Chapter 99

Chapter 99
The figure stepped inside slowly, as if testing the air. The dim moonlight drifted across the dusty floor, and for a moment the shadow looked like it could be anyone, a stranger, a threat, a nightmare come to life. Lila felt her breath catch in her throat. Her body tensed, ready to run again even though she had nothing left to give.

Nate moved in front of her with quiet urgency, but Lila stayed close behind him, her fingers gripping the back of his shirt. Ryan stood to the side with his fists raised, and Liz held a broken piece of crate like she was ready to swing at anything that breathed wrong.

The figure lifted a hand. “Wait, wait, calm down,” a voice whispered. “It is me.”

Lila felt her heart jump. She knew that voice. It was soft and shaky, but she knew it. When the person stepped fully into the moonlight, she saw the face she never expected.

It was Ethan.

Liz groaned loudly. “Oh for crying out loud. Of all people.”

Ryan muttered, “This day keeps getting better.”

Ethan raised both hands like he was trying to show he carried no weapon. His chest was heaving, and his clothes were messy, covered in dirt as if he had fallen more than once on the way here.

Nate’s voice was low and sharp. “You have three seconds to explain why you are following us.”

Ethan swallowed hard. “I am not here to hurt anyone. I swear. I needed to warn you.”

Lila stepped out from behind Nate. Anger burned in her stomach. “Warn us about what? About the officers you led to the forest? About Carla? About Sadie?”

Ethan shook his head quickly. “I did not bring the officers. I swear I did not. I only told Sadie that you were still in town. That is all.”

Liz pointed the broken wood at him like it was a sword. “That still makes you a snake.”

“I know,” Ethan whispered, his voice cracking. “I know. And I am sorry. But Sadie is not the only problem anymore.”

Nate did not lower his guard. “Talk.”

Ethan wiped sweat from his forehead. His hands were shaking so badly he almost dropped the small paper envelope he was holding. He looked at Lila, not Nate. His eyes were full of fear.

“Carla is coming back,” he said. “And she is not alone. She has people with her this time. Not officers. Not friends. Real dangerous people. She showed up at Sadie’s house earlier and said she would get you back even if she had to tear this town apart.”

Lila felt her stomach twist. “Why are you telling us this now?”

Ethan stepped closer, and Nate blocked him again. Ethan stopped immediately. “Because Sadie told me to spy on you,” he said. “She wanted you gone before Carla caused trouble. She wanted you out of the story so she could keep her reputation clean.”

Liz muttered under her breath, “Figures.”

Ethan continued speaking, his words spilling out fast. “Sadie already asked Vanessa about Nate. They think he helped you. They think he is hiding you. Carla wants proof. And Vanessa wants something to use against him. They are both watching the town right now.”

Nate cursed under his breath.

Ryan lifted his hands. “So we are surrounded by idiots and villains. Perfect.”

Ethan looked down at the envelope in his hand. “Carla left this behind when she stormed out. I grabbed it when no one was looking.” He held it out toward Lila. “You need to see it.”

She hesitated. Her fingers trembled as she reached for it. The paper felt rough and old. When she opened the flap, a cold chill ran through her body.

Inside was a photograph of her.

Younger. Thinner. Pale. Standing beside Carla’s truck.

Her eyes in the picture looked empty.

Liz leaned closer. “Oh no.”

Ryan’s voice dropped. “She is using this to track you. She wants proof that she owned you.”

Lila closed the envelope slowly. Her hands were unsteady, but her eyes were full of fire. “Carla thinks she can drag me back like I am some item she lost,” she said softly. “She does not get to do that anymore.”

Ethan stepped back as if the heat in her voice scared him. “I only came to warn you,” he said. “I know Sadie will be angry when she finds out I told you, but I do not care anymore. She is using everyone. Carla is worse. They are both losing control.”

Nate finally lowered his voice, though it was still tense. “If you lied about anything, it will be the last thing you ever do.”

“I am not lying,” Ethan said. “Carla is already in town. She was headed toward the center, asking anyone who would listen about you. And she is angry. Really angry.”

Liz stood. “Then we need to move. We need a plan.”

Ryan looked at the door again. “We cannot stay here. If Ethan found us, others can too.”

Lila looked at Ethan. “Did anyone follow you?”

He shook his head. “I do not think so. I ran through the alleys and came from the east side. No one saw me leave the house. No one saw me come here.”

Nate stared at him for a long moment. Then he turned to the others. “We leave now. While the streets are still quiet.”

Liz grabbed a crate piece again. “Where do we go?”

Nate looked at Lila. “Where do you feel safest?”

She wanted to say nowhere. She wanted to say she was tired of running, tired of hiding, tired of being chased like she was a ghost with no home.

But she forced herself to breathe.

“There is only one place Carla will not expect us to go,” she said slowly. “The main road. The one straight through town. She thinks we will stay in the dark corners. She thinks we will run away from the noise.”

Ryan blinked. “You want us to walk through the main road?”

Lila nodded. “Yes. If we go through the center, we disappear in the middle of everything. People, noise, lights. Carla hates crowds. Vanessa hates being noticed. Sadie hates being questioned. They will not look for us where everyone can see us.”

Nate smiled softly, even though his eyes were full of worry. “That is risky.”

“Yes,” Lila said. “But it is the only way.”

Liz sighed. “I cannot believe we are doing this.”

Ryan stood. “We have done worse.”

Ethan hesitated. “Do you want me to come with you?”

The entire room fell silent.

Lila thought about all the wrong things Ethan had done and all the right things he was trying to do now. She understood desperation. She understood fear. She understood wanting to break free from people who controlled everything.

She did not trust him. Not fully. But she did not hate him either.

“You walk behind us,” Lila said. “You stay quiet. And if you try anything, Nate will handle you.”

Nate raised a brow at Ethan. Ryan lifted his fists again. Liz stretched her arms like she was warming up for a fight.

Ethan nodded quickly. “I will behave.”

Lila opened the door and looked out into the night. The streets were still empty, but the silence felt heavy, like danger was hiding in every corner.

She stepped forward. “Let us go.”

They walked out together, their shadows stretching across the broken pavement as they headed straight toward the center of town.

They did not know what waited for them.
They only knew they could not go back.