Episode 16 — The Woman Who Ran
1674 Words
Daniel stood in the rain, staring at the photograph on his phone.
Maya.
Alive.
The image was recent.
He knew that immediately.
Her hair was longer than he remembered. She wore a dark coat and stood beside a building Daniel didn't recognize. Her face was partly turned away from the camera, as if she had noticed someone watching her.
But it was her.
It had to be.
Seven years.
Seven years of questions.
Seven years of believing that the truth had disappeared beneath the surface of a lake.
Daniel looked up at the man in the black coat.
“Where is she?”
The man didn't answer.
Daniel took a step toward him.
“I asked you a question.”
Rainwater ran down the man's face.
“You should leave.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“That's what everyone keeps telling me.”
“Daniel—”
“Where is my sister?”
The man's expression hardened.
“She doesn't want you to find her.”
Daniel froze.
For a second, the rain seemed to disappear.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“She called me the night she disappeared.”
“I know.”
Daniel's anger rose.
“You know?”
The man glanced toward the entrance of the alley.
“Keep your voice down.”
Daniel moved closer.
“Who are you?”
The man hesitated.
Then he said, “My name is Marcus Vale.”
Daniel searched his memory.
Nothing.
“I don't know you.”
“No.”
Marcus looked toward the warehouses.
“But Maya did.”
Daniel's grip tightened around his phone.
“What were you to her?”
Marcus didn't answer immediately.
That silence made Daniel suspicious.
“What were you to my sister?”
“A person she trusted.”
Daniel almost laughed.
“She trusted you?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you stand at her funeral?”
Marcus's face changed.
For the first time, Daniel saw genuine regret.
“Because I couldn't stop them.”
Daniel stared at him.
“Stop who?”
Marcus looked past Daniel.
“Elena should have told you already.”
Daniel turned.
Elena stood several feet away beneath the rain.
He hadn't heard her approach.
Her hair was soaked, and her breathing was uneven.
“Tell me what?” Daniel asked.
Elena looked at Marcus.
“You shouldn't be here.”
Marcus gave a short, humorless laugh.
“That sounds familiar.”
Daniel stepped between them.
“No more talking around me.”
Neither of them spoke.
Daniel held up his phone.
“This photograph. When was it taken?”
Marcus looked at the screen.
His face immediately changed.
“Where did you get that?”
“Someone sent it to me.”
“When?”
“Two minutes ago.”
Marcus grabbed Daniel's wrist.
Daniel pulled away.
“Don't touch me.”
Marcus lowered his hand.
“That photograph wasn't supposed to exist.”
Daniel's heartbeat increased.
“What does that mean?”
Elena stepped forward.
“Let me see it.”
Daniel showed her.
Her eyes widened.
Then she whispered, “No.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You recognize the place.”
Elena didn't answer.
“Where is it?”
She looked toward Marcus.
Marcus shook his head.
“Don't.”
Daniel stared at both of them.
“Are you serious?”
His voice echoed between the warehouses.
“For seven years, I've been treated like the only person who doesn't understand what's happening. Now you're both standing here, looking at a photograph of my sister, and neither of you wants to tell me where she is.”
Elena's expression softened.
“Daniel, it's not that simple.”
“Then make it simple.”
She looked down.
“The photograph was taken in Eastbridge.”
Daniel frowned.
“Eastbridge?”
It was less than an hour from the city.
Maya had never mentioned it.
“Why would she be there?”
Elena's phone began ringing.
Everyone froze.
Unknown Number.
Daniel stared at the screen.
“Don't answer it.”
Elena looked at him.
“I wasn't going to.”
The phone continued ringing.
Marcus suddenly stepped backward.
Daniel noticed.
“What?”
Marcus was staring at the phone.
His face had become pale.
“Give me that.”
Elena held the phone against her chest.
“No.”
“Give it to me.”
“What is wrong with you?”
Marcus moved closer.
Daniel stepped between them.
“Stop.”
The ringing suddenly stopped.
Silence.
Then Daniel's phone buzzed.
He looked down.
A message appeared.
MARCUS IS LYING TO YOU.
Daniel slowly raised his eyes.
Marcus saw the message reflected in Daniel's expression.
“What did it say?”
Daniel didn't answer.
His phone buzzed again.
ASK HIM WHY MAYA RAN FROM HIM.
Daniel felt the cold rain against his skin.
He looked directly at Marcus.
“Why did Maya run from you?”
Marcus went still.
Elena whispered, “Daniel…”
“No.”
Daniel took another step forward.
“Answer me.”
Marcus looked toward Elena.
She shook her head.
“Tell him.”
Daniel turned sharply.
“You knew?”
Elena closed her eyes.
Marcus spoke quietly.
“Maya didn't run from me.”
Daniel waited.
“She ran because of something she found.”
“What?”
Marcus hesitated.
Daniel's patience broke.
“What did she find?”
A loud engine suddenly echoed nearby.
All three of them turned.
A black vehicle entered the narrow street.
Marcus immediately stepped back.
“Elena.”
She looked toward him.
“We need to go.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
The vehicle moved closer.
Its headlights cut through the rain.
Daniel couldn't see the driver.
Marcus grabbed Daniel's arm.
“This isn't the time.”
“When is the time?”
“Daniel!”
The vehicle suddenly accelerated.
Marcus pushed Daniel aside.
The car stopped only a few meters away.
Daniel stumbled against the wall.
Elena screamed.
The rear door opened.
Nobody stepped out.
Daniel stared into the darkness inside the vehicle.
“Who is that?”
Marcus didn't answer.
Then Daniel's phone buzzed.
A new message appeared.
GET IN THE CAR IF YOU WANT TO SEE MAYA.
Daniel stared at the words.
Elena immediately grabbed his arm.
“No.”
Daniel looked at her.
“What?”
“Don't get inside.”
“Maya is alive.”
“We don't know that.”
He showed her the photograph.
“You said Eastbridge.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you stopping me?”
“Because that's what they want.”
Daniel looked toward the open door.
The inside of the car was completely dark.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Elena is right.”
Daniel stared at him.
“Now you agree with her?”
“Listen to me.”
Marcus's voice had changed.
This time, Daniel heard fear.
“That car isn't here to help you.”
“Then why would they mention Maya?”
Marcus looked at Daniel's phone.
“Because they know exactly what you'll do.”
Daniel's anger returned.
“And what should I do? Stand here for another seven years?”
Nobody answered.
The black vehicle's horn sounded once.
Short.
Sharp.
Daniel looked inside again.
Then something moved.
A hand appeared from the darkness.
Daniel stopped breathing.
The hand pressed against the window.
A silver ring caught the light.
Daniel knew that ring.
Maya had worn it since she was sixteen.
He had given it to her on her birthday.
Daniel stepped toward the vehicle.
“Daniel!” Elena shouted.
He ignored her.
The hand disappeared.
Then a woman's voice came from inside.
Soft.
Weak.
“Daniel…”
Everything stopped.
Daniel's heart pounded.
“Maya?”
Marcus grabbed his shoulder.
“Don't.”
Daniel pushed him away.
“I heard her.”
“You heard what they wanted you to hear.”
The voice came again.
This time clearer.
“Daniel, please.”
Daniel moved toward the open door.
Elena stepped in front of him.
“No.”
He stared at her.
“Move.”
“Listen to me.”
“Move!”
For a second, Elena didn't.
Then she whispered, “Maya told me something before she disappeared.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
“She said if anyone ever used her voice to contact you…”
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
Elena looked directly at him.
“…you should run.”
The voice inside the car stopped.
Daniel stared at Elena.
“What did you just say?”
Marcus suddenly turned toward the vehicle.
“Get down!”
A loud c***k echoed through the street.
Daniel dropped instinctively.
The side window of the warehouse shattered.
Elena screamed.
Marcus pulled both of them behind a concrete barrier.
Daniel's ears rang.
“What was that?” Daniel shouted.
Marcus looked toward the black vehicle.
“It wasn't supposed to happen yet.”
Daniel stared at him.
“What wasn't?”
Marcus looked at Daniel's phone.
Another message had appeared.
This time, the unknown sender didn't give a warning.
Only an address.
17 HARPER STREET
EASTBRIDGE
Then, beneath it—
COME ALONE.
Daniel looked at Marcus.
Then Elena.
Neither of them had an answer.
Behind them, the black vehicle's engine started.
Daniel turned.
The open door was closing.
And just before it shut completely, Daniel saw someone sitting inside.
A woman.
Her face turned toward the window.
Daniel couldn't see her clearly.
But the silver ring was still on her hand.
Then the vehicle drove away.
Daniel ran after it.
“WAIT!”
The car disappeared into the rain.
Daniel stopped in the middle of the street.
His phone buzzed one final time.
He looked down.
A photograph had arrived.
It showed the address in Eastbridge.
But someone had added a message beneath it.
IF YOU GO THERE, ONE OF YOU WILL NOT COME BACK.
Daniel slowly looked toward Elena.
Then Marcus.
For the first time, he understood something.
Finding Maya was only the beginning.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD