I jolted awake to Luca's sharp voice. "You've got a visitor," he barked. "Get up. I don't have all day."
Groggy, I sat up, blinking against the harsh light flooding the room. A tall man stood at the doorway, his dark hair tied back in a sleek ponytail, casting an eerie shadow across the small space. Something about him unsettled me. I swallowed hard as Luca continued.
"This is Aria," he said curtly, motioning in my direction before his gaze hardened. "Get your shit together. You're moving soon." With that, he was gone, leaving me alone with this stranger.
I stared at the door, trying to make sense of what was happening. "Where am I going? Who is this guy? Can I talk to Cassian?" My voice cracked, every word a plea for some sense of control.
Luca paused just outside the door, not even bothering to look back. "Cassian's not here," he spat. "And you won't be seeing him anytime soon." The door slammed shut, the sound echoing in the silence that followed.
The stranger shifted, breaking the tense quiet. He stepped closer, his voice unexpectedly soft. "I'm not going to hurt you," he said, though his presence made it hard to believe. "Are you scared of me?"
I froze, caught off guard. What kind of question was that? I didn't trust him, not with the way my pulse hammered in my throat, but I couldn't let him see that. "What do you mean?"
His eyes narrowed slightly, like he could read every thought racing through my mind. "Are you afraid of me?"
I hesitated. The truth was on the tip of my tongue, but admitting it felt like giving him power. "Yes," I finally whispered. "Where are we going?"
I glanced down at the gun strapped to his belt, a sharp reminder of the danger I was in. Panic flared, my heart racing, but I kept my face neutral. He caught me looking.
"What's on your mind?" His lips curled into a smirk, one that made my skin crawl.
I clenched my teeth, fighting the urge to snap at him. "Nothing," I lied, though my mind was anything but calm. Every inch of me was screaming to get out, to run.
But how?
The door was slightly ajar. If I was quick enough, if I could distract him for just a second…
A plan started to form, shaky and reckless, but it was all I had. I took a breath, willing my body to stop trembling. With a forced smile, I let my eyes soften, my expression shift. Slowly, I stepped toward him, forcing my lips into a teasing curve. If this was going to work, I had to sell it.
"What are you doing?" he asked, suspicion clouding his face, though I could see the hint of curiosity—and something else—creeping in.
I tilted my head slightly, letting my hair fall over my shoulder, my voice low and steady. "I'm just… looking at you. If I'm going with you, I think it's important that we get to know each other, don't you?"
His confusion was palpable, but he didn't move. His eyes trailed over me, lingering a beat too long. I took another step, my hand brushing lightly against his chest. His breath hitched, and I knew I had him. Just a little closer.
I let my fingers glide down his chest, toward the holster, every muscle in my body screaming to stay calm. "You don't want me to be scared of you, right?"
His breath was uneven now, his focus completely on my movements. "No… I don't want that."
Good. His defenses were down.
In one swift motion, I yanked the gun from his holster, the cold metal heavy in my hand. Before he could react, I pointed it squarely at his chest, the barrel trembling only slightly as I tried to steady my racing heart.
"Step back," I said, my voice cold and firm. His eyes widened in disbelief, and for a second, neither of us moved.
"What the fuck?" he stammered, holding his hands up in surrender. "Put the gun down, we can—"
"I'm not talking to you," I cut him off, my voice stronger than I felt. "I'm done with all of this. Now get out of my way you sick bastard."
His face twisted, a mix of shock and fear, but he didn't argue. He stepped aside slowly, and I pushed past him, the gun still aimed at his chest. Every muscle in my body tensed as I bolted through the door, not daring to look back.
Adrenaline pumped through my veins, my heart pounding in my ears as I ran. I didn't know where I was going, but anywhere was better than here.