HE SAID I WAS JUST A BET

Chapter 53: The Hunt Begins

Maria’s footsteps echoed faintly as she followed Emeka down the dimly lit hallway of his uncle’s old apartment. The place smelled of old wood and something faintly metallic — a smell that made her uneasy.

“Are you sure we’re safe here?” she whispered.

Emeka didn’t answer immediately. He was scanning the shadows as if expecting them to move. “Safe enough… for now,” he finally said. “But we can’t stay long. If they’ve found your place, it’s only a matter of time before they trace you here.”

Maria hugged herself, her mind spinning. “Who are they? Why do they want me?”

Emeka turned to face her, his eyes darker than she’d ever seen them. “It’s not just about you, Maria. It’s about Daniel… and the people he’s connected to. You’ve stepped into something far bigger than you realize.”

Before she could reply, the faint sound of tires screeching outside broke through the silence. Emeka’s head snapped toward the window. “They’re here.”

Maria’s pulse spiked. “What do we do?”

He grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward the back exit. “We run. And this time, we don’t look back.”

The alley behind the apartment was narrow, damp, and smelled of gasoline. The sound of heavy footsteps followed them — slow at first, then faster. Maria risked a glance over her shoulder and saw two tall figures dressed in black, their faces hidden under caps.

“Emeka—” she began, but he tightened his grip. “Don’t talk. Move.”

They dashed into the darkness, the sound of pursuit growing louder. Maria’s lungs burned, but she didn’t dare stop. Every instinct screamed that if they were caught, there would be no second chance.

And somewhere in the distance, a low, sharp whistle cut through the night air — a signal.

The hunt had truly begun.