The cold air of the fortress stung Sam's skin as she was dragged through its narrow, dimly lit corridors. Two of The Broker's men held her arms in a tight grip, their faces expressionless as they moved with purpose. Sam's mind raced. How did everything spiral out of control so quickly? She had been so close to finding the truth, and now she was captured, powerless to stop whatever The Broker had planned.
The fortress was nothing like she had imagined. It was larger and more sinister. The walls, lined with steel and cold stone, seemed to pulse with the dark energy of the syndicate's operations. This wasn't just a hideout; it was a stronghold, a fortress built on years of power and corruption.
They reached a large door at the end of the hallway. One of the guards punched in a code, and the heavy door creaked open. Inside, sitting at a large desk with a smirk on his face, was The Broker.
"Well, well," The Broker's voice was smooth and mocking, his eyes cold and calculating. "Sam Lawson. The tenacious little investigator who just wouldn't quit."
Sam glared at him but didn't say a word. She knew better than to give him the satisfaction of a response.
The Broker leaned back in his chair, his smirk widening. "You've been quite the thorn in my side, but also quite entertaining. You think you've been so clever, sneaking around, gathering information. But the truth is..." He paused, enjoying the tension in the room. "I've known about you from the start."
Sam's heart sank, but she kept her face Stoic.
"Every move you've made, every piece of information you thought you uncovered—I let you find it." He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I've been playing you."
Sam's mind raced, connecting the dots. He had been letting her get closer, but why?
"Why?" Sam finally asked, his voice steady. "Why let me get this far?"
The Broker stood up, walking around his desk to stand in front of her. His eyes bore into hers, cold and predatory. "Because you're useful to me. You have skills I need. You know how to get things done, and you're driven. I can respect that. So, I'm going to make you an offer."
Sam's eyes narrowed. "I'm not interested."
He chuckled, as if amused by her defiance. "Hear me out. You join me. Work for the syndicate. Help me eliminate my rivals. In return, I'll spare your life."
Sam didn't hesitate. "I'd rather die."
The broker's face darkened, his amusement fading. "That can be arranged."
He turned to the guards and nodded. They immediately grabbed Sam again, dragging her toward the door.
"Lock her up," The Broker ordered, his voice icy. "She can rot in a cell until I decide what to do with her."
Sam struggled against their grip, but it was useless. They were too strong. They dragged her down another set of hallways, deeper into the fortress, until they reached a dark, windowless room. The heavy steel door creaked as it opened, and they shoved her inside.
The door slammed shut, and the sound of the lock clicking echoed through the small space.
Sam looked around. The cell was cramped, barely enough room to sit, and the air was thick with the scent of damp stone. She sat on the cold floor, her mind racing. She had to find a way out. She couldn't give up now, not when she was so close to uncovering the truth.
After a few minutes, she heard movement in the shadows. She wasn't alone.
A voice spoke from the corner of the cell, raspy and weak. "You're new here, aren't you?"
Sam squinted, trying to make out the figure in the dim light. It was a woman, her face pale and gaunt, her clothes tattered. She looked like she had been there for years.
"Yeah," Sam replied cautiously. "Who are you?"
The woman let out a bitter laugh. "Just another one of The Broker's prisoners. Like you. We've all been trying to escape, but no one ever makes it out."
"How long have you been here?" Sam asked, already dreading the answer.
"Too long," the woman replied, her voice heavy with exhaustion. "I lost track of time months ago. But I'm not the only one. There are others—captives, just like you. Some of them have been here for years, forced to do The Broker's dirty work."
Sam's stomach twisted. This was worse than she had imagined. She wasn't just fighting for her life—there were others, people who had been trapped in this nightmare for who knows how long. She had to find a way out, for all of them.
"Is there a way out?" Sam asked, desperation creeping into her voice.
The woman shook her head. "Not that I know of. The guards watch us day and night, and The Broker has eyes everywhere."
Sam leaned her head against the cold wall, her mind whirling. She wasn't going to sit there and wait to be sold off or killed. She had to come up with a plan, and fast.
Hours passed, and Sam tried to think of every possible way she could escape. But each idea was met with the harsh reality of her situation. She had no weapons, no resources, and no one she could trust—except maybe the other captives.
Just as she was starting to feel the weight of hopelessness settle in, she overheard something that made her blood run cold.
Two guards stood outside her cell, speaking in low voices.
"They're preparing for the auction," one of them said.
"Yeah, The Broker's got a whole batch of captives readies to be sold off. Some big buyers are coming in from overseas."
Sam's heart pounded in her chest. An auction. That's what The Broker had planned for her and the others. They were going to be sold, like cattle, to the highest bidder.
She couldn't let that happen.
The guards' voices faded as they walked away, and Sam's resolve hardened. She had to escape. She had to stop this auction, no matter the cost.
But first, she needed a plan. And she needed help.
Sam turned to the woman in the corner. "What's your name?"
The woman looked up, surprised by the question. "Angela," she said quietly.
"Angela," Sam repeated. "We're going to get out of here. All of us. But I need to know everything you can tell me about this place. Who's guarding us, where they keep the keys, everything?"
Angela's eyes widened, a flicker of hope shining through the despair. "You really think we can escape?"
Sam nodded, her jaw set with determination. "I don't think so. I know. We just have to find the right moment."
As Sam and Angela began whispering about their plan, Sam knew one thing for sure: The Broker had made a mistake by capturing her. She wasn't going to stop fighting. Not until she was free—and The Broker's entire operation was destroyed.
As Sam and Angela solidify their escape plan, Sam overhears The Broker discussing the auction, with a chilling mention that she will be the "main attraction" for a particularly ruthless buyer.