The Stranger
Chapter One — The Stranger
The rain had been falling for hours.
Emma stood beneath the awning of the hotel, watching the city blur behind a curtain of water. Her phone showed 11:47 p.m.
She should have gone home.
Instead, she was waiting for a man she had never met.
Her sister had sent her one message before disappearing three days ago:
Don't trust anyone. Especially him.
Emma had read it a hundred times.
Then the black car arrived.
It stopped directly in front of her.
The rear door opened.
A man stepped out.
Tall. Dark hair. Black suit. His expression was calm, almost cold. He looked at Emma as if he already knew exactly who she was.
“Emma?”
Her heart skipped.
“Yes.”
He walked closer.
“My name is Alexander.”
She swallowed. “How do you know my name?”
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“Because your sister told me everything.”
Emma froze.
“You know where she is?”
Alexander looked toward the empty street.
“She’s alive.”
Emma's breath caught.
“Then take me to her.”
His eyes returned to hers.
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because someone is trying to kill her.”
The words made the world suddenly feel colder.
Alexander stepped closer and lowered his voice.
“And if they discover that you're looking for her…”
He paused.
“They'll come for you next.”
Emma stared at him.
“Why should I believe you?”
Alexander's expression changed.
For the first time, she saw something behind his cold eyes.
Fear.
“Because,” he whispered, “I'm the only person standing between you and them.”
A car turned onto the street.
Alexander immediately grabbed Emma's hand.
“Get in.”
She hesitated.
The headlights of the approaching car grew brighter.
Alexander looked over his shoulder.
“Emma,” he said quietly, “we don't have time.”
She got into the car.
She didn't know it yet, but the moment she closed that door, her old life was over.
