Concrete Jungle || Bad Omens || Noah Sebastian

Chapter sixteen

Noah ran, his heart pounding in his throat, each step a blend of adrenaline and fear. Elise felt weightless in his arms, yet her fragility served as a constant reminder of how precariously she hung by a thread. The corridor walls seemed to stretch infinitely as he pushed himself beyond his limits, muscles taut and mind racing with images of her hurt and alone. He couldn't allow that to happen again.

As he ran, chaos reigned in his mind, a tumult of questions and fears. Who were these kidnappers? Why had they done this to them? The notes he had read earlier came rushing back: "Subjects 17 and 18." A chilling realization took shape. They had been chosen as guinea pigs for an experiment. But what kind? And why him and Elise? What did they have in common, aside from being in the same cell?

At the far end of the corridor, Noah caught sight of a window. With a quick glance, he calculated the distance. It wasn’t high, but if the kidnappers were searching for them, he couldn't afford to be seen. He paused momentarily, Elise still cradled in his arms. Her eyelids were shut, and her breath was barely perceptible. Noah weighed his options. He needed a plan.

As his gaze settled on the glass, he noticed the reflections of the corridor, distorted and unsettling. The sounds grew louder, footsteps approaching. He had no time. Retreating, he laid Elise down beside the wall, grabbed a fire extinguisher from the corner of the room, and prepared to smash the window.

“Elise, please, hold on…” he whispered as he poised to strike. With a decisive blow, the glass shattered, and a cold shiver coursed through him. Gathering his courage, he glanced back; the corridor appeared empty, but his instincts urged him to move swiftly.

He scooped Elise back into his arms and leaped through the opening, feeling the shards of glass graze him. Freedom was mere steps away, and the sight of the open sky spurred him on. He landed on soft ground, Elise still cradled against him. Pain coursed through his legs, but the thought of finally being free propelled him forward.

“We’re out,” he murmured, as the cool wind brushed against his skin. But before he could savor that moment, the sound of footsteps filled the air. The kidnappers were not far behind, and panic hit him like a blow to the chest. He had to move; he had to hide.

With determination, he made his way toward a tree, striving to remain silent as Elise's breathing grew weaker. He concealed them both in the underbrush, his heart hammering. The world around him blurred as he struggled to comprehend the situation.

Then, suddenly, a group of men in masks and black suits emerged, moving stealthily around him. Their voices were harsh and authoritative.

“We need both subjects! We must bring them back!”

Noah froze, thoughts racing as he tried to understand what was happening. Why did they want Elise? Why did they want him? The realization struck him.

“Subjects,” not people. “Guinea pigs,” not human beings.

He clutched Elise tightly, but at that moment, a figure emerged from the shadows. A middle-aged man, his face partially uncovered, advanced with a purposeful stride. When his gaze locked onto Noah's, his expression shifted.

“Finally, we found you,” the man said, a smile that promised nothing good.

“You… who are you?” Noah asked, his voice trembling. Fear and confusion gripped him.

“You're not just any subject, Noah,” the man replied, “You're our flagship experiment. And now, please, don’t waste our time.”

Noah was overwhelmed. Memories surfaced like shards of glass: a conversation from years ago, the figure in the shadows during his concert.