Chapter 0003: The Chase Begins
Zara's pulse raced as she and Ryan moved through the darkened pier, careful to stay in the shadows. The men behind them weren't just searching—they were hunting.
Ryan gripped her wrist tightly, his eyes scanning their surroundings. "We need to get out of here," he whispered.
Zara swallowed hard. "And go where?"
Ryan glanced toward a narrow alley between two warehouses. "This way."
Without hesitation, he led her through the dimly lit passage, their footsteps muffled against the damp wooden planks. The alley opened into an old storage yard filled with rusted shipping containers and abandoned crates.
A voice echoed behind them. "Find them. Now."
Zara shivered. The men were close. Too close.
Ryan pulled her behind a stack of metal barrels, pressing a finger to his lips. She held her breath, her entire body tense.
Seconds stretched into eternity.
Then—
A loud crash.
One of the men had knocked over a crate. "They couldn't have gone far," another voice muttered.
Ryan's grip on her arm tightened. "We can't stay here."
Zara nodded. "Then let's move."
They crept through the yard, sticking to the shadows. A narrow fence loomed ahead, just beyond an old supply shed. If they could reach it, they might have a chance.
Ryan eyed the distance. "Think you can climb?"
Zara huffed. "I don't have much of a choice, do I?"
A smirk flickered across Ryan's lips, but it vanished when a beam of light swept across the yard.
"They're here!"
"Run," Ryan whispered urgently.
Without hesitation, they sprinted toward the fence. Footsteps thundered behind them. A gunshot rang through the air, striking the metal container beside them with a sharp clang.
Zara's heart pounded as Ryan reached the fence first, scaling it effortlessly before extending a hand. "Come on, Zara!"
She jumped, gripping his hand as he pulled her up just as another shot whizzed past.
They tumbled onto the other side, breathless but safe—for now.
Ryan pulled her to her feet, his expression grim. "This isn't over."
Zara dusted herself off, her own resolve hardening. "Then let's finish it."
Unraveling the Truth
Ryan and Zara sprinted down the deserted alleyway, their breath heavy in the cool night air. The gunshots had stopped, but the danger hadn't passed. Whoever was after them wouldn't give up so easily.
Ryan pulled out his phone, checking something quickly. His jaw tightened. "We need to disappear for a while."
Zara glanced at him. "And go where?"
He thought for a moment, then grabbed her hand. "I know a place."
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at a small, run-down motel on the outskirts of the city. Ryan paid in cash, refusing to use anything traceable. Once inside the dimly lit room, Zara sank onto the bed, her nerves still rattled.
She looked at Ryan, who was pacing near the window. "Ryan, who were those men? Why are they after us?"
Ryan ran a hand through his hair. "Because I'm getting too close to the truth."
Zara frowned. "What truth?"
Ryan sat down across from her, his face shadowed with tension. "My father was killed in what everyone called an accident. But I never believed that. He was involved in a deal—something dangerous, something people wanted buried. I came back to find out what really happened."
Zara inhaled sharply. "And now they think I'm involved, too."
Ryan nodded, his expression dark. "You are. The moment you stepped into my life, they started watching you."
Zara clenched her fists. "Then we need to fight back."
Ryan smirked slightly. "I was hoping you'd say that."
Zara exhaled, determination settling in. "Where do we start?"
Ryan leaned forward, his voice low. "We find the one person who might have answers—someone who was there the night my father died."
Zara's brows furrowed. "Who?"
Ryan's eyes burned with intensity. "An old friend of his. A man who went into hiding after the accident. If anyone knows the truth, it's him."
Zara's heart pounded. They were about to dive deeper into a world neither of them fully understood.
But one thing was clear—there was no turning back now.
Into the Shadows
The night stretched long and silent as Ryan and Zara prepared for the next step. Zara's mind raced with possibilities, each one darker than the last.
"Who is this man we're looking for?" she asked, watching as Ryan checked the handgun he had pulled from a hidden compartment in his duffel bag.
"His name is Daniel Crest," Ryan said, his voice tight. "He used to be my father's closest associate before he disappeared. If anyone knows the truth, it's him."
Zara swallowed hard. "And where exactly do we find him?"
Ryan gave her a sharp glance. "That's the problem—he doesn't want to be found."
A weight settled in her chest. "So how do we even begin?"
Ryan pulled out his phone, scrolling through messages. "I called in a favor. Someone I trust managed to trace a lead. Daniel was last seen in an old district outside the city—abandoned buildings, barely any law enforcement presence. If he's hiding, that's where he'll be."
Zara exhaled, trying to steady her nerves. "And what if he doesn't want to talk?"
Ryan's jaw clenched. "Then we make him."
—
They arrived at the location hours later, the air thick with the scent of rain and rust. The district was eerily quiet, the once-busy streets now lifeless, the buildings hollowed out with time and decay.
"This place gives me the creeps," Zara muttered, rubbing her arms against the cold.
Ryan didn't respond. He was focused, scanning the surroundings with sharp eyes. Finally, he pointed to a worn-down structure at the end of the street.
"There," he said. "That's where he's supposed to be."
Zara followed him, her heart pounding as they climbed the creaky stairs. Ryan knocked on the door—three short taps, then a pause, then two more.
Silence.
Then, a slow shuffling sound. The door cracked open, revealing an older man with tired eyes and a weathered face. His gaze locked onto Ryan, and a flicker of recognition crossed his features.
"Ryan Daniel," the man said, his voice rough. "You shouldn't have come."
Ryan stepped forward. "We need to talk."
Daniel exhaled sharply. "You don't know what you're asking."
Zara's instincts screamed that something was wrong, but before she could react, the sound of tires screeching outside sent a jolt of fear through her.
Ryan's eyes darkened. "We've been followed."
Daniel's face paled. "You have no idea what you've brought to my doorstep."
Zara turned toward the window just in time to see dark figures emerging from black SUVs.
Ryan grabbed her wrist. "Run."
The door burst open, and chaos erupted.
A Race Against Time
Gunfire erupted as Ryan pulled Zara behind an overturned table, shielding her from the oncoming assault. Bullets splintered the wooden furniture, sending shards flying through the dusty air. The dimly lit room was now a war zone.
Daniel Crest ducked behind a rusted cabinet, cursing under his breath. "You led them straight to me!" he snapped at Ryan.
Ryan's jaw tightened. "We didn't have a choice." He pulled out his gun and fired a shot toward the men pouring into the building.
Zara's breath came in short gasps. She wasn't prepared for this level of danger, but there was no turning back now. "Ryan, what do we do?"
Ryan glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "We get out of here. Stay close to me."
Daniel hesitated before reaching under the cabinet, pulling out a hidden pistol. "There's a back exit, but they'll be expecting us."
Ryan nodded. "Then we'll have to fight our way through."
The three of them moved quickly, dodging bullets as they made their way toward the rear of the building. Zara's heart pounded in her chest as she followed Ryan, trusting him completely.
The alley outside was narrow and dimly lit, but it offered an escape—until another SUV screeched to a halt, blocking their path.
More men jumped out, armed and ready.
Ryan cursed. "They're everywhere."
Daniel took a deep breath. "You wanted answers, Ryan? You're about to find out the cost of the truth."
Zara grabbed Ryan's hand, her voice shaking. "Whatever happens, we face this together."
Ryan squeezed her fingers. "Always."
The men advanced, their leader stepping forward. He was tall, dressed in a sharp black suit, and his presence radiated authority.
"Ryan Daniel," the man said, smirking. "I've been looking for you."
Ryan's grip on his gun tightened. "Well, you found me."
The leader chuckled. "And now, it's time for you to make a choice. Hand over Daniel Crest… or watch the woman you love suffer."
Zara's blood ran cold. She turned to Ryan, seeing the conflict in his eyes.
Whatever history he had with these people, it had just become her fight too.
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(To be Continue...)