The alley narrowed further as the car’s tires screeched against the worn asphalt, and Nick felt the full weight of the gamble he had just taken.
The walls of the buildings flanking him on either side seemed to press inward, squeezing them like prey caught in a vice. His heart was pounding hard enough to echo in his ears, each second more precious than the last.
The low hum of the SUV behind them grew louder, aggressive, like a predator locked on its target. They weren’t going to stop.
“Come on, come on…” Nick’s voice trembled as he pushed the gas pedal to the floor. The alley stretched out before them, dark and endless, but he could see the flicker of streetlights beyond.. an exit, freedom.
If they could just make it.
The SUV was almost on them now. In the rearview mirror, Nick saw the looming vehicle gaining with terrifying speed, its front bumper almost grazing their tail. His stomach churned with the cold realization that he was running out of options, and running out of time.
And then…he saw it.
A glint of silver. Metal.
Nick’s breath caught in his throat as the passenger window of the SUV slid down, revealing the barrel of a gun.
Aimed right at them.
“Get down!” Nick roared, his voice cracking with panic. He yanked the wheel hard to the left, narrowly avoiding the first shot.
The crack of gunfire split the air like a whip, echoing off the walls of the alley. The deafening sound filled the tight space, and Vaughn screamed in terror, ducking low in his seat, his small body trembling uncontrollably.
Glass shattered.
The rear window exploded inward, showering Vaughn with shards of broken glass. His sobs grew louder, panicked, and raw.
He curled into a ball in the backseat, clutching his stuffed animal to his chest as if it were a lifeline.
His tiny body shook with fear.
Nick’s heart raced, a pounding drum in his chest as he wrestled the car through the final stretch of the alley.
His hands were slick with sweat, but he couldn’t let go.
Not yet.
He had to keep going. He had to keep Vaughn safe.
The alley opened up ahead, spilling out onto another street.
Freedom..
So close.
Nick floored the gas, the car lunging forward with a roar.
But then he saw it.
A black car, blocking the exit. There was no escape.
“Goddammit!” Nick cursed, swerving to avoid a head-on collision, but the effort was in vain. The screech of tires filled the narrow space as he realized they were trapped.
The SUV behind them slowed, blocking any chance of retreat.
And then, the final blow. A gunshot echoed through the alley again, this time hitting its mark.
The front tire exploded with a sharp pop, sending the car lurching violently to one side. Nick fought to control the vehicle, but the damage was done.
The car skidded to a stop, helpless in the face of their attackers.
He quickly reached for his phone, his fingers fumbling as he dialed Lucas’s number. His hands shook, adrenaline flooding his system. But even as he tried to make the call, he knew it was too late.
Before he could react, the back door was ripped open.
A masked man yanked Vaughn from the car, his grip brutal and unrelenting.
Vaughn screamed, kicking his small legs in a desperate attempt to fight back. His high-pitched cries echoed in the alley, filled with terror. “Nick! Nick! Help!”
“Leave him!” Nick bellowed, scrambling to reach for the gun holstered at his side. His fingers closed around the cold metal, and he pulled it free with trembling hands. “Or I’ll kill you, I swear to God!”
The masked man holding Vaughn didn’t even flinch. His cold, lifeless eyes behind the mask were fixed on Nick, unreadable.
Vaughn continued to thrash, tears streaming down his small face, but the man held him tightly.
Nick’s vision blurred with rage, his finger tightening on the trigger.
But before he could fire, a second masked figure stepped out from behind the SUV.
In one smooth motion, the man raised his own weapon and fired.
The world slowed.
Nick barely had time to react, ducking instinctively as the bullet whizzed past him. The shot missed his vital organs, grazing his shoulder and sending a hot, burning pain through his side.
He hit the ground hard, gasping for breath, but still clutching his gun.
He could hear the car door slam shut behind him, and when he managed to look up, the SUV was already pulling away, taking Vaughn with it.
“No… no… no!” Nick’s voice broke as he scrambled to his feet, blood seeping through his shirt. He stumbled toward the car, but it was too late.
The SUV turned the corner at the end of the alley and vanished from sight.
Nick’s body shook with adrenaline, pain, and desperation as he slumped against the car, the cold metal of the gun still clutched in his hand.
His vision swam, but he forced himself to stay conscious. He had to make the call.
With trembling hands, Nick redialed Amara’s number, his blood-slicked fingers barely able to hit the buttons. The phone rang once…
Twice…
Three times…
No answer.
“Pick up, pick up…” Nick muttered, his breath shallow as the pain in his shoulder flared again. He pressed his hand to the wound, trying to stop the bleeding, but his focus remained on the phone.
The fourth ring came and went.
Then, the call ended.
Nick swore, his heart sinking. He dialed again, each ring feeling like an eternity.
Vaughn’s cries echoed in his mind, the sound of the gunfire still ringing in his ears.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the call connected. Amara’s voice, calm but distant, came through the line.
“Hello?”
Nick’s voice cracked, his breath ragged. “Miss… it’s Vaughn… they.. they’ve taken him…”
There was a pause, a silence so thick it was suffocating. He could almost hear her heart stop on the other end of the line.
“What?” Amara’s voice, once calm, now trembled with barely contained terror. “Who? Nick, what do you mean they’ve taken him?”
Nick’s vision blurred again, his body weakening as the blood loss took its toll. He pressed his back against the car for support, but his mind was racing. “Two cars… black SUVs… they followed us from the school. They… they shot the tires, took Vaughn… I couldn’t stop them…”
The silence on the other end was deafening.
“Where are you?” Amara’s voice was barely a whisper, laced with fear and desperation. “Nick, tell me where you are.”
Nick looked around, his surroundings swimming in and out of focus. “The alley… just off 5th Street… I tried… but I couldn’t stop them…”
Amara’s breath hitched, and Nick could hear the panic rising in her voice. “Hold on, Nick. I’m coming. Don’t move. I’ll be there.”
The call ended, and Nick let the phone slip from his hand. His body slumped against the car, the pain in his shoulder spreading as darkness crept into the edges of his vision.
He closed his eyes, Vaughn’s terrified cries echoing in his mind as everything around him began to fade.