Chapter 16

No Safe Place

The cold air bit at my skin as we dashed through the back of the warehouse, my heart pounding in my chest. Every step felt like a race against time, but I couldn't shake the feeling that it was already too late. We were being watched.

Olivia's grip on my arm tightened, urging me to run faster. The once familiar space now felt foreign, the walls closing in as the shadows seemed to stretch longer with every passing moment. It was a place I thought I could find answers, but now it was the last place I wanted to be.

"Where are we going?" I gasped, struggling to keep up as Olivia led me through the maze of broken crates and dusty floors.

"We need to get to my car," she panted, her face tense with fear. "It's our only chance to get out of here before they find us."

"Who's 'they'?" I demanded, trying to keep the panic at bay. "Who's chasing us, Olivia? You've got to tell me more than that!"

But Olivia didn't answer. Her eyes darted nervously, scanning the dimly lit space around us as though she could feel something—someone—closing in. It wasn't just the threat of the Shadows anymore. It was more immediate, more tangible. We were being hunted.

Suddenly, the silence of the warehouse was shattered by the sound of heavy footsteps echoing from behind us. My stomach lurched, and a cold shiver ran down my spine. I stopped, turning to see a figure moving toward us through the dark. A tall man, his face hidden in shadow, but his presence unmistakable. He wasn't alone.

"Run!" Olivia screamed, pushing me forward. "Don't stop!"

We sprinted towards the exit, but the warehouse seemed to stretch endlessly, the door far too distant. I could hear the footsteps growing louder, closer. The man—no, the men—were gaining on us. My legs burned from the effort, but fear drove me faster than I thought possible. I could barely keep my thoughts straight. What had I gotten myself into? Why had I thought I could play this game?

Just as we reached the door, a hand grabbed my arm, pulling me back.

"No!" I screamed, struggling against the grip that was now tightening on me.

Olivia turned to face the men, but the terror in her eyes told me everything I needed to know. This wasn't just some random encounter. They were professionals. They knew exactly how to play this game. They weren't going to let us escape.

The man who had grabbed me finally stepped into the light. His cold eyes locked onto mine with an unsettling intensity, his face devoid of any emotion. He didn't need to say a word. I could see it in his eyes. He was there to make sure I never found the answers I was looking for.

"Let her go," Olivia shouted, her voice trembling. "You don't want to do this. She's just a girl—she doesn't know anything!"

The man's lips curled into a cruel smile. "That's where you're wrong. She knows everything. And now, she's part of the problem."

I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened, and the strength of his hold was enough to send a wave of panic surging through me. My mind raced, but my body felt numb, frozen under the weight of the situation.

Olivia stepped forward, her voice suddenly calm, almost resigned. "Take me instead. Leave her alone. I'll do whatever you want. Just let her go."

I could see the flash of pain in her eyes as she said those words. She was giving herself up, but why? What did she owe them? Was there something deeper going on between her and the people chasing us?

The man didn't answer. Instead, he took a step back, motioning to the others behind him. "No one gets to bargain here," he said coldly. "You've both crossed the line. And now, you'll pay the price."

Before I could react, the man's grip on me tightened, and he started pulling me away from Olivia. I twisted in his hold, but his strength was overwhelming. Olivia's face was filled with panic, and I could see the helplessness in her eyes as she reached out for me.

"Sarah!" she cried. "Don't do it! Don't go with them!"

But there was no choice. My body was being dragged toward the waiting car, and the world seemed to blur around me. Fear gripped me tighter than the man's hands ever could.

"Where are you taking me?" I demanded, trying to break free, but he was relentless.

The man didn't answer. Instead, he shoved me into the back seat of the car, slamming the door shut before climbing in beside me. The car roared to life, and we sped off into the night, the city lights flickering past like a blur of memories I couldn't hold on to.

I glanced out of the window, my heart racing, trying to make sense of what was happening. Olivia's words echoed in my mind. You've crossed the line. What had she meant? What was I really a part of?

I wanted to scream, to fight, but I knew that wouldn't help. I was trapped in their game now, and there was no going back. All I had were the questions—and no one left to answer them.

---

The car stopped at a secluded building on the outskirts of town. The place was dark and quiet, the air thick with tension. They hadn't said a word since I'd been thrown into the backseat. The moment the car came to a halt, the man opened the door and grabbed me by the arm, pulling me out and dragging me toward the building.

I barely had time to process what was happening before I was shoved through a metal door and into a cold, sterile hallway. The walls were bare, and the only sound was the echo of our footsteps as we walked deeper into the building.

The door to the room at the end of the hallway opened, and I was pushed inside. The room was dimly lit, with only a single chair in the center, a light above it casting shadows on the walls. I couldn't help but feel like I was walking into a trap.

"Sit," the man ordered.

I didn't move. My instincts told me that any action I took now would be a mistake. I stayed silent, trying to focus on keeping my calm.

"We're not here to hurt you," another voice said, softer, almost reassuring. "Not yet, anyway."

I turned to see another man step into the room. He was older, dressed in a sharp suit, his expression calm but unreadable. His eyes, though, seemed to study me with an unnerving precision.

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice shaky but defiant.

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he walked over to the chair in the middle of the room, gesturing for me to sit. "It doesn't matter who we are," he said. "What matters is that you've found your way here, and you've stirred up something that was never meant to be disturbed."

I swallowed hard, my mind racing as I tried to make sense of his words. What did they want from me? What had I really uncovered?

"Tell me what you know," he continued, his voice soft but firm. "And maybe we can make this easier for you."

But I wasn't ready to give them what they wanted. Not yet.

"I don't know anything," I said, my voice steady. "But I will."

And just like that, I knew that my fight was far from over.