HIDDEN SECRET

TRAPPED IN THE SHADOWS

Chapter 9: Trapped in the Shadows

Pricy paced restlessly inside Betty's office, her heart refusing to settle.

The hospital room suddenly felt too small.

Too quiet.

Too suffocating.

"Pricy, sit down before you wear a hole in my floor," Betty sighed. "You're walking around like a psychiatric patient."

Pricy stopped briefly and turned to her.

"You don't understand how worried I am."

Betty leaned back in her chair.

"And you think you're the only one worried? I still don't know who those men were or why they brought Mike to my hospital. That alone is enough to keep me awake at night."

Pricy's eyes darkened.

"Your problem is nothing compared to mine."

Betty narrowed her eyes.

"Then why are you this worried? Are you suspecting something?"

A heavy silence filled the room.

Finally, Pricy spoke.

"I'm worried because of something their boss said."

Betty immediately sat upright.

"What exactly did he say?"

The memory flashed through Pricy's mind like lightning.

Flashback

The gangsters surrounded her.

Several of them were nursing bruises from the beating she had given them earlier.

One of the men stepped forward.

"Who do you think you are, beating people up like this?"

Pricy folded her arms.

"Oh, I'm Detective Pricy."

Then she smirked.

"And since everyone I beat up is now a patient in this hospital, my best friend will make sure they receive proper treatment."

The men exchanged glances.

Another gangster scoffed.

"Don't you think you're being rude?"

Pricy casually adjusted her hair.

"Maybe. But not as rude as you."

The man's face turned red.

"You won't get away with this."

Pricy laughed.

"Come on. Why would we meet again?"

Suddenly another voice echoed from behind them.

"Our boss has a message for you."

Pricy's expression hardened.

"Is your boss incapable of speaking for himself? Why doesn't he come and face me?"

A chilling laugh came through the speaker.

Then the boss finally spoke.

"I will find your weakness."

Pricy smirked.

"That's impossible. I don't have one."

The voice became colder.

"DON'T YOU?"

Silence.

Then the boss continued.

"You still have people who care about you."

Pricy's smile vanished.

"When your mother is gone..."

His voice dripped with venom.

"When your father abandons you..."

The words struck her like a knife.

"And when your friends disappear..."

Pricy's fists clenched.

"You'll finally learn what loneliness feels like."

The boss laughed.

"And when that day comes... you'll kneel before me."

Pricy's eyes burned with fury.

"I was alone for nine months inside my mother's womb. No friends. No family. No one to talk to."

She stepped forward.

"Did I die?"

The laughter stopped.

"If you touch anyone I care about, I'll make sure you spend the rest of your life behind bars."

The boss chuckled.

"We'll see."

Present

Pricy took a deep breath.

"That's why I'm suspicious."

Betty frowned.

"You think he might have been involved in your mother's death?"

"I don't know."

Pricy's voice trembled slightly.

"But my instincts are telling me he knows something."

Betty immediately stood up.

"Then we have to use that."

"Use what?"

"His threat."

Pricy shook her head.

"It won't work."

Betty looked confused.

"He practically confessed."

"No."

Pricy's face darkened.

"I didn't record the conversation."

Betty's excitement instantly disappeared.

"If we bring him in for questioning, he'll deny everything."

"Exactly."

The room fell silent.

Then Betty snapped her fingers.

"What about Mike?"

Pricy's expression changed.

"He isn't answering my calls."

Betty blinked.

"You two had a fight?"

Pricy rubbed her forehead.

"I honestly can't remember."

"What do you mean?"

Pricy groaned.

"The last thing I remember is getting drunk at Mike's place."

Betty burst into laughter.

"Oh no."

"What?"

Betty covered her mouth.

"I think I know exactly what happened."

Pricy narrowed her eyes.

"Tell me."

Betty grinned mischievously.

"If you were drunk in front of me, you would've kissed me."

Pricy's jaw dropped.

"WHAT?!"

"Maybe you kissed Mike."

Pricy's face immediately turned red.

"No way."

Betty laughed harder.

"Then why isn't he answering your calls?"

Before Pricy could respond, Betty grabbed her phone.

"Let's find him."

She dialed Mike's number.

The number you are trying to reach is currently unavailable.

Pricy folded her arms.

"Told you."

Betty wasn't listening.

Instead, she started typing rapidly on her computer.

Minutes passed.

Then suddenly—

"I FOUND HIM!"

Pricy rushed over.

"Where?"

Betty stared at the screen.

Her eyes widened.

"Oh my God."

"What?"

"He's in a cottage hospital."

Pricy froze.

"A secret medical facility?"

Betty nodded.

"No wonder he wasn't answering. The signal there is terrible."

Pricy's heart started racing.

"We need to move."

One Hour Later

The sun was already setting when they arrived at the isolated medical compound.

The place looked ordinary from the outside.

But guards stood at every entrance.

Front.

Back.

Even the side gates.

"This doesn't look like a hospital," Pricy muttered.

"It looks like a prison."

Betty nodded.

"We stick to the plan."

The two women exchanged a determined glance.

Then they separated.

Betty approached the front gate.

A guard immediately stopped her.

"Who are you?"

Betty smiled sweetly.

"Oh, I just returned from the United States. I'm the boss's younger sister and also a doctor."

The guards exchanged confused looks.

"I'm here to visit my sister."

The first guard narrowed his eyes.

"What's your sister's name?"

Betty's smile froze.

For a moment she panicked.

Then another guard rolled his eyes.

"Why are you asking so many questions? Can't you see they look alike?"

The first guard shrugged.

"Fine."

Moments later, Betty was allowed inside.

As she walked away, she silently celebrated.

Phase One successful.

Meanwhile...

Pricy approached the back entrance carrying several boxes of fried chicken.

The guards instantly became interested.

"Our boss ordered food," Pricy said casually.

One guard licked his lips.

"You can leave it with us."

Pricy shook her head.

"Sorry. I was told to deliver it personally."

Another guard stepped forward.

"How about we taste some first?"

Pricy pretended to think.

Then smiled.

"Of course."

Within seconds the chicken disappeared.

The guards devoured everything.

After receiving free food, they happily revealed the location of the hidden cottage.

"Lift the rug inside the private room."

"There's a hidden entrance underneath."

Pricy almost laughed.

Men really were easy sometimes.

After sneaking through the hidden passage, Pricy tapped her earpiece.

"Betty."

"I'm here."

"Status?"

"I found Mike."

Pricy's heart skipped.

"I'm coming."

Minutes later she arrived.

The moment Mike saw her, relief flooded his face.

"Pricy."

She ran toward him.

"Are you okay?"

Mike smiled weakly.

"I am now."

Betty rolled her eyes.

"Can we save the emotional reunion for later?"

Pricy laughed nervously.

Then she remembered something.

"Oh!"

She pulled out a card.

I met Jane at the in the hospital and she gave me this."

Mike examined it.

"What is it?"

"A security card. She said it'll help us escape."

Can we really trust her? Betty had to ask pricy.

Before anyone could respond, a sinister voice echoed through a hidden communication device elsewhere in the building.

Jane smirked.

"Boss."

"Yes?"

"I gave them the fake card."

A cold laugh answered.

"Excellent."

"They're heading toward the secret exit."

"Good."

The boss stood up from his chair.

"Send every guard there."

Jane smiled.

"They'll walk straight into your trap."

Back to Mike

The trio hurried through the underground tunnel.

The darkness seemed endless.

Finally, they reached the secret exit.

Then they stopped.

Their blood ran cold.

Dozens of guards stood waiting outside.

Armed.

Prepared.

Watching.

Pricy's stomach dropped.

"Oh no..."

Mike's eyes narrowed.

"It's a trap."

Betty swallowed hard.

"What do we do now?"

A slow smile appeared on Mike's face.

"I have an idea."

He leaned closer and whispered his plan.

Seconds later...

Betty's eyes widened.

A grin appeared on Pricy's face.

"That's insane."

Mike smirked.

"Exactly."

The guards were getting closer.

The night was growing darker.

And somewhere in the shadows...

The mysterious boss was waiting.

To Be Continued... 🔥