THE PRICE OF TRUTH

Ella's world was a blur of darkness and pain. Her leg throbbed with each heartbeat, the cold, hard concrete of the rooftop beneath her pressing into her back. Her head swam, the faint sound of Grace's frantic voice barely reaching her ears.

"Stay with me, Ella! Come on, stay awake!" Grace's voice was laced with desperation, her hands shaking as she pressed down on the wound in Ella's leg.

Ella wanted to respond, to reassure her, but her body wouldn't cooperate. Every time she tried to move, the pain shot through her like a bolt of lightning. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and the world seemed to tilt, fading in and out of focus.

But then, just as quickly, she felt a jolt—Grace was dragging her, pulling her toward the edge of the roof. The urgency in her friend's movements cut through the fog in Ella's mind.

"Grace... stop..." Ella murmured weakly, trying to lift her hand to stop her friend, but her arm felt heavy.

"Don't you dare give up on me now!" Grace's voice was fierce, desperate. "We're almost out of here, just hang on!"

Ella's heart fluttered in her chest, the thought of escaping—of surviving—pushing her forward. But as Grace reached the edge of the rooftop and looked down, her expression faltered. Below them, a narrow alley led to the street, but there was no clear way down. They were trapped.

"Shit..." Grace muttered under her breath, scanning their surroundings. Ella could feel her friend's panic mounting, but she could also see the determination in her eyes. Grace wouldn't let them die here. Not like this.

"Grace," Ella whispered, her voice barely audible, "we can't go back... we have to keep going."

Grace looked down at her, her face pale but resolute. "I know. I'm not leaving you behind. Stay with me, Ella. Please."

The two of them locked eyes for a moment, and then Grace did something Ella never expected. She took off her own jacket, tied it around Ella's leg, and then, with a deep breath, pulled out a small, portable first aid kit.

Ella's mind was too foggy to register everything happening, but the sharp sting of antiseptic as Grace cleaned her wound brought her back to reality. She winced, her eyes squeezing shut.

"We're not done yet," Grace said, her voice more composed now, but still strained. "I'm not letting The Order win."

Ella's eyes fluttered open, and she nodded weakly. The pain in her leg was unbearable, but she couldn't afford to pass out. Not when the stakes were this high. Not when she was so close to uncovering the truth about her parents' murder.

Grace finished bandaging her leg with steady hands, then helped Ella to her feet, her arm wrapped tightly around her waist for support. Ella could feel the weight of the files still clutched tightly in her hands, a constant reminder of their mission.

"Let's go," Grace whispered, helping Ella move as they staggered towards the far side of the rooftop. But as they reached the edge, the sound of approaching footsteps stopped them cold.

"Where are you going?" Vincent's cold voice rang out from the shadows.

Ella's heart sank, and her breath hitched in her throat. There was no escape now.

Grace froze for a moment, her back straightening. Then, without warning, she turned and fired a shot in Vincent's direction. The bullet missed, but it bought them precious seconds. They had no more time.

"Go, now!" Grace shouted, her face tense with determination.

Ella wasn't sure how they managed to get to the fire escape, but somehow they did. Grace pushed open the rusty door, and they descended quickly, their movements synchronized as they worked together to escape the danger.

"Keep moving!" Grace urged, her voice strained with the effort of carrying Ella's weight.

The fire escape creaked under their feet, but it held as they made their way down, step by step. The street below was just as they had imagined—deserted, except for the police cars surrounding the building in the distance.

Once they reached the ground, Grace didn't hesitate. She pulled Ella down a narrow alley, moving with purpose. Ella barely registered the pain in her leg anymore; adrenaline and fear pushed her forward.

"There's a safe house not far from here," Grace said between breaths, her voice steady but urgent. "It's our only chance."

Ella nodded, though the thought of another confrontation with The Order made her heart race. They had been so close, and now they were running for their lives. The truth, the files, everything was slipping away, and it hurt more than Ella could put into words.

"Will we make it?" Ella asked weakly, her voice hoarse.

Grace didn't answer immediately, but the way she looked at Ella—eyes burning with resolve—spoke volumes.

"We have to."

They continued through the streets, each step feeling heavier than the last. Every turn, every shadow, seemed like it could be a trap. But they couldn't stop. Not now.

After what felt like an eternity, Grace finally stopped in front of an unassuming door. The building behind it was small, a single-story house tucked between two larger, more modern buildings. It was barely visible in the dark, but it was a safe place. A place that Grace trusted.

She knocked twice in quick succession, then once more slowly. The door creaked open, and an older man appeared. His face was lined with age, but his eyes were sharp, assessing.

"Grace," he said simply, his voice deep and gravelly. "I didn't think you'd make it out."

"I didn't think so either," Grace replied, her voice tight with exhaustion. "But we're here. And we need to lay low for a while."

The man looked at Ella, then back at Grace, before stepping aside to let them in.

As they entered the safe house, Grace immediately locked the door behind them. The man led them to a small back room with a simple bed and a wooden chair. Ella collapsed onto the bed, exhausted, her body aching in places she didn't know could hurt.

Grace paced back and forth in the room, her face a mask of concentration. "We're not out of the woods yet. The Order will be looking for us, and they won't stop until they get what they want."

Ella didn't respond at first. She was too tired. But something inside her was still burning with the need to know the truth.

"We can't stop, Grace," Ella said, her voice stronger now. "We're close. We can't let them win."

Grace stopped pacing and looked at her. "I know. And I won't let them win either."

For the first time in what felt like forever, Ella allowed herself to close her eyes and rest, but her mind was still racing. The mission wasn't over yet. The truth about her parents' deaths, about The Order, about everything that had led her here... it was still waiting to be uncovered. And she wasn't going to stop until she had all the answers.