Kay and Maria stayed pressed into their hiding spot, barely breathing.
Footsteps crunched closer.
Branches scraped against the back wall, and the loose door latch rattled.
Maria shut her eyes and willed her heartbeat to slow, praying whoever it was would pass.
A voice cut through the dark.
“I think no one’s here.
Maybe we should split up and search.
We can’t let that girl escape.”
“Alright.
Yes, boss.
Keep moving, keep moving.”
The footsteps faded.
For a second, Maria thought they were safe.
Then more footsteps returned.
This time, a flashlight beam swept the area.
Their hiding spot was pitch black, and fear made the shadows feel alive.
Kay stayed silent, eyes tracking every movement, calculating an escape if they were found.
The beam stopped.
It hit their corner.
“Don’t find us.
Don’t find us,” Maria pleaded in her head.
The light stabbed into their faces.
Maria threw her arm up, and Kay shielded his eyes with his palm — but kept watching cautiously through his fingers.
Then the person holding the light said, “Kay?”
Kay lowered his hand, squinting.
“Oh.
It’s you guys.” He exhaled.
“I almost thought you were the enemy.”
Maria was still confused.
“Who are they?”
“Backup,” Kay muttered.
“Have you been able to find Wax and the rest of the crew?”
“No,” one of them said.
“But we need to get you two to the bus first.
We have to keep the ladies safe.
The other men can fend for themselves.”
They started moving her and Kay out from the hiding spot toward their car.
That’s when the leader from earlier suddenly appeared, blocking their path.
“You guys are not taking her anywhere.”
Then it broke loose.
Gunfire lit up the air.
Kay yanked Maria behind a tree, shielding her with his body as the backup team returned fire.
Bullets snapped past, tearing bark.
Kay ducked, pulling Maria down with him.
“Stay low,” he hissed over the chaos.
“We can’t wait this out.
We have to get you to the car first.
Now, move!”
Maria and Kay started moving — slow, crawling low.
Kay used a second branch as cover.
They waited, listened, then darted from one tree to the next.
The enemy group leader had no idea.
When they finally reached a safer spot, Kay was still cautious.
“We can’t let ourselves be seen in the light when our enemies are in the dark,” he whispered.
“We have to stay in the shadows.
We don’t know who’s watching.”
Maria nodded and obeyed.
They kept sneaking, shadow to shadow.
Meanwhile, the gunfight was still raging.
The group leader and his guards were trading shot after shot with the backup team.
Then the guards realized — they were out of bullets.
They ducked for cover.
The backup team noticed too.
“They’re dry!” one shouted.
They switched to hand-to-hand and charged.
Two men rushed forward.
The enemy leader grabbed the strongest of the backup fighters, and they collided — punch after punch.
They seemed evenly matched at first, but it was raw strength versus trained skill.
The backup had the upper hand.
The leader hit the ground hard.
Blood trickled down his face.
He wiped it off and… smiled.
He reached into his pocket and tossed something at the backup team.
BOOM.
It wasn’t smoke this time.
It was a mini bomb.
Bodies hit the dirt.
Thankfully, Maria and Kay weren’t near it.
They were already moving toward the car — except Kay suddenly froze.
He didn’t actually know where the car was.
Panic hit his chest.
Plus, Maria was getting worse.
She was wounded, and the pain was flaring up again.
She winced with every step.
Kay scanned the darkness, breathing hard.
“We can’t make it to the car like this,” he muttered.
“We need another spot.
Now.”
The bomb actually drew everyone in.
The other backup members who’d split up heard the blast and rushed toward the sound.
The enemy guards who were separated did the same.
Both sides had one thought: _Get to the lady.
Make sure she comes with us._
They all converged on the smoking crater at the same time.
The main backup team linked up.
So did the guards.
Both groups ran straight to their own people.
“Wax!” one of the backup guys shouted to the leader.
“Your twin — have you seen Kay and the lady?”
Max’s eyes scanned the wreckage.
“Yes… but—” He froze.
“Wait.
Where are they?” Realization hit.
“Oh no.
They’ve disappeared.”
Panic started to rise.
“They don’t even know where we parked the car.
They could be anywhere.”
Meanwhile, the enemy guards pulled their leader to his feet, coughing from the blast.
“Leader, what do we do?” one guard asked.
“We can’t go back empty-handed.”
The leader spat blood, eyes burning.
“We _don’t_ go back.
Not unless we have her.
Or else it’s our heads on a golden platter.
We fight to the death.
We _cannot_ let that lady go.
You hear me?
Attack!”
They surged forward.
Max rubbed his temple in frustration, watching them charge.
“These guards don’t know when to give up,” he muttered.
“Can’t they see we outnumber them now?
And they don’t even have skill.
They must have a death wish.”
He drew his weapon.
“Well… we’ll grant their request.
Attack!”
Both sides collided head-on.
Everyone picked a partner.
Fists, blades, and bullets flew.
One thought ran through every mind: _Only one of us walks away from this._
When the fight ended, every last guard was knocked unconscious.
None were still moving.
Max breathed hard, looking around at the bodies.
“Wax,” he called to his brother.
“Yeah, bro?”
“Now the real problem starts,” Max said.
“We have to find Kay and Maria.
And this time, we’re just going to call their names.
If we sneak around in the shadows, they’ll be terrified.
They won’t know if we’re friend or enemy.”
Wax nodded.
“You’re right.
Let’s go.
And this time we’re not splitting up.
I don’t have the strength to search for anyone else if we get separated.”
Max turned to the rest of the team.
“Alright everyone, it’s time to find the lady and Kay.
Move out.”
They started forward through the trees, calling out.
“Kay!
Where are you, man?
Come out!
Kay!”
They kept moving, voices echoing.
“Kay!
Maria!”
Meanwhile, Kay and Maria were hiding, trying to rest.
Maria’s breathing was shallow from the wound.
Kay put a finger to his lips.
“Stay still,” he whispered to Maria.
“Let me check who’s calling.”
He crept forward three steps, then cupped his hands around his mouth.
“Max!
Wax!
I’m here!
Come quick — the lady is injured!”
Max heard him and broke into a sprint.
“Kay!”
Kay rushed back, scooped Maria into his arms.
“Where’s the car?” he asked, panicked.
“I got confused out here.
I didn’t know where it was, so I just found cover.
She needs help.”
Max’s face tightened when he saw Maria.
“Oh no.
We need to get her to a hospital quick before that wound gets infected.”
Then Wax cut in.
“No — we take her back to Mr.
Thompson’s house.
He’ll call the doctor.
It’s safer there than a hospital right now.”
Max nodded.
“Okay.
Everyone, let’s move.
Now.”
Three cars pulled up to Mr.
Thompson’s mansion and parked.
Doors opened fast.
Kay came down first, carrying Maria.
She was dazed, barely conscious in his arms.
Inside, Mr.
Thompson was already waiting.
The moment he saw Maria’s condition, his face went hard.
“Nate!” he called.
The butler stepped forward.
“Yes, sir.”
“Immediately.
Take her to one of the rooms.”
“Understood.” The butler motioned Kay to follow him.
A few minutes later, the doctor arrived.
He checked her vitals, cleaned and stitched the wound, then gave her meds.
“She’ll be fine,” the doctor said, packing his bag.
“With rest and this prescription, she’ll recover soon.” He nodded to Mr.
Thompson.
“Goodbye.”
Once the doctor left, Mr.
Thompson gathered the boys in the study.
“How was it?” he asked.
Kay was the first to speak.
“Ah, sir… it was intense.
If I hadn’t been tasked with keeping this lady safe beside me, I would’ve fought that pompous leader myself.
I would’ve crushed his face.”
Max smirked.
“It shows that woman is smart.
Really smart.”
“Yup,” Wax said, grinning despite the blood on his shirt.
“She’s very, very smart.”
Mr.
Thompson looked them over.
“Okay.
You guys can go now.
I need to check on the lady.”
“Okay, boss,” they said, and left the room.
Mr.
Thompson went upstairs and knocked softly before entering Maria’s room.
“How are we feeling, lady?” he asked gently.
Maria opened her eyes, confused.
“Hello… sir.
Who are you?”
“I’m Alex’s uncle.”
Her eyes widened.
“Where is Alex?
What happened to him?”
Mr.
Thompson’s expression softened.
“He’ll come tomorrow.
I made sure of it.
I can’t afford to have two problems on my hands tonight.”
He stood.
“Rest.
You’re safe now.”
And with that, he left.