EPISODE 9: "BENEATH THE SURFACE"*

* Aisha's P. O. V*

As I grabbed Maya's hand, the crowded market seemed to spin around us. The scar-faced

man's eyes locked onto ours, his gaze piercing through the chaos. "We need to get out of here, now!" I whispered, my voice barely audible over the din.

Maya nodded, her eyes darting toward the exit. We pushed through the throngs of people, our

hearts racing in unison. The smell of street food and fresh produce filled the air, but it was tainted by the sense of danger lurking behind us.

I glanced over my shoulder, and my heart sank.

The scar-faced man was gaining on us. His accomplices seemed to appear out of nowhere, blocking our path. We were trapped.

"Maya, what do we do?" I whispered, panic creeping into my voice.

Maya's grip on my hand tightened. "We keep moving. We can't let them catch us."

We dodged and weaved, our feet pounding the

pavement. The market's stalls blurred together as we ran. I stumbled, but Maya caught me, her strength surprising me.

As we turned a corner, a glimmer of hope appeared. A narrow alleyway stretched out before us, dark and ominous. "In here!" Maya whispered, pulling me toward the alley.

We sprinted down the alley, our footsteps echoing off the walls. The scar-faced man's angry shout followed us, fueling our determination.

We emerged onto a quieter street, gasping for breath. The market's chaos receded into the

distance. For a moment, we just looked at each other, our chests heaving.

"We need to find a safe place," Maya said, her voice firm. "We can't keep running forever."

I nodded, my mind racing. Where could we go? Who could we trust?

As we walked, the city's streets seemed to stretch out before us like a labyrinth. We were in this together, but for how long?