The woman's presence was overpowering. Her eyes glinted like steel, sharp and calculating. Serena couldn't look away. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stood frozen, trying to process what had just happened. One wrong move, and everything could spiral out of control.
Aiden didn't flinch. His stance was firm, unwavering. The gun he held in his hand was steady, but Serena could tell the situation was slipping out of their grasp.
"I told you not to test me," the woman said, her voice low and dangerous. "You've already chosen your side. Now, you'll see how costly that decision is."
Serena stepped forward, trying to break the tension. "What do you want from us? We gave you what you asked for."
Aiden shot her a warning glance, but it was too late. The woman was already moving, her steps deliberate and calm.
"I don't want what's in the briefcase anymore. Not all of it, at least," she said with a cold smile. "I need something much more valuable. Information. Your secrets."
Serena's breath hitched. Secrets? What could she possibly know that would be of value to this woman?
"I don't know what you think you can get from us," Serena said, her voice shaky but defiant. "But we're not just going to hand over everything."
The woman's smile widened, but it wasn't a comforting smile. It was one full of power and control. "Oh, I don't need to 'hand it over' myself. You'll give it to me. One way or another."
Aiden's grip on his gun tightened. He didn't lower it, but his expression darkened. "What are you talking about? We don't owe you anything anymore."
The woman cocked her head, her eyes never leaving them. "No, you owe me everything. You made the mistake of trusting the wrong people. Now, there will be consequences."
Serena's mind raced, but she refused to back down. "What do you want from us?" she asked again, trying to understand the full scope of the danger they were in.
The woman's gaze softened for a brief moment, but only long enough to let her words sink in. "I want your lives. I want you to turn over your loyalties, to choose sides, to bow down to the power that you think you can escape from. Because no matter how far you run, you can never escape your past."
---
The silence in the cabin was deafening. Serena didn't know what to say. The woman's words hit hard. They weren't just running from one person anymore. They were running from a past they couldn't remember—and now, it seemed that the past was coming for them.
Aiden moved slowly, his eyes locked on the woman. "We've made our choice. And we're not going back on it."
The woman laughed softly, almost mockingly. "You think you have a choice? You think you're in control of this situation? You're just pawns in a much larger game. And soon, you'll see that."
She stepped closer, her presence looming over them. Serena felt her skin crawl, but she stood her ground. She had to. They had no other option.
"You're wrong," Aiden said, his voice firm. "We've been running, yeah. But that stops now. We're not giving you anything. Not without a fight."
The woman studied him for a moment, her smile fading. "You really think you're in a position to fight me?"
"Yes," Serena said, stepping up beside Aiden. "We may not have much, but we still have something you can't take. Our will. Our determination."
For a moment, there was silence again. The woman's eyes flickered with a mix of amusement and annoyance. Then, without warning, she reached into her jacket and pulled out a small, black device. She threw it on the floor in front of them.
Aiden's eyes narrowed. "What is that?"
The woman didn't answer. She simply turned and walked toward the door, her voice echoing in the quiet cabin. "You'll find out soon enough."
The door slammed shut behind her, leaving the two of them in a suffocating silence. Serena stood there, staring at the device on the floor. She could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating.
"What was that?" Serena asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Aiden didn't answer right away. He stared at the device, his expression darkening.
"Whatever it is," he said slowly, "it's not good."
Serena swallowed hard, her mind racing. She had a bad feeling about this. But there was no turning back now. They were already in too deep.
---
Aiden moved first, crouching down beside the device. His fingers hesitated for just a second before he picked it up. The small screen blinked to life, revealing a message.
"Your time is running out. Make the right choice."
Serena's breath caught in her throat. What was happening? What had they gotten themselves into?
"We need to get out of here," Aiden said suddenly, standing up and looking around. "This is bigger than we thought."
Serena nodded, her eyes locked on the screen of the device. Whatever this was, it wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
---
End of Chapter 8.
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