Chapter 18: Ryan’s Confession

It was a late knock on the door, a menacing rap that reverberated throughout the flat. I clutched the mug of herbal tea I had prepared to soothe my waning anxiety as I paused in mid-step. Even though Andrew had promised to "manage" Ryan before departing hours earlier, nothing could make the increasing pit in my stomach go away.

I gazed at the entrance. This time the knocking was louder.

Ryan's voice shouted out from the other end, "Amelia, it's me."

I paused. Shall I open the door for him? Just hours after he'd stormed out, he sounded... different. Relax. Too quiet, almost.

I took a big breath, put down the drink, and walked over to the door. Something in his voice commanded my attention, even though unlocking it felt like a violation of my better judgment.

Ryan was standing there as I opened the door, his body relaxed but his face was unreadable. The dark corridor light cast shadows on his face, giving him a hardness I had never noticed before.