The signal blinked.
Steady.
Alive.
Alex stared at the screen, his grip tightening around his phone.
"There you are…"
Relief hit him—but it didn't last long.
Because now he knew where she was.
And where she was…
Wasn't normal.
The mansion stood in front of him like something out of a different world. Massive gates. Endless walls. Guards moving in quiet patterns. Lights glowing from every corner.
Too controlled.
Too perfect.
Too dangerous.
"They really brought you here…" he whispered.
He crouched behind a stone boundary, keeping himself hidden. Going inside wasn't an option—not like this. Not alone. Not without getting caught in seconds.
But leaving?
Also not an option.
His eyes moved upward.
Balconies lined the mansion.
Rows of windows.
Too many.
Then—
A figure appeared.
Alex froze.
There.
Second floor.
Standing near the railing.
"Lily…"
His chest tightened.
She looked smaller somehow. Quieter.
Not broken.
But not the same.
He moved carefully, staying in the shadows, circling closer to where her balcony overlooked the side grounds.
Each step calculated.
Each breath controlled.
"Just a little closer…"
Inside—
Lily stepped out onto the balcony, wrapping her arms around herself.
The night air was cool, but that wasn't why she felt cold.
Her thoughts were too loud.
Too heavy.
Everything he had said.
Everything she had felt.
And then—
Something shifted.
A faint sound.
Below.
Her eyes moved down instinctively.
And froze.
A figure stood partially hidden in the shadows.
Looking up at her.
For a second—
Her mind refused to process it.
Then—
Her breath caught.
"Alex…?"
He quickly motioned for her to be quiet.
"Hey—hey, don't panic," he whispered urgently. "It's me."
Her eyes filled instantly.
"Alex…"
The tears came before she could stop them.
All the fear.
All the confusion.
All the pressure.
Breaking at once.
"You came…" she whispered, her voice shaking.
"Of course I came," he said, his voice firm but low. "You think I'd just leave you here?"
She shook her head, wiping her tears quickly.
"I thought—I thought I was stuck here…"
"You're not," he said immediately. "I found you, didn't I?"
Her chest tightened—but this time, not from fear.
From relief.
"I was so scared," she admitted softly.
His expression softened.
"I know."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Just seeing each other—
Was enough.
Then reality hit again.
"He's here," Lily whispered quickly. "This place—it's not normal, Alex. There are guards everywhere. He knows everything I do—everything I think."
Alex's jaw tightened.
"Yeah, I figured he wasn't exactly normal."
"He's dangerous," she added.
"I know."
Her breath shook slightly.
"I saw something… before. Something bad. That's why he took me."
Alex nodded slowly.
"Then we get you out. Tonight."
Her heart skipped.
"Tonight?"
"Yes," he said firmly. "We don't wait. The longer you stay here, the worse it gets."
She hesitated.
Just for a second.
And that second—
Didn't go unnoticed.
Alex frowned.
"What?"
"Nothing," she said quickly. "I just—this place is heavily guarded. It's not that easy."
"Then we make it easy," he replied.
He looked around, calculating.
"There's a side gate," he said. "Less guarded. I saw the pattern. Guards switch every twenty minutes."
Lily listened carefully, her mind racing.
"At the next shift," he continued, "there's a gap. Not long—but enough."
"How do I get there?" she asked.
"That's the tricky part," Alex admitted.
She glanced back inside the room.
Then at him again.
"I can get out," she said slowly.
He raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"
"I've been watching too," she replied.
A small pause.
Then—
A hint of determination in her eyes.
"There's a back hallway," she explained. "Less cameras. Less guards."
Alex nodded.
"Good. That's our path."
Her heart started racing again.
But this time—
It wasn't fear.
It was hope.
"Okay," she said. "What time?"
"Midnight," he replied. "Be ready. No hesitation."
She nodded.
Then suddenly—
Her expression shifted.
"What if he finds out?" she asked quietly.
Alex's voice hardened.
"Then we move faster."
But Lily wasn't fully convinced.
Because she knew something Alex didn't.
He always knew.
Everything.
A shadow moved inside her room.
Lily froze.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Alex…" she whispered urgently. "You need to go."
"What? Why—"
"Now."
Something in her voice made him listen.
"Midnight," he reminded her quickly.
She nodded.
"Midnight."
And just like that—
He disappeared back into the shadows.
Lily turned slowly.
Her heart pounding again.
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
"Planning something?"
Her breath stopped.
He stood in the doorway.
Watching her.
Always watching.
Her fingers tightened slightly at her sides.
"Just getting some air," she said.
His gaze didn't shift.
Not even slightly.
"Be careful," he said softly.
"Fresh air can make people… reckless."
A chill ran down her spine.
Did he know?
Or was he just guessing?
She couldn't tell.
And that—
Was the most dangerous part.
As night slowly approached—
One thing became clear.
Midnight wouldn't just be an escape.
It would be a test.
And Lily wasn't sure…
Who she was more afraid of failing.