shford

one to his house to fetch some clothes, and then we continued silently toward the hotel. I was lo

d, "We're here. We'll stop and w

brought much, only the essentials. We walked side by side toward the hotel. I noticed how gently he to

d us over, scanning us from head to toe, her eyes dissecting us in silence

re very affordable. She even added, "The price includes food, too."

our details, Max spoke u

a room with

frigid. "We don't have that. All our

I furrowed my brows, but Max sighed deeply, leaned in,

accepted the room, and we completed the check

er includes some special i

stairs-no elevator, just long, silent staircases waiting for us. We began the climb to the fou

ut the key, unlocked the

nd us and looked at m

sleep on the floor, and you

pulled the big blanket from the bed and laid it out on the floor, shaping it into a

ut my sleepwear-a long-sleeved shirt and comfy pants-and changed quickly. The

and was now lying on his floor-bed. I looked away quietly and collapsed onto the mattress

"I'm going to sleep...

my eyes, surrendering to the darkness, to fatigue. Slee

to stand on my own, to work, to live a life worth l

-

opened my eyes in alarm. Max looked ten

m, I asked, "W

"Get up! The police

"Why?! Wha

"I don't know, but we need to get ou

er my questions-only signaled for silence and opened the door

ection. My breath caught, tears streamed down my cheeks. The whol

d we raced down the stairs. I nearly f

crowds running elsewhere didn't come this way-they were looking for the main exit. I stop

sked, "Why did you stop

rs. "Why are we running? We didn't do anything... Why

had become, the tension in his jaw. He s

t's why it's in the middle of nowhere and dirt cheap. I didn't realize before. And no one will believe you if you turn

n a shaky voice, frozen in terror. I looked around-men and women running, bare

rip tight on my wrist. We raced down the stairs. I

ir, surrounding the hotel.

oment, urging me to run and not look back. He held my hand tightly, making me run without t

yelling, chaos erupting. It felt like a battlefield.

r shouted, "Sto

screamed at me to run. I did-despite my ragged breath, despite t

houted, "Run!"

with fury and effort, teeth clenched, veins bulging-he looked like he was choking. My brows tightened in horror

I looked at him frantically, my lips trembling. His condition was deteriorating into hysteria

ground and whispered, "Max, no. Don't do this.

eathe, his voice s

appened... it's over... Mira...

don't close your eyes, please. Y

lders and pulled me away from him. I saw him cast one final

his blood. I trembled, thrashing against the officers' grip, screaming his name hysterically. My clothes

ood by me... Max-why him? I was losing my mind. Two other

s go

shaking my head, re

ath. "No... wake him up... damn you all... let me

My voice failed me as I screamed Max's name, dragged toward the

someone. I couldn't feel anything around me. My tears were falling

cold and detached, like th

he man. They ignored our warnings. Shots we

d furious, like it could s

n't trace. Now... cuff her. Get her in the car. Take her to the station. The investigation starts now