"What are the chances?" she whispered, drawing a perplexed, concerned look from Kyle.

Her knees wobbled. She might have fallen if he didn't grip her shoulders to steady her.

"What's wrong?" Kyle spun her around and looked terrified when he saw her face.

"I thought I recognized the woman in that photo. But it can't be. It's impossible. One in a million." She shook her head and raised a hand to massage the tense crease between her brows. "It was my imagination. I...feel like I'm going crazy."

"It's okay." He pulled her close and ran his hand through her hair, sending pleasant tingles down her spine. "Who did you think it was?"

She forced the words out; her voice was empty. "The woman from the government facility I accidentally killed—"

She was about to turn and inspect the photo closer, but the unmistakable squeal of tires outside jolted her attention away.

Her rattled brain slowly began to work again. With the city still on strict lockdown, it had to be government personnel who had arrived.

They were in trouble.

Peaking through the window blinds, they spotted dozens of armed, armored soldiers spilling from the backs of multiple black trucks.

It sunk in that Gary had called them. He'd drawn them into his house and only spoken to them long enough for soldiers to arrive.

"I'm sorry," he called from the other room, as if on cue. "You were...nice to talk to." His voice went cold. "But I had to do the right thing."

That's when a dark object crashed through the window and landed on the floor, releasing a rapidly growing cloud of gas.

"Don't breathe," Kyle said.

She clamped a hand over her mouth and nose, then hurried to open the door.

The doorknob didn't budge. It was locked from the outside.

She didn't hesitate in kicking it open, her foot landing near the door handle, stumbling forward as it gave way.

Behind, there were already soldiers with gas masks at the window, clearing the glass away and crawling through.

Tess and Kyle ran into the man's dining room and found more soldiers at every entrance. There were more gas grenades, too, filling every room with the substance. The air grew hazy, and so did Tess's mind.

She saw Kyle reaching for her as she fell, too weak and disoriented to catch herself.

Then he was on the floor beside her, the smoke curling and twisting in the air, invading their lungs.

Soldiers appeared, grabbing at her. She thrust a hand out, trying to pierce them with her nails, but, they'd come prepared with thick armor.

Beside her, Kyle was thrashing violently until four hulking soldiers took each limb and applied restraints. They did the same to Tess. Her cuffs covered her whole hands with metal, not allowing her to use her only weapon. She felt pathetic, lying there useless and dizzy.

Somewhere far away, Gary was there talking to the soldiers. She heard him relaying information—her name and everything else they'd stupidly told him.

One soldier placed clear plastic masks over their mouths, hooked up to a tank of hissing gas.

She couldn't fight back. Her limbs wouldn't respond, as if her body had been disconnected from her mind. She held her breath until she couldn't anymore, forced to gasp and choke down the mysterious gas.

Darkness encroached at the corners of her vision until the world was black.

She didn't want to fight anymore. She felt calm and drowsy. Her skin was warm. She imagined herself cocooned in a cozy blanket.

She wanted to sleep.

Her awareness fizzled into nothing, a once-blazing fire reduced to ashes.

____________

short chapter, sorry.

captured together...things might take an interesting turn from here. let me know if you have any theories. xx