The Crimson Silence

No Place to Hide

Jake jolted awake to the blaring sound of his alarm. The cold had woven itself around him, anchoring him to the warmth of his bed. He silenced the alarm and lay there for a moment, feeling a restlessness gnawing at him. Slowly, he forced himself to rise, peeling away the weight of sleep and dread. His mind flashed back to the events of the past days—Angela’s haunting story, the insignia in Anna’s video, the shadows tailing him. But as he went to check the guest room, a new worry crept in. Alexandra was nowhere to be found.

A pang of concern tightened his chest. He grabbed his phone and dialed her number, but it went straight to voicemail. The tension simmered as he left a message, his voice low and urgent.

"Alexandra, where are you? We need to talk. Call me back."

He ended the call, a lingering sense of worry pulsing through him. Shaking off his unease, he went through the motions of getting ready, grabbing his laptop and memory card before heading out. On his way to the hospital, he picked up coffee and doughnuts for Lisa and the others. Just as he adjusted his helmet, he noticed a white van in his rearview mirror. It was tailing him, the driver’s intentions unmistakable.

Jake sped up, testing to see if it was a mere coincidence. But as he maneuvered through the streets, the van stayed with him, its silent pursuit growing more ominous. The hospital was close, and he pushed forward, hoping to shake off his pursuers in the bustling parking lot.

Finally arriving, he made his way to Katie’s room, heart still pounding. He plastered on a casual smile as he walked in, holding up the coffee and doughnuts.

"Morning, everyone," he greeted them.

Lisa raised an eyebrow, smirking playfully. "Wow, coffee and doughnuts… someone’s in a good mood."

Jake gave a light chuckle. "Hey, Sam. How did the audition go?" he asked, turning to his friend.

Sam’s face brightened with optimism. "Nothing solid yet, but my agent said I might hear something by tomorrow."

Jake patted Sam’s shoulder in silent encouragement, then finally turned to Katie, who lay in the hospital bed looking tired but defiant.

"Katie… you okay?" Jake asked, his tone softer.

She rolled her eyes, a playful smile breaking through her exhaustion. "I want to go home. I hate hospitals, Jake."

They all shared a laugh, easing the tension for a brief moment. But the levity was short-lived when a uniformed officer knocked on the door and addressed Jake.

"Mr. Daniel… the lieutenant wants to see you."

Jake exchanged a glance with the others, giving a reassuring nod before following the officer down the hall to Lieutenant Mathew’s room. Mathew looked up as Jake entered, motioning him to come closer.

"Jacob, come on in," he said, his voice gravelly and strained.

Jake returned his nod, taking a seat beside the bed. "Morning, Lieutenant. How are you holding up?"

Mathew let out a wry chuckle, his face lined with fatigue. "Difficult to eat, difficult to speak… everything’s difficult, to be honest." He paused, his expression growing serious. "You heard about Detective Nathan?"

Jake’s chest tightened, and he nodded solemnly. "Yeah… terrible."

Mathew’s eyes lingered on Jake, studying him as if weighing his every reaction. "Be careful, and call Francis if you need anything."

Jake hesitated, confused by the lieutenant’s cryptic warning. "Okay…" he replied, uncertain but respectful.

After a few more minutes of small talk, Jake returned to Katie’s room, where the group caught up and joked, the brief laughter feeling like a reprieve from the tension mounting around him.