The night air wrapped around them like a cold cloak as they exited the diner. Miel glanced over her shoulder, her heart pounding in her chest. Simon was still inside, his dark eyes scanning the room, unaware they were slipping out. But Miel knew it wouldn't be long before he pieced it together. They had bought themselves a few minutes at best.
Derek led the way, his footsteps quick and purposeful as they moved toward the alley behind the diner. Jasmine and Nina followed closely behind, their expressions tense. Every sound seemed amplified—the crunch of gravel beneath their shoes, the distant hum of a car engine, the soft murmur of voices from the diner. Miel's senses were on high alert, every nerve in her body screaming for her to stay vigilant.
Once they were out of sight, Derek stopped, turning to face them with a grim expression. "We don't have much time," he said, his voice low. "Simon's got people everywhere, and I'm guessing he's already suspicious. Whatever information you need, we need to make this quick."
Miel nodded, trying to steady her racing heart. "What can you tell us about Simon's connections? We need to know who he's working with and what his next move might be."
Derek crossed his arms, his brow furrowing in thought. "Simon's a dangerous man, no doubt about that. He's got his fingers in all kinds of shady deals—arms smuggling, drug trafficking, you name it. But what makes him really dangerous is his network. He's got people in high places, people who can make problems disappear with a phone call."
"That's what we're afraid of," Nina said, her voice tight with tension. "We're trying to stay one step ahead of him, but it feels like he's always right behind us."
Derek nodded, his expression grim. "That's because he is. Simon doesn't just rely on muscle. He's smart, and he knows how to use his connections to his advantage. But there's something you need to know—he's not just after you for the money. There's something bigger going on here."
Miel exchanged a glance with Jasmine and Nina, her stomach sinking. "What do you mean?"
Derek hesitated, glancing around as if to make sure no one was listening. "I don't know all the details, but I've heard whispers that Simon's involved in something much larger than any of us realized. There's talk of a bigger organization, one that's pulling the strings behind the scenes. Simon's just a piece of the puzzle."
Jasmine's eyes widened. "Are you saying there's someone above Simon?"
Derek nodded. "Exactly. I don't know who they are, but they're the ones calling the shots. Simon's dangerous, but he's not the one you should be most worried about."
Miel felt a chill run down her spine. This was worse than she'd imagined. If there was a larger organization involved, their situation had just become infinitely more complicated. "How do we stop them?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Derek shook his head. "Stopping them isn't going to be easy. They've got too many resources, too many connections. But if you can find out who's behind it all, you might be able to take them down. The key is information. That's what they're most afraid of—someone finding out the truth."
Nina clenched her fists, her jaw tight. "Then we'll find out. We'll dig until we have everything we need to expose them."
Derek gave her a long, appraising look before nodding. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But be careful. These people don't play by the rules. If they catch wind that you're onto them, they won't hesitate to take you out."
Miel's mind raced as she processed Derek's words. This wasn't just about escaping Simon anymore. They were up against something much bigger—an organization that operated in the shadows, with enough power to crush anyone who stood in their way. But she couldn't back down now. They had come too far, and there was no turning back.
"Thank you, Derek," Miel said, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides. "We'll be careful. But we're not going to let them win."
Derek gave her a small, grim smile. "I didn't think you would."
Before they could say anything more, the sound of a car engine revving in the distance caught their attention. Miel's pulse quickened as she realized it was coming from the direction of the diner. "We need to move," she said urgently. "Simon's people could be onto us."
Derek nodded, already stepping toward the shadows of the alley. "I'll cover your exit. Get out of here and lay low. If I find out anything else, I'll reach out."
Miel hesitated for a moment, then reached out and clasped Derek's hand. "Be careful. Simon's not someone to underestimate."
Derek gave her a firm nod. "I know. You too."
With that, they parted ways. Miel, Jasmine, and Nina quickly made their way through the narrow alley, slipping into the cover of the surrounding woods. Their breath came in ragged bursts as they moved, the weight of what they had learned pressing heavily on their minds.
Once they were deep enough into the woods, Miel slowed their pace, her mind racing as she tried to process everything Derek had told them. There was a larger organization pulling the strings, and Simon was just one piece of the puzzle. But who were these people? And how were they going to stop them?
Jasmine's voice broke through her thoughts. "What do we do now?"
Miel stopped, turning to face her and Nina. "We need to keep moving. Simon will have people looking for us, and we can't afford to stay in one place for too long. But first, we need to figure out how we're going to take down this organization."
Nina's expression was resolute. "We start by gathering as much information as we can. Derek said the key is exposing the truth, and that's what we're going to do."
Miel nodded, determination hardening in her chest. "We'll dig, we'll find out who's behind this, and we'll bring them down. But we can't do it alone. We'll need allies, people we can trust."
Jasmine gave a grim smile. "We've made it this far by sticking together. We'll figure this out."
As they pressed deeper into the woods, the weight of their mission settled over them like a dark cloud. They were no longer just running from Simon—they were running toward a larger, more dangerous enemy. But Miel felt a fire burning inside her, a determination that refused to be extinguished.
They would uncover the truth. And when they did, they would make sure that Simon and the people behind him paid for everything they had done.