CHAPTER 30

Emma's POV

Esmeralda's eyes flashed with a murderous intent as she raised her hand to strike me again. "You're going to pay for what you've done, Emma," she spat. "You're going to die."

But just as her hand was about to make contact, she clutched her head, her eyes widening in agony. A loud, throbbing sound echoed through the warehouse, seeming to come from the back of her head.

"Ahh!" Esmeralda screamed, stumbling backward. "Make it stop!"

The gaunt man rushed to her side, trying to hold her down. "Esmeralda, what's wrong?"

But she just thrashed about, her body convulsing. The sound grew louder and more intense, and I felt a strange vibration in the air.

Gabe took advantage of the distraction to struggle against his restraints. "Emma, I think it's now or never," he shouted. "We have to get out of here!"

I nodded, trying to think of a plan. But before I could even move, Esmeralda's body went limp, the sound stopping as suddenly as it had started.

The warehouse was silent, except for