Trapped with him

Marie was alone in the house, her hands trembling as she wiped away the fresh tears that stained her cheeks. She had been cleaning for hours, trying to keep herself occupied, but the memories of what happened that night kept flooding her mind. The bodies of Sylvia’s parents, the blood, the chaos—it was all too much to bear. Her heart ached for the young woman who had been forced to flee, to run from a world that now saw her as a criminal. But there was nothing she could do. All she had were these memories, and a few belongings she had managed to hide before the police and others came for them.

As Marie passed by the living room, her eyes fell on the family photos on the wall. She stopped for a moment, her breath catching in her throat as she gazed at the images of Sylvia’s parents—bright, smiling faces, full of life and promise. But now they were gone. Murdered, and their daughter was left with nothing but suspicion and fear.

Marie’s heart sank further. She couldn’t stand it. She had always been there for Sylvia, but now, she felt so helpless. Sylvia didn’t deserve this.

Her hands fell to the dust cloth in her hand, and she started cleaning the bookshelf absentmindedly, the tears continuing to slip down her face. She couldn’t stop thinking about her dear friend, the woman who had been like a daughter to her. Marie could only hope that Sylvia was safe, wherever she was.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, the front door creaked open. Marie froze.

A shadow stood in the doorway.

"Sylvia..." Marie’s voice broke as she turned, her hands shaking uncontrollably. She dropped the cloth, rushing forward. Sylvia was standing in the doorway, covered in dirt and blood, her clothes torn. Her eyes were wide with shock, and she looked as if she had been running for days.

Marie’s heart lurched. She didn’t know whether to cry, scream, or just hold her. She chose the latter and rushed forward, pulling Sylvia into a tight embrace.

"Sylvia, you’re alive. Thank God you’re alive."

Sylvia clung to her, her body trembling. She pulled away slightly to look at Marie, her face pale, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and confusion.

"I had to come back... I didn’t know where else to go," Sylvia said, her voice shaking. "I need to get my things. I need to check for any evidence. The last thing I remember was being locked in the cellar... and then everything went dark. Someone else killed my parents, Marie. I know it."

Marie’s heart broke for Sylvia. She had seen the anguish in her eyes, and now, hearing the fear and guilt in her voice only made it worse. "Don’t think like that. You couldn’t have done this. You weren’t even there. But we need to be careful. If they find out you’re here, they’ll—"

Suddenly, Sylvia cut her off. "Wait, wait! Do you have anything? Something that could prove I’m innocent?"

Marie’s eyes darted toward the small desk in the corner of the room. She had been keeping a few things hidden—things she hadn’t told anyone about, not even Sylvia. She quickly moved toward the desk, opening a drawer and pulling out a USB drive and a small disc.

"This," Marie said softly, handing them to Sylvia. "This is all I could get. I don’t know what it is, but it might help you. It’s something I found after the police came. You need to be careful, Sylvia. They’ll come for you soon."

Sylvia took the USB and disc, clutching them in her hand like lifelines. She didn’t know what they contained, but if Marie thought they were important, then they had to be. "Thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me."

Marie placed a hand on Sylvia’s shoulder, trying to offer whatever comfort she could. "I know you’ll make it through this. You’re stronger than you think."

But as the two women exchanged a moment of silence, the sound of sirens wailed in the distance. They both froze.

"Marie, they’re coming," Sylvia whispered, her voice full of panic.

Marie’s eyes widened. "You have to go now. They’re close."

Just as the words left her mouth, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed outside. Sylvia’s heart raced in her chest. The police had arrived, and with them, the men from the scientific lab—people who knew far more than they should. Marie grabbed Sylvia’s arm, pulling her towards the back door.

"Go, Sylvia! Go!" Marie urged.

Sylvia ran, her feet pounding against the wooden floor as she dashed out of the back door, her heart thundering in her chest. She didn’t dare look back. She just kept running, knowing that if she didn’t escape now, there would be no chance left.

She reached the gate, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she pushed the gate open. The sound of heavy boots grew louder behind her, and panic surged in her chest. She needed to get out—needed to vanish. But just as she was about to step out into the street, she collided with a tall figure, the impact knocking her back slightly.

"Hey, hey, take it easy," a deep voice rumbled. A strong arm reached out to steady her.

Sylvia looked up, her eyes wide with shock. Standing in front of her was a man, tall, dark, and imposing, dressed in a sleek black suit. His face was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes that made her pause.

"Get in the car. I’m here to help you," he said in a low, calm voice.

Sylvia recoiled, her instinct telling her to run. Who was this man? Why was he helping her? But before she could make a decision, the man stepped closer, his gaze unwavering.

"I’m Dominic," he said. "I’m here to help. I want you to come with me. There are people out there who want to frame you. I can help clear your name."

Sylvia hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t know who to trust, especially not after everything that had happened. But she was out of options. The police were closing in, the lab people were after her, and Marie had warned her to be careful.

"Please, just get in the car. I don’t have much time," Dominic urged.

Reluctantly, Sylvia stepped forward, climbing into the car. The moment the door closed behind her, Dominic started the engine and pulled away from the house.

As the car sped down the street, Sylvia couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. She glanced over at Dominic, studying him as he kept his eyes on the road. "Who are you? What do you want with me?"

Dominic glanced at her briefly, his expression unreadable. "Like I said, I’m Dominic. I need your help with something—specifically, my mother’s case. I traced you to your house because I thought you might be able to help, but it looks like you’re in trouble. I didn’t expect things to get this complicated."

Sylvia frowned, trying to make sense of his words. "Your mother’s case? What does that have to do with me?"

Dominic let out a quiet sigh. "I can’t explain everything right now. But trust me, your situation is connected to mine. You’re being framed, Sylvia. And I’m going to help you prove your innocence. But first, we need to get you out of here. We’ll talk more once we’re safe."

Sylvia opened her mouth to respond, but before she could speak, four vehicles suddenly appeared, blocking their path. The cars screeched to a halt, surrounding them. Sylvia froze, her heart stopping in her chest. She knew what this meant.

They were trapped.