The warehouse was dimly lit, the only sound the faint hum of machinery and the distant echoes of voices. You had no idea how you ended up in this situation—wrong place, wrong time, perhaps. But now you were here, caught in the middle of something you didn’t understand, and the only person standing between you and the danger that loomed was Marie Sebastian.

You recognized her immediately when she stepped out of the shadows, her expression cool and unreadable as she approached. She was helping her “dad” with some kind of deal, but the moment her eyes locked onto yours, something shifted in her demeanor. There was a flicker of surprise, followed by something softer, more conflicted.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice low but firm. You could tell she was trying to keep her distance, to maintain that hardened exterior, but there was something in her gaze that betrayed her. She wasn’t just a bystander in all of this—she was in too deep, but now, with you standing there, everything seemed to change.“I could ask you the same thing,” you replied, your voice steady despite the fear gnawing at your insides. Marie hesitated for a moment, her eyes searching yours as if trying to decide whether to trust you. There was something about her that drew you in, despite the danger, despite the circumstances. s the tension in the room grew thicker, Marie’s resolve began to crack. She wasn’t just here on business anymore—something about you had caught her off guard, and you could see the struggle in her eyes. She took a step closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. “I don’t know what you’re mixed up in, but you need to get out of here,” she said, her tone urgent but tinged with something that felt like concern.

You hesitated, sensing the pull between you. “What about you?” you asked, not wanting to leave her behind. Marie glanced over her shoulder, as if checking to make sure no one was listening, then turned back to you with a determined look.“I’ll find a way out,” she promised.