Chapter 17: The Test of Loyalty

The morning sunlight slipped through the cracks in the old, weathered boards of the warehouse, forming odd-looking patterns of light on the cold concrete floor. The light felt alien, almost unnatural, like a painful reminder that the world went on out there as usual while they were trapped in a death game that knew no end.

Sofia blinked her eyes slowly, her eyelids heavy after a night of anxiety and sleep that only came in short fragments.

She was curled up in the corner of the small room, her body feeling stiff on the old sofa whose spring eyes protruded from under the worn fabric. The small table nearby was littered with the circular marks of coffee cups, signifying countless long nights.

The cold morning air bit, bringing with it the thick scent of dust and the faint odor of grease from the old appliances lying around. Sofia took a deep breath, trying to calm her heartbeat, which was still racing from the nightmare she vaguely remembered.

Dario is already awake. He is standing by a small window that barely provides any view, showing only a hint of gray sky and the shadows of the roofs of other buildings. His shoulders are slightly tense, although he looks as erect and restrained as ever from behind.

But Sofia could see deeper and read small cues that others might not notice—the restless movement of hands at her sides, the slightly heavier-than-usual breathing. A storm was brewing inside her, though her face tried to hide it all.

“Up earlier than usual?” Sofia broke the silence, her voice hoarse from too much silence. She tried to give a light tone to her question, though it was hard to ignore the tension hanging in the air like a lingering fog.

Dario turned his head, momentarily looking surprised. However, he soon put on his calculating smile. “Today is an important day. You must be prepared.”

Sofia frowned. “How well can I prepare myself for something I don’t know?”

Dario didn’t have time to answer that question when a loud knock on the door broke the silence. The door opened, revealing one of Ricardo’s men, a burly man with a cold stare. “Ricardo wants to see you both now,” he said briefly before leaving without waiting for an answer.

Dario reached out to help Sofia. “Follow me, and don’t let your emotions get the better of you,” he said quietly.

They strolled through the gloomy, narrow hallway, each step echoing off the cold metal walls. The flickering light from the chandelier on the ceiling created shadows that moved restlessly as if describing Sofia’s mood.

The air in the hallway is thick, filled with the scent of rusting metal and traces of dampness that seem to stick to the skin. Sofia walks behind Dario, her eyes scanning every corner and crevice and her heart beating like a war drum.

At the end of the hallway, they came to a large door that was slightly ajar. As they pushed it slowly, the large room behind it was revealed to be dark, dusty, and filled with an eerie sense of coldness. The lights on the ceiling illuminated the center of the room weakly, while the corners were drowned in darkness. Ricardo sat in the center of the room on a large chair resembling an underground throne.

He was not alone. Several armed men stood around him, their bodies erect like guardian statues. The weapons in their hands were visible, shining in the dim light. Sofia could feel the tension in their every little movement as if they were waiting for the cue to act.

Ricardo turns his chair slowly, his movements deliberate and full of control, like someone who knows he is the master of this stage. His gaze meets Sofia’s; at that moment, Sofia feels her entire body frozen.

The man’s eyes were sharp, dark, and filled with something she couldn’t explain- a mixture of menace, amusement, and cruelty that made her feel like she had nowhere to hide.

“You brought a rather attractive woman, Dario,” Ricardo continued. “But I’m still not sure why I should trust you.”

Dario stood up straight. “I already gave up Sofia. What else do you need from me if that’s not enough?”

Ricardo chuckled, his tone sounding dangerous. “Loyalty is not only about what you give up but also what you sacrifice.”

He stood up, stepping closer to Sofia. “You,” he said, pointing at her, ”will be part of this test.”

Ricardo stepped over to the table in the center of the room, where a pistol lay. He picked up the gun, looking at Sofia with a faint smile. “I want to know to what extent Dario cares about you.”

Sofia froze in place, her body beginning to tremble. “What do you mean?” she asked, almost whispering.

Ricardo didn’t answer. Instead, he handed the gun to Dario. “You want to prove your loyalty, Moretti? Kill him.”

The room instantly became silent. Sofia looked at Dario with eyes full of shock, while Dario looked at the gun with an expression that was difficult to read.

“I don’t have time for games,” Ricardo added, his eyes flashing coldly. “If you can’t do it, I’ll know where your true loyalties lie.”

Sofia felt her chest tighten. She wanted to scream, but the sound didn’t come out. Instead, she could only stare at Dario, hoping to find the answer in his eyes.

Dario finally raised the gun, but his movements were slow. His hands were shaking, something Sofia had never seen from him before.

“I didn’t want this to happen,” Dario said softly, almost a whisper.

“Dario...” Sofia finally found her voice. “What are you doing?”

“I have to,” he replied, his voice sounding desperate.

However, before Dario could do anything, Ricardo stepped closer. “That’s enough,” he said, taking the gun from Dario’s hand.

He laughed softly. “I just wanted to see your reaction. You’re quite attractive, Moretti. But I’m not entirely sure yet.”

Ricardo turned towards Sofia, his smile fading. “You’re pretty strong too, Bella. Not many can stay upright in your situation.”

He waved his hand, signaling his men. “Take them to their rooms. I’ll decide on the next step later.”

Sofia and Dario were led out of the room, but the atmosphere between them was heavy.

After they returned to the room, Sofia turned towards Dario, her eyes blazing with anger. “You’re going to shoot me, aren’t you?”

Dario sighed, rubbing his face with both hands. “I have no choice.”

“No choice?” Sofia almost shouted. “How can I trust you after this?”

“I know you won’t understand it now,” Dario said in a firm tone. “But I did it to protect you. If I refused, Ricardo would have killed us both on the spot.”

Sofia didn’t know if she could trust his words. Her heart felt broken, and she began to think that she had made a big mistake by trusting Dario in the first place.