**Captured**
Ava struggled against the iron grip holding her, her heart pounding as her captor forced her arms behind her back. She twisted, kicking out, but it was no use. Sergei’s henchman was too strong, and her gun now lay uselessly on the floor, well out of reach.
Sergei’s cold smile widened as he watched her fight. “Brave, but reckless,” he said, his voice laced with a quiet amusement. “That’s what I’ve always admired about you, Ava. So driven, so determined. But it blinds you.”
Ava glared at him, refusing to show fear. “You’re only still standing because no one’s figured out how to take you down yet. That changes tonight.”
Sergei took a step forward, his gaze unwavering. “You think I’m just another criminal, another Victor? You have no idea what’s coming, do you?”
She held his gaze, defiant. “Then why don’t you enlighten me?”
Sergei chuckled, as though amused by her audacity. “You’re in no position to make demands, Ava. You walked right into my trap. I could end this right now and be rid of you. But,” he said, pausing as he considered her, “I have another idea.”
Before she could respond, Sergei signaled to his henchman, who quickly tightened his grip and forced her down into a nearby chair. Ava gritted her teeth as they secured her hands behind her back, the cold metal of the cuffs biting into her wrists.
Sergei leaned down until his face was level with hers, his expression unreadable. “You’re useful, Ava. Smart, resourceful. You could go far in this world if you weren’t so set on playing hero. But there’s still time for you to reconsider.”
Ava met his gaze with steely resolve. “I’ll never work for you.”
He sighed, feigning disappointment. “You misunderstand. I’m giving you a choice. Either you join us and use that brain of yours to help shape the future of this city, or…you disappear.”
She didn’t respond, refusing to give him the satisfaction. She knew Sergei thrived on control, and she wouldn’t let him see her afraid.
He straightened, studying her with an almost clinical interest. “Very well. Perhaps a little time to think will change your mind.” He motioned to his henchman, who pulled a hood over her head, plunging her into darkness.
She felt herself being lifted, dragged through the warehouse, her mind racing with potential escape plans. She had trained for situations like this but hadn’t expected to face them alone, in a warehouse in the dead of night. If only she’d waited for Elias or had someone tracking her location.
Ava’s stomach churned as they loaded her into the back of a vehicle. The drive was long, winding through roads she couldn’t track. She focused on her breathing, trying to calm her mind, preparing herself to face whatever was waiting.
When they finally stopped, she was yanked from the vehicle and forced forward. The hood was ripped off, and she squinted, adjusting to the dim light of a concrete cell. The heavy door clanged shut behind her, the sound echoing through the empty space.
Ava’s wrists were still bound, but she immediately began assessing her surroundings, searching for anything that could help her escape. The room was small and empty, with only a metal chair in the corner and a flickering bulb overhead. She tested the strength of her bindings, wincing as the metal cuffs dug into her skin.
Just then, the door swung open, and Sergei entered, this time flanked by two more of his men. He studied her with that same cold, detached gaze.
“Comfortable?” he asked, his voice dripping with mockery.
She glared at him, saying nothing.
Sergei took a step closer. “You may not want to believe it, but I’m offering you a lifeline, Ava. Join me, and you’ll have power, influence—everything you could ever want. You’re a talented woman, and I could use someone like you in my new organization.”
She clenched her fists, anger boiling inside her. “Your ‘organization’ is a cancer on this city, Sergei. People like you are the reason innocent lives get destroyed.”
He smirked, undeterred by her defiance. “And people like you are always too blind to see the real picture. There is no good or evil in this world, Ava. Only power. You can either seize it, or let it crush you.”
Ava held her ground, but her silence only seemed to amuse him.
Finally, he sighed. “Fine. Since you’re so determined, I’ll leave you here to…think things over. But don’t expect a warm reception if you refuse again. The next time we speak, I expect a different answer.”
With that, he turned and left, the door slamming shut behind him. She was alone again, but his words lingered, echoing in her mind. She couldn’t let him get to her, couldn’t let him see her weakness.
The hours stretched on, her mind working through possible escape plans. She knew that Elias would be searching for her, but she couldn’t rely on a rescue. She had to find her own way out.
As the minutes ticked by, she noticed something strange about the cuffs on her wrists. They were older, rusted, and not as secure as they seemed. She began working at them, twisting her wrists despite the pain. Finally, with a final twist, the cuff slipped free, her wrists raw and bleeding but liberated.
Ava rubbed her wrists, allowing herself a small, fierce smile. She hadn’t been broken yet.
Carefully, she crept to the door, pressing her ear against it. She heard footsteps approaching from down the hall, her pulse quickening. She backed away, searching the room for anything she could use as a weapon.
Just as the footsteps reached the door, she grabbed the metal chair in the corner, holding it like a battering ram. The door opened, and she swung, catching the guard off guard and knocking him to the ground.
Without hesitation, she bolted past him, sprinting down the dimly lit hallway. The adrenaline surged through her as she navigated the twists and turns, her only focus on escaping before Sergei discovered her absence.
Finally, she burst through an exit, emerging into the night air. She didn’t stop, racing down the alleyway, her heart pounding. She kept moving, slipping into the shadows until she was far enough from the building to finally slow down.
When she felt she was safe, she pulled out her phone and dialed Elias. His voice crackled through the line, filled with relief and urgency. “Ava, where are you?”
“I’m safe…for now,” she replied, her voice shaking slightly. “But I found Sergei, Elias. He’s planning something huge, and he’s not giving up until he has the city in his grip.”
“We’ll get him, Ava,” Elias assured her. “I’ve got every contact we need on high alert. We’ll bring him down.”
Ava took a steadying breath. She wasn’t done, not by a long shot. Sergei had made her a target, and now, more than ever, she was determined to finish this. One way or another, she would end Sergei Kamarov’s reign and bring light to the shadows he had cast over her city.
