The alley is narrow, lit by one flickering bulb above a rusted fire escape. Dumpsters line one side. The ocean's sound is louder out here, waves hammering the shore beyond the buildings.
For a few steps, it's just us. Our footsteps. Our breath.
Then—
A shadow detaches from the wall ahead. Another from behind.
My stomach turns to ice.
The door behind us slams shut.
"Going somewhere?" a voice drawls.
Lila grabs my arm.
Zara subtly shifts. I put a half-step in front of us.
Two men block the way ahead. Hoodies down now, faces half-shadowed, but not trying too hard to hide.
Up close, they look ordinary.
That makes it worse.
Tattoo Guy smiles, slow and cold. He rolls up his sleeve like he already knows I saw it.
Black ink.
Straight lines.
A tiny human silhouette trapped inside the barcode.
It's one thing to see it on a screen. Another in real life.
My knees go weak.
Lucas's voice echoes in my head. If you ever see this, Aria. You walk away.
I didn't.
The guy's gaze skims over me, then lingers on Lila.
"Cute," he says. "You picked up a friend." His eyes flick to me again. "Or she picked up you?"
He takes a step closer.
Everything in my body screams Run or Fight. But where? How?
Zara's hand brushes mine, knuckles pressing: Ready?
Lucas taught me what to do when talking isn't an option.
So I don't talk. I move.
I shove Lila sideways, behind a dumpster. "Run when I say," I hiss.
Then I step toward Tattoo Guy like I'm about to plead.
His smirk widens and I drive my knee up into his groin as hard as I physically can. He chokes on a shout, doubling over.
"Now!" Zara yells.
She slams her foot into the shin of the man to our right, elbow snapping back into his jaw. He stumbles into the wall.
Lila bolts, sprinting down the alley.
For one glorious heartbeat, it feels like we might actually pull this off. Then something heavy slams into my ribs from behind.
The third man. I didn't see him. He must've come out the door behind us.
I hit the ground, breath exploding out of me. My phone flies from my hand, skidding across gritty pavement.
"Aria!" Zara shouts.
Hands grab my arms. Grip like iron.
Lila's scream echoes off brick.
"Move again and I break your neck," someone snarls in my ear.
Fear makes my skin go cold, but something hot and furious ignites in my chest.
I twist, kicking backwards. My heel connects with something soft. A grunt. Another impact—this one to the side of my face. Pain blossoms, white and dizzying.
The world tilts.
"Stupid little bitch," someone spits.
I hear Zara fighting—thuds, curses, a sharp cry. Lila sobbing. A scuffle farther down the alley.
My fingers scrabble against concrete and My phone.
I grab it. My vision blurs. My hands shake so badly I can barely unlock it. One eye is already swelling. I taste blood.
If I scream, no one will hear over the club noise.
If I call the cops, it'll be too slow.
There's only one person I trust to treat this like the end of the world.
My thumb finds his name on instinct.
Lucas.
I don't have time for words. No time for explanations.
I hit call with trembling fingers.
It rings once.
Twice.
Then cuts—call failed. A boot slams into my wrist, sending the phone skittering again.
"No—!"
I throw myself forward, agony ripping up my arm. My fingertips catch the edge of the phone just enough to tap something—
The share location shortcut.
A tiny pop-up flashes.
Location sent to: Lucas Hayes.
Then a hand rips the phone from my grip. A fist crashes into the side of my head. The world explodes into stars.
Somewhere far away, I hear Zara's voice, raw and furious. Zara somehow got free of them for a split second. She didn't take the chance to run and abandon us. I see her. A guy is running for her. I scream. "Run". She was crying but the hood guy coming for her.
She sprints like hell. She left the alley. I couldn't see her anymore but I hoped she escaped.
Then everything blurs.
Hands under my shoulders. My feet dragging. Cold air on my legs. The sound of a van door sliding open. Lila sobbing my name.
I'm shoved inside. Metal floor. Diesel fumes. Rough laughter.
My last coherent thought before darkness pulls me under:
He knows where I am.