Page 23 of Knot Happening

DARCY

The bus hissed to a stop,the doors opening with a mechanical groan that echoed my unease.Jin's hand was firm on my elbow, guiding me through the scatter of passengers.I clutched my torn dress, the fabric a mockery of the modesty I was desperately trying to preserve.My heart thudded in my chest, a drumbeat of fear and confusion.Jin had been my unexpected savior, but the way he'd maneuvered us onto the bus, his calm in the chaos—it was unnerving.

As we stepped off the bus, the world outside was a blur of darkness and streetlights.I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, a prickling at the back of my neck that set my teeth on edge.Jin's presence was a comforting shadow beside me, but doubt gnawed at me.How had he known exactly what to do?How had he been so prepared?

The crowd thinned, revealing the sleek, waiting cars that belonged to my father's men.Their predatory gazes swept over the disembarking passengers, and I knew we'd been spotted.Jin's hand tightened on mine, a silent signal to run, but it was too late.Shouts rang out, and people started to scream.In the ensuing pandemonium, Jin and I were wrenched apart.

I stumbled, my vision swimming, and I heard Jin call out my name.But I couldn't stop, couldn't look back.I darted into the nearest alley, my breaths coming in short, ragged gasps.I could hear them behind me, their footsteps growing closer with every heartbeat.

Desperation clawed at my throat as I spotted an unlocked car.Without thinking, I yanked open the trunk and crawled inside, pulling the lid shut above me.The darkness enveloped me like a shroud, and I fought to control my breathing, to quiet the panicked sobs that threatened to betray my hiding spot.

The car engine rumbled to life, and I felt the vehicle lurch forward, the motion jostling me against the spare tire and tools.I clutched at the fabric of the trunk's interior, trying to steady myself as we sped away from the scene.

Alone in the confined space, my mind raced.Jin's words on the bus replayed in my head, a casual remark that now seemed laced with ominous undertones."I've always been good at watching out for you, Darcy," he'd said.It was a simple statement, but coupled with his uncanny ability to predict my father's moves and his unsettling knowledge of my life, it painted a disturbing picture.

Could Jin be more than just a helpful acquaintance?The thought sent a chill down my spine.I'd felt safe with him, but what if his attentiveness was something darker, something more sinister?What if he'd been watching me far longer than I'd realized?

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push away the creeping suspicion.But it lingered, a whisper in the darkness that refused to be silenced.Jin's actions had saved me, but at what cost?And who was the person whose car I'd commandeered?I had no idea where I was being taken, or by whom.All I knew was that I was trapped, at the mercy of a stranger, with the unsettling possibility that Jin might not be the person I thought he was.

As I lay in the darkness of the trunk, Jin's voice echoed in my mind, sending chills down my spine.The car's motion lulled me into a false sense of security until my hand brushed against something cold and metallic.My fingers explored the object cautiously, tracing its shape—a knife, its blade sheathed but menacing.

My breath hitched as I discovered more.Syringes, wrapped in sterile packaging, a vial of clear liquid, and a set of handcuffs.My mind reeled.This wasn't just a spare tire and tools I was nestled amongst; it was a kill kit.The realization hit me like a physical blow.I was in the trunk of a killer's car.

Panic surged through me, adrenaline flooding my system.I had to get out.I fumbled in the dark for the trunk's release lever, my hands shaking with urgency.The car slowed, turning a corner, and I used the momentum to brace myself, feeling for the lever with renewed determination.

The car came to a stop, and the engine cut off.My heart was in my throat, my breaths coming in short, silent gasps.I found the lever and pulled it with all the strength I could muster.The trunk popped open a crack, and I pushed against it, wincing as the cool night air rushed in, the sound of gravel crunching underfoot just inches away from where I lay.

I rolled out of the trunk, landing awkwardly on the ground.I didn't look back, didn't dare to see the face of the person who owned this car.I ran, my dress catching on brambles and branches as I tore through the underbrush, the sounds of my escape masked by the darkness of the night.

Once I was sure I was far enough away, I slowed, my body screaming in protest.I needed to contact the Omega Underground, to let them know I was safe and to ask for their help.But as I reached into my dress pocket, my heart sank.My burner phone was gone, likely lost during my frantic flight or still on the bus with Jin.

I was alone, with no way to reach out for help.I had to find a phone, a payphone, anything.I stumbled through the unfamiliar streets, my eyes scanning for any sign of a business that might be open at this late hour.A neon sign in the distance caught my eye—a convenience store, its lights a beacon of hope.

As I approached, I kept my head down, my hair a curtain to hide my face.I couldn't risk being recognized.I pushed open the door, the chime of the entrance bell ringing out, and I made a beeline for the payphone tucked away in the corner.I picked up the receiver, my fingers trembling as I dialed the number I knew by heart, the number that represented my lifeline to the Omega Underground.

The line rang once, twice, and then—nothing.I hung up and tried again, only to be met with the same dead silence.The phone line was down.Despair clawed at me, but I refused to give in to the fear that threatened to overwhelm me.I had to keep moving, and had to find another way.

I stood there, the weight of desperation heavy on my shoulders.The payphone was useless; the silent line a cold reminder of my isolation.I couldn't stay here, that much was certain.Every second I lingered was a second too long, a risk of being found by my father's men or, worse, by whoever owned the car I'd so foolishly hidden in.

But I couldn't leave without a connection to the outside world, without a lifeline.My gaze drifted to the rack of burner phones by the register.Urgency and fear pulsed through me as my heart pounded in my chest.I knew what I had to do, and the knowledge sickened me.I'd never stolen anything in my life.But these were extraordinary circumstances, and I couldn't afford to be noble.

I approached the counter, my eyes fixed on the cashier, a middle-aged man engrossed in a newspaper.I feigned interest in a magazine, flipping through the pages as I edged closer to my target.My hand shook as I reached out, my fingers brushing against the plastic wrapping of the phone.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry.With one swift motion, I palmed the burner phone, tucking it into the folds of my dress.I offered the cashier a weak smile, my stomach churning with guilt and adrenaline.He returned my smile, oblivious to my theft, and I turned away, my heart hammering against my ribcage.

I made my way to the exit, each step measured and deliberate.The chime of the door sang out as I pushed it open, the sound jarring against the thudding of my pulse in my ears.I stepped out into the night, the cool air a stark contrast to the heat of my panic.

I didn't dare to breathe until I'd rounded the corner of the building, disappearing from the cashier's line of sight.The burner phone felt like a burning coal against my skin, a tangible reminder of my transgression.But it was also my salvation, my link to the Omega Underground and the help I so desperately needed.

* * *

JIN

The scent of coconut and vanilla, Darcy's scent, it was faint, but it was there, a breadcrumb trail leading me through the labyrinth of the city.I had been a step behind her all along, my alpha instincts screaming at me to move faster, to find her, but the city was vast and the crowd, a sea of faces, swallowed her up.

I had failed her.I should've been there, should've anticipated her father's move.I clenched my fists, the frustration bubbling within me, a hot, seething thing.How could I have let this happen?

I retraced my steps, my mind racing.The bus, the fucking bus where I had to reveal myself to her, to save her from the public spectacle of a heat spike.It was a risk, but one I was willing to take.And it had worked, for a moment.But now, she was gone, and I was left with the echo of her scent, teasing me, taunting me with every turn.

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