Sara's heart raced as she spoke, but an underlying tension hung in the air, thickening the atmosphere around them. "We need to reach out to the police again. This time, we can give them everything we have on Adrian Cross and the gang. We can't let this go any longer."
Kotis stared at her, his eyes clouded with uncertainty. "Are you sure that's the right move? We're already in danger, and involving the police again… it could make things worse."
Sara leaned forward, urgency driving her words. "We have evidence now, Kotis. This isn't just your past; it's a present threat. We can't face this alone."
A tense silence settled between them, the gravity of their situation looming larger than ever. Kotis rubbed his temples, his thoughts visibly racing. "Okay. But we have to be careful. If Adrian gets wind of this—"
"Then we'll be ready," Sara interrupted, a fierce determination rising within her. "We'll fight back. Together."
But even as she spoke, a gnawing doubt tugged at her insides. How much danger were they really in? Kotis's past was a shadow that seemed to stretch longer with every passing moment, and the gang was not going to back down easily.
Before they could discuss further, a loud thud echoed from outside the door. They both froze, hearts pounding.
"Did you hear that?" Sara whispered, her voice trembling.
Kotis nodded, his expression shifting from determined to alarmed. "Stay quiet," he instructed, moving toward the door with caution.
Sara's breath caught in her throat as Kotis pressed his ear against the door, straining to listen. A murmur of voices drifted through the thin walls, but she couldn't make out the words.
"Do you think it's them?" she whispered, fear prickling at the back of her neck.
"I don't know," Kotis replied, his voice low and tense. "But we can't take any chances. If they've found us…"
Sara felt her stomach drop as he stepped back from the door, the tension in his shoulders coiling like a spring. "We need to find a way out of here, now."
She nodded, panic surging through her. They couldn't stay here—Adrian and his men would surely come looking for them. But just as they turned to look for an exit, a loud knock reverberated through the room, followed by a deep voice.
"Hey! We know you're in there! Open up!"
"Shit," Kotis muttered, glancing around frantically. "What do we do?"
Sara's mind raced as she scanned the room. There was a small window above the bed, barely large enough for an adult to squeeze through, but it was their only option.
"Up there!" she pointed, adrenaline surging. "We can climb out and see if there's a way around."
"Let's do it," Kotis said, urgency propelling them into action.
He quickly moved to the bed and lifted her up. "You first," he urged, steadied her as she grabbed the window frame, her heart pounding in her ears.
She climbed up, pushing the window open, and peered outside. The alley below was dimly lit, a perfect escape route—if they could just make it. "It's clear!" she called, excitement bubbling in her voice.
"Okay, I'm coming!" Kotis grunted, hoisting himself up beside her. They both swung their legs over the edge, fear and determination propelling them forward.
As they prepared to jump, the door splintered under the pressure of the men outside. The sound sent a wave of panic through Sara. "Hurry!" she urged, glancing back as the door gave way.
They leaped down into the alley, landing silently on the ground. Sara stumbled slightly but regained her balance as Kotis steadied her. They looked back just in time to see two men enter the room, their faces twisted with rage and confusion.
"They went out the window!" one shouted, and the other bellowed an angry curse.
"Let's go!" Kotis hissed, grabbing her hand as they darted down the alley, their feet pounding against the pavement.
The city was alive around them, a cacophony of sounds that masked the chaos behind them. As they turned a corner, they found themselves on a busy street filled with nightlife, unaware of the danger stalking just out of sight.
"Where do we go now?" Sara gasped, her lungs burning from exertion.
"There's a bar up ahead," Kotis said, pointing to a dimly lit establishment. "We can slip inside and regroup."
They pushed through the entrance, the musty air wrapping around them like a cloak. Inside, the bar was filled with patrons laughing and chatting, the atmosphere thick with smoke and the sound of clinking glasses. Kotis led her to a dark corner table, their hearts still racing.
"I think we lost them," he said, taking a deep breath.
"Are you sure?" Sara asked, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of danger.
"Yeah, at least for now," Kotis replied, though the worry was evident in his voice. "But we need to keep our heads down."
As they settled into their seats, a bartender approached, eyeing them curiously. "What can I get you?" he asked, his tone indifferent.
"Two waters, please," Kotis replied, his voice steady but low.
Once the bartender walked away, Sara leaned closer to Kotis, her voice barely a whisper. "What's the plan now? We can't just wait here forever."
Kotis glanced around, ensuring no one was listening. "We need to find someone who can help us. A contact I trust—someone who knows about Adrian and the gang."
"Do you have someone in mind?" Sara asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Yeah," he said, his brow furrowing. "But it's risky. I haven't seen him in years. He was a member of the gang, but he left. If Adrian finds out we're looking for him… it could put him in danger too."
Sara felt a mixture of hope and fear. "What if he can help us? We need all the allies we can get."
Kotis took a deep breath, his gaze hardening with resolve. "Alright. I'll reach out to him. But we need to be careful."
Just as he finished speaking, a group of men entered the bar, their boisterous laughter filling the space. Sara's heart raced as she recognized one of them—Adrian.
"Get down!" Kotis hissed, pushing Sara beneath the table.
They crouched low, trying to remain inconspicuous as Adrian and his men approached the bar, their presence dominating the room.
"Let's grab some drinks," Adrian said, his voice dripping with arrogance. "I need to celebrate our little victory."
Sara's heart raced as she felt the heat of panic rising within her. This wasn't just a game anymore. They were surrounded, and the stakes had never been higher.
"We need to get out of here," she whispered urgently.
Kotis shook his head, his eyes fixed on Adrian. "Not yet. We can't let him see us. We have to wait for the right moment."
Sara held her breath, the tension in the air thickening as they watched the gang members converse, oblivious to their presence just beneath the table. Time seemed to stretch, every moment feeling like an eternity.
Adrian raised his glass, a smug smile playing on his lips. "To the ones who thought they could escape. We'll find them. They can't hide forever."
A chill ran down Sara's spine at his words, her heart pounding in her chest. "What do we do if they see us?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Kotis met her gaze, determination flickering in his eyes. "We'll fight if we have to. But for now, we stay hidden."
Just then, the bartender returned with their drinks, placing the glasses on the table next to them. The sound of ice clinking filled the air, and Sara's heart raced as she felt the tension mount.
Adrian's gaze shifted, scanning the room. Sara held her breath, praying he wouldn't look their way.
As the moments stretched on, the noise of the bar enveloped them, but the danger felt imminent. They couldn't stay here forever, but every second felt like a countdown to the inevitable confrontation that awaited them.
Kotis's expression hardened as he watched Adrian laugh with his gang. "If we're going to move, it has to be now," he whispered.
"Agreed," Sara replied, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and adrenaline.
"On my count," Kotis said, his voice low and firm. "Three… two… one… let's go!"
They darted from beneath the table, but just as they made their move, Adrian's eyes locked onto them.
"Hey! There they are!" he shouted, the room falling silent as everyone turned to look.
Panic surged within Sara as she and Kotis exchanged a glance, knowing they had only moments to react. "Run!" Kotis yelled, and they bolted for the exit, adrenaline propelling them forward as chaos erupted behind them.
As they burst through the door, the cool night air hit them like a wave, but there was no time to breathe. They dashed down the street, adrenaline coursing through their veins, the sound of angry shouts and footsteps chasing after them.
"Keep going!" Kotis urged, pulling her along as they sprinted into the night, the threat of Adrian and his gang