Chapter 7: Smoke and Mirrors
The dense smoke was suffocating, wrapping around them like a thick blanket as Hana dragged Anifah and Ammar through the parking lot. Coughing, Anifah stumbled but felt Hana’s firm grip yank them back to their feet.
“Don’t stop!” Hana barked, her voice cutting through the chaos.
Behind them, Damon’s sharp commands echoed. “Find them! They can’t have gone far!”
The sound of footsteps grew louder, the silhouettes of Damon’s men visible through the thinning smoke. Anifah’s heart pounded as they sprinted toward the edge of the school grounds, where the fence loomed like an unyielding barrier.
“We’re trapped!” Anifah gasped.
“No, we’re not,” Hana replied, reaching into her pocket. She pulled out a small, metallic tool, its blade glinting faintly in the dim light. With swift, practiced movements, she began cutting through the chain-link fence.
“You’re seriously prepared for this?” Ammar asked, his voice laced with a mix of disbelief and annoyance.
“You didn’t think I’d come unarmed, did p you?” Hana shot back. “Now shut up and help me hold this open.”
As Ammar helped widen the opening, Anifah looked back, her breath catching as Damon’s men emerged from the smoke, their flashlights cutting through the darkness.
“They’re coming!”
“Go, now!” Hana shouted, shoving Anifah through the opening.
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Anifah crawled through, feeling the jagged edges of the fence tear at their clothes. Ammar followed, with Hana slipping through last just as Damon’s men reached the fence.
“There they are!” one of them yelled.
Hana pulled Ammar and Anifah into the dense woods on the other side. The thick canopy above blocked out most of the moonlight, making it hard to see. They ran blindly, the sounds of pursuit growing fainter as the trees swallowed them whole.
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A Tense Refuge
They finally stopped in a small clearing, all three of them breathing heavily. Anifah leaned against a tree, their legs trembling.
“What was that?” Anifah demanded. “Who were those people?”
“Damon’s goons,” Hana said, pacing as she kept an ear out for any signs of pursuit. “They’re enforcers for The Circle. And they’re not the type to give up easily.”
Ammar looked at Hana, his expression dark. “Why did you come? Why now?”
Hana sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Because I know what happens if they catch you. I’ve seen it. And I wasn’t about to let you—or your friend here—end up like the others.”
“What others?” Anifah asked, their voice trembling.
Hana hesitated, then sat down on a fallen log. “The Circle doesn’t just let people walk away. They make examples of anyone who tries. Some disappear entirely. Others... let’s just say they’re never the same after The Circle gets to them.”
Anifah shivered. “Why would anyone join them in the first place?”
“They don’t always have a choice,” Ammar said quietly. “Sometimes, they’re lured in with promises—money, power, influence. Other times, they’re blackmailed or threatened. Once you’re in, it’s nearly impossible to get out.”
“Except you did,” Hana pointed out, her tone sharp.
Ammar’s gaze hardened. “Not without consequences.”
“Which is why I’m here,” Hana said, leaning forward. “I know how they operate, Ammar. I know their weak spots. If you want to survive, you’re going to need my help.”
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New Revelations
The group fell silent for a moment, the weight of Hana’s words sinking in. Anifah stared at her, trying to piece together this enigmatic stranger who seemed to know so much.
“Why should we trust you?” Anifah finally asked.
Hana met her gaze, her expression unreadable. “Because I’ve been where you are. I was one of them once, just like Ammar. But I got out—barely. And I’ve spent every day since trying to make sure no one else has to go through what I did.”
Ammar frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?”
“Because I didn’t know how deep you were in,” Hana admitted. “But now that I do, I’m not walking away. Not again.”
Anifah glanced at Ammar, seeing the conflict in his eyes. Despite everything, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to the story—more that neither Ammar nor Hana was telling them.
“What do we do now?” Anifah asked hesitantly.
Hana stood, brushing dirt off her jeans. “First, we need to get somewhere safe. I know a place where they won’t find us—at least for a while. Then, we figure out our next move.”
“And what is our next move?”
Ammar asked.
Hana’s lips curved into a sly smile. “We hit them where it hurts.”