Shadows Closing In.

Lena hesistated at the doorway of the safe house,her hand hovering over the tarnished brass handle.The eerie silence surrounding the area amplified her unease.The house looked abadoned,its chipped paint and sagging roof lending it an air of despair.Her gut screamed that she shouldnt go inside, but the man's sharp gaze pressured her forward.She glanced over her shoulder at him,his stance stiff surveyed their surroundings.

"Go on",he urged."We dont have all the night."

Swallowing her nerves,Lena pushed the door opened.Its creaked loudly,revealing a dimly lit interior.The smell of a damp wood and mildew greeted her as she stepped inside.Shadows danced around the walls,cast by a single flickering bulb hanging from the ceiling.The room was sparsely funished-an old couch,a battered cofee table,and a stack of newspapers in the corner.

The man entered behind her,closing the door firmly.He secured several locks with precision,then drew the curtains over the lone window.

"Stay out of sight",he said turning towards her.His tone left no room for arguement.

Lena folded her arms,furstration bubbling to the surface "You cant keep me in the dark in this forever.If i'm in danger,i have the right to know whats going on."

The man sighed,running a hand through his hair."Look,i told you-there's alot at play here.People who want you gone.And its not just about you;its about Ethan too."

Her heart skipped at the mention of Ethan."What does Ethan have to do with this?why was he at the building tonight?...Was he part of this?....Whatever this is?"

The man hesistated,his jaw tightened."Ethan's been keeping secrets from you,from everyone.He's not the man you think he is."

Lena's stomach twisted."What are you talking about?"

Before he could answer,a loud crash ecohed from outside.Both of them froze.The man's hand instinctively went to his waistband,pulling out a handgun.He motioned for Lena to stay quiet.His expression sharp.

"Get down."he whispered,pointing to a corner of the room.

Lena crouched behind the couch,her pulse hammering in her ears.She watched as he moved towards the door, carefully lifting the edge of the curtain to peek outside.His posture stiffened.

"They've found us",he muttered under his breath.

"Who?" Lena hissed,panic creeping into her voice.

"Stay here", he ordered, ignoring her question.

Before she could protest,he slipped out of the room,his footsteps barely audible.Lena's breathing quickened.The silence outside was oppressive,broken only by the faint rustle of leaves in the wind.She strained to her any sound,any clue to what was happening.

Minutes passed,each one streching into eternity.Their gunshot shattered the quiet night.

Lena's heart stopped.She clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp,her mind racing.Was he okay?Was someone else out there?

Another gunshot.Then another.

She couldnt just sit there.Gripping the head of the couch for support,Lena slowly rose to her feet.Her legs felt like jelly but determination steadied her movement.She creapt towards the doorway preeking out into the hallway.

The man was nowhere to be seen.The front door was ajar,swaying lightly in the breeze.

Against every instincts screaming at her to stay put,Lena moved forward.She stepped over the threshold,her eyes scanning the dark yard.Shapes flickered in the shadows,and she could hear the faint crunch of footsteps on gravel.

"Lena" a voice whispered harshly.She spun around to see the man emerging from the side of the house.His face was grim,a streak of blood on his temple.

"They are surrounding us",he said,His voice low."We need to move. Now."

Lena barely even had time to process his words before a figure lunged out of the darkness.The man reacted instantly,firing his weapon.The attacker dropped with a grunt,but the sound drew more figures from the shadows.

"Run!",the man barked shoving her towards the woods.

Lena stumbled,her adernaline surging as she obeyed.The trees loomed ahead,their skeletal branches clawing at the sky. She plunged into the forest,the sound of gunfire and shouting behind her.

Branches scratched her face and arms as she ran,the even ground threathened to tamper with every steps.She didnt dare to look back.

"Keep moving!"the man's voice urged from somewhere behind her.

Suddenly,a pair of headlight pierced the darkness,illuminating the forest ahead.Lena's skidded to a stop,her breath catching in her throat.A black SUV roared into view,its tire screeching as it cut off her path.

The vechile door burst open and armed men poured out,their faces hideen behind mask.Lena backed away but there was nowhere to go.

"Lena Rivers"one of them called,his voice cold and mechanical through a voice modulator. "Come quietly, and we wont have to hurt you."

Her blood ran cold.How did they know her name?

The man from the safe house emerged from the trees "Over my dead body", he growled firing a shot.

Chaos erupted,bullets flew,the muzzle flashes lightening up the night.Luna dove behind a tree,her heart pounding as she press herself against the rough bark.

The sound of footsteps grew closer,she peeked around the tree,her eyes widened as one of the masked men aimed a gun in her direction.

"No!" she screamed,bracing for the worst.

But before he could fire,the man from the safe house tackled him to the ground.The two men struggled,their grunts and shouts filling the air.

Lena's chest heaved as she tries to think.She couldnt just stand there.Her eyes darted to the SUV,the engine still running.

An idea sparked.

Summoning every ounce of courage,she sprinted towards the vechile .The driver side was open,as she,she climbed in,her hands shaking as she gripped the sterring wheel.

She didnt know how to outwire a car,but the keys were miraculoumiraculously in the ignition.

"Luna,!" the man shouted,his voice desperate .

She turned the key,the engine roaring to life,without thinking she slammed foot on the gas.The SUV lurched forward,the sudden movement scattering the attackers.

But just as she thought might have a chance to escape,a masked figure appeared in the highlights raising a gun.

The sound of the gunshot echoed in her ears as the windshield shattered.