Ellie's Forgotten Fortune

Chapter 6: The Pawn Shop

The East Side of the city was a labyrinth of narrow streets and crumbling buildings, a stark contrast to the gleaming skyscrapers and bustling avenues of downtown. Ellie and Max moved quickly but cautiously, their eyes darting to every shadow, every passing stranger. The encounter with the knife-wielding man had left them both shaken, and they couldn't afford to let their guard down.

“This is it," Max said, stopping in front of a small, unassuming storefront. The sign above the door read 'Kane's Pawnshop', the letters faded and peeling. The windows were covered with grime, and the faint glow of a neon *Open* sign flickered weakly.

Ellie frowned, her nerves on edge. “This doesn't look like the kind of place that would have answers."

Max shrugged. “Jack said Victor Kane might know something about Julian Blackwood. If he's our only lead, we don't have much of a choice."

Ellie nodded, though her stomach churned with unease. She adjusted the strap of her bag, feeling the weight of her father's journal inside. It was the only thing connecting her to the truth, and she couldn't let it out of her sight.

The bell above the door jingled as they stepped inside, the sound jarring in the quiet shop. The air was thick with the smell of dust and old metal, and the shelves were cluttered with an assortment of items—jewelry, electronics, instruments, and things Ellie couldn't even name. A single bulb hung from the ceiling, casting a dim light over the cramped space.

Behind the counter stood a man in his late fifties, his thinning hair slicked back and his face lined with years of hard living. He looked up as they entered, his eyes narrowing as he took them in.

“Can I help you?" he asked, his voice gravelly and suspicious.

Max stepped forward, his tone casual but cautious. “Are you Victor Kane?"

The man's expression didn't change. “Depends who's asking."

“We're looking for information," Ellie said, her voice steady despite the knot of anxiety in her chest. “About someone named Julian Blackwood."

Victor's eyes flicked to Ellie, and for a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of recognition. But then he shook his head. “Never heard of him."

Ellie's heart sank, but she wasn't ready to give up. “Please," she said, stepping closer to the counter. “This is important. My father… he left me something, and I think Julian Blackwood knows what it means. If you know anything, anything at all, please tell me."

Victor studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he sighed and leaned back against the counter. “You're Charles Whitmore's daughter, aren't you?"

Ellie's breath caught. “How do you know that?"

Victor smirked, though there was no humor in it. “You've got his eyes. And his stubbornness." He paused, his gaze flicking to the door as if checking for eavesdroppers. “Julian Blackwood's a dangerous man. If you're smart, you'll walk away now."

Ellie shook her head. “I can't. Whatever's going on, it's bigger than me. I need to know the truth."

Victor hesitated, then nodded toward the back of the shop. “Come with me."

He led them through a narrow doorway into a small, cluttered office. The walls were lined with shelves filled with more odds and ends, and a single desk sat in the center of the room, piled high with papers and ledgers.

Victor closed the door behind them and turned to face Ellie and Max. “Julian Blackwood used to be a business partner of your father's. They were close, once. But something happened—something bad. Blackwood disappeared, and your father… well, he changed."

Ellie's chest tightened. “What happened?"

Victor shook his head. “I don't know the details. But whatever it was, it tore them apart. Blackwood went underground, and your father never spoke of him again."

Ellie's mind raced. If Julian Blackwood had been her father's partner, he might know the truth about the will, about Vivian, about everything. “Do you know where he is now?"

Victor hesitated, then reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a small, worn notebook. He flipped through the pages until he found what he was looking for, then scribbled something on a scrap of paper and handed it to Ellie.

“This is the last address I have for him," he said. “But I'll warn you—Blackwood's not the kind of man you want to cross. If you go looking for him, you'd better be prepared for what you find."

Ellie took the paper, her hands trembling slightly. The address was in a part of the city she had never been to—a place even Max seemed wary of.

“Thank you," she said, her voice soft but sincere.

Victor nodded, his expression grim. “Don't thank me yet. If Blackwood's involved in whatever trouble you're in, you're in way over your head."

As they turned to leave, Victor's voice stopped them. “One more thing."

Ellie looked back, her heart pounding. “Yes?"

Victor's eyes were hard, his voice low. “Be careful who you trust. Not everyone is who they seem."

***

As Ellie and Max step out of the pawnshop, they find the street eerily quiet. The flickering neon sign casts long shadows, and for a moment, everything seems still. Then, from the darkness, a figure steps forward—the same man who had chased them earlier, his knife glinting in the dim light. Behind him, two more figures emerge, blocking their escape. Ellie's heart stops as she realizes they've walked right into a trap.

The street outside the pawnshop was eerily quiet, the usual hum of the city replaced by an oppressive silence. The flickering neon sign cast long, jagged shadows across the pavement, and the air felt heavy, like the calm before a storm. Ellie clutched the scrap of paper with Julian Blackwood's address, her heart pounding as she scanned the empty street.

“Something's not right," Max muttered, his voice low and tense. “Where is everyone?"

Ellie didn't answer. Her instincts were screaming at her to run, but her feet felt rooted tothe spot. The silence was unnatural, almost suffocating, and it set her nerves on edge.

And then, from the shadows, a figure stepped forward.

It was the same man who had chased them earlier, his knife glinting in the dim light. His cold, calculating eyes locked onto Ellie, and a slow, menacing smile spread across his face.

“You're a hard girl to catch," he said, his voice smooth but laced with danger. “But you can't run forever."

Ellie's breath caught in her throat, her mind racing. How had he found them so quickly? And why was the street so empty? It was as if the entire block had been cleared, leaving them exposed and vulnerable.

Max stepped in front of Ellie, his hands raised in a placating gesture. “Look, we don't want any trouble. Just let us go, and we'll forget this ever happened."

The man chuckled, a low, humorless sound. “Sorry, kid. You're not the one I'm after. But if you get in my way, I won't hesitate to cut you down."

Ellie's chest tightened, but she forced herself to stay calm. She couldn't let Max get hurt because of her. She stepped out from behind him, her voice trembling but defiant. “What do you want from me?"

The man tilted his head, as if amused by her bravery. “You've got something I need. A little book, maybe? Hand it over, and I might let you walk away. For now."

Ellie's stomach dropped. They knew about the journal. How many people were after it? And how much danger was she really in?

She clutched her bag tighter, the journal inside feeling like a ticking time bomb. “I don't know what you're talking about."

The man's smirk faded, replaced by a cold, hard stare. “Don't play dumb, sweetheart. It's not a good look."

Max glanced at Ellie, his eyes wide with fear and urgency. “Ellie, whatever he's talking about, just give it to him. It's not worth dying over."

Ellie shook her head, her jaw tightening. “No. This is all I have left. I'm not giving it up."

The man sighed, as if disappointed. “Wrong answer."

He lunged forward, the knife slicing through the air. Max grabbed Ellie's arm and yanked her out of the way just in time, the blade missing her by inches. They stumbled backward, their feet slipping on the wet pavement.

“Run!" Max shouted, shoving Ellie toward the mouth of the alley.

Ellie didn't need to be told twice. She turned and sprinted, her heart pounding in her ears. Behind her, she could hear the man's footsteps, heavy and relentless, as he gave chase.

Max was right beside her, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “This way!" he yelled, grabbing her arm and pulling her down a narrow side street.

They weaved through the maze of alleys, their pursuer close behind. Ellie's legs burned, her chest heaving, but she didn't dare slow down. She could hear the man's voice, taunting them, growing closer with every step.

“You can't run forever!" he called, his voice echoing off the walls.

Ellie's mind raced. They couldn't keep this up. They needed a plan, a way to lose him. But the streets were unfamiliar, and the man was gaining on them.

And then, up ahead, she saw it—a flicker of light, the sound of voices. A crowded street. If they could just make it there, they mile to lose him in the crowd.

“There!" she gasped, pointing.

Max nodded, and they pushed themselves harder, their feet slapping against the pavement. The man was right behind them now, his breath hot on their necks.

Just as they reached the edge of the alley, the man's hand closed around Ellie's arm, yanking her back. She cried out, struggling against his grip, but he was too strong.

“Got you," he growled, his voice triumphant.

But before he could say anything else, a loud c***k echoed through the alley, and the man's grip loosened. He stumbled backward, clutching his head, and Ellie saw Max standing there, a brick in his hand.

“Let her go!" Max shouted, his voice shaking but fierce.

The man growled, his eyes blazing with anger, but before he could recover, Ellie grabbed Max's hand and pulled him into the crowd.

They didn't stop running until they were several blocks away, their lungs burning, their legs trembling. Ellie leaned against a wall, trying to catch her breath, her mind reeling.

“Who the hell was that?" Max demanded, his voice panicked. “And what the hell is in that journal, Ellie?"

Ellie shook her head, her hands trembling as she clutched her bag. “I don't know. But whatever it is, it's worth killing for."

Max stared at her, his face pale. “This is bad, Ellie. Really bad. If they're willing to go this far, they will stop at nothing until they get what the want."

Then we better find Julian Blackwood before they do," Ellie responded.

Max hesitated, then nodded. “Fine. But after this, we're done. I'm not dying for your family's secrets."

Ellie didn't argue. She knew Max was right—this was bigger than either of them. But as she glanced over her shoulder, her heart still racing, she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

And then, in the shadows of the alley across the street, she saw it—a figure, standing perfectly still, their face hidden in the darkness. Watching. Waiting.