Chapter 176
Chapter 176
The truck was as quiet as a graveyard, the darkness pressing down on Sophia, making it hard to breathe. Curled up in a corner, she leaned against the icy metal wall, feeling the cold seep into her bones.
The air was thin, smelling of metal, gasoline, and a hint of mustiness that made her nose twitch. She fought back a gag, clenching her teeth.
Holding her breath, she moved cautiously, trying not to make a sound.
The only noise was the low rumble of the engine, like the growl of a wild beast, reminding her they were still moving. All other noises were swallowed by the darkness.
'Don't panic, stay calm,' she repeated in her mind, trying to push down the fear. Her thoughts raced like a runaway train, questions flooding her mind.
Why did Gary grab her? What was his next move? Where were they? Was this all planned?
Time dragged on, each second feeling like torture. She tried to think of a way out.
Her hand found two strange objects at her waist. Were they really bombs?
She took a deep breath, nails digging into her palm, the pain waking her from fear.
She couldn't lose it; she had to stay strong!
Suddenly, the car jolted to a stop. Sophia tensed, holding her breath and straining to listen for any sound. The car door closed, and footsteps approached, measured and unhurried.
The tailgate was thrown open with a thud, breaking the silence. A blinding light hit her face, and she shielded her eyes from the intensity of the beam.
"Awake? Stop playing dead," Gary's voice was cold and mocking.
Sophia lifted her head, fear in her heart, "What do you want? I don't know anything!"
Gary chuckled, the light flickering on her face. Leaning close, he said, "You'll find out soon enough."
Sophia felt a weight in her chest, nails digging into her palm. She knew resisting now would only make things worse.
Gary didn't say a word, roughly pulling Sophia out of the car. She stumbled, trying to regain her balance, but was then shoved into an even tighter space: a suitcase.
The cramped space made it hard for her to move, forcing her to curl up. The cold, hard plastic walls ached against her body, making it hard to breathe.
"Stay quiet," Gary warned in a hushed tone, slamming the lid shut, plunging Sophia into darkness and silence, the air thick and suffocating inside the suitcase.
Sophia shut her eyes, straining to hear any outside sounds through the faint noises.
The suitcase wheels started rolling smoothly, with occasional distant barking and car horns, but the sounds were too muffled to pinpoint.
'Stay calm, stay alert, catch every detail.' She repeated to herself, focusing on her breathing to avoid passing out from lack of air.
After an unknown time, the suitcase halted. She heard a door slide open, followed by hushed voices.
"You're here," a deep voice she didn't recognize said.
"How much longer?" Gary's voice held tension now.
"Fifteen minutes."
Sophia held her breath, her heart racing. Fifteen minutes? Where to? Why? Her mind raced with questions, each one more unsettling than the last.
Meanwhile, the cold wind howled outside Zane's house, carrying a frosty chill. Robert stood beneath a dim streetlight, gripping his phone tightly, trying to contain his impatience.
He glanced at the surveillance camera on the utility pole, silently praying: 'This time, I have to track down Gary's whereabouts.'
"Ethan, contact transportation, get all the surveillance footage for this road, and focus on Gary's vehicles," he instructed in a firm tone, his gaze sharp.
"Got it!" Ethan replied promptly, dialing the department's number.
Robert turned to his car, pulled out a file, and began calling the five girls who had dropped out of high school a decade ago.
"This is Robert, head of the city police's criminal investigation team. Urgent message, Beckett's father may be seeking revenge on individuals linked to events from ten years ago."
After a few calls, some responses were indifferent, some hung up, but one lead pointed to Dina Evans - Dana's cousin who had moved to Celestria after leaving high school, potentially one of the victims from the past.
Back at the police station, Ethan handed Robert an updated file. Opening it, Robert's eyes fell on a photo of a young girl, her face innocent and pure.