CHAPTER 04
1074 Words
CHAPTER FOUR
The clock on the motel room wall ticked loudly, marking the tense silence as Erydan spread a crude map of the city across the small table. Noxana sat across from him, her arms folded, her gaze flickering between the map and Erydan’s focused expression.
“So,” she said, breaking the quiet, “where’s this drive?”
Erydan tapped a spot on the map with the tip of his pen. “Here. A storage facility on the outskirts of the city. It’s heavily secured, but it’s where I hid it when I went on the run.”
Noxana raised an eyebrow. “And you think it’s still there? After all this time?”
Erydan’s jaw tightened. “It has to be. I took precautions to make sure it wouldn’t be easy to find. The Dominion wouldn’t have found it—unless someone tipped them off.”
Noxana’s stomach twisted at the thought. “And if they did?”
“Then we’ll be walking into a trap,” Erydan admitted. “But if we don’t try, they’ll keep coming after us.”
The weight of his words settled over her. There was no good choice, but sitting still wasn’t an option.
“All right,” she said, her voice steady. “When do we leave?”
Erydan glanced at his watch. “Tonight. The sooner, the better.”
---
The drive to the storage facility was tense, the air between them heavy with unspoken fears. Erydan had borrowed an old, beat-up sedan from one of his few remaining contacts, and the car rattled with every bump in the road.
As they neared their destination, Noxana couldn’t help but glance at him. “You never really told me—why’d you steal the drive in the first place?”
Erydan’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Because I couldn’t stand by and let them keep doing what they were doing. The Dominion destroys lives, Noxana. They manipulate, exploit, and kill to maintain control. That drive—it’s proof of everything. I thought if I could get it to the right people, I could stop them.”
“But you didn’t,” she said softly.
He shook his head. “No. They found out I had it before I could do anything. I barely escaped with my life. And now they’re closer to finding it than ever.”
Noxana nodded, her determination hardening. “Then we make sure they don’t.”
---
The storage facility loomed ahead, a sprawling complex surrounded by tall fences and cameras. Erydan parked the car a block away, pulling a small black bag from the backseat.
“Here,” he said, handing her a flashlight and a small earpiece. “Stick close to me, and if anything goes wrong, you run. Don’t stop, don’t look back.”
Noxana frowned. “And leave you behind? Not a chance.”
He hesitated, a flicker of surprise in his eyes before he nodded. “All right. But if we get separated, you head for the car and wait no more than ten minutes. Got it?”
“Got it.”
They slipped through the shadows, scaling the fence with surprising ease. Noxana’s heart pounded as they moved toward the row of storage units, her senses heightened by the adrenaline coursing through her veins.
“This way,” Erydan whispered, leading her to a unit near the back. He knelt by the lock, pulling a small device from his bag. Within seconds, the lock clicked open, and he slid the door up just enough for them to slip inside.
The storage unit was dark and cluttered, filled with crates and old furniture. Erydan moved quickly, pushing aside a heavy cabinet to reveal a hidden panel in the floor.
“It’s here,” he said, prying the panel open to reveal a small metal case. He lifted it carefully, his eyes scanning the contents.
But before he could say anything, a sharp voice cut through the silence.
“Well, well,” Seraphine’s voice echoed from the doorway. “I have to admit, Erydan, you’re more resourceful than I gave you credit for.”
Noxana spun around to see Seraphine flanked by two armed men, her icy smile sending a chill down her spine.
Erydan stepped in front of Noxana, shielding her. “Seraphine. I should’ve known you’d show up.”
“You didn’t think we’d let you waltz in and take the drive, did you?” Seraphine said, her tone mocking. “Hand it over, and maybe I’ll consider letting her live.”
Noxana’s heart raced, but before she could panic, Erydan spoke.
“You’ll have to kill me first,” he said coldly, his hand inching toward the gun at his side.
“Gladly,” Seraphine replied, raising her hand in a signal to her men.
The room exploded into chaos.
Erydan moved with lightning speed, drawing his weapon and firing a warning shot that sent Seraphine’s men diving for cover. He grabbed Noxana’s arm, pulling her behind a stack of crates as bullets ricocheted around them.
“Stay down!” he shouted, returning fire.
Noxana’s mind raced as she scrambled to process what was happening. She grabbed a piece of broken wood from the floor, her grip tightening as she prepared to defend herself.
“Erydan!” she called out, her voice shaking. “We can’t stay here!”
“I know,” he gritted out, his eyes scanning the room for an opening. “When I say go, you run for the door. Don’t stop.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll be right behind you. Trust me.”
She nodded, swallowing her fear.
“Go!” he shouted, firing another round to cover her as she sprinted toward the door.
The sound of gunfire and shouting filled her ears, but she didn’t stop. She burst into the open air, gasping for breath as she turned to see Erydan emerging seconds later, the metal case clutched tightly in his hand.
“Get in the car!” he yelled, and they bolted toward the sedan, bullets whizzing past them.
They barely made it, Erydan flooring the gas as soon as they were inside.
As they sped away, Noxana glanced at him, her chest heaving. “Please tell me that was worth it.”
Erydan smirked, holding up the case. “You have no idea.”
— END OF CHAPTER 4 —
- Writer
