Chapter 8 — I didn't think,I couldn't just think The moment the call ended, something inside me snapped."Lena."
Her name left my lips like a prayer… or maybe a warning.I stared at my phone, waiting—hoping—it would ring again. But It didn't.The silence that followed was worse than the gunshot.Because this time…I didn't know if she was alive.
"Dennis?"Daniel's voice pulled me back.I hadn't even noticed he was still there.He looked at me, confused. "What's wrong?"I swallowed hard, my grip tightening around the phone.
"They have her."His expression changed instantly. "What?"
"She called me… and then…" I shook my head. "They found her."
"Who?""I don't know!" I snapped, frustration boiling over. "But it's not just that guy anymore."Daniel ran a hand through his hair. "This is really bad."
"I know." "You need to stay out of this."I laughed bitterly.Too late for that."I'm already in it."
"You got shot, Dennis!" he said. "That should tell you something!" "Yeah," I replied coldly. "It tells me I don't have time to sit here."He stared at me like I had lost my mind.Maybe I had.But I didn't care.Not when she was out there In danger.
"I'm leaving," I said, trying to push myself up.Pain shot through my side instantly."Are you crazy?" Daniel rushed forward, stopping me. "You can't even stand properly!" "I don't have a choice." "You do!" he argued. "You stay here. You recover. You let the police handle it."I laughed a short and dry laugh again.
"Police?" I repeated. "You think this is something they can handle?""They have to!" "No," I said, my voice low. "They don't even know what they're dealing with."He hesitated.Because deep down he knew I was right.
"I have to find her," I said again, more quietly this time.Daniel looked at me for a long moment Then sighed.
"You're not going to listen, are you?"
I shook my head."No."He cursed under his breath."Fine," he finally said . "Then I'm coming with you."
I frowned and said "No."
"Yes." he insisted
"I'm not dragging you into this."
"You already did," he shot back. "The moment I saw that guy with a gun."
I opened my mouth to argue—But stopped.Because I knew I wouldn't win."Fine," I muttered.
An hour later—Against every medical warning—I was out of the hospital
Bandaged and weak ,but moving.
Every step hurt like hell but I ignored it. Because pain didn't matter anymore,not when time was running out.
"Where do we even start?" Daniel asked as we got into his car.I stared at my phone again thinking.
Replaying her voice, and her words.
Then something clicked."She didn't hang up," I said."What?"
"The call," I continued. "It didn't disconnect immediately. I heard something before it ended."
Daniel frowned. "Like what?" I closed my eyes, focusing. "A sound… like… metal?"
"Metal?" "Yeah… like a door. Or a gate."He thought for a moment.
"That's not much to go on.""I know."
Then another memory hit me.Her breathing,The echo and the space.
"Warehouse," I said suddenly.
Daniel looked at me. "You're guessing." "No," I replied. "I've been in enough empty spaces to know that sound."He hesitated ,Then nodded slowly."Okay… so we look for warehouses." "Yeah."
"But there are hundreds of those."
I clenched my jaw.Think.Think harder.Then another detail.The man's voice was too familiar.And then it hit me."It's him."
Daniel frowned. "Who?" The guy from the school." The one who shot you?"
"Yes." But you said there might be more people involved." "I know," I said. "But he's connected to it." "How?" "I don't know yet," I admitted. "But he said something before…" "What?" "He said… 'you don't know what she is.'" Daniel frowned deeper.
"What does that even mean?"
"I don't know," I repeated. "But I'm going to find out."We drove in silence for a while.The tension in the car was thick.Every second felt like we were getting closer—Or further away.I couldn't tell.then my phone buzzed again.My heart stopped,it was unknown number again.I answered instantly.
"Lena?"there was silence.then a different cold voice said,"You're persistent."My blood ran cold ,"Where is she?" I demanded.
He chuckled softly."Still trying to play hero… even after taking a bullet." "Tell me where she is." "No."My grip tightened."If you hurt her—" You're in no position to make threats," he cut in.I clenched my teeth."What do you want?"there was a pause Then everything went still. "What?"
"You heard me," he said calmly. "You want her? Come get her."Daniel glanced at me, he was so concerned,"Where?" I asked.
A smile crept into his voice."old Harbor Warehouse."My heart started racing."Come alone." "No." "If you bring anyone…" he continued, "…you'll regret it."My jaw tightened."You expect me to just walk into a trap?" "Yes." there was a heavy and deadly silence ,Then he added—
"Unless you don't care about her."
My chest tightened painfully.
"I do." "Then prove it."he Said
The line went dead. Daniel exhaled sharply. "That's definitely a trap." "I know.""And you're still going?"
I looked ahead.My mind already made up.
"Yes."He shook his head. "You're insane.""Maybe.""But you're not going alone," he added quickly.
I didn't respond because I already knew I might have to.We reached a dark , empty and too quiet road near the harbor.
Daniel parked the car."That's it," he said, pointing ahead the warehouse stood in the distance.Old and abandoned,Perfect for something like this.My heart pounded.This was it. "I'll go in," I said.Daniel grabbed my arm."Dennis" "No." "You can't just walk in there!" "I have to." "This is suicide."
"Maybe," I said quietly. "But if I don't go… she dies." he looked at me then slowly…He let go."Five minutes," he said. "If you're not out in five minutes, I'm coming in."
I nodded.Then stepped out of the car. The night air was cold.But I barely felt it.Every step toward the warehouse felt heavier than the last.My heart pounded.My wound throbbed.But I kept moving.Because turning back—Wasn't an option.
I reached the door It was slightly open.Of course it was a trap.I pushed it open slowly.the inside was dark and too quiet.
"Lena?" I called out.No answer.
I stepped inside.The door creaked shut behind me.My heart skipped.Then Lights flicked on.I shielded my eyes.And when my vision cleared I saw her Tied to a chair with bruises and she was alive and scared
"Lena!" Relief hit me hard.But it didn't last long.because he stepped out of the shadows.with a gun in his hand pointing it at her not "You came," he said calmly.My chest tightened."Let her go."He smiled.
"You're in no position to give orders."
I took a step forward."Don't," he warned.I stopped and my mind raced.But before I could say again. "Tell him."My eyes snapped to Lena."What?"He looked at her."Tell him the truth."Her body trembled and she said "No…" "Yes," he said coldly.
She shook her head, tears rolling from her eyes."Please…"But he raised the gun slightly.Pointing it closer to her head
My heart slammed violently.
"Tell me what?" I asked,she looked at me.broken and terrified,then she whispered something that made my world collapse."I wasn't the only one who pushed him…"My breath caught.What?"There was someone else," she continued, her voice shaking.My mind raced."Who?"Tears streamed down her face and slowly…She lifted her eyes Past me,My heart stopped because that meant someone else was here right now.I turned—And felt something cold press against the back of my head.a second gun.A voice whispered behind me—"You should've stayed in the hospital."