The footsteps drew nearer, and Sarah’s heart pounded in her chest like a war drum. The shadows under the counter felt like a sanctuary, but the threat looming above made every second feel like an eternity.
“Check under the counter,” one of the men said, and Sarah’s breath caught in her throat.
She glanced at Mark, whose expression mirrored her fear. They had to act fast. “On my count,” she whispered. “One… two…”
“Hey, did you hear that?” Clara whispered, her eyes wide with panic.
Before Sarah could respond, the men were already bending down, their faces just inches away from the counter. “What the hell?” one exclaimed, spotting a loose board in the floor. “They must have gone down there!”
“Damn it!” the other cursed. “We need to find them before they get away!”
In a flash, Sarah made a split-second decision. “Now!” she hissed, and they all surged from their hiding spots. Mark lunged at the nearest man, catching him off guard. The two crashed into a nearby wall, and Sarah dove for the phone, desperate to call for help.
“Clara, get ready to run!” Sarah shouted, her voice ringing with urgency.
The second man turned toward her, a menacing grin on his face. “You think you can escape?”
Before he could reach her, Marla jumped into action, tackling him to the ground. The two rolled over, fists flying. Sarah glanced back at Mark, who was struggling with the first man, trying to pin him down.
“Get him, Mark!” she yelled, adrenaline coursing through her veins. She quickly turned back to the fight, grabbing a nearby metal chair and swinging it at the second man. The chair connected with a loud crack, sending him sprawling to the floor.
“Nice shot!” Mark shouted, finally managing to pin his opponent against the wall.
“Clara, go!” Sarah commanded, urgency sharpening her voice. “Get to the door and call Jane!”
Clara hesitated for a moment but then nodded, darting toward the exit. “I’m on it!”
Just as she reached the door, it burst open, and Jane rushed inside, wide-eyed and breathless. “What’s happening?” she cried, taking in the scene.
“Bennett’s men found us! We need to move!” Sarah shouted, her voice carrying over the chaos.
Mark quickly subdued his opponent, shoving him against the wall with a swift kick. “We need to get out of here now!” he said, wiping sweat from his brow.
“Right!” Sarah said, grabbing Jane’s arm and pulling her toward the exit. “Come on!”
As they fled, the sounds of their escape echoed through the station. They dashed out into the cool night air, the adrenaline keeping them fueled as they sprinted toward the nearby alleyway.
“We need to find a place to hide until we can regroup,” Sarah said, glancing back to see if anyone was following. “There’s an old warehouse a few blocks down. It should be empty.”
“Lead the way,” Jane urged, glancing over her shoulder nervously.
The group made their way through the maze of streets, the dim lights casting long shadows that danced around them. Sarah’s mind raced, replaying the encounter over and over. They had narrowly escaped this time, but how many more close calls would they have before they reached Elizabeth?
As they neared the warehouse, Sarah felt a flicker of hope. This was their chance to regroup, plan their next move, and finally confront Bennett with the evidence they had fought so hard to obtain.
They slipped inside the warehouse, the heavy door creaking as it closed behind them. The interior was dimly lit, filled with dust and remnants of forgotten machinery.
“Let’s catch our breath for a moment,” Mark suggested, leaning against a rusted pillar.
“We should be safe here for a bit,” Sarah said, her heart still racing. “But we can’t linger too long. We need to figure out our next steps.”
Jane pulled out her phone, scrolling through her contacts. “I can try reaching out to some people in the media. If we can get this story out, it’ll put pressure on Bennett.”
“Good idea,” Sarah replied, feeling a sense of urgency. “But we need to keep our heads low until then. If Bennett finds out we’re still alive, he’ll come after us harder.”
Marla nodded, wiping blood from her lip where she had been struck in the scuffle. “We need to stay united and watch each other’s backs. If we’re going to take down Bennett, we have to do it together.”
Clara, who had been quiet since their escape, finally spoke up. “What if we set a trap for Bennett? If he’s looking for Elizabeth, we can use that to our advantage.”
Sarah considered this, her mind racing with possibilities. “That could work. If we can draw him out, we might be able to catch him off guard and expose him for good.”
Mark straightened, a determined look on his face. “Then we need to get to work. Let’s come up with a plan and fast. Time isn’t on our side.”
As they gathered in a huddle, each sharing their ideas, Sarah felt a renewed sense of purpose. They had come too far to turn back now, and with the stakes higher than ever, the fight was just beginning.