I could hear the faint murmur of voices outside the room, but the walls were thick, and I couldn't make out their words. My heart thudded in my chest as I paced the small room, the bare walls closing in on me. The map, the names, and the eerie sense of familiarity in the air told me everything I needed to know.
They were after me. After my mother. After the truth.
I tried the door again, rattling the handle. Locked. Of course.
The only light in the room flickered above me, casting long shadows on the walls. I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. Something about this place felt too familiar. Like I had been here before.
But I couldn't remember when.
A loud crash from the hallway interrupted my thoughts. Someone was coming.
I backed away from the door, holding my breath as I heard footsteps approaching. The door creaked open, and the man who had taken me from the van stepped inside, followed by the two others.
I stared at them, my pulse quickening. They were dressed in dark clothes, faces obscured by shadows, but their presence was suffocating. One of them stepped forward, his voice low and menacing.
"You're not as important as you think you are, Elena," the man said, his eyes narrowing. "But you're still a problem."
I didn't answer, my mind racing. I had to find a way out of here, but there was no obvious escape. They were watching me — waiting for me to crack.
"Why are you doing this?" I finally forced out. "What do you want with me? With my mom?"
The man smiled, but it was a smile that held no warmth. "Your mother knew too much. And she wasn't the only one."
The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning.
"Your mom made a mistake. She was too curious. She started digging where she shouldn't have," he continued, pacing slowly in front of me. "And now you've decided to follow in her footsteps."
"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to stay calm.
The man paused. "That's not important," he said. "What matters is that you don't get in the way anymore."
"Get in the way of what?" I asked, my voice growing stronger. "What is going on here? What are you trying to hide?"
The man's eyes flashed with something dangerous. "Your mother was involved in things you wouldn't understand. Things that are bigger than you, bigger than your family. The only reason you're still alive is because of her."
I felt a chill run down my spine as his words settled in. Bigger than you. Those words echoed in my mind.
Before I could speak again, the man turned abruptly and motioned to the others. They left without a word, closing the door behind them with a heavy thud.
I stood there, frozen in place. My heart was pounding in my chest, my mind racing.
I wasn't just in danger because of what I knew. I was in danger because of something my mother had done. Something I didn't understand.
Why had she kept all of this from me? Why hadn't she told me the truth?
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. There had to be a way out of this. I couldn't just sit here and wait for them to come back. I had to find answers. I had to find Jace.
The door rattled again. But this time, it wasn't one of the men. It was a familiar voice.
"Elena?"
I turned quickly, my heart leaping in my chest. It was Jace. He had somehow found me.
"Jace!" I gasped, rushing to the door.
"Hold on," he said urgently, his voice low. "I'm getting you out of here. Just stay calm."
I pressed my face against the door, trying to hear him better. "How did you find me?"
"Not now," Jace said quickly. "Just trust me. I know how to get you out, but we have to move fast."
I nodded, my pulse still racing, as I heard a faint scraping sound from the other side of the door. Jace was doing something — picking the lock, maybe? It didn't matter. All I knew was that he was here.
And with him, there was still hope.
The door creaked open. Jace's face appeared in the crack, his eyes full of urgency. "Let's go," he whispered.
Without hesitation, I stepped through the door, into the darkness of the hallway. Jace motioned for me to stay close as we moved silently through the building, ducking behind corners and slipping past doors.
The walls seemed to close in around us, but Jace kept moving forward, his movements confident and sure. Every step felt like a countdown — like if we didn't make it out soon, it would be too late.
We reached a side exit that led outside, but just as we stepped through the door, we heard it — the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching from behind.
"Jace, we have to hurry!" I hissed.
Jace's hand shot out, grabbing mine as he pulled me into a run. The night air hit my face as we sprinted down a narrow path, weaving between trees and buildings, desperately trying to stay ahead.
We didn't stop until we reached Jace's car, parked a few miles away in a secluded spot.
Jace slammed the door shut behind us, and we both collapsed into our seats. He started the engine, and we sped off into the night.
Neither of us spoke for a long time.
Finally, I turned to him. "What now?"
Jace's eyes were steely with determination. "Now we figure out who's been pulling the strings. And why they're so desperate to keep the truth from us."