No Space Left

The door clicked.

Rose’s breath stopped.

Jason’s grip on her hand tightened—instinct, not permission.

The handle turned slowly.

Deliberately.

Then—

The door opened.

Daniel stood there.

Calm.

Composed.

Like he hadn’t just locked them in, shut down the system, and threatened them through a burner phone.

His gaze moved between them.

Then dropped briefly—

To their hands.

Something unreadable flickered in his expression.

“Interesting,” he said.

Jason didn’t move.

Didn’t let go.

“What do you want?” Jason asked, voice cold.

Daniel stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click.

Too soft.

Too controlled.

“I could ask you the same thing,” he replied.

Rose’s pulse spiked.

He was playing this like a conversation.

Like none of this was happening.

Jason shifted slightly, placing himself just a bit more in front of her.

Subtle.

But intentional.

“We’re done with games,” Jason said.

Daniel tilted his head.

“Are you?”

Before either of them could respond—

The lights went out again.

Darkness swallowed the room.

Rose’s fingers tightened around Jason’s.

“Backup power should’ve kicked in,” she whispered.

“It didn’t,” Jason replied.

And then—

The door slammed shut behind Daniel.

A lock clicked.

From the outside.

Rose’s stomach dropped.

“He’s not in here alone,” she breathed.

Jason’s grip on her hand shifted—pulling her slightly behind him now.

“Stay close,” he said.

“I already am,” she shot back under her breath.

That almost earned a reaction—

But there was no time.

A faint light flickered on.

Not overhead.

From the far corner of the room.

A small emergency strip, barely enough to see shapes.

Daniel stood still.

Too still.

“You really think I’d walk in here without control?” he said calmly.

Jason’s voice dropped. “You already lost control the moment you showed yourself.”

A pause.

Then Daniel smiled.

“I disagree.”

Suddenly—

A sharp sound cracked through the air.

Glass shattered.

Rose flinched—

Instinctively stepping closer—

Straight into Jason.

His arm came up around her before either of them thought about it.

Pulling her in.

Holding her there.

“Stay down,” he said sharply.

She didn’t argue.

Another crash.

Closer this time.

Something—or someone—was moving outside the office.

Not hiding anymore.

Hunting.

Rose’s heart slammed against her ribs.

“You said this was internal,” she whispered.

Jason’s eyes stayed locked on the door.

“It was.”

Daniel didn’t move.

Didn’t react.

That was worse.

“You planned this,” Rose said, her voice tighter now.

Daniel’s gaze shifted to her.

“Yes.”

No denial.

No hesitation.

Just truth.

“Why?” Jason demanded.

Daniel’s expression didn’t change.

“Because pressure reveals everything,” he said.

Another loud bang echoed through the hallway.

Closer.

Rose’s grip on Jason tightened without her realizing.

He noticed.

His arm around her shifted slightly—

Not looser.

Stronger.

“Everything?” Jason repeated.

Daniel nodded slightly.

“Who you trust,” he said.

“Who you protect.”

His eyes flicked between them again.

“And how far you’re willing to go when it matters.”

A shadow passed under the door.

Rose saw it.

Her breath caught.

“Jason—”

“I see it.”

The handle jerked violently.

Once.

Twice.

Then stopped.

Silence.

Too quiet.

Then—

A loud slam against the door.

Rose flinched again—

This time pressing fully into Jason.

His hand moved to the back of her head—

Holding her there.

Protecting.

“Don’t move,” he said.

Her voice was barely steady.

“I’m not planning to.”

Another hit.

Harder.

The door cracked slightly.

Wood splintering.

Jason’s body tensed.

“We’re not staying here,” he said.

“Where exactly do you plan to go?” Daniel asked calmly.

Jason’s eyes snapped to him.

“There’s no exit,” Daniel continued. “No signal. No help coming.”

Rose looked up slightly.

“You’re trapping us?”

Daniel met her gaze.

“I’m testing you.”

Another slam.

The crack widened.

Rose’s pulse raced.

“This isn’t a test,” she said. “This is insane.”

Daniel’s expression didn’t change.

“Same thing,” he replied.

Jason’s patience snapped.

He stepped forward suddenly—

Putting himself fully between Rose and everything else.

“Whatever this is,” he said, voice dangerously low, “you end it now.”

Daniel didn’t move.

“Or what?”

The door slammed again—

Louder—

Harder—

The wood split further.

Something was getting through.

Jason didn’t answer him.

Because his attention had already shifted.

To Rose.

For just a second.

“Stay behind me,” he said again.

But this time—

Softer.

Rose shook her head slightly.

“No.”

Jason frowned. “Rose—”

“I’m not hiding behind you,” she said.

Even now.

Even here.

That did something to him.

Something sharp.

Unexpected.

“Then stay close,” he corrected.

Rose held his gaze.

“I am.”

Another hit—

And the door burst open.

Wood splintered inward.

Darkness filled the doorway.

A figure stepped through.

Not Daniel.

Someone else.

Tall.

Unfamiliar.

And not alone.

Rose’s breath caught.

Jason’s grip on her tightened.

Daniel finally moved—

Just slightly.

And for the first time—

His calm expression shifted.

Not fear.

But interest.

“Now,” he said quietly…

“This is where it gets real.”

The figure took another step forward.

And then—

The lights came back on.

Blinding.

Sudden.

And in that single moment of clarity—

Rose saw something that made her blood run cold.

The person standing in the doorway—

Was holding a file.

Her file.

And smiling.