Page 14 of Chained Fate
According to the schematics of the nearby buildings that our hackers found, there should be nothing on these walls except a couple of small windows on the second, third, and fourth floors.
“This door could’ve been added after the building was built,” Valery says, appearing at my elbow.“I imagine the residents found it convenient to have more than one exit.If I recall correctly, this is currently a hostel.”
A hostel.
My heartbeat picks up pace.
Why the fuck didn’t we consider this possibility before?
A hostel is a place where a person—say, a stubborn wife on the run—could easily stay for a couple of days, no abduction required.
“Let’s go in,” Ruslan says, but I’m already there, turning the handle.
I expect the door to be locked, but it opens easily, revealing a small lounge with shabby furniture.On the wall to my right is a small, empty reception desk and a set of doors that likely lead out to the main street.To my left, in the far corner, is a spiral staircase.
Valery is already heading over to the stairs, but I beat him there.Anticipation hums in my veins as I take the stairs three at a time.
I can all but feelher nearby, can sense her nearness in some uncanny way.
Clearing the stairs, I end up in a narrow hallway with three doors.
I push one open.
It’s a bathroom.
The second door reveals a row of showers.
Holding my breath, I approach the third.
As I reach for the handle, a sound reaches my ears.
A low, muffled female sob.
Everything inside me turns to ice even as adrenaline explodes in my veins.
My gun is already in my hand as I kick open the door—and freeze, stunned by the bloody scene before me.
Chapter7
Alina
My first instinct is to scream.But I don’t.Nobody would hear me, and though I’ve never had an opportunity to use my self-defense training, I remember what Pavel taught me.
Grabbing the glass of water I was reaching for, I throw myself off the bed on the opposite side of where the unknown man is standing.
It must hurt when my hip and shoulder hit the floor, but I don’t feel it.Just as I don’t feel the dizziness and the nausea that have been my constant companions of late.The adrenaline surging through me is like an infusion of espresso directly into my veins.My mind is crystal clear as I keep rolling, the glass clutched firmly in my hand.Behind me, I hear the intruder utter a vile French curse before his heavy footsteps round the bed.
I spring to my feet like a pop-up toy, the adrenaline lending me an athlete’s strength.In a split second, I take in my surroundings, searching for any potential avenues of escape.
There are none.
The intruder is between me and the door, and I wouldn’t be able to open the ancient window in time.Plus, we’re on the second floor.
I either go through him, or he corners me.
He must still think I’m helpless because he lets out a low, drunk laugh and lumbers toward me.“Pretty, pretty kitty,” he croons in French.“Come to papa, pretty girl.Come on, let me pet you…”
I clench my teeth and clutch the glass harder.
