Between Heartbeats

*Past*

 Isla stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest as Maya stepped closer. The girl's urgent demeanor sent a chill down Isla's spine. She had only seen Maya a handful of times—an acquaintance from school, a girl with a quiet intensity that always intrigued Isla. But now, Maya's presence felt heavy with significance.

"What do you mean, it's bigger than that?" Isla asked, trying to steady her voice. Confusion clouded her thoughts as she glanced at Aiden, Lila, and the others, who were equally bewildered.

Maya took a deep breath, her eyes darting around as if she expected someone to jump out of the shadows. "Tiffany knows more about your family than you realize. There are things—secrets—she's been digging into, and they involve you."

"What kind of secrets?" Isla pressed, her heart racing. "I don't understand."

"Your past," Maya replied, urgency threading through her words. "Something about your parents, something they didn't want you to know. Tiffany found out, and now she's using it against you."

Isla's mind reeled, grappling with the implications of Maya's words. Her parents had always been protective, but they had never mentioned anything that could be used against her. "What do you know about my parents?"

Maya hesitated, glancing back toward the trees as if she sensed danger. "I can't explain everything right now. But you need to trust me. Tiffany's not just being cruel for fun—she wants to destroy you."

"What did you mean when you said it's bigger than that?" Aiden interjected, stepping closer to Isla, his presence grounding her amid the chaos.

Maya's gaze flickered between them, her expression somber. "I was involved in something—something I shouldn't have been. I know about your family because I was trying to help a friend. But now Tiffany knows I've connected the dots, and she'll stop at nothing to hurt you."

Isla felt a wave of panic wash over her. "But I don't even know what she knows! How can I fight back against something I don't understand?"

Maya stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "You need to find out before it's too late. I can help, but you need to be ready for the truth."

"Truth?" Isla repeated, her heart racing. "What truth?"

Before Maya could respond, Tiffany's voice sliced through the air, dripping with malice. "You really think you can hide from me, Isla?"

Isla turned to see Tiffany emerging from the shadows, flanked by her loyal minion. The tension was palpable, and Isla felt a knot tighten in her stomach. She could see the satisfaction in Tiffany's eyes—she was reveling in this chaos.

"Didn't I tell you to stay out of this?" Tiffany sneered, directing her comment at Maya. "You don't want to get caught up in Isla's mess."

"What do you know about my mess?" Isla shot back, her voice steadier than she felt. "Why are you doing this?"

"Oh, it's not just about you, dear," Tiffany replied, a sly smile creeping across her face. "It's about your family's dirty little secrets. Secrets that, when revealed, will change everything."

Maya stepped protectively in front of Isla. "You're just trying to scare her, Tiffany. You think you can manipulate her with threats?"

"Oh, it's not manipulation if it's the truth," Tiffany retorted, her tone sharp. "Isla, your parents weren't who you thought they were. They had a life before you—a life they've kept hidden, and I have the evidence to prove it."

"What evidence?" Aiden demanded, stepping closer to Isla. "You're lying."

"Am I?" Tiffany shot back, her confidence unwavering. "Isla, your world is about to come crashing down. You have no idea what's waiting for you."