Aidi's wrists burned as she twisted against the restraints, the rope biting into her skin. The metallic tang of fear lingered in her mouth, but she swallowed it down. Fear wouldn't save her. Determination coursed through her veins, hardening her resolve.
The dimly lit room held an eerie quietness. Every scrape of her movement echoed faintly against the walls, as though mocking her efforts. She knew time was running out, but her captor's parting words burned in her mind: "Enjoy your stay, idiot."
This wasn't about survival anymore. It was about defiance.
She scanned the room for anything, any sign of weakness. The walls were smooth cement, the furniture sparse: a single table and chair aside from the one she was tied to. The door, heavy and reinforced, had a small rectangular window at the top. Outside, muffled voices and footsteps reminded her that she wasn't alone—but they were also a lifeline. She wasn't ready to die here.
Her thoughts flashed to weeks before this nightmare began. She'd sat with Liam by Lake Cinet, their laughter mingling with the gentle lapping of the water. He had a way of making her believe everything would be okay, even when their lives were anything but.
"I have a plan," Liam had said, his voice low and urgent. "But it's dangerous. You'll have to trust me."
"What choice do I have?" Aidi had replied, her tone light but her heart heavy.
"None," he said, smirking. "That's why it'll work."
They'd spent hours sketching out contingencies on scraps of paper, their determination forged by desperation. The locket—a seemingly innocuous trinket—was the key to unraveling everything Hetri stood for. But Aidi hadn't expected to be caught so soon. She hadn't expected to be sitting here, alone and terrified.
Her flashback was interrupted by the sound of keys jangling outside the door. She stiffened, her breath catching as the lock turned. The door swung open, revealing one of Hetri's men—stocky, bald, and wearing an expression that spoke of boredom rather than malice.
"You're awake," he grunted, stepping inside. He carried a tray with a glass of water and a small plate of bread.
"Generous," Aidi said, her voice hoarse but defiant.
The man ignored her sarcasm, setting the tray on the table. He leaned down, inspecting the ropes. "Boss says you're trouble," he muttered, tightening the knots.
Aidi winced but kept her face impassive. Let him underestimate me.
When he turned to leave, she cleared her throat. "You must be proud, working for a man like Hetri. Does he give you loyalty bonuses or just broken promises?"
The man froze, his hand on the door handle. He glanced back at her, his expression darkening.
"Keep talking, girl. See where it gets you."
She smirked. "Maybe it gets me out of here. Maybe it makes you think twice about what you're doing."
He hesitated for a fraction of a second before slamming the door shut behind him. Aidi exhaled shakily. That had been risky, but she needed to plant seeds of doubt. Hetri's operation relied on fear and control; cracks in that foundation could be her best weapon.
Hours passed, or so it felt. The dim light never changed, leaving her disoriented. Her wrists throbbed, and her stomach churned with hunger. But just as despair began to creep in, she heard it: a faint tapping on the window.
Her head snapped up, eyes scanning the small pane of glass. At first, she saw nothing. Then a shadow moved, blocking the faint light from the hallway.
"Aidi," came a whispered voice.
Her heart leapt. It was Liam. He'd found her.
She strained to see more, but he stayed out of view.
"Are you hurt?" he whispered again.
"Just my pride," she muttered, her voice barely audible. "Get me out of here."
"I'm working on it," he said, his tone grim. "The place is crawling with Hetri's men. I need a distraction, something to get them out of the way."
Aidi's mind raced. She couldn't move much, but her captor's earlier visit gave her an idea. "The guard brings food. If I can get him to come back, maybe you can—"
"Too risky," Liam interrupted. "You'll get caught in the crossfire."
"Liam," she said sharply. "I'm already caught. We don't have time for safer plans."
He hesitated before replying. "Okay. I'll be ready when he comes in."
She nodded, even though she knew he couldn't see her. Then he was gone, leaving her alone once more.
The waiting was agony. Every second felt like an eternity, her heart pounding with both fear and anticipation. She had one shot at this, and failure wasn't an option.
When the guard finally returned, her plan was already in motion.
"You're persistent," he grumbled, setting down another tray.
Aidi forced a weak laugh. "What can I say? I'm hard to kill."
The man smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Not for long."
She waited until he turned to leave, then spoke again. "Hey. Aren't you even curious about why Hetri wants me alive?"
The man paused, glancing over his shoulder.
"Come on," she pressed. "He tells you to keep me here, but not why? What if I'm more dangerous than you think?"
His brow furrowed, and she knew she had his attention.
"Maybe you should ask him," she added, her tone taunting.
The man turned fully, his expression wary. "What are you talking about?"
"Nothing," she said innocently. "Just that people who underestimate me tend to regret it."
He took a step closer, and Aidi's pulse quickened. She needed him distracted, just for a moment.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he demanded.
Before she could answer, the door burst open. Liam lunged in, a blur of movement as he tackled the guard to the ground.
"Get the keys!" he shouted, struggling to keep the man pinned.
Aidi scrambled to obey, her fingers fumbling as she reached for the keys at the guard's waist.
"Hurry!" Liam barked, his voice strained.
Her hands finally closed around the keys, and she quickly freed herself, her wrists screaming in protest.
Liam delivered one last blow, rendering the guard unconscious. He stood, breathing heavily, and turned to her.
"Let's go," he said, pulling her to her feet.
They didn't have time to celebrate. Alarms blared, and footsteps thundered in the hallway.
"This way," Liam said, leading her toward a hidden exit.
Aidi followed, her heart racing. They weren't safe yet, but for the first time, she felt a spark of hope.