Shadows of the Past

Part 1: Discovery
Eva had always felt there was something off about Lucas. They had been together for over a year, but there were moments when his eyes seemed distant, his smiles too forced. Still, she loved him. Or so she thought.
One rainy evening, as she was tidying up their apartment, she found a crumpled letter under the couch. Curiosity gnawed at her, and she unfolded it. The words weren’t written by Lucas—at least, not in the way she expected.
“I know what you did. You can’t hide it forever. I’m coming for you.”
Her pulse raced. Who was it for? And what did it mean? Lucas was in the kitchen, humming, oblivious to the storm brewing inside her.
“Lucas,” she said, her voice trembling. “What is this?”
He froze. His face went pale.
“I… I can explain,” he stammered, walking toward her.
Eva’s hands shook as she held the letter up. “Explain what? Who is this from?”
He stepped back, his expression clouded with fear. “You don’t understand. You shouldn’t have seen that.”
Eva’s heart pounded as the room seemed to close in. “Tell me the truth, Lucas.”
A long pause followed. Finally, he spoke, his voice barely a whisper.
“It’s from someone who knows about my past… about things I promised never to tell you.”
The silence was suffocating.
She took a step back, eyes wide. “What do you mean, your past?”
Lucas turned toward the door. “It’s too late now… they’re already here.”
The doorbell rang.

Part 2: The Past Catches Up
The doorbell rang again—louder this time.
Eva’s breath hitched. She turned to Lucas, but he was already moving toward the window, peering through the blinds. His jaw clenched.
“They found me,” he muttered under his breath.
Her chest tightened. Who found him?
“Lucas, what’s going on?” she demanded, gripping the letter. “Are you in danger? Am I?”
He spun to face her. “Eva, listen to me. Whatever happens, don’t open that door.”
A loud bang echoed through the apartment. Not the doorbell this time—a fist, slamming against the wood.
“Lucas!” a deep voice boomed from outside. “We know you’re in there. No more running.”
Eva’s stomach dropped. Lucas was running from something—or someone—and she had no idea what.
He grabbed her wrist. “We need to go. Now.”
But Eva yanked free. “Not until you tell me the truth!”
Another bang—this time, the doorknob rattled.
Lucas’s eyes darkened. “I don’t have time to explain everything, but I swear I never meant to drag you into this.” He exhaled sharply. “I used to work for someone… dangerous. I thought I left it behind.”
A sick feeling twisted in Eva’s gut.
Before she could speak, the door burst open.
A tall man stepped in, his eyes locking onto Lucas. “It’s over.”
Eva’s heart pounded. Lucas reached for something in his pocket—
And the man pulled out a gun.
“Don’t,” he warned.
Eva screamed.

Part 3: The Truth Begins to Unfold
The gun gleamed under the dim light.
Eva’s breath came in sharp gasps as she pressed herself against the wall. Lucas’s hand remained in his pocket, his jaw tight.
“Put it down, Caleb,” Lucas said, his voice eerily calm.
Eva’s eyes darted between them. They know each other?
Caleb smirked. “You really thought you could disappear, huh? Start a new life? Cute.” He tilted his head toward Eva. “Does she know what you did?”
Lucas took a slow step forward. “She doesn’t need to.”
Caleb’s finger twitched on the trigger. “Too bad. She’s already in it.”
Eva couldn’t take it anymore. “In what? What is going on?”
Lucas exhaled sharply. “Eva… I was a fixer. I cleaned up messes for powerful people.”
Eva blinked. “A fixer? Like… for criminals?”
His silence was answer enough.
She felt sick.
Caleb chuckled. “More than criminals, sweetheart. Governments. Billionaires. People who don’t exist on paper.” His smile faded. “And your boyfriend here? He made a mistake. A big one.”
Eva’s hands trembled. “What did you do?”
Lucas’s eyes darkened. “I walked away.”
Caleb’s face hardened. “And now you have to pay for it.”
Lucas moved fast. In a flash, he yanked something from his pocket—a smoke grenade.
He slammed it to the floor.
Thick smoke filled the room. Eva coughed, blinded.
Then she felt Lucas grab her hand. “Run!”
She didn’t hesitate.
Gunfire erupted behind them as they sprinted into the night.

Part 4: On the Run
Eva’s heart pounded as she sprinted behind Lucas, her vision blurred by smoke and fear. Bullets tore through the walls behind them, splintering wood and glass.
“Faster!” Lucas urged, pulling her down the fire escape.
They hit the alleyway, rain drizzling onto their skin. The city was eerily silent, except for the rapid footsteps of their pursuers.
Lucas yanked open the door of a parked black sedan and shoved her inside.
“You—You had a getaway car?” Eva stammered, her breath ragged.
“I always have a backup plan,” he muttered, shoving the key into the ignition.
Tires screeched as the car tore down the street. Eva clutched the seat, her mind racing.
“Tell me everything,” she demanded. “No more half-truths.”
Lucas exhaled sharply, his grip tightening on the wheel. “I used to erase people’s problems. Blackmail, evidence, loose ends—I made them disappear.”
Eva swallowed hard. “And Caleb?”
Lucas’s jaw clenched. “I was supposed to take care of someone for him. A man named Victor Moreau.”
Eva had heard that name before—whispers on the news, a billionaire accused of unspeakable crimes.
“What happened?” she asked, dreading the answer.
Lucas’s hands tightened on the wheel. “I let him go.”
Eva’s stomach dropped. “Why?”
Lucas hesitated. “Because Victor gave me something… something bigger than money.”
Before she could ask what, headlights flared behind them. A black SUV roared up, gaining fast.
“Hold on,” Lucas said.
The SUV rammed into them.
Eva screamed.

Part 5: Desperation and Danger
The impact sent Eva crashing against the dashboard. Pain shot through her shoulder as Lucas fought to control the car.
The SUV loomed behind them, headlights glaring like a predator’s eyes.
“Lucas, do something!” she screamed.
“Working on it!” he snapped, yanking the wheel hard.
The car skidded around a corner, barely missing a streetlight. The SUV followed, relentless.
Lucas slammed the glove compartment open and pulled out a handgun. He tossed it to Eva.
“Can you shoot?”
Her hands trembled as she gripped the weapon. “Are you insane? I’ve never fired a gun in my life!”
“Then now’s a good time to learn.”
The SUV rammed them again, sending Eva’s stomach into her throat. Her heart hammered.
Through the side mirror, she saw the passenger window of the SUV rolling down. A masked man leaned out, gun in hand.
“Eva!” Lucas shouted.
Adrenaline took over. She raised the gun, aimed—
And pulled the trigger.
The shot rang out. The masked man flinched, his gun flying from his hands.
“Nice shot,” Lucas said, swerving onto an empty bridge.
Eva barely registered his words. Her hands shook. She had just shot at someone.
The SUV didn’t stop. It sped up.
Lucas cursed. “They won’t quit. Hold on.”
He jerked the wheel left—straight toward the bridge railing.
“Lucas, no—”
The car smashed through.
For a split second, they were airborne.
Then everything plunged into darkness.

Shadows of the Past – Part 6 (The Finale)
The world was a blur of cold water and darkness.
Eva gasped as she broke the surface of the river, coughing and shivering. The car was sinking behind her, its headlights fading into the depths.
“Lucas!” she choked out.
A moment later, he emerged, dragging himself toward the riverbank. Eva swam after him, lungs burning. When they reached solid ground, she collapsed onto the wet grass, trembling.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The only sounds were their ragged breaths and the distant hum of sirens.
Finally, Eva turned to him. “Talk.”
Lucas sat up, water dripping from his face. His eyes, usually so guarded, looked… tired.
“I told you I let Victor Moreau go,” he said. “But I didn’t tell you why.”
Eva swallowed. “Why?”
Lucas exhaled. “Because he gave me evidence. Proof of what Caleb and his people were really doing—assassinations, government corruption, human trafficking. I wanted out, and I thought giving Victor his freedom would give me leverage. I was wrong.”
Eva hugged herself against the cold. “And now they’re trying to kill you.”
Lucas nodded. “And you got caught in the middle. I never wanted that.”
Silence stretched between them.
Eva’s chest tightened. “So what now?”
Lucas looked at her, pain flickering in his eyes. “Now… we disappear. Separately.”
Her breath hitched. “What?”
“You deserve a normal life, Eva. One without bullets and secrets.” He reached into his soaked jacket and pulled out an envelope. “New ID, cash, everything you need to start over.”
Tears stung her eyes. “You’re just… leaving?”
Lucas gave a small, sad smile. “It’s the only way to keep you safe.”
A lump formed in her throat, but deep down, she knew he was right.
She took the envelope with trembling fingers. “Will I ever see you again?”
Lucas hesitated. Then he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
“If we’re lucky,” he whispered.
Then he stood, turned, and walked into the shadows.
Eva watched him disappear, her heart aching—but for the first time in a long time, she felt free.
It was time to start over.
Alone.
The End.