?Chapter 825:


    Makenna’s POV:


    The car sped down the road, the night swallowing it whole.


    Grace’s hands gripped the steering wheel, her eyes darting across the shadows, searching for a ce to pull over, desperate for a break. But tonight, it felt as if fate had thrown up its hands in defeat and was mocking us. The city was on lockdown, like a vault with no key. Every exit seemed blocked, every street a dead end.


    Even the city gates, usually a sleepy sight, were crawling with guards, a solid wall of military muscle. Charging through? That was a fool’s fantasy.


    With nowhere to turn, we had no choice but to retrace our steps, retreating as though the weight of the world had pinned us down.


    Despite the urgency gnawing at us, the night offered no mercy. No alley, no dark corner to slip into—just an open road filled with threats.


    Suddenly, a thought shed in my mind—Alice had mentioned her bar once in passing, a ce she jokingly said I could seek refuge if things ever went south. Maybe, just maybe, that bar could be our ticket to safety.


    Just as I was about to suggest heading to the bar, the car mmed to a stop.


    Bang!


    I was jolted forward, mming into the front seat with a painful thud. “What just happened?” I asked, wincing from the impact.


    “Trouble,” Grace said, her voice rising in panic. “We’ve been spotted. Someone’s blocking us.”


    I quickly looked out the window, my heart racing when I saw the wall of soldiers standing like statues in the road, their presence an immovable force. A soldier pounded on our window with the butt of his rifle, his voice booming like thunder. “Out of the car! Hands up for inspection!”


    We froze, the air thick with tension, unsure of how to respond.


    The soldier didn’t wait for us to make a move. He pounded on the window again, the ss shaking with each knock. “Move it! Now!” he barked, the promise of violence in his tone.


    Grace’s lip curled in frustration, but she gave me a look—one I understood all too well.


    I quickly pulled my sleeve up to cover most of my face, praying the shadows would conceal me just long enough.


    Grace drew in a deep breath, her features shifting into a fake smile. She rolled down the window, her voice dripping with charm. “Officer, what’s all this fuss about in the middle of the night? Is this really necessary?”


    The soldier’s gaze sliced through us, sharp and unyielding, as he scanned us up and down. His voice was as cold as a winter night when he spoke. “There’s a fugitive on the loose, stirring up chaos in the city. Anyone looking even the slightest bit suspicious gets searched!”


    Grace nodded rapidly, a smooth movement as she fished out a couple of gold coins, slipping them into the soldier’s hand with practiced ease. Her smile grew wider, almost sickly sweet. “We’re just regr folks, officer. No idea what’s going on, honestly. Please, we’re in a bit of a rush—can we just get going?”


    But the soldier didn’t flinch. His eyes didn’t even nce at the coins. His hand flicked dismissively, and his voice grew sharper. “Enough talk. Out. Now.” His shout drew the attention of more patrolling soldiers, their eyes narrowing as they closed in, tightening the noose around our car.


    Grace’s smile vanished in an instant. Her eyes turned steely, cold as ice, and she whispered sharply, “Buckle up.”


    I didn’t hesitate. I locked my seatbelt and grabbed the handle, my pulse racing like a drumbeat.


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