CHAPTER 16：The Edge of the Trap and an Unexpected Turn
887 Words
Phone trembling in her hands, Alicia gripped it like it might disappear. Knuckles white. Anxiety surged—no, it crashed over her like tidal water. Lucas’ words were calm, rational… but that line—Sebastian’s line—“The next to die… will be someone you love”—it stabbed at her like a jagged blade. Right there, hovering.
“Can’t let him get away with it,” the mysterious officer broke the silence. Voice steady, eyes like ice. “We play along. Alicia—you pretend to agree. Go to the abandoned factory. Police surround it. As soon as he shows…” His gaze cut through the room, slicing any doubts. “…he’s caught.”
She chewed the inside of her cheek. Hesitation prickled her spine. “But… what if he notices? Hurts innocents?”
Lucas leaned over, fingers brushing her shoulder, almost gentle. “We’ll be careful. Police set everything up. No one gets hurt. And… I’ll go with you. You’re not alone.”
Rosalind, ever the reporter, nodded, camera swinging lightly from her neck. “Yeah. That bastard can’t roam free anymore. I’ll be nearby… documenting. Truth has to come out.”
Alicia took a deep breath, exhaling like the air had weight. “Okay… we do it.” Hands still shaking, gripping the box tight. As if letting go—just a millimeter—would unleash chaos.
Hours later. Night draped over the city outskirts. The factory loomed like a corpse in the dark. Silence swallowed everything—empty, hollow. Only Alicia’s footsteps echoed in the cavernous hall, uneven and anxious. Moonlight seeped through broken beams, splashing the floor with jagged light, shadows twisting like they had eyes. Probably staring at me, she thought, half sarcastic, half terrified.
“Sebastian… I’m here!” Her voice cracked just a little. Trembling. “Come out!”
Laughter. Sharp, slicing through the silence. “You really have guts, Alicia… coming alone.” He stepped from the shadows, sick excitement plastered across his pale face. Behind him, Martha limped, arm roughly bandaged, eyes still dangerous, calculating.
“The box?” His hand reached out like he couldn’t wait.
“I brought it,” she said, tightening her hold, voice firmer than she felt. “But—you promise. No one gets hurt.”
Cold laugh. “You… think you can make demands?” His tone, a knife. “Hand it over!”
Then—sirens. Sharp, slicing the night. Tires squeal. Sebastian’s face flickered—anger, surprise, disbelief.
“You dare trick me?” he spat, gun already in hand.
Alicia’s chest stuttered, heartbeat in her throat. “Sebastian… surrounded. Put the weapon down. Surrender.”
Madness erupted. He laughed, high-pitched, unhinged. “Surrender? Ha! If I can’t have it—no one can!” A shot rang out. Bullets whistled; she ducked instinctively.
Then—Lucas. Black shadow. Lightning. A leap. He slammed into her, throwing them both down. Bullets pinged walls inches away.
“Lucas!” She gasped, heart hammering. Relief. Panic. Gratitude tangled.
“Stay close,” he snapped, springing up, shield over her. Eyes blazing. “You—this ends tonight, Sebastian!”
He tried to raise the gun again, but the night exploded with movement. Police—waves of them—swarmed the factory. They cut off all exits, guns raised. Sebastian’s expression faltered. Cornered.
Then—madness of a different kind. Gun swung toward Martha. “Let me go… or she dies!”
Martha’s eyes widened, terror raw and exposed. “You… can’t!”
But in a flicker, she shoved him hard, bolting sideways. Sebastian froze, surprise cracking his mask. Instantly, officers moved in, restraining him.
Alicia exhaled hard. A stone lifted from her chest—finally, finally relief. But then—her gaze darted. Martha? Gone. Just shadows. Nothing.
Heart tumbled. Panic flared. “Lucas… she’s gone!”
He cursed under his breath, scanning. “Damn it. Slipped again. But… at least Sebastian’s down. That’s progress.”
Alicia hugged the box tighter. Felt its edges dig into her arms, grounding her, reminding her—small, innocuous, deadly. That box had made monsters of people. And maybe… it still could.
Lucas wiped sweat from his brow. “We need a plan. Now. She won’t just vanish forever. Not someone like Martha.”
Rosalind crouched, snapping a few quick photos, muttering to herself. “Evidence. Everything. This story… it’s bigger than we thought. Way bigger.” She shivered—part excitement, part fear. Camera clicking. Life moving even as danger lingered.
Alicia sat against a wall, breathing uneven, whispering to herself, half in thought, half in protest: Why did it have to come to this? Why can’t things ever be… normal?
The box hummed softly against her chest, almost alive. Maybe it could hear fear. Maybe it thrived on it.
Outside, sirens faded into distance, the factory swallowed by darkness again. Lucas leaned close. “We’ll track her. And next time—no surprises. We end this.”
Alicia nodded slowly, still trembling. But this time—just a bit steadier. A flicker of hope. Because tonight… tonight, at least, they survived.
But the shadows whispered. The night wasn’t done. Not by far.
And that box? Still dangerous. Still alive. And they—Alicia, Lucas, everyone—still weren’t safe.
- Writer
