slick, black mirrors that reflected the few remaining streetlights. The whiskey, combined with her exhaustion and pain, mad

" and the "new investor" were flimsy pretexts. This

rge metal door was slightly ajar. She pushed it open and stepped inside. The space was vast, dark, and smelled of rus

as no o

her good arm to shield her eyes. Two large, burly men stepped out of

ia demanded, her voi

said, his voice a low growl. "You caused

man added with a smirk, "sh

This wasn't about an inve

n," the first man said, steppi

eart hammering against her bruised ribs.

em that needs to be take

rky water. The smell of algae and rot filled the air. She looked for an escap

. Was this how it ended? Drowned in a forgotten

red, a primal fear o

she cried out in agony. The other one shoved her hard. She lo

ted through her entire body. She flailed, trying to find the surface, her waterlogged coat

from above, his voice echoing in the cavernous space. "You

like a thousand needles stabbing her skin. Her muscles began to cramp, and the pain in her arm

oorway. It was Julian. He stood there, watching the scene, his face an impassive mask.

ed, her voice barely

hispered something in his ear, and he nodded slowly. Then, they turned and walked a

of her. He had sent her here. He ha

aceful. Her movements became sluggish. Her head felt heavy. This was it. She was going to die. She

ce, a different energy in the room. Through her fogged vision, she saw another figure

lled, brandishing his phone. "I'm call

, then cursed and ra

wn, his face pale with fear and determination. She tried to reach fo

rk's coat, coughing up foul-tasting water. He was on the phone, his voice

time, the pain was a deep, pervasive ache that settled

a," the doctor said, his voice grave. "Yo

led, his hair was a mess, and there were dark circles under his eyes. He looked at her, and for the first time, she s

?" he asked, his voice rough. "G

as breathtaking. "You sent me,"

ned!" he shot back, his voice rising. "Isabella said you were acting erratical

chest. He was blaming her. He was twisting the story, be

nding tone. "There's a story leaking about an incident at the warehouse. Your friend Mark is

for him. To lie for him. Af

r. She thought of the USB drive, still hidden in he

d when she was stressed. It was a gift from Sarah. Inside was a tiny, faded picture of

voice devoid of all em

lders. "Good. I knew I could count on you." He turned to leave

on and delirium, she hadn't realized the clasp had come loose

n on his face. He didn't know who it was. To him, it was just a picture of some random woman. But she had seen the flash