The fight was getting tighter.
Closer.
More dangerous.
Jayden's back nearly touched the wall now, his breathing heavier, his body reacting on instinct.
Three of them.
Moving in.
Careful.
Waiting for a mistake.
Jayden shifted his weight slightly, eyes locked on all three.
"Y'all really think this is how it ends?" he said.
One of them smirked.
"We don't think. We know."
They rushed him.
Jayden moved fast.
He ducked the first swing, drove his shoulder into one of them, sending him crashing into the second.
The third came from the side—
Jayden turned—
Blocked—
Countered—
But he was slowing down.
Too many.
Too tight.
Above them, the leader watched.
Calm.
Interested.
Like this was entertainment.
"Keep going," he said. "He's almost there."
Almost where?
Jayden didn't know.
But he knew one thing—
He couldn't stay here.
The hallway was empty.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Amara stepped out slowly, her heart pounding in her chest.
Every sound felt louder.
Every movement felt risky.
"Left or right…"
She glanced both ways.
Right looked darker.
Less open.
Safer.
She moved.
Her feet were light against the ground, moving carefully down the hallway.
She passed one door.
Then another.
Voices echoed faintly somewhere in the distance.
Not close.
But not far either.
"Jayden…"
She didn't know where he was.
Didn't know if he was okay.
But she knew one thing—
He came back.
And that meant she had to keep moving.
...
Jayden took a hit.
A clean one.
Straight to his side.
He stumbled slightly.
Pain shot through him—
But he didn't fall.
Instead—
He smiled.
Just slightly.
That confused them.
"Why you smiling?" one asked.
Jayden wiped blood from his lip.
"Because…"
He straightened up.
"…now I'm done playing."
He moved differently now.
Faster.
Sharper.
More aggressive.
He grabbed one guy mid-swing, pulled him forward, and slammed him into the ground.
Turned—
Elbow—
Another dropped.
The third hesitated—
Too late.
Jayden closed the distance and took him down hard.
The room went still.
Bodies on the ground.
Breathing heavy.
Jayden stood in the middle of it.
Slow clapping echoed.
From above.
Jayden looked up.
The leader.
Still smiling.
"Impressive," he said.
Jayden didn't respond.
Because he knew—
It wasn't over.
...
Amara reached the end of the hallway.
A door.
Slightly open.
Light spilling through.
She pushed it gently.
Fresh air hit her face.
An open yard.
Cars.
Space.
Freedom.
She stepped out quickly.
Looking around.
No one in sight.
"Okay… okay…"
She started moving.
Fast.
A voice behind her.
"Where you going?"
She froze.
Slowly turned.
.....
Footsteps.
More of them.
Coming in.
Jayden's eyes narrowed.
"They just keep coming…"
Then—
A voice.
Familiar.
Too familiar.
"You should've stayed out of this."
Jayden turned.
And there he was.
Dre.
Silence filled the room.
Everything paused.
This wasn't just enemies now.
This was personal.
Jayden stepped forward slightly.
"You really went through with it."
Dre didn't look away.
"I told you… I didn't have a choice."
"There's always a choice," Jayden replied.
"Not when you're trying to live," Dre said.
Jayden's fists clenched.
"Where is she?"
Dre didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"She got out."
Jayden froze.
"What?"
Dre nodded slightly.
"She's not here anymore."
Jayden frowned.
"You lying?"
"I'm not," Dre said. "She slipped."
That changed everything.
Jayden exhaled slowly.
Because now—
The mission changed.
This wasn't about completing anything anymore.
It was about getting out.
Alive.
Jayden looked at Dre one last time.
Eyes cold.
Focused.
Because now—
There was nothing left between them…
Except what was coming next.