CHAPTER 9

Dangerous Rendezvous

Damian’s POV

The message stayed up on my screen for a long time after I read it.

"Meet me tomorrow at 10 PM. Level 3 of the parking garage. Come by yourself."

Seven letters word. That was all it took to get me down.

I stared at the screen, my heart pounding. Fear weighed heavily on me and made it hard to breathe. I knew I couldn't ignore it.

My mouth had gone dry. The skin on my hands was wet. I couldn't move on my bed. The bright white light of the text bubble made me feel like someone was holding a gun to my head.

And maybe someone did.

The silence of my room surrounded me like a grave.

I had a hard time sleeping that night.

I moved around and tried to breathe through the weight of fear that was pushing down on my chest. The cover was too heavy. The air was still. The sound of the floors creaking was like footsteps. Everything in the shadows looked like a danger.

As I waited for another reply, I kept looking at my phone. A name. A clue. Something that would pull back the curtain.

But nothing came.

~~~~

Soft and golden, the morning light broke through the curtains. But it felt wrong. Too warm. It was much more gentle than usual. It was like everyone didn't know the world was about to fall apart.

I sat on the edge of my bed, hands clenched on my lap as the last night message rang in my head.

I couldn't notify Leo about the new threat. Or call Eliot to tell him

Seriously, what am I going to say?

“Hey, someone saw us kissing on the roof and now they want money.”

No. This had to stay between me and the masked coward hiding behind a burner phone.

The day moved slowly like it was playing with me. It got too unbearable for me to stand the old clock ticking in the hallway. Every second that went by was a reminder of the meeting that was coming up. I tried to act normal, but my mind was elsewhere.

I saw Maria in the kitchen as I walked by. After looking at me, she turned her head away. I couldn’t read her anymore.

At dinner, I barely touched my food. My father noticed.

"You're not talking tonight," he said

"I'm just tired," I mumbled.

He looked away and didn't say anything else.

At 6:00pm, I locked myself in my room. I shut the door and sat down at my desk, looking at myself in the mirror.

My eyes looked dull and It made my face look pale. I didn't remember having lines under my eyes before.

Feeling afraid can make you age faster than time. I just realized that.

After the self-pity, I wore dark jeans, a hoodie, and black shoes, which were common outfits in the city. I decided not to take my watch on the desk and took just my phone and some cash I had hidden.

By 9:30, I was ready.

At 9:45, I sneaked out the back door into the cold night.

The city looked strange at night.

Some parts are quiet while some are bubbling. It felt safe and unsafe at the same time.

I hung my head on my shoulders as I walked. Above me, the streetlights buzzed and cast long shadows on the ground. My shoulders tightened every time a car went by. Each step I heard behind me made my skin crawl.

I stood at the door to the parking garage for a full minute when I got there.

Steel, concrete, and dim lights flicker. It seemed like a bad spot where bad things happen.

I took a deep breath and stepped inside.

In Level 1, everything is empty.

Level 2: A single, dusty, abandoned car.

When I got to Level 3, all I saw was a shadow. Then a figures.

They stood near a support pillar with their backs turned at me. They all wore black hoodies with masks on. I couldn't see their faces because the mask talk less of guessing their height or build.

I stopped about ten feet away.

They turned slowly.

The mask was full-face. Plain black. When they spoke, a small speaker attached to the collar of their jacket distorted their voice.

“You arrived just on time,” one of them said

I didn't utter a word.

“Did you bring the money?” Another voice asked.

"No," I answered. My voice cracked before I could even clear my throat. “I want proof. What do you have?”

One of them reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone. He tapped the screen while holding it up.

And there we were. Me and Eliot. On the rooftop. Captured in the moment.

I hadn’t seen the photo this clearly before.

His hand in my hair. My mouth on his. My eyes closed like I was somewhere far away.

I looked lost in love.

"You seem shocked," a cold and warped voice said. "I thought you wanted to know what I had.”

“What do you want,” I asked, my voice louder than intended. I could feel my hands shaking by my side.

They stepped closer, but the shadows still kept them hidden.

“$100,000,” one of them said. I guessed he was their leader. “To be delivered in cash within 48 hours.”

I squeezed my hands together.

“And if I don’t, what happens?”

They all tilted their head in unison.

“It goes public. To the press. To your father. To the board. Everywhere,” the same voice replied again.

I kept my gaze on them, knees shaking.

“This could destroy me,” I whispered.

“That’s the point,” another voice said but new this time.

Something snapped inside me that made me lost it.

“Why?” I shouted. “Why are you doing this? What did I ever do to you?”

Silence.

For a second, I thought they’d left.

After that, the voice came back. “Damian, it's not all about you.”

That sent a chill down my spine more than anything else they’d said.

“Do you understand your deadline?”

A stiff node escaped me.

“Good,” the voice said. “We’ll be in touch.”

Then they turned around and walked into the dark.

I stood there, my heart beating non stop.

It was then I felt it. Eyes. Not theirs. Someone was here.

I turned slowly, my instinct kicking in. I did not see anything at first.

Then—movement. Past a row of cars. A flicker of color. A familiar shape.

I took a step forward, heart racing

It was then I saw him.

Eliot.

Half hidden behind a concrete column. Watching closely.

Our eyes met. But he didn’t move. Neither did I.

He looked like he wasn't sure if he should be mad or sad.

And I wasn't sure if I should run to him... leave or run away.

My heart raced. What was he doing here?