Chapter 6
1084 Words
The rain had stopped, but the city still felt heavy with danger.
Elena sat quietly in the back seat of the taxi, her hands gripping the small bag that held the drive Marcus had given her. The streets outside blurred past the window as the car moved through traffic, headlights reflecting off wet asphalt.
Her mind raced.
Marcus was dead.
Or at least… she thought he was.
The image of him collapsing after the gunshots replayed over and over in her mind. The sound still echoed in her ears.
She swallowed hard.
Everything had happened too quickly.
One moment they were running for their lives.
The next moment he had pushed her away and told her to escape.
“Take the drive… don’t trust anyone.”
Those were the last words he had said.
Elena looked down at the small bag in her lap.
Inside was the flash drive.
Whatever was on it had gotten Marcus killed.
And now someone was hunting her.
The taxi driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror.
“You okay, miss?”
Elena forced a small smile.
“Yes.”
But her voice betrayed her.
The driver hesitated, then returned his attention to the road.
Outside, the city lights stretched endlessly into the distance. Tall buildings towered over the streets like silent giants, their windows glowing against the dark sky.
Elena suddenly felt very small.
Very alone.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket.
Her heart jumped.
She slowly pulled it out.
Unknown number.
For a moment, she considered ignoring it.
Then curiosity won.
She answered.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Just the faint sound of breathing.
Her pulse quickened.
“Who is this?”
A voice finally spoke.
Low.
Calm.
“You shouldn’t be using your phone.”
Elena froze.
Her stomach dropped.
“Who is this?” she demanded.
“I’m the only person still trying to keep you alive.”
Her grip on the phone tightened.
“How did you get this number?”
“That doesn’t matter.”
Elena glanced nervously out the taxi window.
“Then what does matter?”
The voice spoke slowly.
“Listen carefully. The people hunting you are not just criminals. They control things you wouldn’t believe.”
Elena felt a chill run down her spine.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes you do.”
The voice paused.
“You have the drive.”
Her heart nearly stopped.
“How do you”
“They know you have it too.”
Elena looked around nervously.
The taxi suddenly felt too small.
Too exposed.
“Who are you?” she whispered.
“My name is Daniel.”
The name meant nothing to her.
“I worked with Marcus.”
Elena’s eyes widened.
“You’re lying.”
“Am I?”
Daniel’s voice remained calm.
“If Marcus trusted you enough to give you the drive, then you deserve the truth.”
Elena leaned forward slightly.
“What truth?”
“The truth about why they want you dead.”
The taxi turned onto a quieter street.
Streetlights passed slowly overhead.
Daniel spoke again.
“That drive contains evidence.”
“Evidence of what?”
“Of a network.”
Elena frowned.
“What kind of network?”
Daniel hesitated.
“The kind that controls governments, corporations… entire cities.”
Elena felt disbelief rising.
“That sounds insane.”
“You saw what they did tonight.”
She went silent.
He wasn’t wrong.
Gunmen had chased them through the streets like it was nothing.
No police.
No interference.
Nothing.
Daniel continued.
“Marcus was trying to expose them.”
“Then why give the drive to me?” she asked.
“Because you were the only person he trusted who wasn’t already on their radar.”
Elena felt her chest tighten.
“Well I’m definitely on their radar now.”
“Yes,” Daniel said.
“You are.”
The taxi slowed at a red light.
Elena noticed a black SUV pull up behind them.
Her stomach twisted.
“Daniel,” she whispered.
“Yes?”
“I think they found me.”
“Describe what you see.”
“A black SUV… two men in the front.”
Daniel went silent for a moment.
“Listen carefully,” he said.
“Do exactly what I say.”
The traffic light turned green.
The taxi began moving again.
“Ask the driver to turn right at the next street.”
Elena leaned forward.
“Sir… can you turn right at the next street?”
The driver looked confused but nodded.
“Sure.”
The taxi turned.
The SUV followed.
Elena’s heart pounded harder.
“They’re still behind us.”
Daniel’s voice grew tense.
“Okay… new plan.”
“What plan?”
“Get out of the taxi.”
“What?”
“Now.”
Elena’s eyes widened.
“We’re moving!”
“Tell the driver to stop.”
Elena turned to the driver.
“Please pull over.”
The driver frowned.
“Is something wrong?”
“Just please stop.”
He pulled over reluctantly.
Before the taxi fully stopped, Elena opened the door and jumped out.
Cold air hit her instantly.
She ran.
Behind her, the SUV screeched to a halt. Doors slammed.
Men shouted.
“Elena!” Daniel’s voice shouted through the phone.
“Run!”
She sprinted down the street, her lungs burning.
Footsteps pounded behind her.
They were close.
Too close.
She turned a corner into a narrow alley.
Dark.
Silent.
Her heart hammered violently.
“Daniel”
“Keep moving,” he said.
“I can’t see anything!”
“Straight ahead. There’s a door on the left.”
She ran forward.
Then she saw it.
A metal door barely visible in the shadows.
She grabbed the handle and pulled.
It opened.
She slipped inside just as footsteps entered the alley.
The door slammed shut behind her.
Darkness swallowed her.
Her breathing echoed in the silence.
“Elena,” Daniel said softly.
“Yes?”
“You just made things worse.”
Her stomach dropped.
“What do you mean?”
Before he could answer
A light flicked on.
Elena spun around.
A man stood in the room watching her.
Tall.
Calm.
Dangerous.
And smiling.
“You shouldn’t have come here,” he said.
Elena’s blood ran cold. Because she recognized him. He was one of the men who had shot Marcus. And now he was standing right in front of her.
- Writer
