The rain was relentless, a steady rhythm against the windshield as Miel navigated the winding road ahead. Beside her, Jasmine sat quietly, her eyes tracking the blurry shapes of trees rushing by. The silence between them was no longer strained but settled, as though they had come to a silent agreement to keep moving, keep fighting—for Maxwell's sake, for their own survival.
But in the back of Miel's mind, questions lingered: What happened to Nina? Where had Simon gone?
"Nina said she'd meet us," Miel muttered, breaking the quiet, her fingers tightening around the steering wheel. She tried to sound nonchalant, but her words were laced with unease.
Jasmine sighed. "It's been days. Maybe she got caught up in something, or…" She trailed off, unwilling to voice the other possibilities. They both knew the dangers they faced.
Miel wanted to believe Nina was safe, that Simon had just vanished into the wind like he always did, but there was an undeniable ache of uncertainty gnawing at her. Nina was tough, but was she tough enough to survive the mess they were tangled in?
The night felt endless as they drove deeper into the mountains. Miel checked the map on her phone once more, the battery icon blinking red. They were close now, nearing the last of their meet-up spots with Nina. If she didn't show, they would have no choice but to go on without her.
Jasmine shifted in her seat, her voice breaking the quiet. "Do you think she was lying to us the whole time?" Her voice was soft, but there was something bitter in her tone.
Miel didn't answer right away. She didn't want to admit the possibility, but Jasmine's question forced her to confront the thought she'd been burying since their last encounter with Nina. What had Nina really wanted?
"No," Miel finally said. "I think… I think she was doing what she had to do, just like us. But that doesn't mean we're not expendable to her."
Jasmine frowned, staring out at the dark road. "I guess we'll find out."
Minutes passed in silence, the tension rising as they approached the abandoned cabin where Nina was supposed to meet them. The rain hadn't let up, the ground turning to mud as they pulled up to the small clearing, headlights illuminating the crumbling structure.
Maxwell stirred in the back seat, letting out a soft whine, sensing the unease in the air.
Miel cut the engine, the sudden quiet only amplifying the sound of rain pattering against the car roof. "Stay here," she said to Jasmine, opening the door before she could protest. "I'll check inside."
Stepping out into the downpour, Miel felt the cold seep into her bones, her boots squelching in the mud as she approached the cabin. The door creaked when she pushed it open, revealing nothing but darkness inside. Her pulse quickened as she swept the beam of her flashlight across the empty space.
"Nina?" she called, but there was no answer. Only the rain.
She checked every corner, every shadow, her heart pounding harder with each passing second. There was no sign of anyone—no Nina, no Simon, no trace of anything.
Just as she was about to give up, her flashlight landed on a crumpled piece of paper on the floor near the door. Miel bent down, unfolding it carefully. It was a hastily scrawled note, the ink smudged from water stains:
*Couldn't wait. Meet me at the old motel. Highway 47. Don't trust him.*
Miel's chest tightened. Don't trust who? Simon?
She pocketed the note and quickly made her way back to the car, where Jasmine waited, her face pale and anxious.
"What did you find?" Jasmine asked as Miel slid into the driver's seat, the heat of the car a stark contrast to the cold outside.
Miel handed her the note, watching Jasmine's expression shift from confusion to concern.
"She's telling us not to trust Simon?" Jasmine whispered, her fingers tightening around the paper. "But why?"
"I don't know," Miel admitted, her mind racing. "But we have to get to that motel. It's the only lead we have."
Jasmine nodded, but there was a new wariness in her eyes. "What if this is a trap?"
"It could be," Miel said, starting the car again, "but we don't have a choice. If Nina's in trouble, we have to help her."
They drove in tense silence, the rain finally beginning to let up as they neared Highway 47. The motel was a shabby, run-down building on the outskirts of a forgotten town, its neon sign flickering in the distance. There was only one car parked outside—a beat-up pickup truck that looked familiar.
Miel's heart pounded as she pulled into the lot, parking a few spaces away from the truck. Jasmine's hand reached out to grip hers tightly, grounding her as they exchanged a glance.
"You ready for this?" Jasmine asked, her voice low but steady.
"Let's find out what's going on," Miel said, forcing herself to stay calm.
They got out, moving cautiously toward the motel. The door to Room 5 was slightly ajar, light spilling into the dark parking lot. Miel's pulse raced as she approached, her hand hovering over the handle.
Inside, Nina was slumped against the wall, her face bruised and bloodied, but alive. Her eyes flicked up to meet Miel's, and a weak smile tugged at her lips.
"Took you long enough," Nina croaked, her voice rough.
"Nina…" Miel rushed to her side, helping her sit up. Jasmine hovered by the door, keeping watch.
"What happened?" Miel asked urgently.
Nina winced, her hand pressing against her side. "Simon… He's not who you think he is. He was working with someone else. He set us up. I barely got away."
Miel's blood ran cold. "Simon? Are you sure?"
Nina nodded, her expression hardening. "He's playing both sides. He's not just after the money. He's after something bigger. I didn't figure it out until it was too late."
Jasmine stepped forward, her voice sharp. "What do we do now?"
Nina looked up at them, her eyes fierce despite her injuries. "We take him down. Before he takes us all down."
Just then, the sound of a car door slamming echoed outside, and a familiar figure emerged from the shadows—a black SUV. Miel and Jasmine exchanged wary glances. This was it; the moment of reckoning had arrived.
Nina turned her head slightly, her expression shifting to one of fear. "It's Simon. He's here. We need to move."
Before they could react, the door swung open, revealing Simon, a smug look on his face as he stepped inside. His eyes darted around the room, landing on Nina, and his smile vanished.
"What the hell happened here?" he demanded, glancing at Miel and Jasmine with feigned surprise. "I didn't think you two would actually come."
Miel's pulse raced. "We know what you did, Simon."
His demeanor shifted, a darkness creeping into his expression. "What are you talking about?"
Nina struggled to stand, anger flaring in her eyes. "You thought you could play both sides and get away with it? I'm done being your pawn."
Simon took a step closer, his tone cold. "You should have stayed out of this, Nina. You're not cut out for this game."
Miel moved to stand in front of Nina, her fists clenched. "We're not afraid of you, Simon."
He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "You should be. You have no idea what you're up against."
Jasmine stepped forward, her voice steady. "We know you're working with someone. We know you set Nina up."
Simon's expression hardened, and for a moment, Miel saw a flicker of something—fear? Rage? It was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual arrogance. "You think you can take me down? You really are naïve."
Nina, gathering her strength, spoke up. "You may have thought you were clever, but it's over. We have each other, and we'll fight back."
The tension in the room crackled, and Miel felt a surge of determination. They had been through too much to let Simon dictate their fate any longer.
"Get ready," Miel whispered to Jasmine, feeling the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "We're not running anymore."
Simon seemed to sense the shift in the air, his smile faltering. "You really think you can take me? You have no idea what you're dealing with."
As he stepped forward, Miel braced herself, ready for the confrontation. In that moment, they weren't just fighting for their lives—they were fighting for their freedom, their identities, and the chance to reclaim everything Simon had stolen from them.