m. Jasmine looked frantically at David and Ethan, her heart thumping in her chest.

o we hide?" She could feel the panic building in her throat a

tiny closet with a slightly open

f dust and ancient wood permeated the small room as they crammed themselves inside. As

in silent," his breath

r powerful strike. Now she heard the thugs' voices, their words

he felt a glimmer of solace in Ethan's being at her side. But she felt a surge of terror come o

contorted with resolve, flooded into the room. One of them yelled, "Search everywhe

t thumping in her ears. Squeezing Ethan's hand harder, she tried t

and gestured toward the closets op

eat accelerated. She could hear the guys' labored br

e, "Get ready." "We will have t

e room. The air was filled with shouting and scuffling, and Jasmine felt

ith wide, urgent ey

ed, their focus shifted. With a jolt of adrenaline, Jasmine and Ethan

er and murmured. In order to see what was going on, they

e of the goons while another yelled commands. "Gra

haos by Jasmine's insistence. They had to

he corridor and waded through the chaos. As they made their way through the whirl

at the end of the hallway, Ethan yell

airs. Jasmine realized that their window of chance was rapidly closing

lowed closely behind and

stairs. As they looked around, Jasmine felt energized by the cool night air

at David, Jasmine asked, her

t how to get down." A fire escape is located on t

his eyes, Ethan n

the rooftop's edge. Jasmine's heart pounded in terror as the th

cape, David yelled. The ground rushed closer as

veins. But as they got to the bottom, she suddenly realized something. "What

her, "They won't expect us to come thi

g off the last rung. Jasmine shuddered in fear a

avid prodded them into a

and down the dark path. They were surrounded by the sounds of the

y rounded another curve, Jasmin

't being followed and answered, "To my con

the distance as they turned another curve. C

"A bar." We can stay under the ra

them inside. The smell of old beer lingered in the air, and t

into a rear booth. With her pulse still pounding a

a steady but worried tone. "We

cuss what is actually happening. Unbeknownst to you

n Jasmine's back.

ople who will do everything it takes to keep their secrets hidden-were involved in a

tomach turn. "But we had n

atter." "They will pursue you because you are now their

e weight of his words weighed hard on her shoulders. Her voice w

ruth. We could have a chance if we can reveal what's going on. It w

e had to say. Maybe they could change the situation, eve

ttention to themselves right once. When Jasmine realized that one of them was

e full of malice. "We are aware that

c as David's face became ste

the rear door. As they pushed past the door and into

propelling him for

r them like a storm cloud as they ran into the darkness. The shadows

ld they discover the truth before it devoured them, or would