Page 23 of The Last of Love

Just as she took a step forward, a loud crash from below sent adrenaline surging through her veins. Her heart raced, and she steadied herself, gripping the pipe tightly. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very wrong.

“Fleur,” she whispered, the name barely escaping her lips. She wanted to scream, to call out, but she knew it could give away her position.

She pressed on, attempting to remain as calm as possible, even as the sweat of anxiety dripped down her skin. The oppressive silence felt like a predator stalking her every move. She had to find a way down, away from whoever had brought her here.

As she crept toward the stairs, the sense of anger and frustration grew heavier. The old wooden steps creaked under her weight, and she hesitated, listening for any sign of life. She heard scratching sounds, which sent chills down her spine. She gripped the pipe tighter, ready for anything. As she descended, Lena felt the building shift, the floorboards beneath her vibrating.

She reached the next floor, glancing around. The place was a maze of debris and shadows. Then, she spotted a group of men gathered in a dimly lit room at the end of the hall. Lena’s breath caught in her throat as she crouched low behind a rusted filing cabinet, trying to catch snippets of their conversation.

“…have to decide soon,” one of them said, his voice gruff and low. “If we don’t feed her to the dead, they’ll come for us next.”

A chill coursed through Lena’s veins as she realized they were talking about her. Surely it couldn’t be Fleur. She was too valuable. She felt her stomach drop, a cold wave of dread washing over her. They had no idea what she was capable of, what she was willing to fight for.

“Dr. Walt said she’s important. We can’t waste her,” another man interjected, his tone suggesting they were debating her fate as if she were nothing more than a piece on a chessboard.

Lena clenched her fists around the pipe, the anger and fear coiling within her like a tightly wound spring. She had to get out of here, had to find Fleur before it was too late.

Suddenly, one of the men turned and walked toward the doorway, and Lena froze, heart racing. She slipped back behind the cabinet, praying he wouldn’t notice her. The man paused, scanning the hallway with suspicion, then shrugged and continued onward, leaving her breathless and trembling in the shadows.

She waited, counting the seconds, hoping for the right moment. The men’s voices grew distant, and Lena took a deep breath, steeling herself. She had to move quickly.

She crept forward towards a door, keeping low, searching for a way to escape. Her leg throbbed painfully, but the adrenaline kept her moving forward.

As she neared the entrance, another crash from the floor above sent a wave through her body. Something was going on up there.

But just as she reached for the doorknob, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall. Lena froze, as she turned to face the oncoming threat. The door swung open, revealing two men, their expressions twisted with malice.

“Look what we have here,” one of them sneered, stepping forward. “Caught you trying to escape, did we? You silly girl.”

Before she could react, the other man lunged at her, grabbing her arms and pinning her against the wall. Lena fought against their grip, swinging the pipe wildly, but they were too strong. Panic surged in her as she realized she was outnumbered.

“Bring her,” the first man ordered, and they began dragging her back into the room where the others were waiting.

“No! Let me go!” Lena shouted, but her cries fell on deaf ears.

They pulled her into the room where the other men were gathered, their expressions gleeful as they watched her struggle. Lena's mind raced as she fought against them, adrenaline coursing through her veins.

“Guess you won’t be needing this,” one of the men said mockingly, snatching the pipe from her grip and tossing it aside.

“Please, you don’t have to do this,” Lena pleaded, desperation rising within her. “I can help you!”

They only laughed, the sound chilling her to the bone. “Help? You’re just bait for the dead now,” one of them taunted. “We’ll feed you to them, and then we’ll be safe for a while. They need food, just like us.”

Panic clawed at her throat. Her mind raced, seeking a way out as they began to hold her by the arms. But then she felt a surge of anger.No!She wouldn’t give in. Not without a fight.

“You think you can do this to me?” Lena spat, her voice fierce. “I won’t let you!”

One of the men smirked, stepping closer. “You won’t have a choice.”

With every fiber of her being, Lena pushed against their grip, using every ounce of strength to try to break free. But the men were too strong, and their laughter echoed in her ears as they held on tight to restrain her.

And just when she thought it couldn’t get any worse, the room fell silent. The men exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from amusement to something darker.

“Get ready,” one of them hissed. “The rotters will be here soon.”

Lena's heart raced as the realization crashed over her. This was her end. This was how the story finished.

Lena struggled against the men’s grip, her heart racing as they dragged her across the dusty room.

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