chapter 5

The silence of the room was shattered by the clank of keys. Ava’s heart leapt into her throat. The door creaked open, and two guards stepped in, muttering to each other in hushed tones. One carried a tray of stale bread; the other yawned loudly, clearly uninterested in his duty.

Ethan’s eyes flicked toward them, sharp and calculating. Ava recognized that look—it was the same one he wore whenever he was about to say something cutting. But this time, he didn’t speak. He studied the guards, every movement precise.

Ava frowned. He looked… different. Almost like a predator waiting for the right moment to strike.

The yawning guard set the tray on the floor without even glancing their way. “Eat. Don’t die yet. The boss has plans.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened. Ava’s stomach twisted at the ominous words.

As the guards turned to leave, the one with the keys stumbled. The keyring slipped from his belt and hit the floor with a soft jingle.

Ava’s eyes widened. Ethan’s hand twitched, but he didn’t move. He waited. The guard bent, scooped up the keys, and grumbled. Then, without locking the door, both men shuffled out, too careless to notice their mistake.

The lock clicked, but faintly—not all the way.

Ethan didn’t move until their footsteps faded. Then, with a slow breath, he stood and pressed his ear to the door.

“They didn’t lock it properly,” he whispered. His voice was so quiet Ava almost didn’t hear.

Her pulse raced. “So… what do we do?”

Ethan turned to her, his eyes blazing with determination. “We leave.”

---

The moment he nudged the door, it creaked open. Ava’s chest tightened with both relief and fear.

The hallway outside was dimly lit, shadows stretching across cracked walls. The air smelled of damp concrete and rust. Ava’s hands trembled, but she forced herself to keep up as Ethan slipped into the corridor.

“Stay close,” he muttered.

She scowled, whispering back, “Don’t boss me around.”

“Then try not to get caught,” he shot back, eyes scanning the corridor.

They moved quietly, step by step, Ava’s heart hammering so loud she was sure it would give them away. Every corner felt like a trap. Every shadow seemed alive.

Suddenly, voices echoed ahead. Ava froze. Ethan grabbed her arm and pulled her into a small alcove just as two guards walked by, laughing about something crude.

Ava’s back pressed against Ethan’s chest, her breath caught. She could feel the steady rhythm of his breathing, the tense strength in his body as he held her still. His hand lightly covered her mouth, silencing the small gasp that threatened to escape.

When the guards passed, Ethan slowly let go. Ava spun on him, glaring. “Don’t touch me.”

“You’d rather they touched you?” His whisper was sharp, his eyes gleaming.

She swallowed, cheeks burning, and looked away. “You’re insufferable.”

“Alive, though,” he muttered, moving forward.

---

They reached a staircase that led upward. Ava’s heart soared—an exit? But the moment they stepped onto the first stair, the board creaked loudly.

A guard at the top turned, eyes narrowing. “Hey! Who’s there?”

Panic surged through Ava. She grabbed Ethan’s arm. “What do we do?”

Ethan didn’t hesitate. He shoved her behind him and darted up the steps. His fist connected with the guard’s jaw before the man could shout. The guard crumpled silently to the ground.

Ava’s mouth fell open. “You—how did you—”

“Later,” Ethan hissed, dragging the unconscious body to the corner. “Move!”

They raced upward. The door at the top burst open, spilling them into the cold night air. Ava inhaled sharply, relief flooding her lungs.

They were outside.

The compound stretched around them—a maze of fences and old warehouses. Beyond, dark forest loomed like a wall.

“This way,” Ethan ordered, grabbing her hand without waiting for permission.

She yanked it back. “I don’t need you to drag me like a child.”

“You’ll thank me when we’re not riddled with bullets,” he snapped, pulling her along anyway.

---

They sprinted across the yard, ducking behind crates. Shouts erupted behind them—the alarm had been raised.

Ava’s legs burned, but adrenaline pushed her forward. Ethan led them to the fence, its barbed wire glinting faintly in the moonlight.

“You first,” he said, crouching.

Ava stared at the fence. “What? No, you go first!”

“Climb,” he barked. “I’ll cover you.”

Gunfire cracked in the distance. Ava’s heart lurched. She scrambled onto the fence, hands scraping against metal, her dress snagging on the wire. She bit back a cry of pain as a sharp edge cut her palm.

Ethan’s voice thundered below. “Keep moving!”

She swung her leg over just as a bullet whizzed past, sparking against the metal. Terror seized her chest. She nearly froze, but then Ethan’s shout snapped her back.

“Ava!”

She forced herself over, landing hard on the other side. Her knees throbbed, but she was alive.

Ethan vaulted the fence like it was nothing, landing beside her. “Run!”

---

They plunged into the forest, branches whipping against their faces, roots clawing at their feet. Behind them, angry voices and flashlights cut through the darkness.

Ava stumbled, her lungs burning. She nearly tripped over a root, but Ethan caught her arm, steadying her.

“Keep going,” he urged, softer this time.

She wanted to yell at him, to tell him she wasn’t weak—but the warmth of his hand lingered, and her throat tightened with words she couldn’t form.

Finally, after what felt like hours, they collapsed in a clearing, both gasping for breath.

Ava clutched her chest, her heart pounding. “We… we actually made it.”

Ethan leaned against a tree, sweat dripping down his temple, his expression unreadable. “For now.”

She turned to him, eyes narrowing. “For now? That’s all you’ve got to say?”

He finally looked at her, his gaze steady, intense. “We’re not safe yet. But you did well back there.”

Ava blinked, startled. “Was that… a compliment?”

His lips quirked faintly. “Don’t get used to it.”

Despite her exhaustion, a small smile tugged at her lips. For the first time, she wondered if Ethan wasn’t the enemy she’d always believed him to be.

And that thought scared her more than the bullets ever could.