Her Final Blade

chapter eight

Rosa sat still for a long moment, the locket in her palm feeling like a lead weight. The room felt colder now, the walls somehow closer, pressing in on her. She inhaled deeply, trying to steady her pulse. Her thoughts raced, but she forced herself to focus on the present.

Escape. She had to get out of here.

Her wrists throbbed beneath the tight plastic ties. Carefully, she shifted her hands, testing the strength of the bonds. They cut into her skin with every movement, but she didn’t stop. The pain was grounding, keeping her anchored in the moment. It reminded her that she was still alive.

The chair creaked slightly as she shifted, trying to gauge the stability of it. Metal legs, heavy but not immovable. She planted her feet on the ground, steadying herself, and gave a gentle push. The chair slid an inch across the cold floor. Not much, but it was something.

Listening closely, she heard no footsteps, no voices beyond the steel door. Whoever was outside wasn’t paying her any mind—yet. But she knew that could change any second.

Rosa’s eyes flicked around the room, searching for anything that could help her. The walls were bare, concrete, unyielding. The floor beneath her feet was slick with damp, and there was a faint glimmer of water pooling in the far corner. No tools, no weapons, no way to cut herself free.

Except…

Her gaze landed on the chair itself, the metal armrest where the zip ties were secured. The edge wasn’t sharp, but maybe—just maybe—if she worked the plastic against it long enough…

She leaned back slightly, angling her wrists until the plastic pressed against the metal. The rough surface bit into the zip ties as she began to slowly, carefully, rub them back and forth. It was an awkward position, and every movement sent a fresh wave of pain through her hands, but she ignored it.

Seconds ticked by, stretching into what felt like hours. Her shoulders ached, and her palms were slick with sweat. She could feel the zip ties starting to loosen, the resistance weakening. But it wasn’t fast enough.

Come on… just a little more…

The faint sound of voices outside the door made her heart race again. She froze, her ears straining to catch the words. The voices were muffled, but close—too close. Panic rose in her chest, but she pushed it down. If she panicked now, it was over.

She resumed her slow, deliberate movements, dragging the plastic harder against the metal. The edge bit into the ties, and suddenly, with a soft snap, they gave way.

Her wrists were free.

Rosa didn’t move for a moment, barely daring to believe it. Her hands throbbed, the skin raw where the ties had cut in, but she didn’t care. She flexed her fingers, wincing at the pain, but there was no time to dwell on it.

Quietly, carefully, she eased herself out of the chair. Her legs were shaky, pins and needles prickling up and down her limbs from being bound for too long. She crouched down, moving as silently as she could toward the steel door. Her fingers hovered just over the handle, heart pounding.

She listened again. The voices were distant now, fading into the background. She had no idea where Nolan was, or what he was planning, but she couldn’t wait to find out.

Taking a deep breath, Rosa turned the handle. The door creaked open, just a sliver, and she peered into the dimly lit hallway beyond. It was empty. For now.

Her heart hammered in her chest as she slipped through the crack in the door, every muscle tense, ready to spring at the first sign of trouble.

The hallway stretched out in both directions, narrow and windowless, just like the room she had been in. She turned left, moving quickly but quietly, staying close to the wall. Her steps were careful, calculated. She didn’t know this place, didn’t know how many people were here, but she wasn’t about to wait around and find out.

Her mind whirled with questions—about Nolan, about her uncle, about everything she had just learned. But for now, there was only one goal: get out.

As she moved deeper into the building, the air grew colder, the scent of damp stone heavier. She rounded a corner and froze, her breath catching in her throat.

Ahead of her, at the far end of the hallway, stood a lone guard, his back turned. He was armed, a gun holstered at his side, his posture relaxed, unaware of her presence.

Rosa’s heart raced as she considered her options. She had no weapons, no way to take him down quickly or quietly. If he turned around, it would all be over.

But there was no other way out.

She took a slow, steady breath, her mind racing. Maybe she didn’t need to fight him. Maybe there was another way to slip past unnoticed, to get out without raising the alarm.

And if that failed… well, she’d figure it out.

Rosa scanned the hallway again, her eyes landing on a small alcove just behind the guard. It was narrow, barely large enough for her to squeeze through, but if she moved quickly and quietly enough, she could slip past him without being seen.

She crouched low, edging forward with slow, deliberate steps, careful not to make a sound. The guard remained oblivious, his attention fixed elsewhere. Rosa’s pulse raced as she reached the alcove, her back pressed against the cold wall. Just a few more feet…

But then, her foot brushed against a loose piece of rubble on the floor. It clattered softly, the sound barely noticeable, but enough to make the guard freeze.

Rosa held her breath, willing herself to melt into the shadows.

The guard turned, his eyes narrowing as they scanned the hallway. For a moment, it seemed like he would pass her by. But then his gaze locked onto hers.

"Hey!" he shouted, reaching for his gun.

Rosa bolted.