Chapter 7
Voices was the first thing I heard.
Muffled. Distant. Like I was floating somewhere between sleep and reality."…I was losing too much blood—""…more pressure, keep pressure—""…stay with us—"was all I could hear,I tried to open my eyes.Everything was white.Too bright and too quiet.Then—Pain.It rushed back into my body like a storm breaking through a weak door.I groaned."Hey—he's waking up!"
I could hear a different voice.Closer and Clearer.I forced my eyes open.The ceiling above me was unfamiliar. White tiles. Harsh light. The faint smell of antiseptic filled the air.Hospital of course.I tried to move.Pain shot through my side instantly, forcing a sharp breath out of me."Easy," someone said.A nurse stepped into my view, her expression calm but focused."You're in the hospital. You've been shot. Don't try to move too much."Shot? "Yes" the nurse
answered ,It all came rushing back.The hallway and The gun.i. I remembered Lena and My heart skipped."Lena…" I croaked.
The nurse frowned slightly. "You need to rest.""Where is she?" I asked, my voice weak but urgent.She hesitated.That was enough to make my chest tighten.
"Where is she?" I repeated, stronger this time."She's… not here," the nurse said carefully.Not here?"What do you mean not here?" I demanded, trying to sit up again.
Pain exploded through me."Lie down!" she said firmly, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Where is she?" I asked again, ignoring the pain."She left," the nurse replied.My mind went blank.Left? "She was here when they brought you in," the nurse continued. "But she didn't stay."that didn't make sense.Why would she leave?After everything that happened?My chest tightened again.
Her words echoed in my head.
"I didn't mean to…"The truth.
Or at least… part of it.
"Did she say anything?" I asked quietly.The nurse shook her head. "No. She just… left."Something inside me sank.That didn't feel right.Lena wasn't the type to just walk away.Not after what happened. Unless she was running again.
"Sir, you need to rest," the nurse said gently. "You're not fully stable yet."
I didn't respond.My mind was somewhere else.With that moment with her.With the look on her face when he said it.You pushed him.
I clenched my jaw.No.
There had to be more to it.there had to be a reason.She said she didn't mean to.That meant something.Right?
Hours passed Or maybe minutes.
Time didn't feel real anymore.Every second dragged.Every thought circled back to her.Until—The door opened.I turned my head slowly.Daniel walked in.Relief hit his face instantly."Bro!"He rushed to my side.
"You're alive.""Barely," I muttered.
He let out a breath. "You scared the hell out of me."I gave a weak smirk. "Takes more than that."But my mind wasn't on him."You saw everything?" I asked.His expression darkened slightly."Yeah," he said. "That guy… he's dangerous.""I know.""And the girl—""Lena," I said quickly.He paused.Then nodded. "Yeah. Lena.""What about her?" I asked.He hesitated.That hesitation again.
It was starting to annoy me."What about her?" I repeated.Daniel sighed."She's gone."My chest tightened. "What do you mean gone?""I mean… she disappeared.""Disappeared?"
"Yeah," he said. "After they took you to the hospital, she was here for a bit. Talking to the police. Then suddenly…"He snapped his fingers."Gone."My heart started racing again."She didn't tell anyone where she was going?""No.""Nothing at all?"
"Yes Nothing."That didn't make sense."Did the police talk to her?" I asked."Yeah." "And?""They were asking about the shooting… and something else."My eyes narrowed slightly."What else?"Daniel looked at me carefully."About a case."
My chest tightened again."What case?"He hesitated.Then said—
"A guy who almost died at a party a few weeks ago."Everything went still.
So it was real.All of it."Did she say anything?" I asked quietly.Daniel shook his head."Not much. But from what I heard… she's involved."My jaw clenched."Involved how?"They don't know yet," he said. "But the way they were talking…"He paused."…it didn't sound good."
Heavy and uncomfortable silence filled the room.I stared at the wall.
My thoughts racing.Trying to piece everything together.She ran.She was scared.She said she didn't mean to.But she left again.Why?"Dennis," Daniel said carefully.I looked at him."You need to be careful," he continued. "This isn't just some random situation.""I know."
"That guy… he's not normal." "I know.""And Lena…"He hesitated.
"…you don't really know her."
That hit harder than it should have.
I looked away."I know," I said quietly.
But that didn't change anything.
Because no matter what—I still cared.
"I need to find her," I said suddenly.
Daniel frowned. "Are you serious?"
"Yes." "You just got shot!" "I don't care." "You should!" "I don't," I snapped.The pain in my side flared again, but I ignored it."She's in trouble," I said. "And if what that guy said is true…"I paused.
"…then she's running from more than just him."Daniel shook his head. "This is crazy.""Maybe.""But you're still going after her?"I met his eyes."Yes."He stared at me for a moment.Then sighed.
"You really fell for her, didn't you?"
I didn't answer.Because I didn't need to.
That night—I made a decision.
The moment I was discharged…
I was going to find her.No matter what.No matter where she went.
But I didn't know something that would change everything is on it's way.
Across town…
In a quiet, dimly lit room…
Lena sat on the floor, her back against the wall,Her phone was in her hand,Her eyes red from crying.
A man stood in front of her.Not the one from the school.someone else older and more dangerous.
"Running won't save you," he said coldly.She looked up at him, fear filling her eyes."I didn't mean to—"
"Stop saying that," he snapped.
She flinched.He stepped closer.
"You've caused enough damage already."Her breath shook.
"What do you want from me?" she whispered.He crouched in front of her.His expression unreadable.
"What I've always wanted," he said.
Her heart pounded."And what is that?"He smiled slowly and Darkly.
"Finish what you started."Her blood ran cold."No…""Oh yes," he said calmly.
Then he leaned closer and whispered something in her ear.
Something that made her entire body freeze.
Something that made her realize—
There was no escape.back in the hospital…
My phone buzzed beside me. It was an unknown number.My chest tightened I picked it up slowly and answered.there was silence.Then— I heard her voice,Broken and Shaking."Dennis…"My heart stopped.
"Lena? Where are you?"she didn't answer instead, she whispered—
"You need to stop looking for me."
My grip on the phone tightened.
"No.""You don't understand," she said. "If you keep coming after me… they'll kill you." "I don't care."
"I do!" she snapped. Heavy and painful silence followed.then her voice softened."I never meant for any of this to happen…"My chest tightened again."Then let me help you.""You can't.""Try me."I said.
There was a long pause.Then— A sound.A door creaking open on her end.Her breathing changed Faster.
Fear creeping in."Lena?" I said.
She whispered quickly—"They found me."My heart dropped."What? Who—"The line went quiet for a second.Then—I heard a cold and familiar male voice."You just don't learn, do you?"My blood ran cold.
The call didn't end.I could hear everything.Footsteps.A struggle and her voice—"Let me go!"My heart pounded violently."LENA!"
Then—A sharp sound and I heard her scream.before the call went dead.
I stared at the phone.Frozen and terrified. Because this time—I didn't just feel like I was losing her.I knew it.And I had no idea if I'd ever hear her voice again.