Chapter 3The 2 AM Takeout That Cost My Sister Her Life

My heart leaped into my throat. The cold sweat returned, soaking through my clothes.

Who the hell was calling me in the middle of the night?

Mark stopped dead in his tracks. His cold, dark eyes scanned the lobby, zeroing in on my location.

A wave of nausea washed over me, and I almost gagged from fear. I clamped my hand over my mouth, my terrified eyes watching as he turned and walked directly toward me.

He stopped about six feet away and bent down, picking up my shrieking phone from the floor. I must have dropped it when I jumped into the bin.

I watched in horror as Mark answered the call and put it on speaker.

Ava's annoyed voice filled the silent lobby.

“Zoey, why are you calling Mom and Dad? I just asked you for one little favor!”

“I swear, you’re doing this on purpose. You’re what, twenty-five? And you’re still tattling to our parents? What is wrong with you?”

If Ava were standing in front of me right now, I would have ripped that lying mouth right off her face. How could she? She was the reason I was trapped here, hunted like an animal.

The comments had come back to life, and they were a torrent of fury.

【THAT BITCH AVA DID IT ON PURPOSE!】

【She was afraid Mark wouldn't be able to find Zoey, so she called to give away her position!】

【How can a person be this evil?】

I forced myself to stay calm, to stay silent, pressing my hand harder against my mouth.

Mark stood there, holding the phone, a cruel smile playing on his lips as he toyed with the knife in his other hand. The sight sent a chill down my spine.

Ava's voice continued, oblivious. “Oh, by the way, remember you can take the elevator down to the parking garage to escape. Mark would never think of that!”

The comments were practically screaming.

【WELL, HE KNOWS NOW, YOU FUCKING IDIOT!】

【I hope you die in Zoey's place! I'm so angry I could spit!】

【And to think, last time, after Zoey died, that bitch got away with it. Her parents hired the best lawyers and she walked free. It makes me sick.】

Hearing that, Mark let out a low, guttural laugh. “Oh really? You think she can still run?”

There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a piercing shriek.

“Mark! If you want someone, go after Zoey! Don’t come after me!”

“We’re broken up!”

Ava hung up. Mark pocketed my phone, then slowly walked over to the electrical panel on the wall and yanked it open.

I knew instantly what he was going to do. A second later, he took his knife and sliced through the main wires, plunging the entire building into absolute darkness.

The only light came from the eerie green glow of the emergency exit signs.

An icy dread crept through my veins. He had truly cut off every single escape route. The elevator wouldn't work. I couldn't get out of the building.

I was completely and utterly trapped.

Fear made the world spin, dark spots dancing in my vision. I dug my nails into the soft flesh of my thigh, the sharp pain the only thing keeping me conscious. If I made a sound now, Mark would find me in the dark.

And then he would kill me.

The lobby was a black void. I could barely see my hand in front of my face. The faint moonlight filtering through the glass of the main door was just enough to silhouette Mark's hulking frame.

He took a few steps toward me, his presence a suffocating weight in the darkness.

His voice was a rasp, laced with chilling malice, and it sounded like he was whispering right in my ear. “I know you’re in here.”