Chapter 7: Echoes in the Dawn
Clara's POV
A skeleton building against the predawn sky, the ancient warehouse loomed in the darkness.
The scent of rusty metal and wet wood filled the air, a spooken memory of things long since forgotten.
In the midst of the quiet, my heart pumped frantically in my chest.
My footsteps reverberated on the concrete floor as I entered. Slivers of moonlight peeking through wall crevices were the only illumination in the dense blackness.
"Hello?" With a shaky voice, I screamed out. "Who's here?"
I was met with a chilly, hollow quiet that made my skin crawl. I moved farther into the warehouse, looking for any indication of life in the darkness.
Then, with their back to me, I saw a person standing in the far corner. They had a recognizable silhouette, tall and lean.
"Lily?" With a shaky voice, I whispered.
My breath froze in my throat as the person turned. It wasn't Lily. Jackson was the one.
"Jackson?" I asked in a disbelieving tone. "Why are you in this place?"
My blood ran cold as he smiled, a ruthless, predatory smile. "I'm waiting for you, Clara," he stated in a menacingly low voice.
"Why?" My voice trembled as I asked. "What prompted you to meet me here?"
His voice was soft as he replied, "Because I have something to show you." "There is something you must see."
He extracted a little, silver flash disk from his pocket. His eyes were shining in the dark as he held it up.
"What is that?" My voice trembled as I asked.
"It's a video," he remarked quietly. "A video featuring Olivia and you."
My heart stopped beating. "What?" My voice was almost heard as I whispered.
"A video," he said again, his grin growing. "Olivia and you, together. inside his residence. Last night.
A rush of nausea swept over me. He had been observing us. He had us on tape.
"How?" My voice trembled as I asked. "What did you get?"
He mockingly said, "I have my ways." "Let's say I have high-ranking friends."
With a sick, twisted delight in his eyes, he took a step closer. His voice was low as he said, "You want to see it?"
"No," I said in a tremulous murmur.
"Give me some space."
His voice was harsh when he continued, "It's too late for that, Clara." "I have you now."
He extended his arm and took hold of my arm, his hold painfully firm. With a harsh tone, he replied, "You're coming with me."
My heart thumping in my chest, I fought against his hold. "No," I responded, raising my voice. "Give me a break."
His chuckle was harsh and icy. "You have no other option," he said in a firm tone.
The darkness was suddenly broken by a voice. "Jackson, let her go."
Olivia emerged from the darkness, his expression stern and irate. He moved towards us, his motions flowing and threatening.
Jackson's hold relaxed a little. "Olivia," he murmured in a poisonous tone. "What a shock."
Olivia repeated, "Let her go," in a low, menacing voice.
Jackson chuckled. "Or what?" he said in a mocking tone. "You're going to harm me?"
Olivia said, his eyes blazing with rage, "I won't ask again."
Jackson hesitated, then released my arm. "All right," he responded in a resentful tone. "She's not worth it."
He turned and strode off, vanishing into the night. Olivia watched him go with a tense jaw and black rage in his eyes.
Then his eyes softened and he turned to face me. In a soft voice, he said, "Are you okay?"
With a shaky voice, I nodded. "Yes," I muttered. "I'm grateful."
He took me into his arms, hugging me tight. "He won't hurt you again," he muttered, his voice raspy. "I won't let him."
I clung to him, seeking his warmth, his strength. "What was that video?" My voice trembled as I asked.
His voice was low as he responded, "I don't know." "However, we will discover."
As the first rays of dawn painted the sky, we made our way back to Olivia's flat. The room was heavy and quiet, full with words that were not said.
"We must locate that video," Olivia said in a firm tone. "It must be destroyed."
"How?" My voice trembled as I asked. "He claimed to have high-ranking friends."
Olivia said, "We have friends too," as his brows narrowed. "They also don't fear Jackson Reed."
His fingertips skimmed the screen as he took out his phone. His voice was harsh as he replied, "I know someone who can help us."
A text message appeared on my phone while he was speaking. An unidentified number.
Come see me. This evening. 8 p.m. The historic downtown bookshop. By themselves.
My chest was thumping with my heart. Who was this? And why were they interested in meeting me?
A horrible foreboding of dread descended over me. I glanced at Olivia's tough, focused face.
He said, "Who was that?"
"An unknown number," I said, trembling. "They want to meet me at the old bookstore tonight."
Olivia squinted her eyes. He said, "Don't go," in a stern voice. "It's a trap."
I said, "I have to go," in a shaky voice. "I have to know who this is."
His face was strained and pallid as Olivia shook his head. He pleaded, "It's too dangerous," in his voice. "Please, Clara, don't go."
"I have to," I said again, firmly. "I'll be careful."
Olivia sighed, concern visible on his face. "Fine," he murmured softly. "But I'm coming with you."
I responded, "No," in a trembling voice. "No, you can't. I must be the one.
He started to say, "Clara," but I interrupted him.
"Please," I begged in my voice. "Just let me do this."
With a look of fear on his face, he paused and then nodded. He responded, "Fine," in a voice that was almost audible. "But if you don't come back, I'm coming after you."
With my heart racing in my chest, I nodded. I was aware that I was trapped. But I needed to find out who was responsible. I needed to know why.
I had the unshakeable impression that I was entering someplace far more perilous than I could have ever imagined as I left the flat.
The city lights blurred through the car window. I couldn't stop thinking about the footage and the people who could have assisted Jackson in getting it.
My phone then rang. A number I didn't recognize.
"Hello?" I said in a tight voice.
"Clara," said a voice that was recognizable. Lily was the one. However, she sounded as though she had been crying because of the strain in her voice. "I need your help."