Elias stood alone in the fog, watching as the red and blue lights of the approaching police cars flashed against the thick mist. His chest heaved with frustration and fear—he had lost her again. Emilia had slipped through his fingers like a phantom, vanishing into the night, leaving only her haunting words behind.

Lestrade was the first to approach, her steps hurried but measured. She stopped just short of Elias, her face hard, unreadable. “Where is she?”

Elias stared into the fog, still trying to catch his breath. “Gone. She ran... again.”

Lestrade cursed under her breath, pulling out her radio to bark orders to the approaching officers. "Secure the area. Spread out, search the perimeter. I want eyes on every exit, every possible escape route. Now!"

As the officers dispersed into the shadows, Elias stood there, his mind racing. How had everything gone so wrong? He had been so close to reaching her. He could still see the look in her eyes—the conflict, the pain. She wasn’t completely gone. He was sure of it.

Lestrade turned back to Elias, her voice sharp. “You were supposed to keep her here.”

“She panicked,” Elias said, his voice low, tired. “The sirens... they scared her. She thought you were coming to take her.”

Lestrade frowned. “We were. She’s dangerous, Elias, and you know that.”

“She’s not dangerous,” Elias shot back, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “She’s confused. Lucian’s messed with her head, made her believe she’s something she’s not.”

“And what if she hurts someone? Or herself?” Lestrade countered, stepping closer, her tone hardening. “What if Lucian is using her as some kind of weapon? You’re too close to this, Elias. You need to step back and let us handle it.”

Elias shook his head, his hands clenching into fists. “No. I won’t step back. I’m the only one who can reach her. You saw it back there—she was listening to me.”

Lestrade’s jaw tightened. “You don’t know that. Lucian is ten steps ahead of us. He’s been planning this for months—years, even. We can’t afford to take chances.”

Elias looked at her, desperation in his eyes. “I know Emilia, Lestrade. I know her better than anyone. She’s not lost yet. We still have a chance.”

For a moment, Lestrade said nothing, her expression softening slightly as she studied him. She could see the exhaustion on his face, the desperation in his eyes. He wasn’t just another detective chasing a suspect. He was a man fighting to save someone he loved.

Finally, she sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. “Fine. But if we catch up to her again, and she runs—you let us handle it. No more chasing her into the dark. Do you understand me?”

Elias nodded, though he knew it wasn’t a promise he could keep. If he had to chase Emilia to the ends of the earth, he would.

The night dragged on as the search continued, officers combing the streets and alleyways, their flashlights cutting through the fog. But there was no sign of Emilia. It was as if she had disappeared into thin air.

Hours passed, and as dawn began to break, Elias found himself leaning against his car, exhaustion settling deep into his bones. Lestrade walked up to him, her face grim. “We’ve scoured the area. Nothing.”

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Elias nodded, his throat tight. He had known it wouldn’t be that easy. Lucian had planned this too well. He always stayed one step ahead, manipulating every situation to his advantage.

“You need to get some rest,” Lestrade said, her voice softer now. “You’re no good to her like this.”

Elias shook his head. “I can’t rest. Not while she’s out there.”

“Lucian’s not going to let her get far,” Lestrade pointed out. “He wants her close. We’ll track him down, and when we do, she’ll be with him.”

Elias frowned, turning his gaze toward the horizon as the first rays of sunlight began to pierce the fog. “What if this is all part of his plan?”

Lestrade’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

Elias stood up straighter, his mind working through the possibilities. “Think about it—why would Lucian let me get so close to her? Why would he leave her here for us to find, just to have her run away again? It’s too calculated. He wanted me to talk to her. He wanted me to see her like this.”

Lestrade’s eyes narrowed. “You think he’s playing you?”

“I think he’s always been playing me,” Elias said bitterly. “Every move he makes, every word out of his mouth—it’s all part of some bigger game. And I’m just another piece on his board.”

Lestrade crossed her arms, her expression darkening. “If that’s true, then what’s his next move?”

“I don’t know,” Elias admitted, frustration lacing his words. “But whatever it is, he’s using Emilia to get to me. He wants me to chase her. He wants me to keep trying to save her.”

“Why?” Lestrade asked, genuinely curious. “What does he get out of it?”

Elias hesitated, his mind flashing back to every conversation he’d had with Lucian—the cryptic warnings, the subtle taunts. He could still hear Lucian’s voice, smooth and calculated, echoing in his mind.

“Maybe he wants to break me,” Elias said quietly. “Maybe he thinks if I can’t save her, I’ll lose myself.”

Lestrade’s expression softened, her voice gentle but firm. “You’re not going to lose yourself, Elias. We’re going to stop him. Together.”

Elias nodded, though deep down, a part of him wasn’t so sure. Lucian was too smart, too manipulative. He had already torn Emilia apart, and now he was coming for him. It was only a matter of time.

Just then, Elias’s phone buzzed in his pocket, jolting him from his thoughts. He glanced down at the screen, his heart skipping a beat when he saw the name.

It was Lucian.

Without thinking, he answered, bringing the phone to his ear. “What do you want?”

Lucian’s voice came through, smooth and mocking. “Still chasing shadows, I see. How does it feel, Elias? To be so close, yet so far?”

Elias gritted his teeth. “Where is she, Lucian? What have you done to her?”

“Done to her?” Lucian laughed softly, the sound sending chills down Elias’s spine. “You still don’t understand, do you? I haven’t done anything to Emilia. She’s free now. She’s made her choice.”

“She’s not free,” Elias snapped. “You’ve twisted her mind, manipulated her into believing your lies.”

Lucian sighed, his tone almost pitying. “You’re always so quick to play the hero, Elias. Always so eager to save people who don’t want saving. It’s admirable, in a way. But also... foolish.”

Elias’s hands tightened into fists, his voice low and dangerous. “This isn’t a game, Lucian. I’m going to find you, and when I do—”

“You’ll do what, exactly?” Lucian interrupted, his voice dripping with amusement. “Arrest me? Lock me away? You can’t stop me, Elias. You never could. You’re still playing by rules that no longer apply.”

Elias’s heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to stay calm. “You can’t keep running forever. We will find you.”

“Perhaps,” Lucian mused. “But by the time you do, it will already be too late. Emilia’s path has been set. There’s no going back now.”

Elias’s voice trembled with rage. “I won’t let you win.”

Lucian chuckled softly. “You’re still under the impression that this is about winning or losing. How... quaint.”

Elias opened his mouth to respond, but the line went dead. Lucian had hung up.

He lowered the phone, his mind racing with a thousand different thoughts. What was Lucian planning? What did he mean by “too late”?

Lestrade stepped up beside him, her eyes searching his face. “What did he say?”

Elias swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on the rising sun. “He said it’s already too late.”

Lestrade frowned. “Too late for what?”

“I don’t know,” Elias murmured, his voice distant. “But whatever it is, we need to stop it. And we need to find Emilia... before it’s too late for her too.”