Chapter 162 First Chase Alone

Chapter 162 First Chase Alone
Serena's POV

This wasn't a dream, this wasn't a drill. It was real, happening right before my door.

The footsteps didn’t pass, they lingered right outside my door till their shadow formed below the door.

I didn’t move, didn't even shift a muscle or take a loud breath. I kept my head straight and my fingers tight around the gun as I stood at the edge of the bed.

My eyes were fixed on the door like I could see through it as one set of footsteps turned into two. Then three.

I could hear them a bit clearer now, the faint scraping of their boots against the floor, they weren’t just standing there. They were waiting.

A few seconds later and a soft knock came from the door.

“Room service,” they called out from the other side.

I didn’t answer as silence followed even from the other end. I could feel them hanging around, leaning closer to the door like they were listening for the smallest movement inside.

Another knock came, harder this time. “Room service, please open up, ma'am,” the same voice called out but less patient now.

I turned to the window slowly, then back to the door with my mind already moving ahead, calculating how far I’d need to go, and how long I have to make it.

I searched for the quickest exit points as the room suddenly felt smaller, tighter, like the walls were closing in.

“Miss?” the voice called again, sharper now.

Still, I said nothing. I wasn't sure yet.

So I stepped quietly to the side of the door, lowering myself just enough to catch a glimpse of their feet through the narrow gap under the door.

There were boots, more than one pair. Heavy ones, not the kind of footwear I'd seen the staff wear around here.

My chest tightened slightly. They found me.

“Open the door,” he banged this time around, no longer pretending.

I moved as fast as I could without making a sound.

I got to the window in two steps then pulled the curtain aside just enough to see outside clearly.

I was on the first floor and the drop wouldn’t be clean, but it was survivable. It had to be.

Behind me, the door shook violently as something slammed into it.

The cheap wood looked to give way any second from now.

I pushed the window open with the cold air rushing in as I did.

The door took another hit, louder this time, and the frame cracked.

No more time.

I swung my leg over, gripping the edge as I lowered myself.

My arms strained for a second as my body hung out, suspended between staying and running.

Then I let go.

I hit the ground slightly hard with pain shooting up my leg. But I rolled with it, pushing through the pain as I forced myself up without hesitation.

Up in my room, I heard the door finally give way with a loud bang.

“Window!” I heard them yell after a second or two. “Move!”

I didn't wait to hear more, I broke out running down the way.

I ran as fast as I could across the back of the motel, refusing to look back as looking back could slow me down.

I cut straight towards the darker side of the building, heading for the narrow paths between two other buildings.

Heavy footsteps followed behind me, much closer than I liked.
“Stop!” One yelled as a gunshot rang out.

The bullet struck the wall beside me, sending pieces flying around. The people scampered as fast as they could, running in different directions.

I turned slightly as I ran, raising the gun and firing twice without slowing. I didn’t check if I hit anything though, I just kept moving.

I turned into an alley with my boots splashing through dirty water as I pushed forward without looking back.

The space was tight as the walls closed in on both sides, but it worked in my favor.

They now had fewer angles and fewer directions to come at me from.

Another shot echoed closer to me now.

Shit, that's the bad part.

I kept my head low instinctively, hitting the walls at both sides with my shoulders before pushing myself off it and running on.

My breathing was heavier now, but I couldn’t afford to panic.

I took another turn, then another, moving without bothering to think about where I was going.

I knew better, any delay in moments like this and getting caught was sure.

A figure suddenly appeared ahead of me, one of the attackers.

He raised his gun, but I fired first, shooting in a haste and hitting him in the shoulder, spinning him sideways as he staggered.

I didn’t wait, I ran past him, pushing harder now, ignoring the burn in my legs.

They were still behind me, still coming. This wasn’t random, they knew exactly who they were chasing.

I cut across a small open space, exposed for a few seconds too long, then ducked into another path that led away from the main street.

Here had more lights, more people. But they scampered away as another shot rang out.

Then another shot followed with something shattering near me as a bullet hit a wooden item.

That was way too close again.

I spotted a stack of crates and dropped low behind them before rolling to the side and firing twice in their direction.

I didn't exactly plan to hit them with the shots, just to push them back.

It worked for a moment as they stalled a bit, then they moved again, spreading out now and trying to cut me off.

I rolled out and ran deeper into the darker streets, paths where they couldn't as much as see me.

I slowed down a bit, just enough to hear if I'd lost them. But no, their footsteps were still there, slightly slower now.

I changed direction suddenly, cutting left instead of going forward as I'd made it to be going.

Then I doubled back along the edge of the path and kept low, moving quieter now while letting the darkness cover me.

One of them passed ahead of me, looking the wrong way. I slipped behind him without a sound and kept moving.

I kept putting as much distance as possible between us till the sounds behind me grew fainter.

Then… they completely faded off.

But I didn’t stop immediately, I kept moving till my legs forced me to slow, till my lungs burned and my body demanded a bit of rest.

Only then did I stop.

I leaned forward with my hands resting against my thigh and one still gripping the gun tightly.

My chest rose and fell as I forced my breathing back under control. Then I straightened after a few minutes, scanning the area fast.

There was nothing now. No footsteps, no voices, no movement. Just silence.

I was finally alone. At least for now.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand, tightening my grip around the gun again as I looked ahead into the darkness.

“This isn’t going to be easy,” I muttered quietly.

Not anymore.

They found me once, and they'll come again.

And next time… they'll be better prepared, I paused and looked down at the gun in my hand.

So I must be too.