PART 9 - LOST IN SHADOW
1155 Words
1. NADINE – ESCAPING BUT NOT AT PEACE
The night air was still freezing as Queen's car sped through the deserted road. Nadine sat in the passenger seat, her hands trembling, tears still streaming down her cheeks.
Lucas...
She turned to the backseat, where Lucas lay slumped, his shirt soaked with blood from the bullet wound in his shoulder. His breathing was short and unsteady, but his eyes were still open, though growing weaker.
“Is he still breathing?” Nadine’s voice trembled, her panic evident.
Queen glanced at the rearview mirror, her expression tense. “He’s alive. But we need to get him somewhere safe before Adrian finds us.”
At the mention of that name, Nadine’s heart sank.
Adrian…
That man would never let them go so easily.
Every time she closed her eyes, Adrian’s haunting gaze flashed in her mind—the obsessive look, the madness that declared he would never let her be free.
She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself.
“Where are we going?” she asked quietly.
Queen bit her lip, thinking fast. “I know a place. But we have to move quickly.”
Nadine nodded as the car sped faster into the darkness.
2. ADRIAN – RAGE IN THE DARKNESS
Adrian stood in the middle of the empty street, his breaths heavy.
His fists clenched, his eyes burning with a rage barely kept in check.
Nadine had escaped.
For the first time, he had lost control.
And he would not allow this to happen.
One of his men ran up to him. “Mr. Callway, they escaped toward the east. We can send a team immediately to track them—”
Adrian turned sharply. “You let her go,” his voice was colder than ice. “And now you want to redeem yourselves with a pathetic suggestion?”
The man swallowed hard, too afraid to respond.
Adrian took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm.
He could not lose Nadine.
Quickly, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
A composed voice answered on the other end. “Mr. Callway?”
“Find her,” Adrian ordered, his voice sharp. “I don’t care what it takes. Find Nadine before dawn, or you’ll pay the price.”
He ended the call and clenched his jaw in frustration.
It was only a matter of time.
Nadine wouldn’t be able to run forever.
3. A TEMPORARY HIDING PLACE
Queen stopped the car in front of an old cabin deep in the forest.
Nadine frowned. “Where are we?”
Queen stepped out of the car and let out a deep sigh. “A safe hideout. It belongs to a friend’s family. No one knows about this place—not even Adrian.”
Nadine looked around.
Darkness surrounded the forest, illuminated only by the dim glow of the moon. The place felt isolated, far from the chaos of the city.
Maybe… this would be safe for now.
Queen helped Lucas out of the car while Nadine carefully supported him into the cabin.
Lucas winced in pain as they laid him on the old sofa in the center of the room.
Nadine knelt beside him. “You have to hold on, Lucas.”
Lucas gave a faint smile, despite his pale face. “I’m still alive, aren’t I?”
Queen quickly retrieved bandages and medicine from a first-aid kit in the corner. Nadine assisted her in cleaning Lucas’s wound, though her hands were still shaking.
Lucas grasped Nadine’s hand, his voice weak. “I know you’re scared. But we’ll get through this, Nadine. I promise.”
Nadine lowered her gaze, holding his hand tighter. She wanted to believe him. But for some reason, the fear wouldn’t leave her heart.
4. ADRIAN – KILLING TO GET NADINE BACK
Meanwhile, across the city, Adrian sat in his office, his eyes red with fury.
His men knelt on the floor, their bodies trembling in fear.
“Mr. Callway…” one of them spoke with a shaking voice. “We lost their trail. It seems they disappeared into the forest near the city’s border.”
Silence.
Adrian didn’t respond.
He simply stared blankly ahead, controlling his breathing.
Then—
BANG!
A gunshot echoed through the room.
One of his men collapsed to the floor, blood pooling around his head.
The others froze, too terrified to move.
Adrian lowered his gun, his face remaining impassive.
“Do better,” he said coldly. “Or you’ll meet the same fate.”
One by one, his men stepped back, fear gripping their souls.
Adrian took a slow breath, staring out the window.
Nadine couldn’t hide forever.
He would find her.
No matter how long it took.
Because he would never let her go.
5. NADINE – KEEP RUNNING
Inside the cabin, Nadine sat by the window, staring at the night sky.
She should have felt relieved to have escaped.
But somehow, the fear still clung to her chest.
“What are you thinking about?”
Lucas’s voice made her turn.
He was awake, though his face still looked weak.
Nadine gave a small smile. “I was just wondering… how long can we keep running?”
Lucas held her gaze. “As long as it takes.”
Queen approached them, carrying a blanket. “I agree with Lucas. We have to keep going. We’ve come too far to give up now.”
Nadine nodded, though her heart remained anxious.
But suddenly, the sound of creaking wood made them freeze.
Queen reached for the gun she had taken from the car, aiming it at the door.
Nadine held her breath.
Lucas tried to sit up, but his body was still too weak.
Someone was outside.
They exchanged tense glances, fear creeping into their chests.
Was it Adrian?
Or something worse?
Queen moved swiftly toward the door, her finger hovering over the trigger, ready to shoot if necessary.
Nadine grabbed Lucas’s hand, holding it tightly.
Footsteps approached.
Then—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
They all held their breath.
Queen glanced at Nadine and Lucas, signaling them to stay silent.
“Who’s there?” Queen asked, her voice cold and sharp.
No answer.
The knocking continued, making the atmosphere inside the cabin even more suffocating.
Queen tightened her grip on the gun. Nadine stayed still, clutching Lucas’s weak hand.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The sound came again, this time softer.
“Who’s there?” Queen repeated, her voice low but firm.
Still, no response.
Lucas attempted to sit up slightly, though the pain was evident in his expression. Nadine quickly stopped him. “Don’t move too much,” she whispered.
Queen stole a quick glance at them before refocusing on the door. Her heart pounded. If it was Adrian’s men… they were in grave danger.
The air grew colder. Silence filled the cabin.
Then, finally, a voice spoke from outside.
“Just an old man who got lost…”
- Writer
