Seth''s eyes went wide, pure panic flickering behind his forced calm. "Who are you, really?"


    Matthew kept moving closer, his steps steady and heavy, almost like Seth could feel each one in his chest. "You don''t need to know."


    Seth knew he was outmatched. His gaze darted around, searching for a way out. Suddenly, hurried footsteps and the wail of police sirens echoed from the entrance, growing louder by the second.


    "The police are here!" The wounded officer''s voice rang out, hope shining through his pain.


    Seth''s face drained of color. Without another thought, he spun around and sprinted toward a narrow path behind the brickyard.


    Matthew was about to chase after him when he spotted someone huddled in a corner. Alex. He hesitated, then made his way to the injured officer instead. "Can you hang on?"


    The officer nodded, struggling to speak. "Thank you... for stepping in."


    Matthew opened his mouth to reply, but a sharp gasp cut through the chaos behind him.


    "Reese!" His whole body tensed as he whipped around.


    Seth had somehow slipped behind a wall and now had Reese in a tight grip. He pressed a small knife to her neck, its de already drawing a thin line of blood.


    "Don''t move!" Seth''s voice shook with terror, but his eyes were wild and desperate. "Anyonees closer, and I swear I''ll kill her!"


    Reese''s heart thudded in her chest. The sting at her neck made every muscle tense, but she forced herself to stay calm. Her eyes locked on Matthew''s, filled not with fear, but worry for him.


    Matthew''s eyes narrowed, his whole presence turning cold and dangerous. He slowly raised his hands, voice low and steady. "Let her go. If you want someone, take me."


    He never took his eyes off Seth''s hand, just waiting for any sign of weakness.


    Roman arrived with a swarm of officers, stopping short when he saw what was happening. He


    signaled for everyone


    everyone to hold back.


    "Seth you''re surrounded! Drop the


    knife, let her go, and this can go


    easier for you!"


    Seth''s eyes darted around at the wall of police, closing in. The re from their headlights washed over everything leaving him nowhere hide. His face went even paler breathing in ragged gasps. He gripped the knife so hard his


    knuckles went white. "Stay back! All of you, stay away!"


    He dragged Reese backward until his heels hit the broken wall behind him. He was cornered. "Get me a car with a full tank or I''ll kill her, do you hear me?"


    Reese felt his grip tighten around her neck, making it harder to breathe. She knew she couldn''t wait any longer. Her eyes flicked to a jagged piece of rubble at her feet.


    As soon as Seth nced away,


    distracted by the police, Reese


    dropped down fast. The small knife


    she''d been hiding shed across,


    Seth''s bs. At the same time, she


    drove her heel onto the sharpstone


    with all the force she had.


    Seth let out a choked scream, shock and pain ripping through him. His hold slipped.


    Now!


    Reese wrenched her head away from the de, grabbed Seth''s wrist, and twisted


    it back with everything she had.