RUIN AND REDEMPTION

Chapter 3: No Turning Back

With great tension and desperation, Victor's voice pierced the stillness. His hands grabbed mine, dragging me toward the car's exit, and I had no time to consider before I was shoved into the darkness. It was all happening so quickly—the sound of feet approaching, the scream of tires. What was real and what was a dream now seemed incomprehensible to me.

Our bodies pushed together as we bent behind the side of the car, Victor's pulse pounding in time with mine. His chest surged and dropped quickly, his breath ragged. Every muscle in my body shrieked for action, but I froze—paralysed by fear.

Victor's face was inches from mine, his eyes dark with will, yet I could see unquestionable fear in them. Stay close, he said, his hand stroking the rear of my neck in a way that made me shiver involuntarily. His touch was familiar yet weighted with all that had happened between us, both reassuring and threatening.

My pulse hammered in my ears, and I pushed myself to concentrate by swallowing hard. Who are they, Victor? My voice came out more delicate than I would have wanted, breathless. What the devil is driving on?

He did not answer right away. His eyes were fixed on the men approaching us, their shadows crawling nearer and their footsteps louder. The air seemed thickening around us. Though every inch of Victor's body was tense, his hold on me did not waver.

Victor's voice low and urgent:

"They're not the ones we should be worried about right now." Stay down; avoid making a sound. Should they come across us, we are done.?

I wanted to make a case. I wanted responses that he clarify what the heck was happening and why I got caught in this mess. But I stopped at his utter raw desperation. His body exuded urgency, which made it abundantly evident that questions had no place.

I watched as Victor peered around the car's edge, his jaw set in resolve, and his eyes swept the street. Just stay with me, he repeated, more forcefully this time. The words hung in the air, unspoken pledges dancing between us.

I nodded, trying to keep my body as motionless as I could while breathing in little gasps. But the more I kept it a secret, the more questions piled up in my head. These were people? Why were they seeking us? Furthermore, why the hell was Victor behaving like this? Like he knew exactly what was happening, like he was ready for it?

Again I swallowed, my mind racing. Talk to me, Victor. Please.?

His gaze refocused on me, causing the ice in his vision to melt momentarily. I briefly saw the man I used to know—someone who would have done anything to guard me. But that man was gone, replaced by someone equally lethal to the people hunting us.

Now, Ethan, Victor said with gritted teeth, his eyes searching mine with a mix of regret and something else darker. I cannot explain everything. I promise you, though, I am doing all I can to keep you safe.

I would have liked to believe him. I yearned to once more trust him. But how could I? How could I possibly trust the man who five years ago ripped apart my life? The man who had turned away from me without a second thought?

Before I could say anything else, everything in me stopped as a voice sliced across the night air.

Look behind the automobile. They are rather close.

My heart pounded with excitement. Watching Victor's eyes widen and his grasp tighten on me, panic shot through me.

He hissed, dragging me down to the ground and flattening our bodies against the pavement. Stay down. His body weighed more than mine, his chest heated against my back, and I could hear his heart pounding in my ear.

I held my breath while just a few feet away footsteps passed. Though I couldn't see the men's faces, I could now clearly hear their voices thick with intent and hatred.

Do you see anything? One of them asked, his voice rough.

Nothing; the other answered. Maintain your search. They cannot have gone very far.

Victor's breath against my neck felt like his chest was still tightly pressed against mine. Every muscle in his body coiled with tension; he was breathing heavily. He radiated heat, and for a moment it seemed as though the entire planet had stopped.

Everything inside me screamed to fight, to do something, anything, but I stayed still, trusting Victor knew what he was doing. That did not stop the terror from clutching my chest, though. Suppose we were late as well. Should they come upon us, what then?

Not daring to move a muscle, the silence felt like an eternity, the minutes dragging on as I held my breath. At last the footsteps disappeared far away. Though his body did not relax, Victor exhaled quietly in relief. Still tense, alert, he was waiting for the next threat.

They're gone for now, Victor said, his voice strained. He slightly withdrew to allow me some breathing space, but his hand still firmly held mine. Dark and full of something I couldn't quite name, his eyes searched mine. But they won't stop till they have what they desire.

I was about to ask what that was when, out of nowhere, the air filled with the unmistakable sound of a car approaching fast from tires screaming.

Victor's eyes grew wide in panic before I could react; he yanked me toward the alley behind us. Run, he said, his voice demanding.

I hesitated at all. Not sure I could. My heart pounding in my chest, I was already sprinting down the alley; the sound of the approaching car got louder with every second. I kept pushing myself forward, trying to ignore the panic clawing at my throat; my breath was ragged and my legs burnt from the effort.

?Victor? I gasped, my voice wild. ? What the devil is happening? Why are they chasing us? Their desire is what?

Victor did not respond. Rather, he turned to check over his shoulder, his face austere, deliberate. His eyes flicked around the little alley in search of a getaway.

They're not here for me, he said at last, his voice tight. They are after Ethan. I also have no idea why, but I will find out.

The headlights of the cars flashed behind us, and I heard a squeal of brakes as they stopped.

Victor looked at me, his hand tightening around my arm. Stay running. Do not stop?

I did not inquire. I had no time. My body was screaming for a path; all I could do was follow him.

Then a voice emerged behind us, sharp and unambiguous: Stop right there.?

I stopped.

I felt the gloom all around me closing in, and for the first time I understood there was no getaway.

The hand of Victor tightened around mine, and I could see steely determination in his eyes. Run, Ethan, he said, his voice a harsh whisper. ?Run; avoid looking back.?

Victor shoved me forward, pushing me toward the end of the alley before I could react. I stammered, heart thumping, ideas racing through me.

But it was too late.

Footfall sounded nearer and faster now. The hunt was still under progress.

And this time, nowhere could be used for hiding.

As Victor drove me down the alley, pushing me to run faster, I lacked time to consider. Footfall behind us was getting closer, faster. closer. Panic shot through me, and my breath became brief, shallow gasps. I couldn't stop now, even though my legs burned. Not among those men closing in on us.

Victor, where are we headed? My voice went terrified, and I gasped. My heart pounded against my chest as my mind frantically searched for a strategy or a way out. Still, the alley was getting smaller, and no obvious exit appeared.

Victor didn't reply. His eyes swept the shadows ahead, his jaw closed. Despite his obvious tension, he remained laser-focused. His silence carried the weight of all I needed to know: we had limited time.

Growled, dragging me along, he kept running.

I turned to look across my shoulder. The car's headlights were shining more brilliantly. Right behind us now, closing the distance with terrible speed. Victor, they are approaching each other.

He looked at me with such intensity that my spine shivered. ?Don't turn back, Ethan. Whatever comes of course, do not stop.?

I wanted to yell at him and demand answers, but the words stuck in my throat. Why had I become involved in this? These people wanted what with me? My ideas spun like a damaged record. My heartbeat echoed louder than the sound of our footsteps.

Victor jerked me to the side into a little opening between two buildings as we came to the end of the alley. Here too, it was quite dark. At least it gave a chance for hiding and breathing.

Just outside the alley, I heard the car stop, the engine revving as the doors slammed open.

I had no need to find out his intended meaning. Clearly now, they were here for me. My chest grew tight with terror. But before I could respond, a sharply demanding voice yelled from behind.

Victor seemed to be stiffening next to me; his eyes narrowed as he drove me farther into the darkness.