Behind closed doors

Chapter 7 : The trap

"Run!" Ryan shouted.

He grabbed Maya's wrist, pulling her toward the office door as the steel cage crashed from the ceiling with a deafening clang. Dust exploded into the air, and the floor trembled beneath their feet.

The door refused to budge.

Ryan threw his shoulder against it once.

Twice.

On the third hit, the old wood splintered open, and they stumbled into the hallway just as the cage slammed down behind them, trapping the office.

Maya leaned against the wall, struggling to catch her breath.

"If we'd stayed in there another second..." she whispered.

Ryan nodded grimly. "That wasn't meant to scare us. It was meant to kill us."

Before Maya could reply, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the warehouse.

Someone was running.

Ryan switched off his flashlight.

"Stay behind me."

The footsteps grew louder, then suddenly changed direction.

A dark figure darted between the shelves.

"There!" Maya shouted.

Ryan took off after the stranger.

They raced through the maze of crates, knocking over boxes as they ran. Maya struggled to keep up, her lungs burning.

The figure reached a side exit and shoved the metal door open.

Cold night air rushed inside.

Ryan burst through the doorway just in time to see a black SUV speeding away into the darkness.

Its taillights disappeared around a bend.

"No!" Maya cried.

Ryan stared after the vehicle, frustration etched across his face.

"They planned every second of this."

As they turned back toward the warehouse, something caught Maya's eye.

A small silver key lay on the ground near the exit.

Attached to it was a faded tag with a single number.

217.

Ryan picked it up carefully.

"A locker key," he said.

"But for where?" Maya asked.

Ryan slipped the key into an evidence bag.

"We'll find out."

Just then, his phone rang.

He answered, listening silently as the color drained from his face.

"What is it?" Maya asked.

Ryan lowered the phone.

"They've found another body."

Maya felt her knees weaken.

"Where?"

Ryan looked directly into her eyes.

"At the train station."

He paused.

"And they're asking for you."