The photograph of Ariana weighed heavily in Elena's hands as she walked back to her father’s house. It felt like a key, unlocking a door to a past she never knew existed—a past that, up until now, had been hidden from her for reasons she was only beginning to understand. The image of the mysterious woman burned itself into her mind. Ariana’s gaze, intense and enigmatic, seemed to pull Elena into a world she had no right to enter, but one she now felt destined to uncover. There was something about her, something that didn’t sit right with Elena, as though the woman was not just a part of the story, but the key to everything.
Back at the house, Elena sat at the kitchen table, her fingers tracing the edges of the photo, replaying everything Liam had told her. Her father had been involved with dangerous people, and Ariana had somehow been at the center of it all. Elena had always thought of her father as a man of simple means, someone who lived quietly by the sea. But now, it seemed there was an entire shadow world she had never seen—one that had taken over her father’s life in ways she couldn’t fully comprehend.
She couldn’t stop thinking about Liam’s words: “She’s the key.” The more she dwelled on them, the more the name Ariana echoed in her mind. What did she have to do with all of this? Why had her father protected her so fiercely, even at the cost of his own life? And where had she gone? Had she disappeared on purpose? Or had something worse happened to her?
Elena decided she needed to find answers, and she knew she couldn’t do it alone. She needed to speak to the people who had been closest to her father, those who might know more about Ariana—and about the man he had been before she knew him as a father.
The first person that came to mind was Nora, a childhood friend of Elena’s who had stayed in town when Elena left. Nora had always been the one to know everything about everyone, the one who seemed to have her finger on the pulse of the town’s gossip. But Nora was also the one person Elena hadn’t kept in touch with. Their friendship had faded years ago, after Elena left for the city. Nora had stayed behind, married young, and settled into the rhythms of the town. Elena had always been a bit resentful of that, feeling like Nora had never fully understood her desire to escape.
But now, as Elena thought about it, Nora might be the only person who could help her. She needed information, and Nora had always known things others didn’t.
Elena picked up her phone and dialed the number she still had for Nora. It rang a few times before the line clicked, and a voice—soft but familiar—answered.
“Elena? Is that really you?”
Elena smiled a little. “Yes, it’s me. I know it’s been a while.”
There was a pause, and then a laugh, albeit a nervous one. “A while? More like a lifetime. How are you? Are you back for good?”
“I’m… not sure yet,” Elena replied, feeling a lump form in her throat. “I actually need to talk to you about something important. It’s about my dad.”
Nora’s tone changed instantly, becoming more serious. “What happened? Is everything okay?”
“I don’t know,” Elena said, her voice shaking slightly. “I found something, Nora. Something that doesn’t make sense. It’s about my father’s death, and… well, I think there’s something more to it. Can we meet?”
“Of course,” Nora said quickly. “Let’s meet at the old café. You remember it?”
“I’ll be there in an hour,” Elena replied, hanging up without waiting for a response. She needed to see Nora. She needed answers.
The café was a small, charming place, tucked between a florist and a bookstore. It had been a favorite of hers when she was younger—a place to hide away from the world, to sip coffee and dream of possibilities. As Elena walked through the door, the smell of freshly baked pastries and strong coffee hit her, enveloping her in a warm embrace of familiarity. It had been years since she’d set foot in here, but the cozy atmosphere hadn’t changed. The walls were still lined with mismatched photographs and old postcards, the tables cluttered with mismatched chairs, and the soft hum of conversation filled the air.
Nora was sitting at a corner booth, her back to the window, the sunlight filtering through the lace curtains and casting soft shadows on her face. She had changed, of course—she was older now, with a few more lines on her face and the unmistakable mark of someone who had lived a quiet, content life. Her hair, once long and flowing, was now cropped short, and her smile was warm, but there was a guardedness in her eyes that Elena hadn’t noticed before.
“Elena,” Nora said softly, standing to give her a brief hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
“You too,” Elena replied, taking a seat across from her. “I… I don’t really know where to start.”
Nora raised an eyebrow. “You’re scaring me. What’s going on?”
Elena took a deep breath. “I found a letter from my father. It was hidden behind an old photo frame in his house. He… he wrote it shortly before he died. And there’s something strange in it. He talks about secrets—things he never told me, things I don’t understand. And then, there’s this name—Ariana. Do you know who she is?”
The moment the name left Elena’s lips, Nora’s face went pale. She froze for a split second, and then her eyes darted around the room as if she were looking for an escape. Elena noticed the change immediately. It was subtle, but it was there.
“Ariana?” Nora repeated, her voice trembling slightly. “Why are you asking about her?”
“I need to know everything you know,” Elena said, leaning forward. “Liam told me she was involved with my father. That she was at the center of everything.”
Nora’s eyes flickered to the side, and she hesitated before answering. “Ariana was… she was trouble, Elena. Your father, he tried to help her, but it all went bad. I don’t know the full story, but I know enough to tell you that it wasn’t something you want to dig into. It’s dangerous.”
Elena felt a cold shiver run down her spine. “What do you mean? What happened?”
Nora sighed deeply, running a hand through her short hair. “Ariana was involved with some people who were not good, Elena. And your father... he got caught up in it. I don’t know the details, but I know it destroyed him. Your father wasn’t who you thought he was. There were things about him that he never let anyone in on. But Ariana—she’s the key. If you want to understand what happened to him, you need to find her.”
“Where is she?” Elena asked, her voice urgent. “Where did she go?”
“I don’t know,” Nora whispered, glancing nervously over her shoulder. “She disappeared a long time ago. The last anyone heard, she was in the city, but that was years ago. No one knows where she is now. And to be honest, I don’t think you should look for her. Some things are better left buried.”
But Elena wasn’t listening. Ariana was the key. She had to find her. She had no choice. The truth about her father, about everything, was out there, and she was determined to find it, no matter the cost.
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