CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Arielle’s POV“Arielle…”The whisper floated through the darkness so softly that for a heartbeat I wondered if I had imagined it.I stopped breathing as the tunnel fell deathly still. My fingers tightened around the brass key until the jagged edges dug into my skin. The tiny piece of paper remained folded in my other hand, already damp with sweat.“You’re already playing their game.”Those six words kept echoing louder than the gunfire that had chased us through the mansion.The flashlight Viktor had given me refused to come back to life. I slapped it against my palm all to no avail as darkness has swallowed everything.Another gust of stale air came drifting through the narrow passage, carrying the smell of damp stone and rusted metal.“Arielle…” The voice came again and It was unmistakably a female voice.“Who’s there?” I demanded from the calm, patient and alomost farmiliar voice.My own voice was sounding too loud inside the cramped tunnel but no answer was forthcoming.Only the s

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Arielle’s POVThe footsteps were slow and deliberate that each one echoed through the underground chamber like the ticking of a countdown.I was standing frozen beside the operations table as my fingers wrapped tightly around the edge until my knuckles turned white. The crimson glow from the monitors painted everything in shades of blood, making the room feel less like a secret archive and more like a tomb waiting to be sealed.The distorted voice had gone silent leaving only static hisses from the speakers now. The second doorway continued to yawn open, revealing darkness.I was terrified because whoever was walking towards me wasn’t in a hurry and I knew that people who took their time usually know that they had already won.I glanced around the room, forcing myself to think instead of panic.The operations room was larger than I’d realized, metal filing cabinets were standing against the walls with each of them marked with faded labels. Shelves were overflowing with folders, maps,

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Arielle’s POV“Bring us the girl.” The words came echoing through the darkness and every instinct I possessed screamed at me to run.The woman reacted before I could, she seized my wrist with surprising strength pulling me behind one of the towering filing cabinets just as a beam of white light came slicing through the chamber.“Be quiet,” she whispered. Though her voice was barely audible, yet it carried an urgency that silenced every question burning inside me.I was crouching beside her while pressing my back against the cold steel cabinet. My heartbeat was thundering so loudly that I was certain the men outside could hear it.The heavy boots was growing closer in a more disciplined way, not like the reckless footsteps of hired thugs because these men were moving like professionals.Flashlights were sweeping across the room, cutting through the darkness in slow and methodical arcs. One beam of light was passing so close that I instinctively shut my eyes.“They’re clearing the room

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Arielle’s POVThe masked man stopped several feet away as neither of us spoke. The tunnel was so quiet that I could hear water dripping somewhere in the darkness behind him.His gloved hand remained outstretched ass if he already knew what my answer would be. I tightened my fingers instinctively around the silver pendant hidden inside my coat.“Who are you? Because I’m not going anywhere with you.” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt. He tilted his head slightly and didn’t give any reply.“You’ve already come farther than you were supposed to.” Then he finally spoke for the first time, lowering his hand. His voice was deep and distorted just enough that I couldn’t place his age or recognize it.“Why have you been following me?.” I asked.“No. I’ve been keeping you alive.” He answered.“That’s hard to believe considering you’ve pointed a gun at me more than once.” A bitter laugh escaped me.“I never fired at you.” He said.I opened my mouth to argue but stopped because every shot he

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Arielle’s POV“Arielle… they’re listening.”The words barely escaped his lips before his body lurched forward as a wet cough came tearing through him and he began splattering dark blood across the edge of the desk.I instinctively took a step toward him but Viktor caught my wrist.“No.Don’t do that I think he intentionally wants you to come closer.” He said, his grip wasn’t painful.“He needs help,” I whispered looking back at the wounded man.He couldn’t have been older than sixty as his once-white shirt was soaked in crimson, and one sleeve had been ripped away to reveal a hastily bandaged shoulder. Blood continued to seep through the fabric, dripping steadily onto the stone floor beneath his chair.He was looking so exhausted and broken yet his eyes were frighteningly alert.“They’re listening ” He struggled to breathe.“Who are you?” Viktor asked pointing his pistol at him. The man ignored him, instead, his gaze remained fixed on me.“They weren’t supposed to find this room.” He

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Arielle’s POVThe laughter came again in a soft and almost playful way, it was echoing up the narrow staircase before dissolving into silence thereby leaving an icy knot in my stomach.“There can’t be a child down there,” I whispered, staring into the darkness below.Viktor didn’t answer as his pistol still remained trained on the opening.The old man slumped motionless in the chair as his shallow breathing was barely visible. Whether he had passed out or was simply too weak to move, I couldn’t tell.Then another sound of dragged footsteps started coming from somewhere under the staircase. Every instinct told me to back away but instead, I found myself stepping closer.“Arielle. Stay behind me. I need to know what’s down there, so you need to stay alive.” Viktor said in a low tone.“I’m tired of everyone deciding that for me.” I replied.Without waiting for his response, I started moving towards the opening. The staircase was narrow and carved directly into ancient stone. Moisture gli