A Close Call

A few hours earlier…

"Goodbye, girl! See you tomorrow."

"Goodbye!" Alisha called back, waving at her friends as they parted ways at the school gate. The sun was beginning its lazy descent, casting a warm golden glow over the street. She slipped on her earphones, letting her favorite playlist drown out the hum of traffic as she made her way to the bus station for her ride to San Flora.

The rhythm of the music synced with her steps, but just as she started humming along, a sharp vibration jolted her from her thoughts. It came from her bag. Frowning, she stopped and rummaged through it, pulling out a phone. The phone she only used for sending messages to Jonathan.

The screen flashed an ominous red light, vibrating incessantly in her hand. A chill ran down her spine as her instincts screamed danger. "Oh no! Fuck!," she muttered under her breath, her pulse quickening. Alisha's hands trembled as she turned off the phone, yanked out the SIM card, and snapped it in two. Without hesitation, she discarded the pieces and the phone itself into a nearby garbage can.

She took a few hurried steps, her mind racing, but doubt clawed at her resolve. What if someone found it? What if her fingerprints gave her away? Swallowing her fear, she turned back, retrieved the phone from the trash, and wiped it frantically with the edge of her sleeve. After ensuring it was clean, she tossed it back into the bin, this time making sure it was buried under a heap of discarded wrappers and papers.

Her relief was short-lived because just as she turned to leave, movement caught her eye, three men, their silhouettes menacing under the dimming light, hovered nearby. Their broad shoulders and deliberate movements exuded danger.

"Search the area thoroughly. The signal was lost around here, which means the person is nearby," one of them barked.

Alisha froze, her heart hammering in her chest. She ducked behind the garbage can, pressing her back against the cold metal. Peeking cautiously, she caught a glimpse of them. They were scanning the area with sharp eyes, their every step was steady and determined to catch the culprit . Panic clawed at her as she fumbled with her own phone. With trembling fingers, she sent an urgent S.O.S. message to Zachariah.

Her mind raced as she scanned her surroundings. She spotted a payphone booth a few meters away, her only viable escape. But the men were everywhere, their movements too calculated to let her slip away unnoticed.

The sound of heavy boots crunching on gravel brought her focus back. One of the men was approaching the garbage can. Each step he took echoed in her ears, her breath catching with every crunch. She pressed herself harder against the bin, desperate to become invisible. Her heartbeat roared in her ears like a drumbeat, deafening and relentless.

Just as the man was about to reach the bin, another voice called out. "I think I found something!"

The approaching man halted, spinning toward the source of the voice. The others rushed over to investigate. Alisha seized the brief reprieve, moving as silently as she could. She slipped away from the garbage can and darted toward the payphone booth. Her legs felt like lead, but fear propelled her forward. She slipped into the booth, closing the door as quietly as possible.

"This is the line the person used to send those messages," one of the men muttered, his voice loud enough for Alisha to hear.

"It's destroyed," another said grimly.

"So what do we do now?"

"The line was trashed only eight minutes ago. The person is still around here. Keep looking! If we don't find them, Mr. X will handle us himself."

There was a pause before one of them spoke, his voice laced with curiosity. "Why does Mr. X dote on that guy anyway? Isn't he just a man-whore that works for him? I don't get why he goes to such lengths for him."

"Don't you know? That guy is Mr. X's favorite, his chosen man. Rumor has it there's a reason why. Something about a special secret the two of them share."

"I feel bad for whoever's behind this mess. Mr. X will chew them up alive for messing with what's his. Let's find them and get this over with."

Alisha clasped her hands to her chest, her breaths shallow and silent. Each word sent shivers down her spine, feeding the dread pooling in her stomach. Her heart raced so fast it felt like it might burst.

'This is bad… really, really bad,' she thought, clutching her phone tightly as she crouched in the booth, trying to make herself as small as possible.

Alisha peeked through the narrow glass pane of the payphone booth, her breath catching in her throat. Two of the men were headed her way, their imposing figures cutting a path through the street. Each step they took was deliberate, the sound of their boots drawing closer like a countdown to her doom.

"I think there's someone in that payphone booth," one of them whispered, his voice sharp enough to slice through the tense air. Alisha heard it loud and clear, and the words felt like a dagger to her chest.

She pressed herself against the corner of the booth, her trembling hands clutching her phone tightly to her chest. Tears began to stream down her cheeks as her panic took hold. The sound of their footsteps surrounding the booth felt suffocating, as if the walls were closing in on her.

Just then, a loud blaring noise erupted nearby. A firetruck roared into the street, its horns and sirens creating chaos and distraction. The men froze momentarily, their attention diverted by the commotion.

Alisha's heart leapt as the firetruck sped past, its disruptive presence buying her a precious moment. One of the men approached the booth, his hand gripping the door handle. He flung it open, but his eyes met an empty space.

"There's nobody here!" he called out, his frustration evident.

"Looks like the person fled the scene. No matter, we'll find them, one way or another. Let's check the other area," another man replied.

Meanwhile, Alisha was running for her life. She gasped for breath, each step fueled by sheer adrenaline as Zach gripped her hand tightly. Moments earlier, amidst the chaos caused by the firetruck, Zach had burst into the booth, pulling her out just in time. Together, they sprinted down the street, turning sharply onto another road. Alisha's legs burned with effort, but fear kept her moving.

As they reached the bus stop, her knees threatened to buckle. Zach steadied her as the bus approached. They boarded hurriedly, finding two empty seats toward the back. Once seated, Zach turned to her, his voice low but full of concern. "Are you alright?"

Alisha nodded faintly, burying her face in her hands. Her breaths were heavy and ragged, her shoulders trembling as silent tears streamed down her cheeks. The reality of what had just happened hit her like a tidal wave, too overwhelming to express with words.

Zach wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, his hand soothingly rubbing her back. "You're safe now," he murmured, his tone steady and comforting.

The bus jerked forward, leaving behind the danger that still lurked in the shadows. For now, the siblings had found refuge, but the lingering fear in Alisha's heart was far from gone.

...

"Zach! Alisha!" Patricia's voice rang out as she hurried into the house.

She rushed to the living room, her eyes immediately landing on Zach sitting beside Alisha. Patricia froze, her breath catching in her throat. Alisha's appearance was enough to send a jolt of alarm through her. Her hair was disheveled, her usually bright eyes were bloodshot from crying, and Patricia's gaze fell to the band-aids wrapped around her wrists, signaling that she might have been injured.

"Oh, Ali! What happened to you? What happened? Zach, what's going on?" Patricia demanded, her voice frantic as she dropped her bag and moved closer to them.

Zach sighed, running a hand through his hair as his expression turned grim. "I... I don't know. I'd just finished basketball practice with the guys when I got this message from Alisha. It said, 'S.O.S. I'm in big trouble.' I panicked and went out to find her. First, I checked around the school, but she wasn't there. When I tried calling her, she wouldn't pick up."

He paused, glancing at Alisha before continuing. "Then I thought to check the street we usually take to the bus station. That's when I saw them, these men, roaming around like they were searching for someone. And then... I saw her."

Zach's voice broke slightly, and he leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "I saw Ali darting out from behind a garbage can and into a payphone booth. That's when I realized... those men, they were the trouble. I couldn't just run out there; they were all over the place. So I hid and came up with the only plan I could think of."

Patricia frowned. "What plan?"

Zach let out a shaky breath. "I made a fake fire emergency call to the fire department. I knew it was risky, but I didn't have another option. It took a while for the firetruck to get there, but I watched every second to make sure those men didn't hurt her. When they started moving toward the payphone booth, I almost lost it. But just in time, the firetruck showed up and caused enough of a distraction. I ran to the booth, grabbed Alisha, and got us out of there. We ran until we made it to the bus stop. Since then... she hasn't said a word. She's just been crying, and I don't know what to do." His voice grew softer, tinged with guilt.

Patricia turned her attention to Alisha, her heart aching at the sight of her sister's trembling form. She crouched down beside her and placed a gentle hand on her knee. "Hey, Ali," she said softly. "Please... can you tell us what happened? Please."

Alisha closed her eyes, taking a deep breath that shuddered in her chest. When she finally spoke, her voice was shaky but resolute. "He... is Mr. X's man."

Patricia's eyes widened, her mind racing as the weight of Alisha's words sank in. "Mr. X?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. She turned to face Nicole, who had just walked in after receiving Patricia's urgent call.

"There were tracking the phone," Alisha continued, her voice steadier now. "The phone I used to send those messages to Jonathan. I installed a panic button, a software that would warn me if the phone was being tracked. That's how I knew. The panic button went off, and I destroyed the line. I threw the phone away and ran. But then... I remembered. My fingerprints were on the phone. So I went back to wipe them off."

She swallowed hard, her gaze dropping to her lap. "That's when the men showed up. I hid behind a garbage can and, later, in the payphone booth. While I was hiding... I overheard them talking."

Patricia and Nicole exchanged glances as Alisha's voice grew quieter, as if the memory itself terrified her. "You were right, Nicole. Someone really got pissed about Jonathan being blackmailed. And that person... is Mr. X. Jonathan isn't just some pawn to him. He's... he's Mr. X's man. His favorite."

Patricia's stomach turned as Alisha continued, her words chilling. "They said Mr. X goes to great lengths to keep Jonathan safe. He dotes on him because they share some kind of... secret. That's why he's so protective of him. That's why Jonathan is untouchable."

Alisha's voice cracked as she finished, and she buried her face in her hands. Patricia placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, her own mind racing with the implications of what she'd just heard.

"But I don't understand one thing," Nicole said as she sank onto the couch. "If Mr. X likes Jonathan so much, then why is he making him work as a whore. Why is he allowing him to be bedded by every Jack and Jill? It doesn't make any sense."

"I don't understand either," Alisha admitted, her voice trembling. "But one thing is certain, Mr. X isn't going to stop until he gets his hands on me. This is a serious problem. I barely escaped today, and I can't stop imagining what could've happened if those men..." Her words trailed off as tears threatened to spill again.

"Don't say anything more!" Patricia interrupted, her voice firm yet gentle. She knelt down beside her sister and placed a comforting hand on her knee. "You're safe now, Ali. That's all that matters. And from this moment on, you're no longer involved in any of this."

"But Patricia—"

"No buts, Alisha! You almost got hurt today because of this mess. I'm not risking either of your lives again. Understood?" Patricia's tone left no room for argument, her protective instincts blazing.

She sighed deeply and added, "I know you both want to help. But things are escalating, and I can't bear the thought of you getting hurt. I need you to stand down."

Alisha frowned, her frustration mounting. "But Patricia—"

"No," Patricia cut her off. "I won the race. I'm in the club now. Nicole, Isaac, and I will handle this ourselves. You don't need to be involved anymore."

"But we're all in this together!" Alisha exclaimed, her voice shaking with determination. "Yes, today was a setback, but that doesn't mean we should give up. We can use what we know now, about Jonathan's importance to Mr. X, we can use it as leverage. If we can uncover the secret they share, we might be able to use it against them!"

Patricia shot up from her seat, her eyes blazing. "Oh my God, Alisha! Are you even listening to yourself? You said you nearly got killed today, and you still want to keep going? No! Absolutely not. You're stepping away from this mission, and that's final!"

Alisha groaned in frustration. "Ugh! You're so stubborn!" She stormed out of the living room, slamming her bedroom door behind her.

Patricia slumped onto the couch, burying her face in her hands. Her voice was muffled as she muttered, "This is too much."

Zach stood and placed a reassuring hand on Patricia's shoulder. "I think I better go talk to her." He excused himself, heading toward Alisha's room.

Nicole sighed audibly and flopped back onto the couch. "Things are just getting more and more complicated, aren't they?"

"Complicated doesn't even cover it," Patricia replied, rubbing her temples. "This is bigger than I thought. We need a strategy, something to prevent collateral damage. Otherwise, everything we've worked for will fail." Her frustration was evident.

Nicole hesitated before speaking, her voice measured. "I hate to say it, but… I really think we should keep Ali in the game."

Patricia's head snapped up, her glare like fire. "Are you kidding me, Nicole? After what happened today? Keeping her in the game would be beyond reckless!"

"Oh, come on, Patty!" Nicole argued, sitting up straighter. "Alisha is smart and resourceful. Today was just a—"

"A setback? You're calling today a setback?" Patricia's voice rose, her anger flaring. "That was a close call, Nicole! Imagine if those men had caught her! Can you even begin to fathom what Mr. X would've done to her? And you're suggesting I let her stay involved? No way!"

Nicole opened her mouth to argue but stopped herself, her demeanor shifting to something softer. "Patty, listen. We can't go headfirst into the lion's den without a little preparation. Twisting its tail first, that's what strategy is all about. Isn't that why you became a derby racer? By the way, congratulations! And you owe me all the juicy details about your time on the track and with your oh-so-handsome federal agent. Tomorrow's my day off, so I'll be waiting!" She squealed mischievously.

Patricia groaned at her friend's childish behavior. "Nicole, this isn't a joke."

Nicole's expression softened. She moved closer and sat beside Patricia, wrapping an arm around her in a comforting gesture. "I get it, Patty. You don't want to risk losing anyone. And it's okay to feel that way. But we'll figure this out together. You, me, Isaac, Zach, and Alisha. We're stronger as a team. You just have to trust us."

Patricia nodded reluctantly, her voice quiet. "Okay. But for now, they need to lay low. At least until the storm settles."

Nicole smiled. "That's fair."

Nicole glanced at the time and stood. "I better head home before it gets too late. I've got a case to review."

Patricia walked her to the door, pulling her into a tight hug before she left. "Thank you for coming, Nicole. It means a lot."

"Don't worry," Nicole replied, her tone firm but kind. "We'll get through this, together. Oh, and don't forget. Tomorrow, I want details. Don't you dare bail on me!"

Patricia laughed softly. "Okay, okay! I promise."

As she ushered Nicole to the door, a sudden crashing sound erupted from the back of the house. Patricia froze. "What was that?" she exclaimed, her voice sharp. She hurried toward the dining room with Nicole close behind.

They reached the back door and saw shards of broken glass scattered across the floor. A stone with a note tied to it lay among the debris.

Patricia approached cautiously, picking up the stone. Nicole opened the back door, scanning the yard. She caught the sound of tires screeching as a car sped away beyond the ranch's wall.

"They're gone," Nicole said, stepping back inside. She froze when she saw Patricia's expression, her face pale, her hands trembling as she held the note.

Nicole moved closer and glanced at the paper. Her heart seemed to stop when she read the words scrawled in bold red letters:

'WELCOME TO THE RACE MS MILTON. ARE YOU PREPARED TO DIE'