The adventure

~Mia~

{Monday}

I woke up drenched in sweat, the echoes of my nightmare still lingering. My mom's voice broke through the haze.

"Alright, guys, wake up! Time for school!"

I groaned, rubbing my eyes. "Okay, Mom," I called back, forcing myself out of bed.

By the time I got to the breakfast table, Mom was already there. Her messy bun was barely holding together, and the dark circles under her eyes looked worse than usual.

"Morning," I said, trying to sound cheerful.

"Morning, sweetie," she replied, yawning.

"You okay, Mom? You look...tired," I asked, studying her carefully.

She waved me off with a tired smile. "Just didn't sleep well. Don't worry about it."

Don't worry about it. She always said that, but lately, it felt like those words were holding back a storm.

At school, the memories hit me like a tidal wave the moment I stepped through the gates: Laura's laughter echoed in my mind, not the joyful kind, but the sharp, mocking tone that had cut me to pieces. Camelia's face flashed next a mix of guilt and defiance. My chest tightened. I hated how they still had this power over me.

I inhaled sharply, trying to steady myself. "Everything's fine," I whispered, but the knot in my stomach told a different story.

"Mia!" Emma's voice snapped me back to reality. She ran up, her ponytail bouncing behind her. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said with a forced chuckle.

"Good! Because I signed up for almost all your classes. We're going to be inseparable!" she squealed, throwing her arms around me.

I managed a grin. "You're impossible, you know that?"

She giggled and we headed to class .

Lost in my thoughts, I barely registered the day slipping by. One moment, I was in homeroom; the next, I was packing my bag to go home.

I suddenly remembered hearing from the other students about an abandoned warehouse.

Suddenly I turned to Emma " Hey , what are you doing later ?"

" Nothing , what do you have in mind ?" She asked feeling intrigued .

I grinned widely " how about we go explore that abandoned warehouse 30 minutes away ?" I asked searching her face for some sort of reaction.

Her eyes widened in shock , and I could see the fear in her eyes . Come on, Emma. Don't tell me you're scared," I teased, though part of me wanted her to refuse. The warehouse wasn't just any abandoned building it held answers, or maybe more questions. Either way, I needed to go.

I called my mom told her that in going to be late and we departed.

At the wearhouse

The warehouse loomed in front of us, its broken windows like empty, accusing eyes. A cold wind whistled through the cracks, carrying the scent of rust and decay. Emma stopped in her tracks, gripping my hand tightly. Her wide eyes scanned the building as though it might swallow us whole.

"Do we really have to do this?" she asked, her voice trembling.

I forced a smile, though my stomach churned with unease. "Come on, Emma. It's just an old building. Don't tell me you're scared," I teased, trying to lighten the mood. But truthfully, my nerves were just as frayed. The warehouse wasn't just any abandoned building it was the key to something bigger, something I couldn't ignore.

We approached the rusted metal door, its surface scarred with scratches and peeling paint. My fingers trembled as I wrapped them around the cold handle. I twisted it, but it wouldn't budge. Locked.

"Come on," I muttered, yanking harder. The metal groaned, but the door didn't move.

"Mia," Emma whispered, her voice laced with urgency.

"Not now, Emma," I snapped, my frustration boiling over as I kept pulling at the door.

"Mia!" she hissed again, this time louder and more desperate.

I turned sharply, ready to scold her, but the words died in my throat.

Three men in black suits stood a few yards away, their faces shadowed under the dim moonlight. Guns were drawn, aimed directly at us.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

"Run," I whispered to Emma, barely able to form the word.

Without waiting for a response, I grabbed her arm and bolted, my legs moving before my brain could catch up.

The first gunshot cracked through the night like thunder, a sharp whistle passing inches from my ear.

Emma let out a muffled scream, her hand tightening in mine as we sprinted. My chest burned, and every instinct screamed at me to look back, but I couldn't risk it.

Another shot rang out, this time striking the ground just ahead of us, kicking up a spray of dirt and debris.

"This way!" I gasped, yanking Emma toward an alley that ran along the side of the warehouse.

The sounds of our footsteps mixed with the pounding of my heartbeat. Behind us, the men shouted orders, their voices cold and detached, like hunters closing in on prey.

We turned a corner, my eyes darting for any escape route a fence, a door, anything. But the walls around us seemed to grow taller, the shadows deeper.

"Mia, we're trapped!" Emma cried, her voice breaking.

"Not yet," I muttered, spotting a stack of crates piled near the end of the alley. "Climb!"

With every ounce of strength, I shoved Emma toward the crates, hoisting her up. She scrambled over, and I followed, my hands slipping on the rough wood.

Just as I swung my leg over the top, another shot shattered the crate beside me. Splinters rained down, and I nearly lost my grip.

"Mia, hurry!" Emma's voice was raw with panic.

I leaped down to the other side, landing awkwardly on my feet but managing to stay upright. Emma grabbed my arm, and we ran again, disappearing into the maze of streets beyond the warehouse.

As we ran, my mind raced with possibilities. Why were they guarding an abandoned warehouse? And why had they shot at us without hesitation? Whatever was in there, it wasn't just some old junk. It was something dangerous.

But then I heard Emma shout breathlessly." I told you we shouldn't have come here !"

I didn't respond but I knew I couldn't let this go. There was something in that warehouse something I needed to find, no matter the cost. My fear was overshadowed by a pull I couldn't explain, a need to uncover the truth.

Emma's face was pale, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. She turned to me, her eyes wild. "Mia, this isn't worth it! Whatever's in there, let it go!" But I couldn't. I wouldn't.

I could feel Emma's desperation, her eyes wide with fear. She was gripping my arm so tightly, it almost hurt. But I couldn't let go. Not now.

"Emma, you don't get it," I said, my voice low, my eyes fixed ahead. "There's something there. Something I need to find."

"Mia, stop!" she cried, pulling at my arm. "Please, just stop! You don't even know what you're getting us into!"

I yanked my arm out of her grasp, my chest tightening with frustration. "I have to go back, Emma. You can go home if you want, but I'm not leaving until I figure out what's in there."

She looked at me as if I had just said something insane. "You can't be serious, Mia. We almost got shot. This is not some dumb adventure; it's dangerous!"

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the knot of fear twisting in my stomach. "I know it's dangerous. But it's more than that. It's connected to me. To something I don't understand yet."

She stood there for a moment, panting, eyes full of conflict. She opened her mouth to protest again but stopped herself, biting her lip.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I'm not going with you if you go back. I'm sorry, but I can't."

I watched her, the weight of the decision hanging heavily between us. But there was no going back. Not now.

"Okay," I said softly, my voice more determined than I felt. "But I can't let this go, Emma. I have to do this alone if I have to."

She shook her head, her expression a mix of concern and fear. "You're making a huge mistake."

But I couldn't afford to listen to her right now. As much as I hated it, I had no choice.

Turning, I started walking back in the direction of the warehouse. The air was cold against my skin, but I didn't notice the chill. My mind was already racing, calculating my next move. I had to go back. I had to find out what was inside.