Chapter 179- Help!
ARIANA'S POV
The address arrived just as expected.
It popped up on my screen—a series of coordinates followed by a short, curt message: "Come alone." My breath hitched as I stared at the glowing text, a sinking feeling gnawing at my insides. The clock on the wall ticked louder in the heavy silence, each second stretching painfully long.
I grabbed my coat and threw it over my shoulders, my movements sharp and automatic. Sasha’s concerned gaze followed me, but I avoided her questions, mumbling something vague about needing air. I couldn’t risk involving anyone—not yet.
The streets were quiet as I drove, the night wrapping around me like a heavy cloak. The address led me to the outskirts of the city, to a part of town I rarely ventured into. The road turned narrower and darker with every passing mile until I finally came to a halt in front of a crumbling, desolate warehouse.
The place looked like it had been abandoned for decades. Broken windows stared back at me like hollow eyes, and rusted metal doors groaned as the wind swept through. Shadows danced in the dim moonlight, making the entire area feel alive in the worst way.
My fingers trembled as I pulled out my phone. I opened a blank text and typed a single word:
Help.
I hesitated for just a moment before hitting send—to Hardin. Then, with shaking hands, I flung the phone as far as I could into the overgrown grass beside the warehouse. It landed with a soft thud, disappearing into the shadows.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the car door and stepped out. The cold night air bit at my skin, but it did little to numb the fear coursing through my veins. My boots crunched against the gravel as I approached the building, each step a battle against the growing dread in my chest.
The metal door creaked loudly as I pushed it open, the sound echoing through the empty space inside. The air was stale, heavy with the scent of mildew and rust. Pale moonlight streamed through the broken windows, casting eerie patterns on the floor.
“Mom?” I called out, my voice trembling. The sound echoed back to me, mocking my fragile courage.
I stepped further inside, my eyes scanning the dark corners of the cavernous space. My heart skipped a beat when I saw her.
She was seated on a worn wooden chair in the center of the room, her hands bound tightly with ropes. Her head was bowed, her shoulders hunched as if the weight of the world had been dropped onto them.
“Mom!” I rushed toward her, dropping to my knees in front of her. My hands fumbled with the ropes, but they were tied so tightly that they barely budged.
Her head slowly lifted, and when our eyes met, my heart shattered. Her face was pale, her eyes wide and wild with fear. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but no words came out—only a soft, choked whimper.
“It’s okay,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I’m here. You’re safe now.”
But she didn’t respond. Her gaze darted around the room, her breaths coming in short, panicked gasps. It was as if she was trapped in a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from.
“Mom, who did this? Who brought you here?” I asked, desperate for answers.
Her lips trembled, but no sound escaped. She shook her head weakly, tears streaming down her face.
I clenched my fists, frustration and helplessness boiling inside me. Whoever had done this to her would pay. They would regret the day they crossed me.
The sound of slow, deliberate footsteps echoed through the space, pulling my attention away from her. I froze, my body going rigid as the sound grew closer.
“Who’s there?” I demanded, my voice trembling but laced with anger.
The footsteps stopped just as a figure stepped out of the shadows.
My breath caught in my throat as my eyes landed on the one person I never expected to see here.
“You?” My voice was barely a whisper, disbelief and betrayal warring in my tone.
The figure smirked, their expression cold and unrepentant. “Surprised to see me, Ariana?”
And just like that, my world tilted on its axis.
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