The headlights cut through the trees like knives—SWEEP—white beams slicing shadows apart.
"Move," Serafin said sharply.
My legs barely responded as he pulled me forward, boots squelching—SQUELCH SQUELCH—mud clinging like it wanted to keep me here. The engine revved again—VROOOOM—closer now, impatient.
"They're too fast," I gasped. "We're soaked—we can't outrun a car."
"We don't," he replied. "We disappear."
Disappear. Right. Like that had ever worked for me before.
Branches cracked behind us—CRACK—footsteps not even bothering to hide anymore.
"Split up?" I asked, panic clawing up my throat.
Serafin stopped short and turned on me. "No. That's how they win."
A flashlight snapped on—CLICK—its beam jerking wildly through the trees.
"There!" a voice shouted. Male. Close.
Serafin dragged me sideways, ducking behind a fallen oak—THUD—my back slamming into bark. My lungs burned, every breath loud—HAAH HAAH—like I was announcing myself.
I clamped a hand over my mouth.
The flashlight beam skimmed past us—SWISH—then lingered.
"Fuck," I whispered.
Serafin leaned in, his voice barely sound. "When I say run, you run. Don't stop. Don't look back."
"What about you?" I hissed.
His jaw tightened. "I'll be right behind you."
A lie. Or a promise he couldn't keep.
The beam shifted away.
"Now," he said.
We bolted.
The trees thinned abruptly, spitting us out onto a cracked stretch of old road—CRUNCH—gravel biting into my palms as I stumbled. Ahead, half-swallowed by vines and rot, stood an abandoned roadside structure—concrete walls, rusted shutters, a roof sagging under time.
"Inside!" Serafin yelled.
We hit the door together—BANG—wood splintering as it gave way. Darkness swallowed us whole—CREAK—dust exploding into the air.
Serafin slammed the door shut—SLAM—then dragged a broken shelf across it—SCRAPE—the sound far too loud.
I leaned against the wall, chest heaving, heart trying to claw its way out of me.
"What is this place?" I whispered.
"Old weigh station," he said. "Decommissioned years ago."
Footsteps approached outside—CRUNCH CRUNCH—slow now, deliberate.
A voice carried through the door. "We know you're in there."
My stomach dropped.
Another voice, amused. "Come on, Caoimhe. This doesn't have to get uglier."
I flinched at my name.
Serafin stepped in front of me instinctively. "They shouldn't know that."
"They always did," I whispered. "I just didn't want to believe it."
A knock hit the door—THUD—not violent. Casual. Confident.
"Let's talk," the voice said. "No guns. No running."
Serafin leaned close. "They're lying."
"I know."
Another knock—THUD THUD—harder this time.
My phone buzzed weakly—bzzzzt—screen flickering like it might die any second.
Last chance.
I laughed under my breath, hysterical. "They're very committed to the bit."
Serafin looked at me. "Caoimhe. Listen carefully. If they breach that door, I'll slow them down. You take the back."
"There is no back," I snapped. "I checked."
His eyes flicked toward a shadowed corner. "There's a hatch."
"What?"
"Maintenance crawlspace," he said. "Collapsed, maybe—but it leads away from the road."
Another удар on the door—BANG—the wood groaning.
"You have about thirty seconds," he said.
I stared at him. "I'm not leaving you."
"You are," he replied calmly. "Because you're the reason they're here."
The door splintered—CRACK—a jagged line forming near the frame.
I shook my head violently. "No. No. I don't fucking do this alone again."
His voice softened, dangerous in its steadiness. "You're not alone. You're surviving."
The door burst inward—CRASH—wood exploding as one of them forced it open.
Serafin shoved me toward the hatch. "Go!"
I hesitated—just a second too long.
A flashlight beam sliced through the room—CLICK—landing directly on me.
"Well," the man said. "There you are."
Serafin lunged—THUD—slamming into him, bodies colliding hard. The second man raised something—CLICK—metal unmistakable.
"Serafin!" I screamed.
"Move!" he roared.
I dropped to the floor, fingers scrabbling for the hatch—SCRAPE—rust biting into skin as I yanked it open. Cold air rushed up—WHOOSH—carrying rot and damp earth.
A gunshot exploded—BANG!—deafening inside the concrete shell.
I screamed and plunged into the darkness—THUMP THUMP—rolling hard, pain flashing white behind my eyes.
Above me, chaos erupted—shouting, another gunshot—BANG!—something heavy crashing—CRASH—
Then the hatch slammed shut—SLAM—sealing me in darkness.
I lay there, shaking, listening to muffled voices above—arguing, urgent.
My phone buzzed weakly one final time—bzz—then went dark.
The voices stopped.
Footsteps moved—CRUNCH—then faded.
Silence swallowed everything.
I pressed my hand over my mouth, tears burning hot and helpless.
"Serafin," I whispered into the dark.
No answer.
Only the slow drip of water somewhere below—DRIP… DRIP…—and the crushing realization that I had no idea whether the man I ran with was still alive—or whether the people who wanted me erased had finally decided I wasn't worth the trouble of chasing anymore.
I didn't know which thought terrified me more.