The hallway outside Caspian's door went completely silent.
Not the quiet of people leaving.
The quiet of people realizing something was terribly wrong.
Caspian pressed her ear closer to the door, her heart racing.
Moments earlier, one of the intruders had whispered a single word.
"Ash?"
But Riven was already here.
So who were they seeing?
Outside, one of the men spoke again, his voice shaky now.
"That's impossible."
Another one answered quickly.
"He's dead. We confirmed it years ago."
Dead.
The word made Caspian's chest tighten.
Riven had told her the same thing.
He had died the night he took the bullet meant for her.
Then why were these men suddenly afraid?
A loud sound echoed down the hallway.
Like someone being slammed against the wall.
One of the intruders cried out in pain.
"What the hell is attacking us?!"
Another man shouted angrily, trying to sound brave.
"Spread out! Find it!"
But his voice carried something else now.
Fear.
Real fear.
Caspian slowly stepped away from the door.
The air in the room had grown colder again.
That meant only one thing.
Riven was close.
A faint figure appeared beside the window.
His form flickered slightly, weaker than before.
"You're still here," she whispered.
"Barely," Riven replied quietly.
She stared at him.
"Then who are they seeing in the hallway?"
For the first time, Riven didn't answer immediately.
His eyes moved toward the door.
Listening.
Another crash echoed outside.
Then a man shouted again.
"No! Stay back!"
Caspian's heart pounded faster.
"Riven," she said urgently. "What's happening?"
His expression darkened.
"They're remembering."
"Remembering what?"
He looked at her.
"The last time they saw me."
Her breath caught.
"You mean… the night you died?"
Riven nodded slowly.
"The people downstairs were there that night."
Caspian's stomach twisted.
"The ones who tried to kill me?"
"Yes."
Another terrified shout echoed from the hallway.
A man's voice screamed in panic.
"It's him! I swear it's him!"
Riven closed his eyes briefly.
"They're seeing something they thought they buried."
Caspian frowned.
"But if you're here… then who are they seeing?"
Riven's voice dropped lower.
"Not me."
Her heart skipped.
"Then who?"
The hallway outside suddenly went quiet again.
Too quiet.
Caspian felt a cold wave pass through the room.
The door handle moved slightly.
Not like someone trying to break in.
Like someone… testing it.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Riven's eyes narrowed.
"That shouldn't be possible."
Caspian whispered nervously,
"What shouldn't?"
The door handle stopped moving.
A calm voice spoke from the other side.
Cold.
Familiar.
And impossible.
"Open the door, Velora."
Caspian's blood turned to ice.
Because that voice—
Sounded exactly like Riven Ash.
But Riven was standing right in front of her.