The door clicked shut behind her, the sound echoing in the room like the final nail in a coffin. Mae's hands were trembling as she stood frozen, her heart still pounding from the confrontation with Charlie—or whoever he was now. Everything about him felt twisted, dark, and so far from the man she once thought she knew.

She hated him. She hated the way he controlled her, manipulated her, and yet, there was something about him that kept drawing her in. The way he looked at her, as if he knew every secret, every thought, every weakness. The realization that Charlie—Father Charlie—was the man behind everything made her stomach churn, but it also made something inside her twist, a dangerous spark she couldn't put out.

As Mae paced the dimly lit room, her thoughts raced. She needed to get out of this, to escape, but how? Charlie had her wrapped in a web of lies and power. He had controlled her from the beginning, shaping her every move like she was a puppet on a string. And now that the truth was out, she wasn't sure how to face him.

The problem was, even after knowing the truth, part of her still felt that pull—dark, dangerous, but impossible to ignore. Every time she thought of him, there was a gnawing in her gut, a strange mix of fear and attraction that made her feel like she was losing control of herself.

I can't stay here. I need a plan, Mae thought, trying to focus on anything but the memory of Charlie's hands on her skin, his lips so close to her ear. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to breathe.

She needed to talk to someone, anyone who wasn't under his influence. But everyone who had tried to help her—Frank, Layla—was either missing or dead. The list of people she could trust was shrinking rapidly, and Mae felt the walls closing in around her.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed on the table, its screen lighting up the darkened room like a beacon. Mae's heart skipped a beat as she reached for it, hoping it wasn't another cryptic message from Charlie or one of his associates. But as she stared at the screen, her breath caught in her throat.

It was from an unknown number.

"Tonight. Midnight. Meet me at the warehouse on Riverside. Come alone."

Mae's pulse quickened as she read the message over and over, her mind spinning with questions. Who could this be? Was it a trap? Another one of Charlie's mind games? Or was it someone else, someone who knew the truth and could help her?

She didn't have time to think it over. The clock on the wall told her it was already close to midnight, and the warehouse wasn't far. This could be her only chance to find answers, to figure out how deep this went and what her next move should be.

Mae grabbed her jacket and slipped it on, her hands shaking as she moved to the door. The night air hit her like a wave as she stepped outside, the cool breeze doing little to calm the storm inside her.

She walked quickly, her footsteps echoing on the empty streets as she made her way toward Riverside. The city felt eerily quiet tonight, and every shadow seemed to move, every sound making her heart race faster. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched, followed, but she pressed on.

The warehouse loomed ahead, a dark silhouette against the night sky. Mae hesitated for a moment, her instincts screaming at her to turn back, but she knew she couldn't. She had come too far, and now she needed answers.

The door to the warehouse was slightly ajar, a sliver of light spilling out into the darkness. Mae's hand hovered over the door, her heart pounding in her chest as she debated whether to go inside. She was terrified of what she might find—of who might be waiting for her.

But she couldn't let fear stop her now.

With a deep breath, Mae pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The warehouse was dark, the only light coming from a single bulb hanging from the ceiling, casting long shadows across the room. Her footsteps echoed on the concrete floor as she moved deeper inside, her eyes scanning the space for any sign of movement.

Suddenly, she heard it—a soft sound, like the shuffle of feet behind her. Mae spun around, her heart in her throat, but there was nothing there. Just the shadows.

Her pulse raced as she took another step forward, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife. She had walked into a trap. She knew it now.

Before she could react, strong hands grabbed her from behind, pulling her off balance. Mae gasped, struggling against the iron grip, but it was no use. She was dragged backward, her back slamming into the cold concrete wall with a sickening thud.

"Let me go!" Mae shouted, her voice echoing through the empty warehouse. Her mind raced as she fought against her captor, but they were too strong, too quick.

In the dim light, she caught a glimpse of the figure in front of her. The man was tall, his face hidden by the shadows, but his grip was unrelenting. Mae's heart pounded in her chest as panic clawed at her throat. This wasn't Charlie. This was someone else.

Someone working for him.

"Mae," a deep voice said, smooth and calm, but dripping with menace. "I told you, there's no running from this. There's no escaping him."

Mae's breath hitched as the man's words sank in. She didn't need to ask who he was talking about. It was clear that Charlie had sent him—sent him to remind her of just how deep his control ran.

"What do you want from me?" Mae whispered, her voice trembling as she tried to push back the rising panic.

The man leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin. "I want you to understand something. You don't belong to yourself anymore. You belong to him. And he'll make sure you never forget that."

Mae's chest tightened as the weight of his words pressed down on her. She had tried so hard to break free, to fight back, but no matter what she did, Charlie was always one step ahead.

The man's grip tightened on her arm, his fingers digging into her skin as he pulled her closer. Mae's heart raced as she tried to think of a way out, but every option felt like a dead end. She was trapped, caught in the web that Charlie had woven around her, and there was no escape.

"You'll do as you're told," the man continued, his voice cold and unforgiving. "You'll keep performing, keep playing your part. And if you don't, there will be consequences."

Mae's throat tightened as she swallowed the lump of fear that had lodged itself there. "I won't," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I won't do this anymore."

The man's laugh was low and cruel. "You don't have a choice, Mae. You never did."

Before Mae could respond, the man released her arm, shoving her backward. She stumbled but managed to catch herself before she hit the ground, her heart racing as she watched him step back into the shadows.

"I suggest you remember who's in control here," the man said, his voice echoing through the warehouse. "Because if you don't, things will get much worse for you."

Mae's blood ran cold as the door slammed shut behind him, the sound reverberating through the empty space. She was alone again, but the fear remained, gnawing at her like a parasite.

She sank to the floor, her legs trembling beneath her as she tried to catch her breath. The weight of everything crashed down on her all at once—the lies, the manipulation, the darkness that had slowly consumed her life.

She couldn't run anymore. She couldn't hide. Charlie had her exactly where he wanted her, and there was no escape.

But as Mae sat in the cold, dark warehouse, her heart still racing from the encounter, she made a silent vow to herself.

She wouldn't give in. Not completely. Not yet.

She might not be able to escape, but she could still fight. She could still find a way to tear down the walls that Charlie had built around her, to take back the power he had stolen from her.

And one day, she would make him pay.