranger barely reacted, grabbing Jace and throwing him across the room like he was light. Lena swung the flashlight with all her strength, hitting the man on the side of the head. He staggered, giving Jace enough time to get back on his feet. "Go!" Jace shouted again, pushing Lena toward the hallway. But Lena didn't want to leave him. Fear gripped her as she hesitated—then Jace looked at her, his eyes fierce. "I'll catch up!" he promised. Reluctantly, Lena turned and ran after Clara, her heart pounding like a drum. Behind her, she heard furniture crashing and grunts of pain as Jace tried to hold back the man. They burst out the back door into the cold morning air. Clara was already trying to use her phone, her hands shaking. "What is happening?" Clara gasped, her voice wild with panic. "I don't know," Lena said.