Chapter 9: Hunted
372 Words
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The rain slammed against the pavement, soaking Zara to the bone.
She tugged the hood of her grey sweatshirt lower, hiding her face. Every step echoed on the empty London street at 3 AM.
Her phone was dead. Her wallet had 20 pounds and an expired student ID.
She had nothing. No home. No friends. Just the desperate need to disappear.
Behind her, sirens wailed faintly in the distance.
She didn't know it yet, but Orhaan had turned the entire city upside down.
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"To all units," his voice cracked through every guard's radio. Cold. Furious.
"That stupid girl ran away. I want her back tonight. Check every hotel, every cafe, every damn bus station. If you see her, you don't touch her. You call me. Immediately."
He ended the call and punched the dashboard of his black Range Rover.
His knuckles were bleeding. His eyes were black with rage and something else... fear.
The thought of her out there, alone, broke him more than the anger did.
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Zara ducked into a 24-hour cafe, the bell above the door jingling.
The warmth hit her first. Then the smell of coffee. She chose the corner table, back to the wall, facing the door. Classic.
Her hands shook as she wrapped them around a cheap paper cup.
She was so tired. So scared.
That's when two men walked in.
Black suits. Earpieces. Eyes scanning.
Zara's heart stopped.
One of them pulled out a photo. Her photo.
"Have you seen this girl?" he asked the cashier, voice flat.
Zara lowered her head and pretended to read the menu. Her pulse was so loud she was sure they could hear it.
The guards walked past her table. So close she could smell their cologne.
They checked the bathrooms. Checked the back exit. Then left.
Zara exhaled. She hadn't realized she was holding her breath.
Outside, rain dripped from the awning of a black car parked across the street.
Inside, Orhaan sat in the dark. Watching the cafe.
His jaw clenched. His eyes never blinked.
He whispered to himself, voice barely audible over the rain:
"I will find you, Zara. Even if I have to burn this whole city down."
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[End of Chapter 9]
- Writer
