The message wouldn't leave her mind.

"We're closer than you think."

It repeated in her head like a haunting melody, drowning out every other thought. As Mae sat in her dressing room, the walls felt like they were closing in, suffocating her. The light above her flickered, casting long shadows that twisted and danced along the walls. Her reflection in the mirror seemed like a stranger—dark hair falling in loose waves, her face pale and drawn. She didn't recognize herself anymore.

Her heart pounded as she read the message again, the words glaring up at her from her phone. It wasn't just a warning. It was a promise. They were close, and she had no idea who they were. The mystery of it all was driving her mad, every shadow in the club feeling more sinister, every passerby more suspicious.

Mae had thought about leaving, disappearing into the night and never looking back. But she knew, deep down, that it wouldn't matter. They would find her. They always did. Just like they had with Layla, whose disappearance was now shrouded in an eerie silence that no one dared to talk about.

Mae stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. She needed to get out of this room, away from the oppressive atmosphere that seemed to choke her. Throwing her jacket over her shoulders, she stepped out into the dimly lit hallway. The club was nearly empty, the last few stragglers of the night filtering out the back entrance.

The silence was deafening.

As she made her way toward the side exit, her phone buzzed again. Mae's hands trembled as she pulled it out, afraid of what she would find.

"Don't leave. We'll come to you."

Mae's breath hitched. Her heart raced in her chest, her vision blurring as panic gripped her. They knew. They knew she was trying to leave. They were watching her right now, waiting for her to make a move. She glanced around the hallway, her eyes darting to every corner, every shadow.

Was someone there, lurking just out of sight?

Her legs felt like they would give out, but she forced herself to keep moving, her steps quick and purposeful as she pushed open the side door. The cool night air hit her like a slap to the face, but it did little to calm her nerves. She looked around the empty alley, scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.

Nothing. It was just her.

For now.

Mae wrapped her arms around herself and hurried down the alley, her footsteps echoing off the brick walls. She had no destination in mind—just away. Away from the club, away from the threats, away from the invisible eyes that seemed to follow her every move.

She rounded the corner, emerging onto a quiet street. The distant hum of traffic was the only sound, and the streetlights cast long, eerie shadows over the empty sidewalks. Mae kept her head down, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She needed to think, to figure out what to do next. But her mind was racing too fast, spinning out of control.

As she walked, her phone buzzed again, and Mae's heart stopped.

This time, the message was different.

"We're already here."

A sudden chill ran down her spine, and Mae froze in place, her hand tightening around the phone. She looked up, her eyes scanning the street in front of her.

And then she saw them.

Two men, standing at the end of the block, their faces obscured by the shadows. They weren't moving, just standing there, watching her. Mae's blood ran cold as their gazes locked onto hers. They knew who she was. They had been waiting for her.

Panic surged through her, and without thinking, Mae turned and sprinted down the street, her heart pounding in her chest. The sound of her own footsteps echoed loudly in her ears, but she could hear them following. Their footsteps were heavy, steady, getting closer with every second.

Mae's lungs burned as she pushed herself harder, her legs trembling with the effort. She didn't know where she was going—there was nowhere to go. She couldn't outrun them forever. But she wasn't going to make it easy for them.

The alley loomed ahead, dark and narrow, but it was her only option. Mae darted into it, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The alley was a dead end, the walls too high to climb. There was no way out.

She was trapped.

Mae pressed her back against the cold brick wall, her hands shaking as she fumbled for her phone. She had to call someone—anyone. But her hands were trembling so badly that she couldn't get a grip on the screen.

Before she could even try, a figure stepped into the alley.

One of the men.

He stood there, his face still obscured by the shadows, his posture relaxed as if he knew there was no point in rushing. Mae's heart pounded in her ears as she backed further into the alley, her eyes darting around for any escape.

But there was none.

"Mae," the man said, his voice low and calm. "There's no need to run. We're not going to hurt you. We just need to have a conversation."

Mae's pulse raced. She didn't believe him for a second. She pressed herself harder against the wall, her breath coming in quick, shallow bursts.

"What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice trembling.

The man took a step closer, his figure still shrouded in darkness. "We want you to stop digging. Stop asking questions. Stay where you belong, Mae, and everything will be fine."

Mae shook her head, her fear giving way to anger. "I'm not stopping. I want answers."

The man sighed, as if disappointed. "That's what Layla said, too. And look where that got her."

Mae's stomach twisted in knots at the mention of Layla. She had suspected something bad had happened to her, but hearing it confirmed like this made her blood run cold.

The man took another step forward, his tone turning sharp. "We're giving you one last chance. Stay in line. Keep performing. Stop asking questions. Or next time, we won't just be having a conversation."

Mae's throat tightened, her entire body trembling with fear. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think. The man's presence was overwhelming, suffocating.

"I'll think about it," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The man seemed to consider her words for a moment before stepping back into the shadows. "We'll be watching."

And then he was gone, leaving Mae alone in the alley, her heart still racing, her body shaking uncontrollably. She didn't know how long she stood there, frozen in place, but eventually, her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the ground, her head spinning with fear.

She couldn't do this anymore.

Mae was trapped in a nightmare, and the walls were closing in fast.

The sound of the man's footsteps faded into the distance, leaving Mae alone in the alley. She sat there for what felt like an eternity, her body trembling, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and terror. The cold brick wall pressed against her back, but she couldn't move. It was as if the encounter had left her paralyzed, her fear anchoring her to the spot.

Layla.

The name echoed in her mind, pulling her back to the reality she had been trying to avoid for days. Layla hadn't just disappeared—she had been silenced. And now they were coming for Mae. Her own words, her determination to find the truth, had painted a target on her back, and there was no one to turn to. Not anymore.

Charlie's offer of protection felt like a distant memory, something that had once seemed comforting but now felt hollow. She couldn't shake the nagging doubt that even he couldn't protect her from this. Not from them. Whoever they were, they had power. And they were watching. Every step, every move she made was under their scrutiny.

Mae slowly pushed herself to her feet, her legs shaky but functional. She had to leave the alley, had to get out of the open. Even if it felt like there was nowhere to go, nowhere safe, she couldn't stay here.

She hurried back down the alley, her pulse racing with every step. The shadows seemed to close in around her, the city streets darker and quieter than before. Every flicker of a streetlight, every rustle of the wind made her jump, her senses heightened by the sheer terror of what had just happened.

As she reached the club, she ducked inside, her hands shaking as she locked the door behind her. The silence inside was even more unnerving than the noise outside. Hell's Angels was supposed to be her sanctuary, her place of escape, but now it felt more like a prison. The walls seemed to hum with the secrets hidden beneath the surface, and Mae could feel herself drowning in them.

She slumped against the door, sliding to the floor, her breath coming in shallow gasps. What was she going to do? She couldn't keep running, couldn't keep hiding. The threats had escalated, and now it was only a matter of time before they made good on their promises.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out with trembling fingers.

"One more chance, Mae. Don't make us come for you again."

She dropped the phone as if it had burned her, her heart pounding in her chest. This was her last warning. They wouldn't give her another. But what choice did she have? She couldn't just stop looking for answers. Not now.

But if she didn't stop, she knew the consequences would be dire.

Mae closed her eyes, her mind spinning with the weight of the decision she had to make. She was trapped in a game she didn't understand, and the rules kept changing. Every step forward seemed to push her deeper into the darkness, and there was no one she could trust. Not even herself.