WHO AM I

THE DECENT

Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Five: The Descent

After the intense conversation at the diner, the air felt thick with tension. Lila sat in the backseat of Noah's car as they made their way to the mysterious Kira’s place, her thoughts racing. What was she supposed to do now? How could she trust anyone anymore, especially someone like Kira who was tangled in this dark web of lies?

In the front, Jasper was fiddling with the radio, trying to find a station that would distract him from the weight of the situation. The sound of Backstreet Boys filled the car as I Want It That Way started playing.

“Classic!” Jasper exclaimed, turning up the volume. “Nothing like 90s boy bands to lighten the mood.”

Noah rolled his eyes but let the music play, probably realizing that even a small distraction was better than the suffocating silence.

“Really, Jasper?” Cathy groaned from the seat next to Lila. “We’re being hunted by who-knows-what, and you’re playing Backstreet Boys?”

Jasper grinned. “Hey, if we’re going down, we might as well go down with a soundtrack. Plus, I’m pretty sure this song’s about someone needing to take control of their life or something. It’s fitting.”

Cathy smacked him lightly on the shoulder. “You’re hopeless.”

Lila couldn’t help but smile at their banter, even if her mind was far from carefree. The car swerved around a corner, and her stomach dropped. They were getting closer to their destination—the point of no return.

“We’re almost there,” Noah said quietly, his voice low and serious. “Remember, we’re just going to talk to Kira. Nothing more.”

“Right,” Lila said, though she wasn’t sure she believed it. In her experience, nothing ever stayed ‘just talking’ for long.

The group fell silent again as they approached an old, run-down warehouse on the outskirts of town. It looked abandoned, but the flicker of light through one of the high windows gave it away. Someone was inside.

Jasper turned to Noah. “So, are we going to knock, or is this one of those ‘we sneak in and hope for the best’ kind of situations?”

Noah parked the car and gave Jasper a stern look. “No sneaking. We go in carefully, and we let me do the talking.”

“Fine, but if this gets sketchy, I’m pulling out my killer ninja moves,” Jasper said, cracking his knuckles dramatically. “Just a warning.”

“I’d be more impressed if you actually knew any,” Cathy muttered, stepping out of the car.

They approached the warehouse cautiously, their footsteps echoing on the cracked pavement. Lila’s heart pounded in her chest as Noah knocked on the rusted metal door.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, the door creaked open, revealing a woman in her mid-twenties, dressed in all black, her hair pulled back into a high ponytail. She had a sharp look in her eyes, as if she had seen and done things she’d never talk about.

“Kira?” Noah asked.

The woman crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe. “Depends. Who’s asking?”

“I’m Noah. Phillip sent us,” he said, stepping forward but keeping his distance.

Her eyes scanned the group quickly, lingering on Lila for a moment before turning back to Noah. “Phillip, huh? So, you’re the ones caught in the crossfire.” She glanced back at Lila. “You must be the girl everyone’s after.”

Lila stiffened but nodded. “I didn’t ask for any of this.”

Kira let out a short, humorless laugh. “No one ever does.”

Before anyone could say more, Jasper piped up, “Hey, nice jacket. Is that real leather?”

Kira raised an eyebrow, clearly not amused. “Are you serious?”

Jasper shrugged. “Just trying to break the ice.”

Noah groaned. “Jasper, not now.”

Lila shot Jasper a look, but deep down, she appreciated the attempt. It lightened the mood, if only a little. The tension was still thick, but it felt manageable, at least for the moment.

Kira stepped aside and motioned for them to come in. “Alright, come on. Let’s see if I can help you stay alive long enough to make this worth my time.”