The city loomed ahead of us like a giant predator waiting to swallow us whole. The tall buildings glittered against the night sky, but for me, they were nothing more than prison walls closing in. I could feel the noose tightening around our necks with each mile we got closer. My pulse quickened as the gravity of our situation settled over me, thick and oppressive. The phone number Jess had scribbled on the small piece of paper weighed heavily in my pocket. This contact, The Whisperer, was our only hope. But trusting someone we didn't know felt like we were throwing ourselves to the wolves.
Tyler's knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel, his jaw set in concentration. His eyes darted to the rearview mirror every few seconds, as though expecting Archer or Thorne's people to suddenly appear behind us. I was doing the same. We were always one step away from being found, from this all coming to a violent end.
"We have to be smart about this," Tyler said, breaking the silence. His voice was low and serious. "If we mess up even once, we're dead."
"I know," I replied, the tension thick in my voice. "But we don't have time to sit and plan this forever. The longer we wait, the closer Thorne gets to shutting us down for good. We have to act fast."
Lila, sitting in the backseat, had been quiet for most of the drive. She was staring out of the window, her face pale and gaunt, as though the weight of everything was slowly crushing her. She had been on the run for so long, and now that she was in the open, she seemed like she was waiting for the inevitable. I could only imagine the fear she must be feeling—knowing that Archer West, the man who made people disappear, was likely hunting us at this very moment.
"We can't keep running forever," Lila said softly, her voice trembling. "Thorne will find us. It's only a matter of time."
"We're not just running," Tyler said, his eyes focused on the road. "We're going to finish this."
I wished I had his confidence. My stomach twisted as we got closer to the city. Every instinct in my body was screaming at me to turn back, to go anywhere else but here. But I knew we couldn't stop now. We had the documents—evidence that could tear Thorne's empire apart—and that meant we were walking targets. The sooner we could get the information to The Whisperer and release it, the better chance we had of staying alive.
"We need somewhere safe," I said, thinking out loud. "Someplace where we can make the call and figure out our next move."
Tyler nodded. "We'll head to the outskirts. A hotel or something, out of sight."
I glanced at Lila, who hadn't stopped staring out the window, her fingers clutched tightly around the edge of her seat. "We'll be okay," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
But she didn't respond, and I couldn't blame her. None of us knew what was coming next.
***
We pulled off the highway and into a quiet, rundown part of the city. Tyler found a small, nondescript motel nestled between an empty diner and a pawn shop. It was the kind of place no one paid attention to—a good hiding spot, for now. The neon sign flickered "Vacancy," but otherwise, the place was dark, the parking lot empty except for a few old cars parked near the far end.
Tyler parked the car near the back of the lot, far from the road, and killed the engine. "This'll do for now," he said, grabbing his bag. "We'll stay low here while we make the call."
We climbed out of the car, and the cool night air hit me, making me shiver. The street was eerily quiet, the only sound the distant hum of traffic from the nearby highway. It felt like the calm before the storm.
The motel's office was empty except for an old man behind the counter who didn't bother looking up from his newspaper when we entered. Tyler handed over some cash, and the man gave us a key without a word. He clearly wasn't interested in asking any questions, which worked in our favor.
We headed to the room, a small, dingy place with peeling wallpaper and a musty smell. But it didn't matter. We weren't here for comfort. We were here to hide.
Once inside, I wasted no time pulling out the piece of paper with the phone number Jess had given me. I stared at it for a moment, feeling a surge of anxiety. The Whisperer was our only lead, but what if this was a dead end? What if he couldn't help us?
"Do it," Tyler urged, sensing my hesitation. "We don't have time to second-guess this."
I nodded, my throat tight, and quickly dialed the number. The phone rang once. Twice. Then a voice came through the other end.
"Who is this?"
The voice was deep, gravelly, and instantly suspicious. I felt a chill run down my spine.
"My name is Emily Carter," I said, keeping my voice steady. "I was given your contact by Jess. I need to speak to The Whisperer."
There was a pause on the other end, then a low chuckle. "The Whisperer doesn't just talk to anyone. Why should he talk to you?"
"Because I have information on Gabriel Thorne," I said, trying to sound confident. "Information that could bring his entire empire down."
Another long pause. I held my breath, waiting. This was it. If The Whisperer wasn't interested, we were finished. We had nowhere else to go.
Finally, the voice spoke again. "If what you're saying is true, then you're playing a dangerous game, Miss Carter."
"I'm already in the middle of it," I replied. "And we need your help."
The silence on the other end stretched out so long I thought he had hung up. But then he said, "Meet me at Pier 14. Midnight. Come alone."
The line went dead.
I lowered the phone, my pulse racing. Pier 14. Midnight. It was risky, but it was our only shot.
Tyler raised an eyebrow. "So?"
"He's willing to meet," I said, my voice still shaky. "But it's at the docks. Pier 14. At midnight."
Tyler frowned, his eyes narrowing. "That's not exactly a safe spot for a meeting."
"I know," I said, already feeling the weight of the decision. "But we don't have a choice."
Lila, who had been silent during the call, finally spoke, her voice trembling. "What if it's a trap? What if Thorne knows?"
"We'll be careful," Tyler said, his voice calm but firm. "We don't trust anyone. But we need to go."
I nodded, though the knot in my stomach only tightened. Midnight was only a few hours away, and we were about to walk straight into the unknown. The Whisperer might be our only ally, or he could be leading us into an ambush. Either way, we didn't have time to second-guess it.
***
The hours leading up to the meeting felt like an eternity. We stayed holed up in the motel room, each of us lost in our thoughts. Tyler paced the floor, his face grim. Lila sat on the bed, her knees pulled up to her chest, staring at the wall. I couldn't stop thinking about Archer, about how close he could be. Every minute that passed felt like borrowed time.
Finally, just before midnight, we left the motel and drove toward the docks. The city lights faded behind us as we neared the waterfront, the air growing cooler as the darkened piers came into view. The docks were quiet, the water lapping gently against the boats. It was the kind of place where deals were made in the shadows—perfect for a meeting like this.
Tyler parked the car a short distance away, hidden behind an old warehouse. He turned to me, his face serious. "You sure about this?"
"I don't have a choice," I replied, my heart pounding. "If this goes wrong, you two get out of here."
He didn't respond, but the tension between us was palpable.
I climbed out of the car, the cool night air biting at my skin. Every step felt heavier than the last as I made my way toward Pier 14, where a lone figure was waiting near the edge of the dock. The Whisperer.
This was it.