The moon hung low in the sky, casting eerie shadows across the quiet suburban street. Nathan paced the living room, his heart racing. Karen sat on the couch, her fingers tapping nervously against her thigh.
"I know it's three in the morning," Nathan said, his voice strained, "but I can't find my cat."
Karen raised an eyebrow. "Nathan, this isn't about your cat, is it?"
He hesitated, then sank onto the couch beside her. "No," he admitted. "It's not."
Earlier that evening, they had been celebrating their third anniversary at a cozy Italian restaurant. The wine had flowed, laughter had filled the air, and Nathan had planned to propose. But as they left the restaurant, a van had pulled up beside them, masked men grabbing Karen and shoving her inside. Nathan had fought back, but they'd knocked him out cold.
Now, they were trapped in a dimly lit room, their hands bound with rough rope. Nathan's head throbbed, and Karen's eyes were wide with fear.
"Who are they?" Karen whispered, her voice barely audible.
Nathan glanced at the small window high on the wall. "I don't know. But they want something from us."
Karen leaned closer. "What?"
"They mentioned a secret code," Nathan said. "Something about my work. But I have no idea what they're talking about."
Karen's eyes darted around the room. "We need to escape."
Nathan nodded. "Agreed. But how?"
They spent hours whispering, planning, and searching for weaknesses. Nathan noticed a loose floorboard near the corner. Maybe they could pry it up and find a way out.
As dawn approached, Karen's face was pale, her lips trembling. "Nathan," she said, "if we don't make it out of here..."
He took her hand. "We will," he promised. "We have to."
They worked together, their fingers raw from pulling at the floorboard. Finally, it gave way, revealing a narrow tunnel beneath. Nathan went first, squeezing through the tight space. Karen followed, her breaths shallow.
Outside, they stumbled into a forest. The air smelled of pine and freedom. They collapsed on the damp ground, their hearts pounding.
"We did it," Karen whispered, tears streaming down her face.
Nathan pulled her close, their bodies shaking with relief. "We're alive," he said. "And we'll find a way to stop them."
As they walked hand in hand through the trees, Nathan glanced at Karen. "You know," he said, "I was going to propose tonight."
Karen blinked. "What?"
He smiled. "I had the ring in my pocket. But I guess this is our engagement story now."
Karen laughed, the sound echoing through the forest. "It's certainly memorable."
They kept walking, their fingers intertwined. The sun peeked over the horizon, casting a warm glow on their faces.
"Karen," Nathan said, "no matter what happens next, I love you."
She leaned against him, her head on his shoulder. "I love you too, Nathan."
And in that moment, surrounded by trees and the promise of a new day, they knew they'd face whatever came next together.
