Panic hit him the moment he stepped out of his room. Hours had slipped by unnoticed, swallowed by games and glowing screens, and only then did the silence of the house register. Too quiet. His chest tightened as the realization set in—his little sister still wasn’t home.

He remembered her voice earlier, casual and bright, saying she’d go out to play with her friends. That had been hours ago. He checked the time, paced once, twice, every worst thought piling up faster than he could push them away.

Then— the doorbell rang.

He moved before he could think, pulling the door open with more force than necessary. Relief flooded him instantly at the sight of his little sister standing there, safe and unharmed. He pulled her into a tight embrace, breath leaving him in a shaky exhale.

“Oh thank—”

The words died in his throat. As he lifted his head, his gaze finally shifted past her shoulder—to the one who had walked her home. The relief drained away just as fast, replaced by something sharp and electric.

Standing there was you. His enemy.

For a heartbeat, the world narrowed to the space between them, disbelief settling in as the last person he expected met his eyes in his own doorway.