Chapter 15
The rope seared Lina's flesh, burning her hands. He opened his fingers, trying to ignore the throb in his head. Noah didn't move at all, his head down, the blood on his temple still there.
The organizer's words echoed in his mind.
"you are not alone."
It was his tone, the complete sincerity of his words, that scared her the most. Because if he was speaking the truth, then someone had been controlling events all along, and he and Noah never stood a chance.
Now, they have been caught.
Lina took a deep breath and brushed fear aside. No. There is always a way out.
He glanced around the room. The basement was bare—a concrete wall, a ceiling light, and a door that was solid, with no switches, just a handle on the side.
He toyed with the strings and attempted them. Tough. Firm. But don't break it. He glanced at Noah.
They needed him to wake up.
"Hey," he whispered, straining his voice. "Noah."
He didn't stir.
He gritted his teeth and kicked the chair leg. There is nothing.
He had a bowel movement very quickly.
"Noah," he tried again, louder this time.
A low moan escaped his lips.
Help surges through him. "Let's go," he pushed. "get up."
Noah raised his head slightly, his eyes wide. They were cold, dangerous, and bitter at first, and then—
His eyes were fixed on hers.
"Lina?" His voice was steady. "What-"
They're scared and they know they've got problems. Lina shook her head in exasperation. "Yeah. It's bad.
Noah groaned and clenched his teeth. "It's true."
He almost laughed. "Can you move, do you think?"
Noah's hands moved behind him, the belt grinding into his skin and making him shiver. "Not very good."
Lina didn't shift in her seat, her mind racing with thoughts. He was trying to stir up trouble. This is a way of keeping holders in question.
He didn't have a chance to talk before the metallic door creaked.
Someone comes in. This won't do.
The other one isn't so bad.
---
Familiar faces
Lena's heart churned as she saw Ethan walk into the room.
Where is it?
He was supposed to be here. "Yeah," Ethan said, "it's sad."
Lena laughed, ignoring the shiver down her spine. "What's wrong, Ethan? Do you think we should pray now?"
Ethan tilted his head, regarding himself as if he were a lizard under glass. "Don't ask, it's broken."
Lena's fists were wrapped around the belt. Ethan stepped closer and screamed. "Do you know what you've done, Lena? Why were you mixed up in it?"
He laughed. "Revealing your secret? Yeah, I think that's a good idea."
Ethan laughed. "Oh dear. My secrets are too complicated for your questions."
He clenched his teeth. "Why are we still alive?"
Ethan's laughter was casual. "Because I want to."
Lena is dry.
Noah's head was blown. "This is crazy."
Ethan ignored her, still fixing his eyes on Lena. "You feel like the payoff is good. It's two steps ahead of other times."
Lina didn't say anything.
Ethan leaned in closer, his voice to a whisper.
"But you didn't play it fair."
The words sent shivers down his spine. Noah is struggling to overcome his repressed feelings. "Enough of that proverb. You have the papers. "What do you want? "
Ethan rose, laughing even harder. "Documents?" He smiled. "It's just a test."
Lina was appalled.
"What?"
Ethan folded his hands behind him. "You think I'd download those files you stole?" He shook his head. "They're bait."
Lina is dead. "impossible."
Ethan shrugged. "Isn't that so?"
His head was spinning. No. No, he examined the files himself. They have solid proof. them-
Oh my god!
They'd thought they had solid proof. But if Ethan had known all along.
So this isn't a setback.
This is a trap.
Then they headed straight in.
---
Real power
Lina took a deep breath. "If you've already decided to choose us, why bother?"
Ethan's smile disappeared. "Because you'll be falling soon."
Lena's stomach twisted.
A smile spread on Noah's face. "What does this mean?".
Ethan despondently shook his head and sighed. "You didn't do that. The organizers had to sit down with you in advance. But somewhere along the way, it fell through the cracks.
Lena looked at him. "Do you mean somebody helped us?"
Ethan didn't say anything.
Because they don't like it.
The truth hit him like a freight train.
They have a great life. The nearest human being. What a great time they are having.
This is not fate.
Someone has guided them. Playing the board from behind. So who—
He cannot play.
---
New Works
Ethan turned and walked away. "I'll give you time to decide."
Lina's voice was heard. "What do you think?"
He turned back. "Your choice."
Noah laughed. "We don't."
Ethan smiled. "Then you are wrong."
Lina tried her best to remain silent. "So what are our options?"
Ethan moved closer. "You'll live through this, Lena. You'll forget everything." "He's missing."
He closed his eyes. "What if I don't?"
Ethan's smile disappeared. "And flour."
The room was quiet.
Lena gulped.
Ethan panted as if he was just tired. "I'll give you an hour to choose."
He turned and left, closing the iron door behind him.
Lena is dead.
One hour.
It was then that he set about finding a means to escape, or, die in the attempt.