Chapter 107

Chapter 107


Rain chased them down the alley in fast cold sheets that slapped against their clothes and made the pavement shine like black glass. Lila tried to keep her breathing steady while her feet splashed through puddles, but the fear kept creeping up her spine, sharp and cold. Nate held her hand tight, not pulling her, just guiding her with this quiet certainty that made her cling to him even harder. Mia stayed close behind them, arms wrapped around her soaked jacket as she muttered every warning she saw ahead.

The city felt different at night when danger was already at their backs. Every streetlamp felt too bright. Every shadow felt too deep. Every passing car sounded like it could be filled with Watkins’ men.

Lila swallowed hard. “How close are they.”

Nate did not look back. “Close enough that we have to keep moving.”

Mia blew out a shaky breath. “I hate this city. It used to be loud and annoying. Now it feels like every corner has teeth.”

They crossed between two abandoned shops, then slipped behind a row of dumpsters. The smell of old trash hung heavy in the air, but it was better than being seen. When they reached the narrow opening that led toward the old train yard, Lila stopped for a moment and pressed a hand against the wet brick wall. Her lungs burned from the run and the cold pushed into her bones.

Nate stepped in front of her. “You alright.”

“No,” she whispered, “but I can keep going.”

His fingers brushed her cheek, warm despite the rain. “Just stay with me.”

She nodded, but she could not shake the feeling that someone was watching them from the shadows. It was not a sound, just a sensation that crawled across her skin like a warning.

Mia glanced around nervously. “Something feels wrong. It is too quiet out here.”

“We are close,” Nate said. “Once we reach the train yard, we will have space to move.”

They started forward again, but Lila kept her eyes on the rooftops. Every now and then she caught a dark shape that made her heart jump, only for it to turn out to be a chimney or an old sign. She hated how fear made everything look alive.

The train yard appeared through the fog like a ghost. Rows of rusted freight cars sat abandoned in broken lines, and the old tower in the center leaned slightly to one side, as if one strong wind could send it crashing down. The place smelled like metal and rain and old stories.

Nate stopped them at the edge. “Stay quiet. We will go through the center. Less places for someone to hide.”

Mia shivered. “Less places for us to hide too.”

“That is the point,” he said.

Lila followed him between two giant freight cars. The air felt thick inside the yard, like everything was holding its breath. Rain dripped from the edges of the metal roofs in steady streams, tapping loudly against puddles below.

As they passed a broken ladder, Lila brushed her fingers against the cold metal. “My father used to bring me past here when I was little,” she said quietly. “I was always afraid the trains would start moving again. He told me the city forgets places like this, just tosses them aside.”

Nate looked at her for a moment. “The city forgets everything it cannot use.”

Mia scoffed. “Sounds like Carla.”

Lila felt her stomach twist at the name. Carla was out there somewhere, probably watching the rain with that calm cruel look she always had, the look that said she knew exactly where everyone would fall when the dust settled.

They reached the middle of the yard. Nate raised a hand for them to stop.

Lila froze.

Mia froze.

Nate listened.

The rain tapped against the metal roofs, steady and relentless, but beneath that sound there was something else. A faint crunch. A soft thud.

Someone was here.

Lila’s heart leapt into her throat.

Nate whispered, “Do not panic.”

Mia whispered back, “Too late for that.”

Lila tried to steady her breath. “Where are they.”

Nate pointed toward a dark shape near a stack of crates. “There.”

Just as he stepped forward, the shape shifted and a figure broke out from the shadows.

Lila gasped.

Nate reached for her arm.

Mia cursed under her breath.

The figure stepped into the dim light.

It was Ethan.

He looked soaked, shaken and desperate. Rain plastered his hair to his forehead and his eyes darted all over the yard like he was waiting for someone to jump out at him.

Lila felt anger rush through her body so fast it almost warmed her. “What are you doing here.”

Ethan raised both hands. “Wait. Just let me explain.”

Nate stepped in front of Lila. His voice dropped into something cold. “You have ten seconds.”

“I was not trying to help Carla,” Ethan said quickly. “I swear I was not. She tricked me. She said she knew where Sadie was. She said she would help me if I kept her updated about Lila. I did not know she planned to take her father. I did not know she meant to hurt anyone.”

Lila stared at him. “You told her where I was.”

He swallowed hard. “Yes. I did. And I hate myself for it. That is why I am here. I want to fix it. I want to make it right.”

Mia scoffed. “You are about ten betrayals too late.”

Ethan stepped forward. “Carla moved him. I know where.”

Lila’s breath caught. “Where.”

“An old warehouse by the river. She plans to move him at sunrise. After that, he will disappear. I heard her say it.”

Nate grabbed Ethan by the front of his wet shirt. “You better be telling the truth.”

Ethan nodded quickly. “I am. Please. Let me help.”

Lila looked at both of them, fear turning into something sharper. “If Carla moves him, we will lose him forever.”

Nate dropped Ethan and looked at her. “Then we go now.”

Mia sighed. “This night just keeps getting better.”

Before they could move, thunder cracked across the sky. Lila jumped, but it was not thunder.

It was a gunshot.

The sound echoed through the yard.

Nate pushed Lila behind him. Mia ducked behind a crate. Ethan stumbled backward with wide terrified eyes.

Lila’s heart slammed against her ribs.

She turned slowly.

Carla stood on top of one of the freight cars, soaked by the rain and smiling like she had been waiting for this moment all night. The gun in her hand gleamed under the weak yard lights.

Her voice rang out clear and cold.

“I was wondering when you would finally stop running.”