The car ride was tense. Lara drove with steady hands, her eyes scanning the road ahead with an intensity Riley hadn't seen in her before. Riley, on the other hand, sat in silence, her thoughts churning as she stared out the window, watching the scenery pass by in a blur.
They had a plan—at least, a rough one. Lara had contacts, people in places Riley couldn't even begin to imagine. She knew how to track people, how to find hidden connections, how to dig into the underground networks that Zayden's family controlled. But Riley knew better than to believe it would be easy. It wasn't just about finding Zayden. It was about surviving long enough to reach him.
"Where exactly are we going?" Riley finally asked, her voice breaking the silence.
Lara glanced at her briefly, her face unreadable. "I'm taking you to someone who can help us. A contact of mine who knows more about Zayden's family than even I do. We need information. And I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get it."
Riley nodded slowly, trying to ignore the growing feeling of unease gnawing at her gut. They were entering the heart of it now—the world she had been so desperate to escape. But she couldn't go back. Not now. Not when everything she had known had already been torn apart.
The car came to a stop outside a rundown building tucked in the middle of a crumbling neighborhood. The kind of place where you didn't ask questions. Where you didn't expect to walk out unscathed.
"This is it," Lara said, turning off the engine. "Stay close to me, and don't speak unless I tell you to. Got it?"
Riley's heart pounded in her chest. "Got it."
They stepped out of the car, and the moment Riley's feet hit the pavement, she felt the weight of the place settle on her. The air was thick with tension, the kind of tension she had felt before, when she'd been forced to navigate situations she had no control over. It reminded her too much of the world Zayden had tried to shield her from. A world she was about to plunge deeper into.
They moved quickly, avoiding eye contact with anyone who might have been watching. Lara led the way with purpose, her every step measured and deliberate. Riley stayed close, her eyes constantly darting around, watching for any sign of danger.
As they reached the door, Lara paused, turning to face Riley. "Stay behind me," she ordered quietly. "And no matter what happens, trust me."
Riley nodded, her nerves shooting through the roof as the door creaked open. Inside, the room was dimly lit, filled with shadows and the smell of stale smoke. A man sat at a table in the center of the room, his back to them. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a face that seemed to be carved from stone.
Lara approached him without hesitation. "Soren," she said, her voice sharp. "We need information. Now."
The man turned slowly, his eyes cold as he studied them both. "Lara," he said, his voice low, filled with something dark and knowing. "You've brought a girl into my world. I hope you know what you're doing."
Riley stiffened, unsure of how to respond. But before she could speak, Lara continued, her voice unwavering. "I don't care about your warnings, Soren. We need answers. We need to know where Zayden is."
Soren's gaze flickered to Riley for a moment, then back to Lara. "You think it's that simple? You think you can just walk in here and demand answers? Zayden's world isn't for people like you."
Riley felt a chill run through her. "I don't care about his world," she said, surprising herself with how fierce her voice sounded. "I care about him. And I'm going to find him, no matter what."
Soren chuckled darkly, a twisted smile spreading across his face. "You're more like him than I thought. But I'm afraid your fight isn't over yet, girl. It's only just beginning."