Episode 11 — Three Days Later
796 Words
Daniel watched Elena run toward the car.
“Wait!”
She reached the driver's door.
Daniel caught up and grabbed the handle before she could get inside.
“What happened three days after Maya disappeared?”
Elena wouldn't look at him.
“Move.”
“No.”
“Daniel.”
“You were with her.”
Elena finally looked at him.
Rainwater ran down her face.
“I didn't know she was alive.”
Daniel stared at her.
His phone was still open in his hand.
The photograph.
Maya.
Elena.
Three days after everyone believed Maya had disappeared.
“The date is right there.”
“I know.”
“Then explain it.”
Elena looked toward the warehouses.
“We can't do this here.”
“Why not?”
“Because they're looking for us.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“Who?”
Elena's expression tightened.
“The people Maya was running from.”
Before Daniel could answer, headlights appeared at the far end of the road.
A car was coming toward them.
Slowly.
Elena saw it.
Her face changed.
“Get in.”
Daniel didn't move.
“Tell me the truth.”
“Daniel, get in the car.”
The approaching vehicle continued forward.
Daniel looked toward it.
The windows were too dark to see inside.
His phone buzzed.
He looked down.
NOT THAT CAR.
Daniel turned back to Elena.
“What car?”
She was already inside.
The engine started.
“Daniel!”
The headlights were getting closer.
Daniel ran around the passenger side and got in.
Elena accelerated.
The car shot down the wet road.
Daniel turned in his seat.
The other vehicle stopped beside the warehouses.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then its driver's door opened.
The man from the funeral stepped out.
Daniel twisted around.
“He was in that car.”
Elena's hands tightened around the steering wheel.
“I know.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You know him?”
“No.”
“You just said—”
“I know what you saw.”
“That isn't what I asked.”
Elena drove faster.
Streetlights flashed across her face.
Daniel held up his phone.
“The photograph.”
She remained silent.
“Maya was alive.”
Elena swallowed.
“Yes.”
The single word filled the car.
Daniel stared at her.
For seven years, he had imagined a hundred different endings.
None of them had prepared him for this.
“Where is she?”
“I don't know.”
“Is she alive now?”
Elena didn't answer.
Daniel's voice rose.
“Is she alive?”
“I don't know!”
The car went silent.
Daniel looked out the window.
Rain blurred the city around them.
After a moment, Elena spoke again.
“The photograph was sent to me too.”
Daniel turned sharply.
“What?”
“Three months ago.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I thought it was a trick.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Who sent it?”
“I don't know.”
His phone buzzed.
Both of them froze.
Daniel looked down.
A new message.
SHE'S TAKING YOU TO THE WRONG PLACE.
Daniel slowly looked at Elena.
She noticed.
“What?”
He didn't answer.
“Daniel, what does it say?”
He turned the phone toward her.
Elena read the message.
Her hands slipped slightly on the steering wheel.
The car swerved.
Daniel grabbed the dashboard.
“Elena!”
She corrected the car.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Daniel looked ahead.
They were approaching an intersection.
“Elena.”
She kept driving.
“Where are you taking me?”
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“To the place where Maya left the second phone.”
Daniel looked at the key in her hand.
The silver key marked 214.
His heartbeat quickened.
“Then why does someone say it's the wrong place?”
Elena looked straight ahead.
“I don't know.”
Daniel's phone buzzed again.
This time, the message was longer.
ASK ELENA WHY SHE NEVER WENT TO THE POLICE.
Daniel slowly lowered the phone.
Elena saw his face.
And she knew.
Her foot moved toward the brake.
The car slowed.
Daniel turned toward her.
“Elena.”
She closed her eyes.
“I can explain.”
Daniel's voice hardened.
“Then explain.”
Elena opened her eyes.
But before she could speak, Daniel's phone began to ring.
Not buzz.
Ring.
Daniel looked at the screen.
His blood turned cold.
There was no number.
Only one name.
MAYA
Daniel stopped breathing.
Elena looked at the screen.
Her face lost all color.
The phone kept ringing.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Daniel slowly reached toward it.
Then Elena whispered—
“Don't answer.”
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