CHAPTER 19 WALKING INTO THE WOLF’S JAWS
1224 Words
The staircase groaned beneath their feet as Ethan and Maya climbed, step by step. Each inch upward felt like entering a deeper shadowone that smelled of dust, old memories, and fresh danger.
The dim hallway above was lit only by a flickering bulb, swaying slightly as if stirred by a breath of unseen wind. The door at the far endMaya’s old bedroomwas half-open. A faint glow leaked through the c***k.
And behind that door…
Her sister.
Or Rico.
Or both.
Ethan’s hand tightened around his gun as they reached the top. His other hand remained within reach of Maya’s, in case she wavered. But she didn’t. Her jaw was clenched in a fierce line, her eyes sharp with old pain sharpened into fresh purpose.
Ethan whispered, “Stay behind me.”
Maya shook her head, whispering back, “We go in together. Rico wants to see me broken. I won’t give him that.”
Ethan’s brows drew lownot in anger, but in admiration. “Then side by side.”
They reached the door.
Maya’s breath shook.
Ethan nodded once.
She pushed it open.
Inside the Room
The room looked almost exactly as Maya rememberedher childhood bed, her old dresser, the peeling wallpaper with the faded sunflower patterns. A twisted sense of nostalgia flooded her chest…
…before the sight in the center of the room ripped it away.
Jennaher younger sistersat tied to a chair, duct tape around her wrists, ankles, and mouth. Her eyes were red, terrified, but alive.
Maya choked out a breath.
“Jenna…”
But Ethan grabbed her arm before she could rush forward.
Because in the corner, lounging casually like a king on his throne, sat Rico.
Black suit. Red tie. A smug smile that made Maya’s stomach twist.
He slowly clapped.
“Well done, Maya. I knew the past would bring you home eventually.” His eyes flicked to Ethan. “And the knight in shining armor… always right behind her. Adorable.”
Ethan lifted his gun just a fraction.
Rico didn’t flinch.
“I wouldn’t do that,” he said lightly. “You shoot me, she dies.” He jerked his head toward Jenna. “One word from me, and the man downstairs pulls the trigger.”
Maya froze. Her heart clawed at her ribs.
“You’re lying.”
Rico smirked. “Am I? Call my bluff. But before you do… think about how many years you’ve waited to save her.”
Ethan’s voice dropped to a dangerous rumble.
“What do you want?”
Rico’s eyes gleamed.
“Oh, it’s simple. Maya comes with me. Willingly.” He leaned forward. “And you walk away.”
Maya stiffened. Ethan’s jaw clenched.
Rico continued, “Give her up, soldier. You’ve done your part. You rescued the sister. You feel good. Now disappear.”
Maya stepped forward.
“I am not going anywhere with you.”
Rico’s smile widened. “You don’t get a choice.”
Ethan’s voice cut through the tension.
“Let her sister go. Now.”
Rico sighed. “Such a stubborn man. Fine.” He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
From behind Jenna, a thin wire popped off the back of the chairrevealing a small mechanism strapped to the legs. A blinking red light.
Maya gasped.
“A bomb?”
“Pressure-triggered,” Rico said. “She moves, she dies. You shoot me, she dies. You try anything stupid…” he shrugged. “She dies.”
Jenna whimpered behind the tape.
Maya’s knees nearly buckled.
“Rico, please…”
Rico stood, moving slowlycalmlylike he had rehearsed this a hundred times.
“It’s time to come home, Maya.”
“No.” Ethan stepped between them. “She’s not going anywhere.”
Rico’s expression sharpened.
“You think you can protect her from me? You think you can take everything I built, everything I controlled, everything I OWNED?” His voice edged into a dangerous growl.
“She was mine long before she met you.”
Maya snapped.
“I was never yours!”
Rico stepped closer, fury boiling under his skin.
“You still don’t understand. You think running from me gave you freedom?” He pointed at Jenna.
“This is your freedom.”
Ethan raised his gun again. “Step back.”
Rico chuckled. “You won’t shoot”
Ethan fired.
The bullet grazed Rico’s arm, snapping his body back.
Rico screamed, staggering against the wall.
Ethan moved lightning fast, pushing Maya toward the corner. “Cover Jenna!”
Rico roared into his radio, “NOW!”
Downstairs, heavy footsteps thundered through the house.
Jenna screamed behind the tape, eyes widening in terror.
Maya ran to her sister, dropping to her knees.
“Jenna, look at melook at me. I’ve got you.”
“Soldier boy!” Rico spat, clutching his bleeding arm. “Do you really think you can win this?”
Ethan didn’t answer.
He shot the lamp, plunging the room into semi-darkness.
Gunfire erupted from the hallway.
Ethan ducked, fired back, hitting one of the men storming in. The second man fired wildly, bullets shredding the doorframe.
Rico lunged for Maya.
That was his mistake.
Ethan grabbed him by the collar and slammed him into the wall with a force that rattled the entire room.
“You don’t touch her!” Ethan roared, punching him in the gut, then across the jawsending Rico sprawling.
But the timer on the bomb suddenly beepedfaster.
Maya’s eyes widened.
“Ethan! The deviceit's counting down!”
Rico laughed, blood dripping from his lip.
“Yes. And you’re out of time.”
Ethan whipped toward Maya.
“Don’t move her! Hold her steady!”
Maya held Jenna tight, tears streaming as she whispered, “I’m here. I’m right here. We’re going home.”
Ethan dropped to his knees beside the bomb, inspecting the wiring with deadly calm.
“Maya,” he said softly.
“Keep talking to her. I need her still.”
“Ethan, can you disarm it?” Maya’s voice trembled.
He didn’t look up. “I’ve done harder.”
Rico laughed again, wheezing. “You think you can save them both? Impossible.”
Ethan ignored him.
“Maya… tell me the wire colors.”
She looked. “Red, blue, and yellow.”
Ethan’s heart hammered.
Pressure bombs were unpredictable. But he wasn’t letting anyone die tonight.
“You trust me?” he asked.
Maya nodded. “With my life.”
“No,” Ethan said, meeting her eyes. “With hers.”
Maya swallowed hard.
“Yes.”
Ethan breathed in deep.
Then he reached for the wires.
Rico watched, smiling through bruised teeth.
“Make your choice, soldier. Cut wrong… and this entire house becomes your tomb.”
Ethan’s fingers hovered.
Maya held her breath.
Jenna cried beneath the tape.
And the timer kept beeping
Faster.
Faster.
Faster
Ethan cut the wire.
Silence.
No explosion.
The timer stopped.
Maya collapsed forward in pure relief, tears hitting Jenna’s shoulder.
Ethan exhaled hard, sweat on his brow. “You’re safe. Both of you.”
But the relief vanished instantly.
Because Rico was gone.
The window was open. Curtains swayed in the night air.
And on the floor where he once stood…
A blood-stained message.
YOU CAN’T SAVE HER TWICE.
Maya’s stomach dropped.
Ethan’s eyes hardened.
The real war had just begun.
- Writer
