Come out alive

Mia's heart raced as she sprinted after Paul, her breath coming in uneven gasps. The night air was thick with tension, a palpable weight that pressed down on her chest. She could see her mother, fragile and vulnerable, clinging to Paul's back, her face a mask of pain and fear. Mia raised her trembling hand, brushing her fingers against her mother's cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin contrasting sharply with the chill of the encroaching darkness. Tears streamed down her face, a river of despair that she could no longer contain.

"Mama!" she cried, her voice cracking like glass.

"Mia, my child," her mother's voice was strained, each word a struggle against the agony that racked her body. She lifted her face, eyes swimming with tears, red and puffy from the pain. The sight of her mother like this was unbearable, a dagger twisting in Mia's heart.

"Mama, it's okay! I'm here!" Mia's voice was a desperate plea, a fragile thread meant to anchor her mother in the storm of chaos surrounding them.

Paul slowed his pace, sensing the urgency of the moment. He stopped, allowing the two to share a fleeting moment of connection, a fragile bridge over the chasm of fear that threatened to swallow them whole. He glanced at the police officers, their expressions a mix of concern and professionalism, and with a subtle nod, they stepped back, giving Mia and her mother the space they desperately needed.

As they stood at the threshold of the exit, Mia heard her mother's voice again, this time more serious, more urgent. "Mia, tonight I didn't make you promise for anything," she said, her voice trembling yet resolute. Confusion washed over Mia like a cold wave. What did her mother mean? The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken truths.

"Don't be confused," her mother added, her eyes locking onto Mia's with a fierce intensity that sent shivers down her spine. "You will know what I mean when you reach your friends. Please, come out alive. I will be waiting."

Mia's brow furrowed, the weight of her mother's words pressing down on her like a lead blanket. Why was she saying this? Why did it feel like a goodbye? Before she could voice her questions, Paul took off again, the urgency of their situation pulling him away. The older lady, her mother, had finished speaking, and he ran with her to safety, each stride filled with determination.

Mia stood frozen at the doorway, her mind a tumult of confusion and fear. Her mother's words echoed in her ears, a haunting refrain that refused to fade. "Come out alive." The trees loomed ominously around her, their dark silhouettes twisting and turning in the wind, as if whispering secrets meant only for her.

"Mia!" a voice snapped her from her reverie.

She turned to see an officer standing before her, his posture rigid and attentive. "We're waiting for your orders," he said, his gaze steady on her face. The weight of responsibility settled upon her shoulders, heavy and suffocating.

Mia's heart raced, not just from fear but from a surge of anger that bubbled up from deep within her. How could they expect her to lead? She was just a child, a girl caught in a nightmare that seemed to stretch endlessly before her. She clenched her fists, feeling the nails dig into her palms, grounding her in the moment.

"Why are we waiting?" she snapped, her voice sharper than she intended. The confusion morphed into frustration, igniting a fire inside her. "What do you want me to do? Just stand here while my mother is in danger?"

The officer's expression softened, but his resolve remained. "We need to secure the area, but we can't move without your signal. You're the one who knows the situation best."

Mia's anger flared, a tempest of emotions swirling within her. How could they put this on her? She felt the darkness outside closing in, wrapping around her like a shroud. The shadows danced menacingly, and she could almost hear the whispers of doubt creeping into her mind.

"Damn it!" she shouted, her voice echoing against the walls of the building. "I can't do this! We're few in numbers!" The words spilled out, raw and unfiltered.

The officer remained calm, his eyes never leaving hers. "You are stronger than you think, Mia. You've already shown that by being here. Your mother believes in you. We all do."

Mia's heart twisted painfully at the mention of her mother. The tears threatened to spill over again, but she fought them back, channeling her emotions into something fierce and determined. She straightened her back, the weight of expectation pressing against her, but she refused to be crushed.

"Okay," she said, her voice steadier now. "Let's move. We need to find my friends and get out of here."

The officer nodded, a flicker of respect in his eyes. As he relayed her orders to the team, Mia felt a surge of clarity wash over her. The darkness outside still loomed, but she would not let it consume her. With her mother's words echoing in her mind, she stepped into the unknown, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

Mean while Alex scanned the room before his voice rose "Yes" Alex assured Sara, his voice strained but resolute. He was determined not to back down, even as the shadows of doubt loomed larger.

Jake and James, lurking in the corners of the alley, exchanged glances filled with disdain. "He's really gone insane," Jake muttered under his breath, the bitterness in his tone unmistakable. "They should just marry each other." His sarcasm barely masked the anger bubbling just beneath the surface, a smoldering fire that threatened to ignite at any moment.

Nicky stood apart from the others, his calm demeanor. This only served to infuriate Jake and James further. "You're really letting Alex go insane," James spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "Oh, I forgot—he'll always protect him, no matter what happens." Disappointment clouded Jake's features, and he shook his head, his rage simmering just below the surface.

"Nicky, you should stop him, not us," James said, turning his back to Nicky, frustration etched into his every movement. "You're playing dirty," he added, his voice laced with accusation.

Nicky listened, his thoughts swirling around Alex's wavering sanity. "I trust Alex," he murmured, but the uncertainty gnawed at him. "Please, what are you thinking? Why are you so worried? Who is that person you want to know so badly?" His internal monologue was abruptly interrupted by a loud voice echoing from above.

"Don't you dare, Sara!" the voice commanded, a thunderous presence that sent chills down Alex's spine. Sara stumbled backward, her men instinctively stepping forward, forming a protective barrier around her. She turned to face the source of the command, defiance etched across her features.

Panic surged through Alex as he watched his only hope retreat. "No, no, no! Think, Alex, think!" he urged himself, desperately searching for a way to prove his worth, to stop her from walking away. But the words eluded him, slipping through his fingers like grains of sand.

Mia reached the door, her eyes widening in horror as she took in the sight of Alex, wounded and vulnerable. But it was his words that froze her in place. "Jake and Mia are in a relationship," he blurted out, the lie spilling from his lips like poison. "I said Mia loves Jake so much behind your back. Will you let it slide?" His voice rose in a frantic plea, praying that his deception would buy him enough time.

"Sara!" he called out, desperation clawing at his throat.

"I heard you, Alex!" Sara's voice was a tempest of fury, her body turning slowly, a predator sizing up her prey. "So she loves my man? Hahaha! I will kill her now, and you better not get in my way!" Her laughter was chilling, a harbinger of the chaos that was about to erupt.

Jake, James, and Mia stood frozen, shock painted across their faces. "Why did Alex lie?" Nawe, a newcomer to the scene, stepped into the spotlight, her voice sharp and accusatory. "You love Jake, Mia?" The question hung in the air, heavy with implication.

Mia shook her head, bewildered. "What of my brother? You have waited, Mia! My brother loves you!" Nawe's frustration boiled over, and she raised her hand to slap Mia, but Jake intervened, stepping in front of her, Nawe don't you dare! his warn was enough.

"Sara, wait!" Alex shouted, his voice breaking through the chaos. The man who had commanded Sara seemed to have forgotten to use a voice manipulator, and Alex's mind raced as he recognized the voice. "Albert?!"

His father arrived, and the air grew thick with tension. "Albert! Is it you?" Alex's father stepped out of the shadows, his voice filled with disbelief. Mia, still caught in Nawe's grip, echoed in a shaky whisper, "Father!"

"No, his dead!" Mia's voice trembled as she clutched Nawe for support. Alex's worry intensified, a storm brewing within him as he attempted to run to Mia, but he was halted by the sight of Jake's fierce glare directed at him.

"Calm down, Albert," Nicky commanded, his voice steady but laced with anger. "It seems so many people want to talk to you."

Why did you come back?"Mia's voice , Albert,Mia demanded, her gaze piercing through the her father "You think you can just waltz in and demand answers? You have no idea what you're dealing with!"

The group shifted uneasily, the lines between father and daughter blurring in the dim light. "You think you know madness?" Sara interjected, her voice a low growl. "You don't know the half of it. We're all pawns in a game we didn't choose!" she laughed

"Sara… who's Sara?" a voice called from Mia's side. Timmy stepped out, his eyes locked onto Sara's men. Sara stiffened, then turned toward the source of the voice.

"Oh, it's you. The source—or pawn—of all the problems." Timmy sneered, his lips curling into a tight, cruel smile. "For once, just shut up!"

Mia's heart pounded in her chest. Her father—the one they had thought dead—stood before her. His eyes, dark and unyielding, never left hers. Her breath caught in her throat.

"Yo… you're alive?" Mia whispered, her voice breaking as tears welled in her eyes.

"No!" she screamed, her chest tightening with the shock of it. She froze, unable to move, her mind scrambling to process what was happening.

"Wait… wait," she stammered. "Everything that happened—was all done by you?" She pointed at him, the rage bubbling inside her, making her vision blur with tears. "Why? Why did you do this to us?"

Her voice cracked, raw with emotion. "Mama loved you so much… but you only gave her pain…"

Mia's knees buckled, and she would have collapsed if not for Jake, who caught her mid-fall, his arms steady as he held her up. His hands tightened around her, a mix of protection and frustration in his touch.

"You don't deserve her love, her worry, her tears," Jake said while staring striaght in Mia's father, his voice calm but laced with fury. "Stop it, Mia. Don't cry. He doesn't deserve it."

Mia stared at him, stunned by his words, but before she could respond, the slap came. Hard. It sent her face falling to the left side, her skin burning from the impact. She stood still for a moment, disoriented, trying to process what had just happened.

"Hey, Mia! Stop it already!" Sara's voice was harsh, mocking. "Everyone already pities you, don't make it more dramatic."

Sara's words cut deep, and Mia flinched, her body trembling. Sara's laughter echoed in the air like a cruel taunt, but her amusement faltered when she saw the look on Mia's face—one of terror and confusion.

"Little brat," Sara gloated, her eyes glowing with triumph as she stepped closer, her voice dripping with venom, "you really didn't see this coming, did you?"

But Mia was already too lost in the whirlpool of her emotions to respond.

That was when Albert's voice pierced through the air—cold, unyielding. It was like an arrow, sharp and merciless, striking deep into Mia's heart.

Mia's heart raced as she sat on the cold, hard floor, the stark white walls of the room closing in on her like a vice. The space was drenched in an eerie silence, save for the faint sound of her ragged breaths and the distant echoes of chaos from outside. Blood smeared across the floor, a stark contrast against the sterile whiteness, each drop a testament to the violence that had unfolded. It was a room that held secrets, a room that had witnessed betrayal, and now, it was the stage for her father's chilling revelation.

"No, Sara," Albert's voice sliced through the tension like a knife, cold and unyielding. "I am her father! Did you miss me, my child?!"

Mia felt the ground beneath her tremble, the weight of his words crashing down upon her like a tidal wave. Her breath hitched, disbelief clawing at her throat. It couldn't be true. It just couldn't. The memories of her bitter childhood, the cries sorrow paint!! Has been reborn again? Her father, the man who made her mother and her life a living hell!!!! was alive? The thought was unbearable.

"Yes," Albert continued, his voice dripping with a sickening satisfaction. "I am alive! No, I had always been alive…"

The finality in his tone sent a shiver down her spine. Mia's legs gave out completely, and she collapsed to the ground, her world shattering into a million pieces. The pain of betrayal coursed through her veins, a bitter poison. She trembled, her body wracked with the agony of shattered trust. Her mind screamed for escape, but there was none. All she could do was sit there, lost in a storm of emotions, her heart heavy with sorrow.

Alex, who had remained silent throughout the confrontation, felt a surge of helplessness as he watched Mia crumble. He stepped closer, his heart aching for her, but Jake's deadly stare held him back. Jake's eyes were filled with fury, but they were also filled with concern for Mia, who sat on the bloody ground, her spirit seemingly extinguished.

"Mia, you can't break down now!" Jake shouted, his voice rising above the chaos. "If you do, who will stop him?" His eyes bore into her, urging her to find strength in the darkness.

Albert's gaze shifted toward Jake, an unsettling calmness enveloping him. He seemed to relish the turmoil he had created, his expression a mask of twisted satisfaction. "You think you can protect her?" he taunted, his voice low and menacing. "I've taken everything from you already."

As the tension escalated, Nawe darted through the chaos, her instincts kicking in. She couldn't let her brother face this alone. "Alex!" she shouted, urgency lacing her voice. "Leave that witch to me!" She was ready to confront Sara, who stood nearby, her laughter echoing through the room like a haunting melody.

Sara's eyes sparkled with a manic delight as she observed the unfolding drama. "Oh, did I miss something?" she cackled, stepping closer to the edge of the room "Why did you move, Sir? You said I could kill anyone who tries to reach you. But these fools are lucky!" Her voice dripped with malice, a sinister undertone that sent chills down Nawe's spine.

"Now you know," Sara continued, her tone mocking. "You try me, and you die! Ah, no, I mean to say you go next to him and die! Wooo!" She twirled, her laughter echoing off the walls, a jarring contrast to the gravity of the situation.

In that moment, Alex's resolve hardened. He stepped forward, blocking Sara's path with a fierce face. "You shouldn't cross the line," he warned, his voice steady despite the turmoil swirling around him. "I don't fight ladies, but I will protect those I care about. I will not forget that there are people I wish to protect.

Albert's expression shifted, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. He opened his mouth to respond, but Alex's glare silenced him. The tension in the room was palpable, a taut string ready to snap.

Nawe, fueled by adrenaline, rushed forward, ready to confront Sara. "Leave him alone!" she shouted, her voice breaking through the chaos. She was determined to protect her brother, to shield Mia from the storm that was Albert and Sara.

But as Nawe lunged toward Sara, the room erupted into chaos. A gunshot rang out, echoing through the bloody white room, drowning out the sounds of their heartbeats. Time seemed to freeze. Mia's eyes widened in horror as she realized the bullet was aimed not at Nawe, but at Alex, who had stepped in front of her in a split-second decision.

"No!" Mia screamed, her voice raw with desperation.

The world around her blurred as she scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't let this be the end. She wouldn't let her father's twisted legacy define her fate.

As the dust settled and the echoes of chaos faded, the room fell silent, the aftermath of violence hanging heavy in the air. Mia stood at the center of it all, her heart racing, her mind racing, as she faced the truth: she was no longer just a victim. She was a among, and she would fight for those she loved, no matter the cost.

And just as she prepared to make her move, the lights flickered, casting ominous shadows across the room, and the ground beneath her shook once more. The door to the bloody white room creaked open, revealing a figure cloaked in darkness.

"Let the games begin," the figure whispered, a chilling smile spreading across their lips.

Mia's breath caught in her throat as she stole another glance at Alex. He stood unfazed, his posture unbothered, as though the bullet that had grazed him had done nothing more than stir the air. Nawe's cries echoed in the chaos, but his focus was elsewhere—rushing to Sara, screaming her name in desperation. Her father, standing rigidly to the side, remained silent, his expression unreadable. Nicky and James positioned themselves, preparing for the inevitable clash.

Jake remained beside Mia, his presence a quiet comfort, but it was Alex who consumed her thoughts. Her gaze lingered on him, every muscle in her body taut with the desire to understand what was happening inside his head. She couldn't tear her eyes away, even as Jake's own gaze shifted toward her, an unspoken tension hanging between them.

But Alex, ever the enigma, seemed to feel her stare, yet never once turned to meet her eyes. Instead, his cold, unwavering focus was fixed on Albert and Nawe, who were now standing face-to-face with Sara. The air around them grew heavier, and Mia could feel the storm of emotions brewing beneath the surface.

Suddenly, the silence was shattered by a sharp cry from Nawe—a cry that sent a chill down Mia's spine.

"Sara!" he shouted, his voice breaking through the tension.

Mia's heart raced. Was it too late? Was this the moment they'd all been waiting for? The one that would change everything?

Before she could process the thought, a figure emerged from the shadows, and Alex's eyes narrowed, a flicker of recognition crossing his face.

"Get ready," Jake murmured, his voice low and urgent. "This is it."

Mia's pulse quickened, her gaze snapping back to Alex, her breath catching once more. The fight was about to begin—

..