It's Called: Freefall

Chapter 11

Meghna was scoping an under construction building, walking through the incomplete structures. She had decoded the location of the Wearhouse through pendrives content. She still had enough contacts to pull the strings and get access to what she needed.

She walked a little deeper into the building, that's when someone pulled her inside one of the rooms. Meghna was already on a high alert and attempts to shoot the man with her gun when she realizes it's Amar.

He lets go of her when he sees recognition flashing in her eyes.

"Looks like you haven’t stopped tracking me." She states flatly, finally relaxing a bit.

He avoids her jab. That was still a painful subject and he did not want to dwell into that.

"Well, when I heard about LUCIFER, I knew you won’t stop. Was this the reason you were after Roxxon?” He asks looking at her.

"Happy accident?" Meghna gives a sugar coated smile trying to deflect. A gesture that infuriates Amar.

"Meghna, even last time I knew-"

"You know nothing Pathaan!"

He's interrupted by Meghna's sudden outburst. He's not "pathaan" for Meghna. Hearing her call him that, leaves a sour taste in his mouth. He immediately feels distanced, the way he had felt all those years ago.

“I have been after LUCIFER since a long time Pathaan. I’ve gotten close once, only to be captured and tortured!”
She momentarily closes her eyes as if to banish the visuals, as she goes on.

"Meghna, let me help. Please."

He pleads, trying to ignore the ‘caputred and tortured’ part of her speech for now. Maybe he will ask once they get out of here.

Meghna looks at him for a second and  nods, allowing him to help her. They both get out of the room, weapons in hand, and walk towards the end of the corridor.

There were boxes stacked everywhere, huge chains and hooks hanging from the ceiling. There was a single metal chair in the center of the room with a piece of paper on top of it.

"I think there is no one here."

Pathaan mutters as he walks towards the chair. In one careless, miscalculated step, he picks up the paper just as Meghna walks behind him,

"Dont touch it. It could be a trap-"

But the damage is done before she could complete her statement. A sharp arrow scrapes her right shoulder. Pathaan barely misses it.

The effects are immediate, Meghna falls to the ground, slowly loosing consciousness. Pathaan suspects the arrow could be laced with poison. He cradles her in his arms trying to keep her awake.

"Meghna open your eyes. Meghna! Look at me." He tries to get her attention. But she's fading already.

Following events are a blur. Pathaan picks up a barely conscious Meghna and runs toward his car. He contacts Rubai and practically barks at her to get the emergency medical team to his place with an antidote of every sort.

-----

Pathan drives them at a maddening speed to his apartment where the medical team and Rubai were already waiting. He rushes inside and places Meghna on his bed. The medical team gets to work immediately. Pathaan crouches next to the bed and tries to wake her up.

"C'mon Meghna stay with me. C'mon baby, please."
He mutters, cradling her face and trying to wake her up.

Meghna struggles to open her eyes. Her lips are already turning blue. Yet she manages to speak a little,

"I'm sorry Amar- f- for everything." Meghna finally loses consciousness.

"Meghna.. Meghna NO." He says desperately as he searches for any signs of life on her being.

Rubai watches the exchange from the doorway.