Chapter 19: Breaking In
783 Words
Chapter 19: Breaking In
The building looked quiet
Too quiet
Like nothing had ever happened there
Like it was empty
But Arielle could feel it
Something was wrong
Deeply wrong
Her chest felt tight as she stood beside Luca staring at the entrance
“This place doesn’t look real” she whispered
Luca didn’t take his eyes off the building
“That’s the point” he said
⸻
They moved closer
Every step felt heavier
Like the closer they got the harder it was to breathe
Luca stopped near a side door instead of the main entrance
“We don’t go in the front” he said
Arielle nodded quickly
She trusted him now
Not blindly
But enough
⸻
He pulled out a small device from his pocket and crouched near the lock
His movements were fast precise practiced
Not nervous
Not unsure
Like he had done this before
Many times
Arielle watched him closely
Seeing him like this felt different
This was not just Luca
This was who he used to be
⸻
The door clicked
Unlocked
Luca looked up at her
“Once we’re in we stay quiet we don’t stop and we don’t split up”
Arielle nodded
“I’m not leaving your side”
For a second something softened in his expression
Then it was gone
⸻
They slipped inside
The air changed instantly
Colder
Still
Controlled
The hallway stretched ahead of them dim lights flickering softly
Everything looked clean
Too clean
Like nothing messy was allowed to exist here
⸻
Arielle’s footsteps felt too loud even though she was barely making a sound
Her heart was racing so hard she was sure it echoed through the halls
“Where is he” she whispered
Luca glanced around quickly
“Lower level”
⸻
They moved fast
Down a stairwell
Deeper into the building
Each level feeling more isolated than the last
Like the world above no longer existed
⸻
Then
Voices
Faint
But close
⸻
Luca grabbed Arielle’s arm gently pulling her back against the wall
They both froze
Two men walked past the hallway ahead
Talking quietly
Unaware
⸻
Arielle held her breath
Every second stretched
Until finally
The voices faded
⸻
Luca leaned closer to her
“Stay behind me” he whispered
She nodded again
⸻
They moved again
Faster now
Closer
Closer
⸻
Then Luca stopped suddenly
His body going completely still
Arielle felt it instantly
“What is it” she whispered
He didn’t answer
He just looked ahead
⸻
At the end of the hall
A door
Different from the others
Stronger
Locked
⸻
“That’s it” Luca said quietly
Arielle’s heart jumped
“Kael is in there”
⸻
Without wasting time Luca moved forward again pulling out the device
Working the lock
Faster this time
More urgent
⸻
Click
⸻
The door opened slowly
⸻
Inside
The room was cold
Bare
And there
In the center
⸻
Kael
⸻
Arielle’s breath caught
“Kael”
⸻
He looked up instantly
His face bruised tired but his eyes
Still strong
Still him
⸻
“Arielle”
⸻
Relief hit her so hard it almost hurt
She rushed toward him but Luca stopped her gently
“Wait”
⸻
Too late
⸻
The lights shifted
Brighter
Harsh
⸻
And then
A voice
From behind them
⸻
“I was wondering how long it would take you to come back Luca”
⸻
Everything froze
⸻
Arielle turned slowly
Her heart dropping
⸻
They were not alone
⸻
Men stepped out from the shadows
More than before
Surrounding them
Blocking every exit
⸻
Luca’s expression darkened instantly
Not surprised
But ready
⸻
“It was a trap” Arielle whispered
⸻
Luca didn’t deny it
⸻
“No” he said quietly
“It was a message”
⸻
The man from before stepped forward
Calm
In control
Dangerous
⸻
“And you walked right into it”
⸻
Kael pulled against his restraints
“Leave them out of this” he snapped
⸻
The man smiled slightly
“That is no longer possible”
⸻
Arielle felt fear rise again
But this time
She didn’t step back
⸻
She stepped forward
⸻
“Then let him go” she said
Her voice shaking
But strong
⸻
The room went silent
⸻
The man looked at her
Interested
⸻
“You must be very important” he said
⸻
Luca moved slightly in front of her
Protective
Instant
⸻
“Don’t” he warned
⸻
But the man only smiled wider
⸻
“Oh I won’t hurt her” he said
A pause
Then colder
“She’s far more useful than that
- Writer
