The morning light filtered through the thin curtains of Mae's apartment, casting a soft, muted glow over the room. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind still spinning from the events of the previous night. Sleep had eluded her, replaced by the constant replay of Charlie's words, his touch, the intensity of his gaze.

She turned onto her side, pulling the blanket tighter around her. There was a strange sense of calm mixed with anxiety that settled deep within her. She had crossed a threshold, a point of no return, and now she had to face whatever came next.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, the sudden noise breaking the fragile quiet. Mae reached for it, her heart pounding, expecting to see another message from Charlie.

But it wasn't Charlie.

Unknown Number: Midnight was just a taste. You're in deeper than you realize.

Mae sat up in bed, her pulse quickening as she stared at the message. It wasn't the first time she had received cryptic messages from an unknown source, but this one felt different. It felt closer. More threatening.

Her stomach twisted as she tried to process the meaning behind the words. She was already in deep, too deep to climb out on her own. But what did they mean by "deeper"?

A knock at the door made her jump, her heart leaping into her throat. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and padded softly across the floor, her bare feet barely making a sound. Her hand hovered over the doorknob, hesitant. The unease in her chest was growing stronger, gnawing at her insides.

Another knock, more insistent this time.

She opened the door cautiously, her breath catching in her throat when she saw who stood on the other side.

It was Layla.

Her appearance was a shock. Layla had vanished without a trace, without explanation, and Mae had assumed the worst. But here she was, standing in the hallway, her face pale and her expression grim.

"Mae," Layla whispered, glancing around as though checking to see if they were being watched. "We need to talk. Now."

Mae stepped aside, allowing Layla to enter the apartment. She closed the door behind her, the air thick with tension.

"What happened to you?" Mae asked, her voice low. "Where did you go?"

Layla turned to face her, her eyes wide with fear. "I was hiding. From them."

Mae's heart sank. "Them? You mean Charlie?"

Layla shook her head, her expression haunted. "No. It's not just Charlie. There's something bigger going on, Mae. He's part of it, but there are others—people you don't even know about, people who control everything."

Mae felt a cold chill run down her spine. She had suspected that there was more to the world of Hell's Angels than just Charlie, but hearing it confirmed from Layla's lips made it all too real.

"They've been watching you," Layla continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "They've been watching both of us. That's why I disappeared. I was asking too many questions, getting too close to the truth. And now, Mae, they're coming for you."

Mae's blood ran cold, her mind racing with fear and confusion. "What do you mean, they're coming for me? I thought it was just Charlie."

Layla shook her head again. "Charlie's just one piece of the puzzle. He's powerful, yes, but he answers to someone else. Someone who's been pulling the strings from the beginning."

Mae's stomach twisted as she tried to make sense of what Layla was saying. If Charlie wasn't the one in control, then who was?

"You have to leave," Layla urged, grabbing Mae's arm. "Get out of here before it's too late. They won't let you walk away, Mae. They'll keep you trapped in this world, just like they did with me."

Mae shook her head, her heart pounding in her chest. "I can't leave, Layla. It's too late for that. I'm already in too deep."

Layla's grip tightened, her eyes wide with desperation. "No, it's not too late. You can still get out, but you have to do it now. Before midnight."

The mention of midnight sent a jolt through Mae's body. Midnight. The same time Charlie had mentioned. The same time the message had referenced.

"What's happening at midnight?" Mae asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Layla hesitated, her expression conflicted. "I don't know. But whatever it is, it's big. And it involves you."

Mae's mind raced as she tried to piece together the puzzle. The cryptic messages, Charlie's control, the mysterious figures behind the scenes—it all pointed to something much larger than she had ever imagined.

"Please, Mae," Layla whispered, her voice pleading. "You have to leave. Don't make the same mistake I did."

Mae's breath hitched as she looked into Layla's eyes, seeing the fear and regret etched into her features. She wanted to believe that leaving was an option, that she could walk away from this nightmare and never look back.

But she knew better.

There was no leaving. Not now.

"I can't," Mae said softly, her voice breaking. "I'm already in too deep."

Layla's face fell, her shoulders sagging with defeat. "Then there's nothing I can do for you," she whispered, stepping back toward the door.

Mae watched as Layla turned and left the apartment, disappearing into the hallway without another word. The door clicked shut behind her, and the silence that followed felt suffocating.

Mae sank onto the couch, her mind spinning. Midnight was approaching, and with it, the unknown. She didn't know what awaited her, but one thing was certain:

There was no turning back now.

She was trapped, bound to Charlie, bound to the world he had built around her. And whoever else was involved, whoever was pulling the strings behind the scenes, they had her exactly where they wanted her.

The clock ticked closer to midnight, and Mae knew that whatever happened next would change everything.

She just hoped she was ready.

Mae sat on the edge of the couch, staring at the door Layla had just walked out of. The room felt colder, emptier now that she was alone again. The lingering fear in Layla's eyes, the urgency in her voice—they had shaken Mae to her core. Everything Layla had said only confirmed what Mae already suspected: she was trapped in a world she didn't understand, controlled by forces she couldn't see.

The cryptic messages. The unknown threats. Midnight.

Her heart raced, every beat reminding her of the clock ticking closer to the unknown. She could feel the weight of the decision she had to make, pressing down on her. Layla's warning echoed in her mind: Before midnight. Before it's too late.

Mae's instincts screamed for her to leave, to run. But how? There was nowhere to hide, nowhere to go. Every step she took seemed to lead her deeper into this web, closer to Charlie's control, and now, whoever else lurked in the shadows behind him. Leaving wasn't an option—not now.

She stood up from the couch, her body buzzing with nervous energy. She had to do something, anything to prepare herself for whatever was coming. She glanced around her apartment, trying to focus on something, anything that could ground her. But all she could see were reminders of the life she had built under the watchful eyes of Hell's Angels, of Charlie.

Walking over to the window, Mae pulled back the curtains and peered out into the quiet street below. It was dark, only the flickering streetlights offering any sign of life. The city looked peaceful, indifferent to the turmoil building inside of her. But Mae knew better. This calm was only an illusion. Beneath it, the world she was now a part of churned with darkness and danger.

Her phone buzzed again.

Mae's breath caught as she picked it up, her hands trembling. Another message. Her heart pounded as she opened it, dreading what she might find.

Midnight. Be ready for the choice.

Her hands went cold as the words sank in. The choice. She didn't know what it meant, but the weight of it pressed heavily on her chest. There was no turning back now—she would have to face whatever was coming head-on.

Mae moved to her bedroom, grabbing her small overnight bag from the closet. If she couldn't run, she could at least be ready. She packed a few essentials, her hands shaking as she folded her clothes and stuffed them into the bag. She didn't know if she'd be coming back to this apartment—or if she even could after tonight.

Her thoughts raced as she zipped up the bag, tossing it onto the bed. The minutes ticked by, and she felt the pressure building, the impending doom that awaited her at midnight.

Suddenly, there was a sharp knock at her door.

Mae froze.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she stared at the door, every instinct telling her to stay still, to stay silent. But the knock came again, more insistent this time. Her stomach twisted with fear. Was it Charlie? Someone else? Another warning?

Slowly, she moved toward the door, her hands trembling as she reached for the doorknob. She opened it just a crack, her breath catching as she saw a man standing on the other side—a man she didn't recognize.

He was tall, dressed in a dark suit, his face expressionless. His eyes met hers, cold and calculating, and Mae felt a chill run down her spine.

"Mae," he said softly, his voice almost polite. "It's time."

Mae's pulse quickened. She didn't know who this man was, but she knew enough to understand that he wasn't here to help her.

"I'm not going anywhere," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady, but the fear crept into her words.

The man didn't react. He simply stood there, his gaze never leaving hers. "You don't have a choice," he said calmly. "Charlie sent me. He's waiting."

Mae's heart sank. This was it. The moment she had been dreading—the moment when Charlie would make his move, and she would be forced to confront whatever game he was playing.

"I need a minute," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The man nodded once, stepping back from the door. "You have five minutes."

Mae closed the door, her hands trembling as she leaned against it. Her mind raced, trying to come up with a plan, a way out. But there was no time, no way to escape. She had to face Charlie.

She grabbed her bag from the bed, slinging it over her shoulder as she made her way back to the door. Her heart pounded in her chest as she opened it, stepping out into the hallway where the man was waiting.

He didn't speak, didn't ask any questions. He simply nodded and gestured for her to follow.

The elevator ride down felt endless, the air thick with tension. Mae's pulse raced, her mind spinning with possibilities. What was Charlie planning? What did he want from her? Was this the moment where everything would finally be revealed?

When the elevator doors opened, Mae felt a jolt of fear course through her as she stepped out into the parking garage. The man led her to a sleek black car, its tinted windows giving no indication of who or what was inside.

Without a word, the man opened the back door, motioning for her to get in.

Mae hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding in her ears. But there was no turning back now. She slid into the car, the leather seat cold against her skin. The door closed behind her with a soft thud, and the car began to move.

The drive was silent. Mae sat in the back seat, her hands gripping the bag in her lap, her eyes fixed on the dark streets outside the window. She didn't know where they were going, but she could feel the weight of what was about to happen pressing down on her like a heavy blanket.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the car slowed to a stop. The driver stepped out, opening the door for her. Mae took a deep breath, her heart pounding as she stepped out into the cool night air.

She looked up, her eyes widening as she recognized where they were.

The club. Hell's Angels.

Of course, it would be here. Where else could it be?

The man led her through the familiar back entrance, down the dimly lit hallways that she had walked so many times before. But tonight, everything felt different. The air was heavier, the shadows darker.

As they approached the door to the private office, Mae's heart pounded in her chest. This was it. Whatever Charlie had planned, whatever choice she was about to face—it was waiting for her behind that door.

The man stopped in front of the door, turning to face her. "He's inside," he said simply.

Mae swallowed hard, her pulse racing as she reached for the doorknob. Her hand shook as she turned it, pushing the door open slowly.

The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the city lights outside casting long shadows across the walls. Charlie sat behind his desk, his expression calm and unreadable as he watched her step inside.

"Mae," he said softly, his voice carrying the same dark promise it had the night before. "I'm glad you came."

Mae's breath hitched in her throat as she closed the door behind her. She stood there, frozen, her heart racing as she faced him.

This was it.

Midnight had come.

And now, there was no escape.