Chapter 53 Critical Seconds

• Rania stood frozen, her eyes never leaving the knife so close to Lia's throat, every breath feeling so heavy amid the tension gripping the room. Her mind raced quickly, trying to find a way to stall for just a little longer, enough to give the team waiting outside a chance to move.
• The single lamp light illuminating the room flickered slowly, creating such terrifying shadows on the walls of the old, long-abandoned factory, while outside, the cold night wind whistled through the broken windows, adding to the gripping impression of a situation already so tense.
• "Fine, I accept the offer," Rania finally said, her voice trembling yet clear enough to be heard in that vast room. Those words felt so bitter on her tongue, a betrayal of herself she hated so much, yet Lia's safety mattered far more than any pride or principle she held.