CORNERED

Samantha's POV As I stood still, the air seemed to thicken; the two guys closed in behind the woman as her icy smile locked on me. The storage facility's small corridor seemed stifling, and the low illumination created lengthy shadows on the walls. There was nowhere one could sprint. Beside me, Alex's breath sounded harsh and strained. The woman's eyes turned to the backpack draped over Alex's shoulder, bulging with records we had gathered from the storage facility. "You've found things that don't belong to you," she remarked, her voice measured and quiet. "You are walking on perilous ground. You will turn over those files if you know what is best for you. "Or what?," then Alex challenged, standing in front of me with a hard jaw of defiance. "You will have us vanish like the others who came too close?" The woman's smile wavered for a second, a flutter of something maybe annoyed. She said, her voice tightening, "This isn't a game." "You are interfering with events much beyond your comprehension. The Order finds loose ends unacceptable. Her comments made me shiver down my back. "So, then, what are you? I asked, pushing power into my voice. "An enforceable agent?" Like an assassin? "Think of me as someone who's here to keep the peace," she said, her tone once again impartial. "My responsibility is to make sure nothing spirals out of hand. You regretfully have turned into a liability. The two men behind her stepped forward, their positions changing to get ready for movement. The prospect of violence made the air seem to tighten. This conversation—words that were only buying time—was the only thing preventing us from becoming overwhelmed. Alex remarked gently, his tone calm but somewhat tense, "I don't think you understand." You are not going to scare us into turning back. You won't be the last and you are not the first to attempt. The woman sighed, nearly as if she felt sympathy for us. "Bravery is admirable," she said, "but it doesn't change the fact that you're outmatched." Alex threw me to the side and squarely confronted the two guys as they attacked. Their bodies clashing reverberated along the passage, and I staggered against the wall while listening to my pulse. Alex spun, breaking free and giving the man a stinging elbow to the ribs when one of the men grabbed him by the collar. I had no time to consider. Mind racing for an escape path, I turned and sprinted back down the passage toward the main door. Behind me, I heard the woman's voice—sharp and demanding. Tell her to stop! As I shot out the exit and into the open air, cold and clear on inflamed cheeks, my heart thumped. There were just a few automobiles strewn here and there as the parking lot opened up before me. I had to make quick decisions. Alex was still inside, battling those two men; the woman was not far behind. My gaze fixed on a little opening separating two buildings to the left. Though it was dark and cramped, no more than a sliver, it would provide a hiding spot at least momentarily. I ran straight into the alley, slipping through the little space without thinking twice. I bent behind a garbage can, trying to hear any hint of pursuit. Only the distant buzz of traffic and the faint murmur of humans close broke the eerie quiet. I attempted to stabilize myself by holding my breath, listening, with fingers grasping the cold metal of the garbage. Alex was where? Had they reached him? My mind flew, divided between the necessity to move on and the want to go back for him. Then, nearer now, I heard the woman's voice once again as I was ready to come out from behind cover. Her tone was tight as she said, "She cannot have gone far." "Check the lot for parking." We'll sweep her out. My heartbeat accelerated as feet neared, the sound getting louder every second. I looked about feverishly, looking for anything that may provide me a benefit, something to purchase just a little bit more time. Then I noticed it—a fire escape ladder low enough for me to reach. Though it was my only choice, the metal was old and rusty. Wearing a wince as the ladder crested loudly, I gripped the rungs and lifted myself. I bit my lip, wishing they wouldn't hear it; the noise seemed to linger into the evening. Climbing to the roof, I bent low to view the edge. Underneath, among the women and one of the males, I could see the woman meticulously looking about. Though it would not be long, they had not yet seen me. I inhaled deeply and looked at the roofs for a road of some sort that would carry me away from here. Spanning the distance like a bridge, a little metal beam linked this construction to the one next to it. It was not broad enough for my feet, hence a fall from that height would not be pleasant. But there was just one option. With my arms reaching for balance, I grabbed the beam and stepped gingerly out. I heard a yell from below halfway over. "She is right here! Above on the roof! My heart thumping as I traversed the remainder of the beam and leaped down to the other side, my gut turned over and I accelerated. The contact knocked my knees, but I kept running across the rooftop while the sound of pursuit got louder behind me. Looking back, I spotted the woman closely behind one of the guys ascending the fire escape. They continued not to give up. As I arrived at the far end of the roof, two muscular hands grabbed my arm and yanked me backward. I turned, automatically raising my elbow, and broke free. I turned to find Alex staring wide with eagerness from his pale, dirt-streaked face. He gasped, dragging me toward a door leading back into the structure. "We cannot stay out here!" We staggered in the door and onto a dark stairway, slamming it closed behind us. We had little time before they caught up; I could hear the faint sound of feet on the roof above. Our breathing raspy and urgent as we hurried down the stairs taking two at a time. "What now??" As we descended, I started to peter. "We cannot continue to run indefinitely." Alex opened the door leading to a side exit and looked about to make sure the coast was free. "We have to vanish," he remarked in a quiet but forceful voice. "Lay low till we know exactly what's going on. We are not handling merely Royce anymore; this goes far deeper. The awareness of how far we had dropped into this complex network shivered me. Keeping close to the walls, we snuck out into the evening and headed down an empty lane. My ideas spun around questions and uncertainties. We had hardly escaped this time, and I wasn't sure how many more chances we would have. The glare of a nearby street lamp lit a figure a few yards distant as we came out of the alley into a quiet street. It was the woman; her icy eyes fixed on ours as she entered the light. " Running isn't going to save you," she said, her voice calm and uncompromising. There is nowhere left to hide. Alex's fingers tightened around mine, and I realized we had to head-on approach her. Then let's finish this, I said, calling every last bit of power inside me.