It's Time

Elsa and Valerie were on their way to the hotel Elsa had booked for their remaining stay in Australia. The cab hummed softly as it weaved through the city streets. Valerie sat quietly, gazing out the window at the lush green scenery, her mind lost in its beauty. Elsa, however, was far from calm.

Her phone buzzed unexpectedly. She glanced at the screen, a frown forming as she saw the unfamiliar number—a Greek number. The moment she answered, the voice on the other end made her heart freeze.

“Elsa Isabella Emirates? This is Zealous Emirates,” the voice said in a thick Greek accent, each word sharp and deliberate.

Her hand trembled as she pulled the phone away to stare at it. For a second, she considered ending the call, but curiosity and dread held her in place. She felt her blood run cold. It wasn’t who was calling that left her pale—it was what he said next.