Leila’s heart pounded in her chest as the door handle slowly turned. Every second stretched into an eternity, the sound of footsteps growing closer.
Sophie’s grip tightened on Leila’s arm, her wide eyes mirroring the terror coursing through Leila’s veins. They had seconds—maybe less—before whoever was outside stepped through that door.
“We need to hide,” Sophie whispered, her voice barely audible over the adrenaline-fueled rush of blood in Leila’s ears.
But there was no time to think, no time to strategize. Leila’s body reacted on instinct. She grabbed Sophie’s hand and pulled her toward the back of the apartment, her mind racing as they darted through the narrow hallway.
The footsteps grew louder.
Leila fumbled with the lock on the back door, her fingers trembling as panic surged thr
