The darkness of the alley feels like it's swallowing us whole. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat a reminder of how little control I have over what's happening. I glance at Max and Liam, their faces tense with determination, but I can see the fear in their eyes. They're just as trapped as I am.
"Run," Liam says suddenly, his voice sharp, urgent. "We don't have a choice."
Max nods, his hand reaching for me, but before we can take a single step, Jaxon's laugh rings out, cold and mocking.
"You think you can escape?" Jaxon taunts, stepping closer, his hands casually shoved in his pockets. "You're already in too deep. It's only a matter of time before we find you again."
My pulse spikes. The panic rises like a tide, but I force myself to focus. Stay calm, stay focused. We need a plan—something, anything.
Liam shifts his weight, scanning the alley with a quick flick of his eyes. "We need to split up. They can't follow all of us at once."
Max shakes his head vehemently. "We stay together. It's our best shot."
"We don't have a choice," Liam insists, his voice hard with resolve. "They'll be on us in seconds. If we stay together, we're dead."
Jaxon's smirk only deepens, watching us argue. "It's cute how you think you have a choice. You don't. You're already marked."
The words hit me like a slap, the weight of them sinking in. Marked? What does he mean? Why does it feel like this is just the beginning of something much worse than we imagined?
Before I can respond, I hear the sound of footsteps approaching from the other end of the alley. My breath catches in my throat as I recognize the heavy, deliberate steps. We're surrounded.
"Split up!" I shout, making the decision before anyone else can. "Max, Liam, go left. I'll head right. We can't let them trap us all at once."
Max hesitates, but Liam nods. "We'll meet back at the school. Just don't get caught."
With one last glance at me, they turn and sprint in opposite directions, disappearing into the darkness. My feet move before my mind can catch up, the adrenaline pushing me forward. I can hear the sounds of pursuit behind me, the echo of footsteps closing in with terrifying speed.
I don't know where I'm running, but I can't stop. Every breath feels sharp in my chest, and my thoughts are clouded with one thing: survival. I need to find somewhere safe, somewhere I can figure out what's really going on.
I dart through the streets, weaving in and out of shadows, but I'm not fast enough. The sound of someone chasing me is growing louder with each passing second. My chest tightens with every step. I can feel them getting closer, their presence suffocating.
Suddenly, I hear a rustle to my right, and before I can react, a figure steps into my path, blocking my escape.
I freeze.
It's Vance.
"You shouldn't have run," he says, his voice smooth but filled with cold intent. His eyes lock onto mine, and for a moment, I'm paralyzed by the emptiness I see there. The man I once trusted, the one who was supposed to protect me, is standing in front of me as a stranger, a threat.
"Get out of my way, Vance," I say, my voice trembling with fear and anger. "You don't want this. Whatever game you're playing, I'm not a part of it."
His lips curl into a faint smile, but it's all wrong, nothing like the warmth I once knew. "You were always a part of it, Amara. You just didn't know it."
Before I can respond, Vance steps forward, his movements too fast for me to react. He grabs my arm, pulling me closer, his grip tight like steel. My breath hitches as I struggle against him, but his strength is overwhelming.
"I don't want to hurt you," he says quietly, almost like a confession, "but I don't have a choice."
My heart skips a beat. What does that mean?
"Let go of me!" I shout, trying to pull free, but his grip only tightens. He leans in closer, his breath cold against my ear.
"You don't understand yet, Amara," Vance murmurs. "This isn't about you or me anymore. It's about something much bigger, something you can't escape. You've already been chosen."
A shiver runs through me at his words. "Chosen? For what?"
He doesn't answer immediately. Instead, he looks past me, his expression unreadable. "It's too late for questions. You should've listened to me when you had the chance."
And then, before I can even react, he releases my arm with a swift motion and steps back, disappearing into the shadows just as quickly as he appeared.
My breath comes in ragged gasps, my heart hammering in my chest. What was that?
I take a few steps backward, my mind reeling with confusion and fear. But then the footsteps start again, louder this time, more urgent. I can't waste another second. I turn and run, pushing myself harder than before.
I don't know how far I go, but I can hear them closing in behind me. I can feel the weight of the pursuit, like something dark and inevitable chasing me. The adrenaline is all I have to keep me moving.
Just as I turn a corner, I come face-to-face with another figure. This time, it's not Vance, but Jaxon. His eyes glint with malice as he steps into my path, blocking my escape.
"You really thought you could outrun us?" Jaxon sneers, his grin widening. "How cute."
I stand frozen for a second, my mind racing, but before I can decide whether to fight or run, Jaxon's hand shoots out, grabbing my wrist in a vice-like grip.
"Game's over, Amara," he whispers.