Trapped
1022 Words
Chapter 7 — Trapped
Darkness swallowed the room.
Ava felt Alexander's fingers tighten around hers.
"Don't move," he whispered.
She could hear her own breathing.
Then—
Click.
A lock turned somewhere behind them.
Ava's heart slammed against her ribs.
"Alexander..."
"I'm here."
His voice was calm, but she could feel the tension in his hand.
A second later, emergency lights flickered on.
The room was empty.
The door was still closed.
Maya was nowhere to be seen.
"Maya?" Ava called.
No answer.
Alexander immediately released Ava's hand and checked the door.
"Locked."
"Where's Maya?"
"I don't know."
Ava pulled out her phone.
No signal.
"That's impossible."
Alexander checked his.
"Mine too."
Ava stared at the ceiling.
"Someone installed a signal jammer."
Alexander's expression hardened.
"We've been trapped."
Ava moved toward the door.
"Step back."
He tried the handle again.
Nothing.
"Alexander."
"Give me a second."
He examined the lock.
"This isn't a normal lock."
"What is it?"
"Electronic."
"Can you open it?"
"Eventually."
"Eventually isn't good enough."
"I know."
Ava paced toward the laptop.
The screen had changed.
There was another message.
YOU SHOULD HAVE LISTENED.
Ava stared.
Then another line appeared.
YOU WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO WORK TOGETHER.
Alexander came up beside her.
"Someone is controlling this remotely."
Ava looked at him.
"Then they can see us."
"Probably."
She felt a chill.
"Then let's give them something to watch."
Alexander frowned.
"What?"
Ava smiled faintly.
"Us getting out."
She opened the laptop.
The system immediately requested a password.
Alexander looked over her shoulder.
"Don't."
She stopped.
"Why?"
"Because it's bait."
Ava looked at him.
"You think everything is bait."
"Because so far, everything has been."
She sighed.
"Fine. What do we do?"
Alexander looked around the room.
"Find another exit."
They searched the walls.
Nothing.
The windows were reinforced and sealed.
The ceiling vents were too small.
Then Ava noticed something beneath the conference table.
A small metal panel.
"Alexander."
He crouched beside her.
"What?"
She pointed.
He removed the panel.
Behind it was a network cable.
Alexander stared.
"This building was disconnected two years ago."
"So?"
"This cable shouldn't exist."
He pulled it carefully.
The moment he touched it, the laptop screen changed.
A file opened.
Ava leaned closer.
It contained hundreds of transactions.
Names.
Dates.
Companies.
Payments.
Alexander's face became pale.
"What's wrong?"
He pointed at the screen.
Ava read the name.
NORTHSTAR SYSTEMS — AUTHORIZED CONTACT: VICTORIA COLE.
She froze.
"Victoria?"
Alexander said nothing.
Ava looked at him.
"Who is Victoria Cole?"
He swallowed.
"My father's sister."
"Your aunt?"
"Yes."
"But I thought she lived in New York."
"So did I."
Ava stared at the screen.
"Maybe she's behind this."
Alexander shook his head.
"I don't know."
The door suddenly unlocked.
Both of them froze.
It opened slowly.
Maya stood outside.
Ava rushed toward her.
"Maya!"
"I'm fine."
Ava hugged her.
"What happened?"
"I was checking the hallway when the lights went out. The door behind me closed."
"How did you get back?"
Maya held up a small device.
"I found this."
Alexander took it.
"A signal jammer."
Maya nodded.
"And I found something else."
She pulled a folded piece of paper from her pocket.
"Someone left this in the hallway."
Ava opened it.
Her heart stopped.
It contained an address.
And beneath it, a name.
Victoria Cole.
Alexander stared at it.
"She's in San Francisco."
Ava looked at him.
"How do you know?"
"Because that's my father's old private residence."
Silence.
Maya's eyes widened.
"You think she's there?"
Alexander folded the paper.
"We're about to find out."
---
The house stood on a quiet hillside overlooking San Francisco.
It was enormous but strangely dark.
No lights.
No cars.
No signs of life.
Ava stepped out of the car.
"Are you sure she lives here?"
Alexander stared at the house.
"No."
"That's comforting."
He looked at her.
"You don't have to come inside."
Ava gave him a look.
"After everything we've discovered?"
A faint smile appeared.
"I knew you'd say that."
They walked toward the front door.
It was unlocked.
Ava stopped.
"That's not normal."
"No."
Alexander pushed it open.
"Stay close."
They entered.
The house smelled old.
Dust covered the furniture.
But there were fresh footprints on the floor.
Someone had been there recently.
Alexander followed them into the living room.
A photograph hung above the fireplace.
His father.
Victoria.
And another man.
Ava stared at the third person.
"Alexander."
He looked.
His face changed.
"That's Ethan Reed."
Ava stepped closer.
Her former investor.
The man who had disappeared.
The man she'd thought was dead.
But there he was.
Standing beside Alexander's father and Victoria Cole.
Alive.
Smiling.
Ava felt dizzy.
"Ethan knew your father."
Alexander nodded slowly.
"And Victoria."
"Then why did he disappear?"
Before Alexander could answer, a woman's voice came from behind them.
"Because he was supposed to."
They turned.
A woman stood at the entrance to the hallway.
Elegant.
Calm.
Older.
Alexander stared at her.
"Victoria."
She smiled sadly.
"Hello, Alexander."
Ava stepped forward.
"What is going on?"
Victoria looked at her.
"You're Ava Bennett."
"Yes."
"I've heard a lot about you."
Alexander's voice hardened.
"Where is Ethan?"
Victoria's expression changed.
"He isn't here."
"Then where is he?"
She looked at Ava.
"He's been watching you for two years."
Ava's blood ran cold.
"Why?"
Victoria sighed.
"Because your companies were never supposed to become enemies."
Alexander stepped forward.
"Then who made us enemies?"
Victoria looked between them.
"The person who wanted both companies."
Ava's heart raced.
"Who?"
Victoria opened her mouth.
Before she could answer, the lights went out.
A gunshot exploded through the house.
Ava screamed.
Alexander grabbed her and pulled her to the floor.
Another shot shattered the window.
Victoria collapsed.
"Victoria!"
Alexander crawled toward her.
Ava's hands trembled as she reached for her.
But before she could touch her, Victoria grabbed Ava's wrist.
Her eyes were wide with fear.
"Don't trust..."
She struggled to breathe.
"Don't trust..."
"Who?" Ava whispered.
Victoria's eyes moved toward Alexander.
Then she whispered the final word.
"Daniel."
Ava froze.
Alexander stared at her.
And somewhere outside the house, a car engine roared to life.
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