Chapter5
2276 Words
The silence after the call did not fade . It settled .
Elena stood in the center of her room with the phone still pressed to her ear long after the line went dead . No sound came back . No signal . No trace of Clara .
Only that voice .
“You should not have answered this call .”
The words stayed sharp in her head .
She lowered the phone slowly and stared at the screen .
Call ended .
Her fingers tightened around the device .
“No .”
This time the word came out stronger . She dialed Clara again . The network responded with cold indifference .
Call failed .
She tried again .
Nothing .
Her breathing picked up .
Focus .
She forced herself to move .
Elena grabbed her bag from the table and pulled out the flash drive . She held it tightly for a second before slipping it into her pocket instead of leaving it inside .
If someone targeted Clara for this , then they would come for her next . The thought did not scare her .
It sharpened her .
She picked up her phone again and dialed emergency services .
The line connected .
“Emergency response . What is your situation ?”
“There has been a car crash . Possible attack .”
“Location ?”
Elena closed her eyes for a second .
“I do not know the exact location . My sister was on the road with her husband . She said a black sedan was following them . I heard the crash through the phone . Then someone else spoke .”
The operator paused briefly .
“Do you have their last known route ?”
“Yes . They left Vale Grand Hotel about twenty minutes ago .”
“Stay on the line .”
Elena began pacing .
Every second stretched .
“Units are being dispatched along the main routes from that location . Keep your phone available in case we need more information .”
“I will .”
The call ended . Elena stood still again . Then she made another decision .
She dialed Daniel .
The call rang .
Once .
Twice .
Three times .
Then connected .
But no one spoke .
“Daniel ?”
Silence .
“Elena .”
The voice came through faint .
It was Daniel but something in his tone sounded off .
Strained .
“Where are you ?” she asked quickly .
No answer .
“Daniel ?”
A sharp inhale came from the other side .
Then a whisper . “They are here .”
Elena felt her stomach drop .
“Who ?”
The line crackled .
“I was wrong .”
“About what ?”
A pause .
Then his voice , lower now . “About everything .”
“Daniel , listen to me . Stay on the line . Help is coming . Where are you ?”
She heard movement, a door opening, wind rushing .
Then Daniel again .
“They took her .”
The words hit like a blow . Elena froze .
“What do you mean they took her ?”
“I tried to stop them .”
“Are you injured ?”
Another pause .
“Yes .”
“Where is Clara ?”
Silence .
Then Daniel spoke again , voice tight with pain .
“They forced the car off the road . Three men . They dragged her out before I could reach her .”
Elena pressed a hand against the wall to steady herself .
“Did you see their faces ?”
“No .”
“Did they say anything ?”
“Yes .”
Her heart pounded harder .
“What did they say ?”
Daniel’s breathing slowed slightly .
“They said she should not have copied what does not belong to her .”
Elena’s grip tightened .
“The flash drive .”
“Yes .”
Her mind raced .
“They think she still has it .”
“Yes .”
Elena looked toward her bag instinctively .
“They are wrong .”
Daniel’s voice sharpened slightly .
“Elena , listen to me .”
“I am listening .”
“You need to leave your apartment . Now .”
Her body went still .
“Why ?”
“They will come for you next .”
The words landed with full weight .
“How do you know ?”
“Because they told me .”
A cold silence followed , Elena’s pulse quickened again .
“Where are you right now ?”
“Roadside . I managed to crawl out of the car .”
“Stay there . Help is coming .”
“I will not stay long .”
“What do you mean ?”
“They are not finished .”
Elena’s voice dropped .
“Daniel , do not move . You are injured .”
“I do not have a choice .”
The line shifted again , a faint sound in the background .
Engines . More than one .
Elena felt dread rise .
“Daniel ? What is that sound ?”
“They came back .”
Her breath caught .
“Hide . Now .”
“I cannot run .”
The sound grew louder through the phone , vehicles stopping , doors opening , voices .
Then a sharp shout .
“Elena .”
His voice came fast now .
“If anything happens to me , you take that drive and you expose everything . Do not trust anyone inside the company . Not even—”
The line cut off .
“Who ? Daniel !”
Silence . Complete silence .
She lowered the phone slowly , her chest rose and fell quickly . This was no longer a warning .
This was a hunt .
She turned toward the door .
He told her to leave .
And for once , she did not hesitate .
Elena grabbed her jacket and moved quickly across the room . She turned off the lights instinctively and stepped into the hallway outside her apartment .
The corridor looked empty .
Too empty . She locked her door behind her and started toward the stairwell . Her footsteps echoed softly , each sound felt louder than it should .
She reached the stairwell and pushed the door open . Dim lighting flickered overhead as she moved down the stairs quickly .
One floor .
Two floors .
Three .
Then she stopped .
Voices echoed from below , male voices .
Low . Controlled .
Her heart slammed against her chest , they were already inside the building .
Elena stepped back slowly .
Think .
She could not go down , she turned and started moving up instead .
Higher .
Faster .
Her breathing grew heavier with each step .
Fourth floor .
Fifth .
Sixth .
The top .
The rooftop door stood ahead .She pushed it open and stepped outside . The cold night air hit her face immediately . The city stretched below in dim lights and distant movement .
Elena moved away from the door and looked around .
No one .
Not yet .
She pulled out her phone again and tried Clara’s number .
Still nothing .
She clenched her jaw . Then she tried the emergency line again .
No signal .
She looked up .
The rooftop offered no easy escape .
No place to hide .
Only open space .
Then the door behind her creaked open slowly .
Elena turned , a man stepped onto the rooftop .
Dark clothing , calm posture .
Another followed behind him .
Then a third .
Her pulse slowed suddenly , not from calm – from clarity .
There was no running now .
One of the men stepped forward .
“You should have stayed inside .”
Elena said nothing, her mind stayed sharp .
Focused .
“What do you want ?” she asked .
The man stopped a few steps away .
“You already know .”
Her hand slipped slowly into her pocket . The flash drive pressed against her fingers .
“I do not have anything for you .”
The man smiled slightly .
“You do .”
Elena held his gaze .
“And if I refuse ?”
His expression did not change .
“Then your sister pays for it .”
The words landed exactly where they were meant to . Elena felt it , the pressure , the threat .
But she did not break .
“You already took her .”
“Yes .”
“Then you do not need me .”
The man tilted his head slightly .
“We need the copy she made .”
Elena shook her head .
“You are too late .”
A pause .
The men exchanged a quick glance .
“What does that mean ?”
Elena met his eyes without hesitation .
“It means I already sent it .”
Silence spread across the rooftop .
For the first time , uncertainty appeared in the man’s expression .
“To who ?”
Elena gave a small breath .
“The only place it matters .”
The man’s calm began to c***k .
“You are lying .”
Elena said nothing . That silence spoke louder than any answer .
The wind moved around them .
Tense .
Sharp .
Then suddenly , the sound of sirens cut through the night .
Distant .
But getting closer .
The men turned toward the edge of the rooftop . Red and blue lights reflected faintly across nearby buildings .
The man looked back at Elena , this time there was no patience left in his face .
“If that is true , then you have created a problem for yourself .”
Elena stood her ground .
“I already had one .”
The sirens grew louder .
Closer .
The man stepped back slowly .
“This is not over .”
Elena watched him carefully .
“I know .”
He gave one last look at her then turned and walked toward the door . The others followed .
Within seconds they were gone .
The rooftop fell silent again , only the sound of approaching sirens remained .
Elena stood alone . Her body finally relaxed slightly .
But her mind did not .
Not yet .
Not even close .
Because she knew something they did not .
She had not sent the files . The flash drive still sat in her pocket .
Heavy .
Dangerous .
And now more valuable than ever .
She looked out over the city lights .
Her voice came out low .
“They will come back .”
This time she was not speaking out of fear . She was stating a fact , her phone buzzed suddenly in her hand .
Unknown number .
Elena stared at the screen for a second .
Then answered .
“Hello ?”
A pause .
Then a familiar voice . Soft . Weak .
“Elena …”
Her heart stopped .
“Clara ?”
“I do not have much time .”
“Where are you ?”
“I do not know exactly . Somewhere outside the city .”
Elena’s grip tightened .
“Are you hurt ?”
“Yes .”
“Listen to me , I am coming for you .”
“No .”
Elena froze .
“No ?”
Clara’s voice broke slightly .
“They are listening .”
Elena lowered her voice .
“Then speak carefully .”
A pause .
Then Clara whispered .
“The files are not what you think .”
Elena frowned .
“What do you mean ?”
“They are not just financial records .”
A sound interrupted the line .
Footsteps .
Close .
Clara spoke quickly now .
“If you open it , everything changes .”
“What is inside it ?”
Silence .
Then Clara’s final words came through .
“Elena … it is bigger than the Vale family .”
The line went dead . Elena stood completely still . The sirens reached the building below . Lights flashed against the rooftop walls .
But none of that mattered now .
Her focus dropped to her pocket , to the small object that started everything .
The flash drive .
Slowly , she pulled it out and held it in her hand .
Her reflection stared back faintly from its smooth surface .
Bigger than the Vale family .
Elena looked toward the dark skyline ahead then back at the flash drive . Her next move would decide everything .
She closed her fingers around it tightly .
And stepped toward the door .
The game had changed .
And she had just become the center of it .
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