Chapter 247

• Third person pov
• Nathan’s heart pounded against his ribs as he stepped out of the car. The night air was heavy, damp with the faint smell of oil and rust that clung to the deserted industrial area. The old warehouse loomed ahead of him, its corrugated walls bathed in dim yellow light spilling from a few broken lamps. His palms were sweaty, his breathing uneven, but he didn’t allow himself to hesitate. Every second counted. Claire’s life hung in the balance.
• He moved quickly toward the warehouse doors, his shoes crunching against gravel. The silence pressed against him, unnerving and absolute, broken only by the distant hum of electricity from a nearby transformer. Nathan reached for the heavy steel handle, his jaw clenched so tight it ached. His mind flickered briefly to the video he had received, Claire’s terrified face and muffled cries replaying again and again in his head. He had failed to protect her once. He wouldn’t fail again.