As I pushed open the heavy glass door, the crisp afternoon air slapped my face, a refreshing relief from the suffocating conversation I had just escaped.My heart pounded, not from fear, but from the weight of it all. I needed to leave. Fast. Thank God I hadn’t run into Jaxon on my way out. Then, just as I stepped onto the pavement, a familiar voice echoed through the air, “Hey! You’re leaving already?”I turned to see Linda standing a few feet away, arms crossed, her sharp eyes scanning my face like she could read every thought running through my mind.I forced a smile. “Yeah, I have to pick up my child from school—plus, I’ve got an appointment to get to.”She narrowed her eyes, stepping closer. “That’s it? You just suddenly have to go?”I tightened my grip on my bag strap. “Didn’t you hear me, Linda? That’s it. I have to go.”She studied me, her gaze piercing, like she could see right through my lie. And she was right, I wasn’t just leaving for my child or some appointment. I was ru
Cynthia pulled into the parking lot near the airport, her knuckles white against the steering wheel. The car engine hummed beneath us, but all I could hear was the pounding of my heart. My fingers trembled as I reached for the door handle, but I forced myself to take a deep breath. We had come too far to back out now."Are you ready?" Cynthia asked, her voice steady, but I could see the tension in her eyes.No, I wasn’t. But I nodded anyway. "Let’s do this."We stepped out of the car, the afternoon sun beating down on us, making the air thick and suffocating. I wiped my sweaty palms against my trousers and glanced at Cynthia. She was scanning the area, her gaze sharp and calculating.The warehouse loomed ahead, its towering structure casting a long shadow over the ground. Every instinct in me screamed that things might not go as planned, but I ignored it anyway. We had a mission to accomplish.As we approached, my stomach twisted. The gate was locked. Not just locked—chained and padlo
We sprinted to the back of the warehouse, our breaths ragged as our hearts slammed against our ribs. Behind us, the man's screams tore through the air, raw and filled with agony.I grabbed Cynthia’s arm the moment we stopped, my fingers digging into her skin. "Cynthia, what the hell did you just do?" My voice came out in a harsh whisper, but I couldn’t control it. Fear and shock tangled inside me, making my hands shake.She turned to me, her chest rising and falling. "I had no choice.""No choice?" I hissed, my eyes darting around the warehouse as I scanned for any signs of movement. The man’s agonized screams still tore through the air, each one making my stomach twist. I turned back to Cynthia, my voice barely controlled. "You nearly killed him, Cynthia! Do you even realize what the hell you’ve just done?""He had what we needed," she said, her voice sharp. "We don’t know what’s waiting for us in there. It’s better to be ready."I wanted to argue, to tell her that this was insane, t
Cynthia’s eyes burned with urgency as she pointed toward the back door. “Now, go!” she commanded, leaving no room for argument. Without waiting for my response, she spun on her heels and strode toward the front door. Panic swirled inside me. “Cynthia, wait!”She halted, her shoulders rising and falling with each breath. Slowly, she turned to face me, her brows furrowed in frustration. “What is it?” she snapped, “Do you not understand what’s at stake? Every second we waste, the risks increase. We don’t have time for this!”I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “And how do you plan to protect yourself when you’re out of bullets?”Silence.Cynthia stiffened. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out. The flicker of realization in her eyes sent a chill down my spine.She was tough, fearless—always the one to take charge. But now? Now she had no answer.“It’s not about me. It’s about Liam. And I’d lay my life down for him without hesitation.”The words hit me like a punch to the gut. S
Liam sobbed uncontrollably, his body trembling violently. His breath came in ragged gasps as he struggled in vain against the chair he was tied to, desperate to break free. His flushed face turned red from all the screaming, and his tiny hands twisted against the ropes, begging to be free.My chest tightened, and before I knew it, tears blurred my vision. I wanted to walk out and yank Sophia’s hair, make her pay for all the pain she had caused me and Liam. But I couldn’t, I couldn’t destroy everything Cynthia and I had worked so hard for. My hands trembled as I raised the gun, my finger brushing against the trigger.Then, just as I was about to do it, Sophie moved. Without another word, without a single flicker of pity, she lifted her hand and let the lighter slip from her fingers.Liam was still clutching his toy, his tiny fingers wrapped so tightly around it that his knuckles had turned white. Tears streamed down his red, swollen face.Sophie didn’t hesitate. She walked over to one
Different screams tore through the air. The sharp scent of gunpowder burned my nose, mixing with the smell of blood. My ears rang as the deafening blasts of gunfire echoed around me.I gasped, my breath coming in ragged gasps. My fingers numb as the gun slipped from my grip and clattered to the ground.No. No, no, no.My body refused to listen. My legs wobbled, barely able to hold me up. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would break through my ribs.Boom! Another shot fired.I flinched, instinctively covering my ears, but it didn’t stop the noise. It didn’t stop the fear. It didn’t stop the sheer terror clawing at my throat.I needed to move, to get my child. But I couldn’t as my muscles were frozen.Then I heard Cynthia’s scream. A sound so raw, so filled with pain, that it sent shivers through my veins.“This was never meant to happen! You all will pay!” she shrieked, her voice cracking with anger and pain.My legs gave out beneath me, and I crashed to the ground, helpless. M
I clutched Liam’s fragile body against my chest, my whole world crumbling in my arms. His skin was so pale, too pale. Also, his lips were turning a shade of blue that sent ice straight into my veins.“No, no, no,” I sobbed, rocking him gently. “Liam, baby, breathe. Please, just breathe.” “Don’t do this to me. Don’t leave me. I… I… can’t… I can’t survive without you.”I pressed my forehead against his, my tears dripping onto his skin. The sound of my heartbeat pounded in my ears, drowning out everything else.Cynthia’s footsteps echoed as she jumped down forcefully from the pallet, but I couldn’t look her way. At that moment, all I could see was Liam. Nothing else mattered. “Myla, We have to move. Now.”I barely heard her. “He’s not breathing,” I whispered, my hands shaking as I cradled his face. “Cynthia, he’s not…”“I know,” she cut in, her voice low but sharp. “But if we don’t act fast, neither of us is getting out of here.”She wasn’t wrong. I could hear sirens in the distance,
I froze. My heart stopped. The words hung in the air, slicing through my chest like a blade.“No,” I whispered, my voice barely a breath. “No, they’re wrong. They’re wrong, he’s not going to die.”I shook my head, a tear sliding down my cheek, and I felt like the world was closing in on me. Cynthia’s grip on me tightened, her face stricken with pain, but I couldn’t look away from the direction they’d taken Liam.“I can’t lose him, Cynthia. Please…” My voice broke as fear took over.Cynthia’s voice was thick as she tried to pull me into a hug, but I pushed her away. “Myla, stop! You’re going to make yourself sick.”But I didn’t care. All I could think about was Liam, lying on that cold bed alone. “I need to be with him,” I whispered, my voice breaking, my heart splintering into pieces.Cynthia looked at me, her eyes desperately pleading. “You can’t help him like this. We need to trust them.”But all I could hear in my head were the words of that nurse. “It’s too late.”I squeezed my ey
I froze. My heart stopped. The words hung in the air, slicing through my chest like a blade.“No,” I whispered, my voice barely a breath. “No, they’re wrong. They’re wrong, he’s not going to die.”I shook my head, a tear sliding down my cheek, and I felt like the world was closing in on me. Cynthia’s grip on me tightened, her face stricken with pain, but I couldn’t look away from the direction they’d taken Liam.“I can’t lose him, Cynthia. Please…” My voice broke as fear took over.Cynthia’s voice was thick as she tried to pull me into a hug, but I pushed her away. “Myla, stop! You’re going to make yourself sick.”But I didn’t care. All I could think about was Liam, lying on that cold bed alone. “I need to be with him,” I whispered, my voice breaking, my heart splintering into pieces.Cynthia looked at me, her eyes desperately pleading. “You can’t help him like this. We need to trust them.”But all I could hear in my head were the words of that nurse. “It’s too late.”I squeezed my ey
I clutched Liam’s fragile body against my chest, my whole world crumbling in my arms. His skin was so pale, too pale. Also, his lips were turning a shade of blue that sent ice straight into my veins.“No, no, no,” I sobbed, rocking him gently. “Liam, baby, breathe. Please, just breathe.” “Don’t do this to me. Don’t leave me. I… I… can’t… I can’t survive without you.”I pressed my forehead against his, my tears dripping onto his skin. The sound of my heartbeat pounded in my ears, drowning out everything else.Cynthia’s footsteps echoed as she jumped down forcefully from the pallet, but I couldn’t look her way. At that moment, all I could see was Liam. Nothing else mattered. “Myla, We have to move. Now.”I barely heard her. “He’s not breathing,” I whispered, my hands shaking as I cradled his face. “Cynthia, he’s not…”“I know,” she cut in, her voice low but sharp. “But if we don’t act fast, neither of us is getting out of here.”She wasn’t wrong. I could hear sirens in the distance,
Different screams tore through the air. The sharp scent of gunpowder burned my nose, mixing with the smell of blood. My ears rang as the deafening blasts of gunfire echoed around me.I gasped, my breath coming in ragged gasps. My fingers numb as the gun slipped from my grip and clattered to the ground.No. No, no, no.My body refused to listen. My legs wobbled, barely able to hold me up. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would break through my ribs.Boom! Another shot fired.I flinched, instinctively covering my ears, but it didn’t stop the noise. It didn’t stop the fear. It didn’t stop the sheer terror clawing at my throat.I needed to move, to get my child. But I couldn’t as my muscles were frozen.Then I heard Cynthia’s scream. A sound so raw, so filled with pain, that it sent shivers through my veins.“This was never meant to happen! You all will pay!” she shrieked, her voice cracking with anger and pain.My legs gave out beneath me, and I crashed to the ground, helpless. M
Liam sobbed uncontrollably, his body trembling violently. His breath came in ragged gasps as he struggled in vain against the chair he was tied to, desperate to break free. His flushed face turned red from all the screaming, and his tiny hands twisted against the ropes, begging to be free.My chest tightened, and before I knew it, tears blurred my vision. I wanted to walk out and yank Sophia’s hair, make her pay for all the pain she had caused me and Liam. But I couldn’t, I couldn’t destroy everything Cynthia and I had worked so hard for. My hands trembled as I raised the gun, my finger brushing against the trigger.Then, just as I was about to do it, Sophie moved. Without another word, without a single flicker of pity, she lifted her hand and let the lighter slip from her fingers.Liam was still clutching his toy, his tiny fingers wrapped so tightly around it that his knuckles had turned white. Tears streamed down his red, swollen face.Sophie didn’t hesitate. She walked over to one
Cynthia’s eyes burned with urgency as she pointed toward the back door. “Now, go!” she commanded, leaving no room for argument. Without waiting for my response, she spun on her heels and strode toward the front door. Panic swirled inside me. “Cynthia, wait!”She halted, her shoulders rising and falling with each breath. Slowly, she turned to face me, her brows furrowed in frustration. “What is it?” she snapped, “Do you not understand what’s at stake? Every second we waste, the risks increase. We don’t have time for this!”I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “And how do you plan to protect yourself when you’re out of bullets?”Silence.Cynthia stiffened. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out. The flicker of realization in her eyes sent a chill down my spine.She was tough, fearless—always the one to take charge. But now? Now she had no answer.“It’s not about me. It’s about Liam. And I’d lay my life down for him without hesitation.”The words hit me like a punch to the gut. S
We sprinted to the back of the warehouse, our breaths ragged as our hearts slammed against our ribs. Behind us, the man's screams tore through the air, raw and filled with agony.I grabbed Cynthia’s arm the moment we stopped, my fingers digging into her skin. "Cynthia, what the hell did you just do?" My voice came out in a harsh whisper, but I couldn’t control it. Fear and shock tangled inside me, making my hands shake.She turned to me, her chest rising and falling. "I had no choice.""No choice?" I hissed, my eyes darting around the warehouse as I scanned for any signs of movement. The man’s agonized screams still tore through the air, each one making my stomach twist. I turned back to Cynthia, my voice barely controlled. "You nearly killed him, Cynthia! Do you even realize what the hell you’ve just done?""He had what we needed," she said, her voice sharp. "We don’t know what’s waiting for us in there. It’s better to be ready."I wanted to argue, to tell her that this was insane, t
Cynthia pulled into the parking lot near the airport, her knuckles white against the steering wheel. The car engine hummed beneath us, but all I could hear was the pounding of my heart. My fingers trembled as I reached for the door handle, but I forced myself to take a deep breath. We had come too far to back out now."Are you ready?" Cynthia asked, her voice steady, but I could see the tension in her eyes.No, I wasn’t. But I nodded anyway. "Let’s do this."We stepped out of the car, the afternoon sun beating down on us, making the air thick and suffocating. I wiped my sweaty palms against my trousers and glanced at Cynthia. She was scanning the area, her gaze sharp and calculating.The warehouse loomed ahead, its towering structure casting a long shadow over the ground. Every instinct in me screamed that things might not go as planned, but I ignored it anyway. We had a mission to accomplish.As we approached, my stomach twisted. The gate was locked. Not just locked—chained and padlo
As I pushed open the heavy glass door, the crisp afternoon air slapped my face, a refreshing relief from the suffocating conversation I had just escaped.My heart pounded, not from fear, but from the weight of it all. I needed to leave. Fast. Thank God I hadn’t run into Jaxon on my way out. Then, just as I stepped onto the pavement, a familiar voice echoed through the air, “Hey! You’re leaving already?”I turned to see Linda standing a few feet away, arms crossed, her sharp eyes scanning my face like she could read every thought running through my mind.I forced a smile. “Yeah, I have to pick up my child from school—plus, I’ve got an appointment to get to.”She narrowed her eyes, stepping closer. “That’s it? You just suddenly have to go?”I tightened my grip on my bag strap. “Didn’t you hear me, Linda? That’s it. I have to go.”She studied me, her gaze piercing, like she could see right through my lie. And she was right, I wasn’t just leaving for my child or some appointment. I was ru
The moment my eyes landed on the wall, my breath hitched. There they were. Pictures—dozens of them.Photos of me as a child, my small hands clutching a toy, and my toothy grin wide and innocent. Pictures of me in high school, frozen in time, caught in moments I barely remembered—laughing with friends, lost in thought, staring out of a classroom window. Some were crisp and clear, others slightly faded, as if they had been touched too many times, held too close, cherished beyond reason.A lump formed in my throat.Why?How did he even get these?My fingers trembled as I reached out, tracing the edges of a picture, one from my first year in high school. He had been watching me all along.The realization sent a shiver down my spine, but it wasn’t fear that took hold of me—it was something deeper, something raw. Love. Devotion. An obsession that felt both overwhelming and terrifying.Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision as I stepped back, taking in the sheer magnitude of what I was