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Chapter 4: Running Blind

I froze, my mind screaming to move, but my body refused to obey. The second figure emerged from the shadows, his face obscured by a hood, but the gun in their hand was unmistakable. The rain caught the glint of the weapon, making it seem sharper, deadlier.

“We don’t have time for this!” the man holding me hissed. Without waiting for my response, he grabbed my hand and pulled me away, dragging me into a sprint.

“Wait! What’s going on?” I shouted, my voice barely audible over the rain pounding against the pavement.

“No time to explain,” he said sharply, his grip firm. “Just run if you want to live.”

I stumbled after him, my legs barely keeping up. The footsteps behind us grew louder and faster, and the roar of my heartbeat drowned out everything else. My breath came in ragged gasps, the cold air burning my lungs.

Every corner we turned felt like a dead end. The streets were narrow and dark, the buildings towering over us like silent sentinels. The rain turned everything slick and treacherous. I slipped more than once, but he never released my hand.

“Why are they after me?” I demanded, my voice breaking as panic surged through me. “What do they want?”

“They don’t want you,” he shot back. “They want what you don’t even know you have.”

His words made no sense, but I didn’t have the energy to argue. The adrenaline coursing through me was the only thing keeping me upright. My shoes splashed through puddles, water soaking through my skin, but I couldn’t stop. The footsteps behind us closed in, and every second felt like borrowed time.

We rounded another corner, and he suddenly stopped, yanking me against a brick wall. He pressed his body against mine, shielding me from view as the sound of our pursuers drew closer. I could feel his breath against my ear, ragged and tense.

“Don’t move,” he whispered, his voice low but commanding. “And don’t make a sound.”

I nodded, swallowing hard as I tried to calm my racing heart. The footsteps were so close now that I could hear voices—low, urgent murmurs that made my skin crawl.

“They couldn’t have gone far,” one of them said, their voice cold and clipped. “Split up. Check every alley.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself to disappear. My body trembled against the stranger’s, and I felt his hand tighten on my shoulder, a silent reassurance.

The voices moved past us, their footsteps fading into the distance. I didn’t dare breathe until the silence settled over us like a suffocating blanket.

“Okay,” he said, stepping back and pulling me with him. “We need to keep moving.”

“Wait,” I said, planting my feet and refusing to budge. “No more running until you tell me what is going on.”

He hesitated, his eyes darting around like he was calculating how much time we had. Finally, he sighed and ran a hand through his wet hair.

“Fine,” he said, his voice low. “You’re not just some random girl, Milli. You’re… connected to something—something dangerous. And now that they’ve found you, they won’t stop until they get what they want.”

“What does that even mean?” I asked, my voice rising with frustration. “Connected to what? Who are they? Who are you?”

“I can’t explain everything right now,” he said, his tone impatient. “Just trust me when I say you’re in danger. And I’m the only one who can keep you safe.”

“Safe?” I scoffed, my fear morphing into anger. “You’ve dragged me into some insane chase, and now people are after me with guns. How is that safe?”

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he would snap at me. But then his expression softened, and he looked almost… regretful.

“I didn’t mean this to happen,” he said quietly. “I never wanted to involve you. But now that you’re in it, there’s no going back.”

Before I could respond, a loud bang shattered the night. The sound echoed off the buildings, and I felt my stomach drop.

A gunshot.

He grabbed my arm again, his grip like iron. “We have to go. Now.”

We bolted from the alley, my mind racing as fast as my feet. The streets blurred together, and I couldn’t tell where we were going, only that we couldn’t stop. The fear was suffocating, but beneath it was something else—an unsettling sense that this was just the beginning.

Another gunshot rang out, and I felt the air shift around me, the sound too close for comfort.

“They’re catching up!” I shouted, panic clawing at my throat.

“I know,” he said, his voice grim. “But I have a plan.”

We turned another corner, and he suddenly yanked me into a building, slamming the door behind us. The space was dark and silent, with mildew and dust filling my nose. I could barely see a thing, but he moved with purpose, dragging me deeper inside.

“What is this place?” I whispered, my voice trembling.

“Safe, for now,” he said. “But not for long.”

Just as he spoke, the sound of footsteps echoed outside the door. My heart stopped as I realized they’d found us.

“Get down,” he said urgently, pushing me behind a stack of crates.

I crouched low, my body pressed against the cold, damp floor. The door creaked open, and I held my breath, every muscle in my body tense.

The sound of boots on the floor grew louder, and I saw shadows moving across the walls. They were inside.

The stranger leaned close to me, his voice barely audible. “No matter what happens, stay quiet.”

Before I could respond, a hand grabbed my arm, yanking me into the light.

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