I was resting on the hospital bed when the TV continued droning on with the evening news and my phone buzzed. A text message glowed on the screen: "Hi Allison, it's me, Alex." My heart skipped a beat. Alex. The name alone was enough to trigger a cascade of thoughts. If he was reaching out, it meant he had either managed to flee the country or, worse, he was still here. The latter thought sent a shiver down my spine. If Alex hadn't escaped after his risky endeavor with Rob Glow and the police were to catch him, I would be in deep trouble too. The idea of being behind bars for being the mastermind of his plans was unbearable. I could be forced into doing something desperate to escape that fate.I quickly typed a response, my fingers trembling slightly as I held onto hope that he was messaging me from a safe distance, far from the long arm of the law."Hello Alex, Is that you? Where are you right now?" I paused, my mind racing, before continuing, "I have been looking for you for ages. Wh
The taxi's headlights sliced through the night, casting long shadows on the streets as we made our way to the Park Hyatt Sydney Hotel. I was lost in thought, contemplating the fresh start awaiting me in this new city, when the impulse to reach out to Allison struck me. Maybe it was the need for a familiar voice or maybe just the nerves of a new beginning, but I found my fingers tapping out a message on my phone's glowing screen."How are you doing now?" I typed, hoping for a light conversation to ease my thoughts.I watched the city lights blur past as the taxi driver drove along the streets, the hum of the engine a steady background to my anxious wait for a reply. Moments ticked by, each one stretching longer than the last, until my phone finally buzzed with a response.I opened the message, and Allison's words sent a jolt through me: "I haven't been feeling well; even when I gave you that job to do, I was in the hospital. I got into a domestic accident."My heart sank. The message c
A voice from the TV was in the midst of delivering the grave news, detailing allegations against me that were as shocking as they were untrue. "Authorities are currently in search of this individual," the news anchor's voice boomed, "believed to be involved in recent terrorist activities."Panic seized me, and in the midst of the chaos of my racing thoughts, I caught the receptionist's eye. She had made the connection, her gaze darting between the image on the screen and my face, now stripped of its disguise. There was a flicker of recognition, then a dawning horror look that mirrored my own shock.I could feel the blood drain from my face as I instinctively reached up to shield my face. It was too late, though; the receptionist's eyes had already widened in recognition, her gaze locking onto mine with paralyzing intensity. As I stumbled forward, hoping to somehow diffuse the situation, her reaction was instantaneous and immediate."Help! Help me!" She cried out, her voice piercing th
"I swear, I'll do it!" I roared once more, my eyes ablaze with fear and determination as I tightened my grip on the receptionist's neck as if my life depended on it, and indeed, my life depends on it. She writhed and shrieked in my grasp, her struggles futile against my iron hold. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to maintain control, to keep her as my shield in this dangerous game of survival.As we inched closer to the entrance of the Park Hyatt Sydney hotel, my mind raced with the urgency of the situation. Releasing the receptionist was not an option; it would spell certain doom at the hands of the waiting security guards, who I could see in their eyes couldn't wait to catch me and end my life. The thought of being captured sent a chill down my spine—a fate I could not afford to entertain."I can't let her go," I muttered under my breath,the moment pressing down on me as I forcefully guided her along, her cries a haunting soundtrack to my desperate flight and escape from the h
My heart thudded in my chest like a war drum, every beat urging me to push harder and run faster. The narrow alley stretched endlessly before me, a murky tunnel of shadows and uncertainty. Fear gnawed at the edges of my mind, threatening to paralyze me if I faltered.As my feet pounded against the rough cobblestones, a sharp pain shot through my leg as it collided with a protruding wooden beam. "Ahh!" I gasped, the agony piercing through me so wildly. I stumbled, clutching my injured limb. The urge to surrender to the pain was almost overwhelming.But the approaching sounds of heavy footsteps and the harsh commands of the pursuers shattered any thoughts of giving in. I glanced back, dread clawing at my throat as I saw the security guards closing in, their figures looming larger with each passing moment."No, not now." I gritted my teeth, the desperation in my voice a silent vow to myself.With a deep breath, I forced myself to stand tall to steel myself against the throbbing ache in m
I slammed my foot on the gas, the engine roaring beneath the hood as I sped away. The adrenaline was coursing through my veins—a potent cocktail of fear and urgency. But as I crested a hill, my heart sank. There, in the valley below, was a police checkpoint, unmistakable with its flashing blue lights and the stern-faced officers manning it.I glanced around frantically, seeking an alternative route, a detour, anything. But the truth was as stark as the barren landscape around me; this was the only road. My grip on the steering wheel tightened, the leather groaning under my fingers."I hope my picture hasn't gotten to the police," I murmured to myself, a whisper of hope that was quickly dashed by the stark reality of my situation. Memories of my face plastered on screens and papers across the nation flashed through my mind. There was no denying it; my image had been disseminated far and wide."I can't let them catch me," I said, the words barely audible as they left my lips. Decision m
I made my way down the sterile hospital corridor, the rhythmic tapping of my footsteps against the linoleum floor echoing softly. I could see the police officers in the distance, their uniforms in stark contrast against the muted colors of the hospital walls. As they caught sight of me, they began to close the gap between us. Their approach was measured and official.We met halfway, and the lead officer extended his hand in greeting. I reached out, taking his hand in a firm handshake. "Is there any news?" I inquired, my eyes locking onto his, searching for any hint of what was to come.The lines on his face seemed to deepen, and his eyes held a gravity that weighed heavily in the air. It was clear from his expression that the news was not going to be what I had hoped for."What happened?" I pressed, my voice steady but edged with a growing concern. My gaze didn't waver, demanding an answer, as I steeled myself for the impact of his words.The officer's voice was tinged with regret as
The wail of sirens echoed behind me as I gripped the steering wheel, my heart pounding with adrenaline. Police cars were hot on my tail, their flashing lights piercing the darkness of the night. With a steely focus, I maneuvered the taxi through the bustling city streets, weaving in and out of traffic with precision honed from years behind the wheel.As the pursuit intensified, I knew I needed to shake off my pursuers quickly. Ahead, a bridge loomed in the distance, its arch stretching over a glistening river below. A plan formed in my mind—the bridge would be my escape route.With a burst of speed, I pushed the accelerator to the limit, creating a widening gap between my taxi and the police cars behind me. As I approached the bridge, I made a split-second decision. I slowed the car to a stop at the edge of the bridge, my hands trembling with nervous energy.Without hesitation, I leaped out of the taxi, fell and sgood up as I sprinted to the other side of the bridge, my heart racing a