What do you do when your heart yearns for something your mind can't embrace? How do you tame the feelings that keep surfacing for someone special, knowing you're committed to another?
Ana Rose embarks on a new journey as a secret agent. Although she...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
As I hold Ana in my arms, a sense of relief envelops me. She's safe—for now. Yet, a heavy weight settles in my chest as I realize the danger this place holds. My instincts scream at me to keep her away, but deep down, I know this is our only chance to survive and complete our mission.
In a hushed voice, she quickly recounts what she overheard from the guards, and my heart plummets. Her words hit me like a ton of bricks.
"What?!" I blurt out, the shock breaking my attempt to keep my voice down.
"Xavier, please! We can't afford to make any noise." Ana urges, panic flickering in her eyes. "I know—these are monsters beyond what we imagined, but this is who we're up against."
I struggle to process it all; the horrifying thought that these men are coldly trafficking innocent children gnaws at my insides. It's a nightmare come to life, and I can't shake the anger rising within me. How could anyone be so cruel?
I take a deep breath, my heart racing as the weight of the news sinks in. "So... their parents... they must be the ones they kill and stash away in that refrigerated vault, trying to scrub away any evidence, right?" My voice trembles with a mix of anger and horror.
"I suppose you're right..." she replies, her tone laced with fear and sadness. "I'm afraid we don't have a lot of time to collect information."
"They... they want you to kill me, don't they?" I murmur, my voice low and filled with uncertainty.
She hesitates for a moment, a flash of concern crossing her face. "Oh, you've heard about that..." she finally replies, her tone softening. "Listen, I would never hurt you. That's simply not an option for me."
"Listen, Ana, it's not that I don't trust you—they've put you in this position to test your loyalty. But I should have anticipated it. They're clever. Time is slipping away, and I need to get you out of here before it's too late!"
"I should have had my earring device to record that guard's conversation, now we still need concrete evidence of this shipment before you can help me escape. Maybe I could confront them directly—"
"No!!" I cut her off, "That's far too dangerous, Ana!" My heart races as I hear voices echoing in the corridor, footsteps drawing nearer. "Oh no, someone's coming! I need to find a place to hide!" I whisper urgently. Panic floods my senses as I frantically search the room for a hiding spot, only to realize my options are painfully limited.
"Xavier, you need to get in there!" Ana urges, her eyes wide with fear and determination. She gestures toward the small metal cupboard in the corner of the room.
I dart toward it and quickly slip inside. The cramped, dark space engulfs me completely. I press myself against the cold metal, striving to make myself as small as possible.
