Unmasking Ghost

So it begins

Lara POV

I open my suitcase, and its contents spill all over the bed. I quickly grab a white cable knit jumper and a short green miniskirt.

"Come on, Lara," I mutter to myself as I search through the mess of clothes. "Please tell me I packed tights... bingo."

I tie my hair up in a high ponytail, securing it with a black bow that adds a touch of being put together even if mentally I'm still asleep. I slip on a pair of black boots that resemble cowboy boots.

"Yeehaw! You look like an idiot," I say aloud to my reflection in the mirror, kicking off the boots and opting for my trainers instead.

I meet the guys outside the hotel. Evan waves excitedly upon seeing me. He's a quiet guy but incredibly detail-oriented, and I appreciate that. Colin arrives with Stew, and the four of us climb into the taxi sent for us.

"So, as far as I know, it's a couple of hours of meet and greets, some not-so-great sandwiches, and some boring presentations from the company. Then, we get drinks," Stew says from the front passenger seat.

Anticipating my question, he adds, "Save all your questions for after the presentation." I close my mouth.

Evan looks at me, knowing that he has probably found the same information I did in the transferred files.

Originally, we were supposed to meet at our office. But at the last minute, we received instructions to meet at the new acquisitions office outside of Toronto.

As we pass by towering buildings, we eventually hit the freeway and drive for what feels like an eternity.

"Where the heck are we going?" I ask. The driver remains silent, seemingly unfazed.

I notice that the driver doesn't have a GPS or meter equipment.

I text Stew from the backseat:
Lara: Where the heck are we going?
Stew: Patetaspectu offices - it's an out-of-town spot, just to save on running costs I assume mate.
Lara: Did they organize this transfer?
Stew: Yeah, why?
Lara: It just feels weird.

Two hours northeast of Toronto, we find ourselves in the middle of nowhere. The car finally comes to a stop outside a dirt track, blocked by a gate. Something doesn't feel right. I glance at my phone, which shows 4% battery and only one bar of service. The driver opens the gate and gets back in the car.

"Are you sure this is right, mate?" Stew asks the driver, receiving a delayed response.

"Yeah, the guys are expecting you."

"Maybe it's like a team-building retreat," Colin suggests, looking out the window at the fields and hedgerows.

"I hate team-building activities," Evan mutters from the middle seat.

I silently agree with Evan as I stare out the window. Suddenly, my phone beeps.

Stew: Sorry, I was looking forward to the sandwiches too.
Lara: I'm never traveling with you again.

The van abruptly comes to a halt, kicking up dust that blurs my vision of the building ahead. It looks like a house.

Two men emerge at the entrance, and one of them discreetly tucks a gun into the back of his trousers. No one else seems to have noticed as they make their way directly to the van's doors. "I don't like this," I say to Evan, who clutches his backpack tightly on his lap.

I quickly grab my phone and send one final text to the first person on my list who isn't currently in the van, Matt:

Patetaspectu, HELP.

My phone dies, and all the van doors swing open.

"Get out!" the man standing next to me barks. "GET THE FUCK OUT!" he yells in my face. He snatches my phone and forcefully pulls me out of the van. Evan lands beside me.

The man with the gun, standing a little farther back, points the weapon at all of us. He's not tall and wears a suit that's too big for him, making him appear even smaller. "Grab their phones and bags," he motions the gun towards us, and our belongings are snatched away. The first man still holds my phone, along with Evan's backpack slung over his arm.

"Move," the short man in the gray suit orders, waving the gun towards the house. I follow Stew, who glances back at me, his towering figure blocking the way to the house. I look around and notice that four men are following us.

Inside the house, dimly lit by laptops and cables, the only source of illumination, tattered curtains cover the windows. The scent of decay and mold fills my nostrils.

"Sit," the man gestures to the floor to the left of the door.

I lower myself down slowly against faded wallpaper.

Two of the men approach us, binding our legs and wrists with cable ties. The door slams shut, and the atmosphere becomes even more oppressive.

"You're probably wondering, what the hell am I doing here?" the man with the gun says throwing his hands up mocking us, he keeps watching as we're restrained.

"Well, you're in possession of a file you really shouldn't have," he continues, moving over to a tattered sofa.

It's the first time I'm actually paying attention to him. His accent isn't very strong, but I can detect a hint of Eastern European, maybe Russian.

"Take the laptops and phones," Stew says. "We don't know what you're looking for."

"Ah, but you do," the man replies. "Those files contain the transaction codes and account numbers I need to get my money."

"Pretium," I blurt out without thinking.

His glare immediately turns towards me.

"Shut up, Lara," Stew grumbles.

"Exactly," the man says, grinning. His teeth are yellow and crooked. "Someone took my money, and I want to know where it's gone."

"Just take the laptops!" Evan suddenly yells, startling me. The man with the crooked teeth fires a single bullet.

I feel Evan slump against me, warm blood pooling down my shoulder.

The man lowers the gun and walks over to the three of us who are still captive. He squats down.

The last words I hear are, "If I just wanted the laptops, you'd already be dead." He smirks, the yellow teeth on display.

Suddenly, a blinding white light envelops my vision, followed by total darkness.