Page 58 of Outrun The Devil

“Come one Jessica, pick up.”

Detective Olivia Collins pulled into the downtown Arizona State campus, finding a spot on the street close by. The Phoenix campus was woven into the downtown area, so it didn’t look like a normal university campus. Most of Jessica’s courses were online but she had a few there were still on campus and with the fear that consumed her, Olivia couldn’t think straight.

Panic surged through Olivia's veins, igniting a sense of urgency that propelled her forward. With trembling hands, she reached for her phone and swiftly accessed the map of the campus. Her mind became a whirlwind of fragmented memories and conversations with her daughter, desperately searching for any clue that could lead her to her whereabouts.

As she scanned the digital map, her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing the urgency of the situation. Time seemed to slip through her fingers like sand as she mentally retraced the steps her daughter might have taken. The fear that gripped her was both paralyzing and empowering, pushing her to move faster, to think faster.

But just as Olivia was about to decipher a potential path, a piercing scream pierced the air, jolting her from her thoughts. Her head snapped up, her eyes widening in alarm as she took in the chaotic scene unfolding before her. People were running in every direction, their faces etched with terror.

Instinct kicked in, overriding her thoughts and propelling her into action. With determination burning in her eyes, Olivia sprinted toward the source of the screams, her mind laser-focused on the safety of her daughter. Adrenaline surged through her veins, heightening her senses as she weaved through the frantic crowd.

Fear fueled her every step, fueling her determination to reach her daughter before it was too late. She maneuvered through the chaos, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of her daughter. Each scream that echoed through the air only served to intensify her sense of urgency.

“He’s got a gun,” one student yelled.

Olivia's head whipped around, her eyes scanning the chaotic scene with heightened focus. The realization struck her like a lightning bolt—Vincent was cunning enough to exploit the pandemonium as a distraction. If he had her daughter, he would blend in with the panicked crowd, using the commotion to his advantage.

As she darted through the throngs of people, her focus zeroed in on anyone exhibiting suspicious behavior, searching for any sign that could lead her closer to her daughter and Vincent. She trusted her gut instinct, knowing that her years of experience as a detective would guide her through this treacherous maze.

Amidst the chaos, Olivia's eyes locked onto a figure briefly glimpsed in the distance. A man whose gaze held a chilling familiarity. Her heart skipped a beat as her instincts screamed that it was Vincent. With a surge of determination, she quickened her pace, determined to confront him and ensure her daughter's safety.

Dodging and weaving through the crowd, Olivia closed in on the figure, her breath coming in rapid gasps.

The flurry of red hair caught her attention, Collins grabbed the woman’s arm to turn her towards her. “Jessica.”

But when the woman turned around it wasn’t Jessica.

“Sorry,” she said distracted as her eyes scanned for the man and Jessica.

Shit, shit, shit.

Turning in a circle, her hand on her forehead, Olivia realized there was only so much ground she could cover. Only one set of eyes scans over dozens of people.

As she was jostled by a passing shoulder, a sudden vision engulfed her senses.

In the blink of an eye, Olivia's surroundings faded away, replaced by a vivid vision that gripped her mind. There was a man dressed in a black hoodie and jeans, his menacing presence overpowering, forcefully shoving a woman with short red hair into the back of a rugged pickup truck.

The fear in her daughter's eyes pierced Olivia's soul, igniting a surge of protective urgency within her. She strained to focus on the details, her mind working frantically to absorb every fragment of information. With a desperate determination, she managed to glimpse a partial license plate number on the truck before the vision dissipated, leaving her breathless and consumed with a newfound resolve to rescue her daughter from the clutches of danger.

A surge of realization washed over Olivia, shattering the illusion of self-sufficiency she had built around herself. At that moment, she acknowledged the undeniable truth: she couldn't face this daunting challenge alone. No matter how fiercely she tried to convince herself otherwise, she was only human, vulnerable amidst a world teeming with predatory beings. Her carefully constructed walls and protective armor couldn't shield her from every threat that lurked in the shadows.

The weight of her daughter's life hanging in the balance brought clarity to her fractured perspective. She understood that strength was not measured solely by individual resolve but by the willingness to seek support and unity with others. She had to let go of her pride, her stubborn belief that she could shoulder the burden alone. The stakes were too high, and the dangers too pervasive.

If Olivia Collins was to have any chance of saving her daughter, she had to shed her stubborn self-reliance and wholeheartedly embrace the support offered to her. No longer could she feign acceptance while secretly harboring the intention of venturing out alone to resolve her problems. This time, it required true acceptance and trust in the assistance of others.

As she hurried toward her parked car, Olivia swiftly dialed Patel's number, her fingers trembling with a mix of urgency and determination. The other detective's voice came through the line, and Olivia wasted no time, relaying the urgent request for a partial plate run and providing a detailed description of the truck. A moment of hesitation lingered when Patel inquired if it was related to Vincent Blackwood, an inquiry that stirred a complex mix of emotions within Olivia.

“Yes, he has my daughter,” Olivia's voice trembled as she uttered those words, the weight of the situation amplifying the urgency in her tone. The words hung in the air, igniting a flurry of reactions on the other end of the line. Nathan's voice erupted in a mix of anger and frustration, his expletives laced with determination. Diaz's urgent calls followed, a chorus of urgency before the call abruptly ended.

The sound of the dial tone echoed in Olivia's ears, but her racing heart drowned out any other noise. Time was of the essence, and she had no room for doubt or hesitation. Instinct guided her next move, the gut feeling that emerged from the depths of her being. With unwavering conviction, Olivia hazarded a guess as to where Vincent Blackwood might have taken her daughter. Her mind flashed back to the beginning, to the place where the nightmare had unfolded.

Back to where it all began.

The memories surged forth, intertwined with a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins. Olivia's mind retraced the steps, the hidden corners, and the chilling encounters. She could almost smell the stale air, and feel the oppressive darkness that had once engulfed her. It was a place of nightmares, a place that had forever etched itself into her psyche.

Without wasting another moment, Olivia sprinted to her car, her hands trembling as she fumbled for the keys. Every second counted, every breath propelled her forward. The drive was a blur, the city streets blurring into a maze of possibilities and dangers. But her destination remained steadfast in her mind, an anchor amid the chaos.

As she pulled up to the desolate building, Olivia's heart pounded against her ribcage, the sound reverberating through the silent night. She stepped out of the car, her eyes scanning the surroundings with a mix of trepidation and determination. The echoes of past horrors danced in her mind, but she pushed them aside, drawing upon a reserve of inner strength.

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