After the room echoed with the sharp crack, the gunshot, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. Sara's breath caught in her throat, her entire body tense with the weight of what she had just done. From her vantage point above, she could see the slow-motion collapse of Adrian's body, his expression shifting from shock to cold disbelief as he crumpled to the ground.
For a heartbeat, silence reigned. Then the world snapped back into motion.
Sara scrambled down from the rafters, her injured arm screaming in pain with every movement. She landed awkwardly, stumbling slightly as her legs buckled beneath her, but she pushed herself forward, adrenaline propelling her. Kotis rushed to her side, his eyes flicking between her pale face and the unmoving body of Adrian.
"Are you okay?" Kotis's voice was low, barely more than a rasp, but it carried all the worry she could feel radiating from him.
She nodded, her breathing shallow. "It's over. Adrian's gone."
The words tasted strange on her tongue—final, yet hollow. Even as she said it, Sara knew this was far from the end. Adrian's death might have cut off the head of the beast, but the gang, the system that had kept them all trapped in its violent web, was still very much alive.
"We need to move," Kotis urged, pulling her gently by the arm. "His men will come looking for him. This building isn't safe anymore."
Sara winced at the pain shooting through her arm but nodded in agreement. She glanced once more at Adrian's body, his life snuffed out like a candle's flame, then turned away, pushing the dark thoughts from her mind. They couldn't afford to linger.
They moved quickly, navigating the crumbling corridors and dusty staircases of the old warehouse. Each step felt heavier than the last, but the urgency of their situation kept them moving. With every shadow they passed, Sara felt a prickling sense of danger, as if eyes were watching them from the dark corners of the building.
"We need to lay low for a while," Kotis muttered as they stepped outside into the cold night air. "There's a safehouse nearby. We can regroup there."
The city streets were eerily quiet, the distant hum of traffic the only sound breaking the stillness. Sara pulled her jacket tighter around her, though it did little to keep the chill at bay. She couldn't shake the feeling that danger was still lurking, even though Adrian was gone.
"Do you think the gang will retaliate?" she asked, glancing at Kotis as they walked briskly down the alley.
Kotis's jaw tightened. "They're not going to let this slide. Adrian was powerful, and his death is going to send shockwaves through the criminal underworld. We're not safe yet."
Sara swallowed hard. She had known that Adrian's death wouldn't be the end, but hearing Kotis say it out loud made the danger all the more real. Every step they took felt like they were walking deeper into the shadows, with no clear path out.
They reached the safehouse without incident—a small, nondescript apartment building tucked away on a quiet street. Kotis led her inside, and they ascended the narrow staircase to the third floor, where a thick metal door marked the entrance to the apartment. Kotis knocked three times in a specific rhythm, and after a moment, the door creaked open.
A man in his late thirties stood in the doorway, his sharp eyes sweeping over them with a mix of suspicion and recognition. He was tall, with a lean, muscular build, and his face was marked with the scars of a life lived in the shadows.
"Kotis," he greeted, stepping aside to let them in. "I wasn't expecting you."
"Things got complicated," Kotis replied, his voice tense. "We need to stay off the grid for a bit. Can we count on your help, Luka?"
Luka nodded, closing the door behind them. "Of course. You're safe here, for now."
Sara sank onto the worn couch in the small living room, exhaustion washing over her. She hadn't realized just how tired she was until the adrenaline started to wear off. Kotis sat beside her, his eyes scanning her face with concern.
"You should rest," he said quietly. "You've been through a lot."
Sara shook her head, her mind still racing with everything that had happened. "There's no time for rest. We need to figure out our next move. Adrian's men will be looking for us, and we don't know how deep this goes."
"We'll figure it out," Kotis reassured her, though his expression was grim. "But for now, you need to heal. We both do."
Luka returned from the kitchen, carrying a small first aid kit. "Let me take a look at that arm," he said, nodding toward Sara's wound.
Sara winced as Luka cleaned the wound and wrapped it in clean bandages, the sting of antiseptic biting into her skin. "Thanks," she muttered, grateful for the help despite the pain.
Once Luka finished, Kotis leaned back on the couch, rubbing his temples. "We can't stay here for long," he said. "Adrian's network is too strong. Once they realize what's happened, they'll come after us—and anyone who helps us."
Luka nodded, his expression hardening. "I'll do what I can, but you're right. This place won't stay safe forever."
Sara stared at the floor, her mind buzzing with thoughts of Adrian, the recording, and the uncertain future that lay ahead. They had come so far, but the road ahead was still fraught with danger.
"We need allies," Sara said suddenly, her voice cutting through the silence. "We can't do this alone. There must be someone out there who knows how to take down Adrian's network—someone who's been fighting this battle longer than us."
Kotis considered her words, his brow furrowing. "I might know someone," he said slowly. "But it's risky. They're deep in the underworld, and if we contact them, it could bring more heat on us."
Sara met his gaze, her resolve hardening. "We don't have a choice. If we don't strike first, Adrian's men will come for us, and we won't survive another attack."
Kotis sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright. I'll make the call. But we have to be smart about this. One wrong move, and it's all over."
As Kotis stepped into the other room to make the call, Sara leaned back on the couch, her mind whirling with everything that had happened. She had never imagined her life would take such a dark turn—that she would be fighting for survival in a world of shadows and violence.