Chapter 37: The Trap
The cold night air felt heavier than before.
Lina stared at the empty car.
Marcus was gone.
Her heart sank.
"He escaped…"
Daniel ran a hand through his hair.
"How the hell did that happen?"
Adrian's expression turned dangerously cold.
His eyes scanned the surroundings carefully.
"He didn't escape on his own."
Lina looked at him.
"You think…"
Adrian nodded slowly.
"Someone helped him."
Emily stood a few steps away, her heels clicking softly against the pavement.
Her lips curved slightly.
"I told you…"
Daniel glared at her.
"You planned this."
Emily shrugged casually.
"You're giving me too much credit."
Adrian stepped closer.
"You contacted him."
Emily tilted her head slightly.
"Do you have proof?"
Silence fell.
Adrian clenched his fists.
Lina stepped forward.
"You're not getting away with this."
Emily looked at her calmly.
"Watch me."
Then she turned and walked away.
Daniel cursed softly.
"She's playing with us."
Adrian remained silent.
But his eyes grew colder.
"Let her go."
Lina looked surprised.
"What?"
Adrian turned toward the car.
"She wants us to chase her."
Daniel frowned.
"You think it's a trap?"
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
Lina's heart tightened.
"So what do we do?"
Adrian looked at her.
"We wait."
—
Back at home…
The silence inside the house felt heavy.
Lina sat quietly.
Her mind restless.
Everything felt out of control again.
Sophia leaned against the wall.
"So… you lost your witness."
Daniel sighed.
"Yeah."
Sophia smirked slightly.
"Emily's smarter than I thought."
Adrian didn't respond.
Instead, he stared at his phone.
His mind was working.
Something didn't feel right.
Emily let them find Marcus.
Then took him away.
That meant—
She wanted them to know something.
But what?
Suddenly—
Adrian's phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
He answered immediately.
"Hello?"
A male voice replied.
"You should stop looking."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"Marcus."
Lina looked shocked.
"You're making a mistake," Marcus continued nervously.
Adrian spoke coldly.
"Where are you?"
"I can't tell you."
Lina stepped closer.
"Did Emily threaten you?"
Marcus fell silent.
That was enough.
Adrian spoke quietly.
"You don't have to do this."
Marcus sounded desperate.
"You don't understand… she's dangerous…"
Daniel frowned.
"What did she do?"
Marcus hesitated.
Then whispered—
"She has something on me."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
Marcus breathed heavily.
"My family…"
Lina's heart tightened.
"She threatened them?"
Marcus nodded.
"She said… if I talk…"
The line suddenly cut.
"Marcus?"
Adrian tried calling back.
No answer.
Lina felt uneasy.
"This is bad…"
Adrian nodded slowly.
"Very bad."
—
Meanwhile…
Emily sat inside her car.
Marcus sat beside her.
He looked nervous.
"You didn't tell me they'd find me."
Emily smiled faintly.
"You were careless."
Marcus swallowed.
"I told them everything…"
Emily turned slowly.
Her eyes cold.
"I know."
Marcus froze.
"You… know?"
She nodded calmly.
"That's why I took you back."
Fear filled Marcus's eyes.
"What are you going to do?"
Emily smiled slowly.
"Relax… I'm not going to kill you."
Marcus let out a breath.
But Emily continued—
"Not yet."
His fear returned instantly.
—
Back at home…
Lina couldn't sit still.
She paced back and forth.
"I don't like this."
Adrian watched her quietly.
"Sit down."
She shook her head.
"No… something's wrong."
Then suddenly—
Her phone buzzed.
She checked it.
Her eyes widened.
"What?"
Adrian stood up.
"What happened?"
She showed him the message.
A photo.
Marcus.
Tied to a chair.
Lina's heart dropped.
Below the photo—
A message:
"If you want him alive… come alone."
Adrian's expression darkened dangerously.
"She's insane."
Daniel stepped closer.
"We can't let Lina go alone."
Lina looked at them.
"I have to go."
Adrian shook his head immediately.
"No."
She stepped closer.
"If we don't… she'll kill him."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"It's a trap."
"I know."
Her voice was steady.
"But we can't ignore it."
Silence filled the room.
Adrian looked into her eyes.
He saw determination.
Fear.
And courage.
He sighed softly.
"You're not going alone."
She shook her head.
"She said alone."
Adrian stepped closer.
"Then we follow from distance."
Lina hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Okay."
—
The location arrived.
An abandoned building.
Dark.
Silent.
Lina stepped out of the car slowly.
Her heart raced.
Adrian and Daniel stayed behind.
Watching.
Lina walked toward the building.
Her footsteps echoed.
She pushed the door open.
Inside—
Marcus sat tied to a chair.
He looked terrified.
"You came…"
Lina stepped closer.
"Are you okay?"
He nodded quickly.
"She left… just now…"
Suddenly—
The lights turned on.
Lina froze.
Emily stepped out slowly.
Her lips curved.
"I knew you'd come."
Lina clenched her fists.
"Let him go."
Emily smiled.
"So brave."
Lina glared at her.
"Why are you doing this?"
Emily stepped closer.
"Because I want to finish everything."
Lina's heart pounded.
"Finish what?"
Emily's eyes darkened.
"Your life."
Suddenly—
A loud noise echoed.
The door behind Lina slammed shut.
She turned.
Locked.
Her heart raced.
Emily smiled slowly.
"Goodbye, Lina."
And suddenly—
The building lights flickered.
Then—
Gas began filling the room.