"Ella."
Ella glanced up from her phone and her heart skipped a beat at the sound of her brother's voice. A shiver ran down her spine as her eyes met Aiden's cold, unwavering stare. He stood in the doorway, silhouetted by the dim hallway light, his presence heavy in the silence of the room.
"What… What are you doing here?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's the middle of the night."
Aiden's lips curled into a slow, unsettling smile as he took a step inside. His movements were deliberate, each one measured, and Ella felt herself tremble. He had always been the gentle brother to her, ignoring her mistakes, but this time, he didn't seem to be like that. The closer he came, the tighter Ella clutched her phone, her knuckles white, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Ella," he repeated, his voice soft yet dripping with menace, "Where is Serena?"