CHAPTER 03
1005 Words
CHAPTER THREE
The cold night air stung Noxana’s face as she climbed down the fire escape, her pulse hammering in her ears. Erydan moved ahead of her, his steps silent and deliberate. Every creak of the metal ladder felt deafening in the stillness of the city, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching them.
“Keep moving,” Erydan whispered, glancing back to make sure she was following. His dark eyes were sharp, scanning the alley below for threats.
When they finally reached the ground, Erydan pulled her into the shadows, pressing his finger to his lips. They crouched behind a dumpster as the sound of heavy boots echoed above them.
“She was here,” Seraphine’s voice called out, calm yet commanding. “Find her. And if he’s with her, bring him in alive. I want the pleasure of breaking him myself.”
Noxana’s stomach twisted. She clenched her fists, trying to keep her breathing steady.
Erydan leaned close, his voice barely audible. “Stay quiet. They’ll sweep the building first. We’ll have a window to move once they go inside.”
“And then what?” she hissed back. “We just run forever?”
“For now, yes.” He looked at her, his expression softening. “I know this isn’t what you signed up for. But if we don’t get out of here, they’ll take you, Noxana. And they don’t play fair.”
She wanted to argue, to demand answers, but the fear in his voice silenced her.
---
They slipped through the alleyways, sticking to the darkest corners of the city. Erydan led them with the precision of someone who had done this before, his movements fluid and purposeful.
Eventually, they emerged onto a quieter street, far from the chaos they had left behind. Erydan paused, checking his surroundings before leading her into a small, nondescript motel.
Inside, the air was stale, and the receptionist barely glanced up as Erydan handed over cash for a room. Once inside, Noxana sank onto the edge of the bed, her head in her hands.
“This is insane,” she muttered. “I was just trying to move on with my life, and now I’m a fugitive.”
Erydan leaned against the door, his arms crossed. “I get it. You didn’t ask for this.”
She looked up, her eyes flashing with anger. “Then why me? Why did you show up at that bar? Why not just leave me alone?”
His jaw tightened. “Because I saw something in you, Noxana. Something I’ve been missing for a long time. Hope.”
Her breath hitched. The weight of his words hit her like a tidal wave, but before she could respond, a loud knock at the door made them both freeze.
“Room service,” a voice called out.
Erydan shook his head, pulling a small knife from his boot. He motioned for her to stay back as he approached the door, his movements slow and deliberate.
When he opened it, a wiry man in a leather jacket pushed his way inside. He looked Erydan over with a smirk before his eyes landed on Noxana.
“This her?” the man asked, his voice rough.
“Back off, Jax,” Erydan growled, stepping between them.
Jax raised his hands in mock surrender. “Relax, old friend. I’m not here to hurt her. But you’re making waves, Erydan. The Dominion isn’t happy, and neither am I.”
“What do you want?”
Jax’s smirk widened. “You know what I want. The drive. Hand it over, and maybe I’ll let you walk out of here with her in one piece.”
Noxana frowned. “What drive? What is he talking about?”
Erydan ignored her, his focus locked on Jax. “I don’t have it.”
“Wrong answer,” Jax said, pulling a gun from his jacket.
Erydan moved faster than Noxana thought possible, disarming Jax with a swift strike and pinning him against the wall.
“Tell Seraphine she’ll never get it,” Erydan snarled. “And if you come after us again, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Jax chuckled, unbothered by the threat. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Erydan. You can’t protect her forever.”
Erydan’s grip tightened before he finally released him. Jax stumbled to the door, straightening his jacket. “This isn’t over,” he said before disappearing into the night.
---
As the door clicked shut, Noxana rounded on Erydan. “What drive? What the hell is going on?”
Erydan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s a long story.”
“Try me.”
He hesitated before finally meeting her gaze. “The drive is a key. It contains everything—files, videos, names—evidence that could bring The Dominion down. I stole it before I left, but I had to hide it somewhere they’d never look.”
Her eyes widened. “And now they think I have it.”
He nodded grimly. “I didn’t mean for you to get caught up in this, but now you’re in their sights. They won’t stop until they get it.”
Noxana felt like the ground had been ripped out from under her. Her entire world was spinning out of control, but one thing was clear: there was no turning back.
“Then we find it,” she said, surprising even herself with the determination in her voice.
Erydan looked at her, a flicker of hope in his eyes. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “If this drive is the only thing that can stop them, then we find it. And we end this.”
Erydan’s lips curved into a faint smile. “You’re braver than you know, Noxana.”
She didn’t feel brave. But as they began planning their next move, she realized she had no choice but to become the person Erydan believed she could be.
— END OF CHAPTER 3 —
- Writer
