Sam paced the confines of her cell, trying to steady her thoughts. The walls felt like they were closing in, each passing second a reminder that her time was running out. She had overheard The Broker's plan—an auction, selling off captives like cattle, including her. She couldn't let that happen.
The cold, metallic door creaked open, and in walked a familiar face—one she hadn't seen in years. Sam blinked, trying to make sense of it. "Ethan?"
"Long time, Sam," Ethan replied, his voice low as he glanced around the room, ensuring they were alone. His face was hardened, his eyes darker, but there was no mistaking him.
You're still alive," Sam whispered, taking a cautious step forward. She wasn't sure if this was the Ethan she once knew or if the syndicate had broken him.
"Barely," he replied, leaning against the cell bars. "But that's not what matters right now. What matters is you."
Sam's mind raced. Ethan had vanished years ago after infiltrating the syndicate. She had assumed the worst. "What are you doing here?"
He leaned in closer. "I've been working from the inside, trying to take down The Broker. But it's not as simple as I thought. He's got more power than we imagined."
Sam had been trying to devise an escape since her capture. The walls of the prison felt like they were closing in more each day, and the odds were stacked against her. But now, with Ethan here, hope flickered back to life.
"You've got an inside man now," he said, eyes sharp. "But trust me when I say we don't have much time. There's a way to take The Broker down, but it's going to be risky. We sabotage the auction or you die."
Sam's brow furrowed. Sabotaging the auction—the very heart of The Broker's operation—was a plan that could take the entire syndicate down. But it was also a death sentence if they failed.
"I'm listening," she said, her mind already racing through possibilities.
Ethan nodded. "Okay There's a way out, but it's not just about running. As I said earlier We need to sabotage the auction. If we can disrupt it, we can cause enough chaos to bring down his whole operation."
The auction is their weak spot," Ethan explained, his voice low as he detailed the plan. "If we disrupt it, the entire operation will unravel. But we'll need to be precise. One wrong move, and they'll kill us both without hesitation."
Sam nodded, her mind processing the information. Ethan's plan was dangerous, but it might be their only shot. She glanced around the prison cell, where a few other captives were listening in on their conversation. Fear was etched across their faces, but Sam could see a glimmer of hope as well. Not all of them would make it out, but they couldn't stay here and wait for death either
Sam stared at Ethan, skeptical. She wanted to believe him, but after everything she had been through, trusting anyone felt like a gamble. "Why didn't you reach out earlier?"
"I went dark for a reason, Sam. The deeper I got, the more dangerous it became. There were times I barely survived." He ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "But now's our chance. If we don't act, The Broker will sell us off, and we'll never have another shot."
Sam's jaw tightened. She couldn't afford to let doubt cloud her judgment. "Alright. What's the plan?"
Ethan lowered his voice further. "There's a weak spot in their security during the auction. We can sneak out through one of the side exits. But we need to act fast. The guards will be focused on the bidders and the merchandise."
Sam's stomach churned at the word *merchandise*. "You mean people."
Ethan's eyes darkened. "Yeah. And we're next in line if we don't do something."
Just then, the door to the cell clanked open, and Angela, another prisoner who had been with Sam since the first day, slipped inside. She was pale, her eyes wide with fear. "I overheard the both of you… don't it's too risky. I know some of the prisoners here won't support this "
Sam glanced at Ethan. "Is it?"
Ethan hesitated, his expression grim. "It's dangerous, yeah. But sitting here waiting to be sold off is worse. Some of them have been here too long—they've lost hope."
This is too risky," one of the captives said, his voice trembling. "If we get caught, we're dead. You know that, right?"
Sam glanced at Ethan, then back at the others. She understood their fear—after all, she had seen firsthand what happened to those who crossed The Broker. But staying here meant a slow death, or worse.
"I'm not forcing anyone to come with us," she said, her voice steady. "But I'm not staying here to die."
Angela bit her lip. "I want to try. But… if we're caught..."
"We won't be," Sam said, her voice firmer than she felt inside. "We'll stick to the plan."
Angela nodded, though the doubt lingered in her eyes.
Ethan shot her a glance, a silent nod of approval. He had always admired her grit, her determination to keep fighting even when the odds were stacked against her.
As they huddled together, going over the details of their escape, Lily's voice echoed in Sam's mind. Was she really beginning to question her role in the syndicate? Sam couldn't shake the image of Lily standing beside The Broker, looking conflicted. Could she be an ally, or was she just playing another game?
Sam pushed the thought aside, focusing on the plan. Ethan had access to the lower tunnels, which led to a service entrance rarely monitored by the guards. It was their best shot, and she wasn't going to waste it.
"Tonight," Ethan whispered. "During the auction, we move."
Lily, meanwhile, was wrestling with her own demons. She had been under The Broker's thumb for what felt like an eternity. At first, she had followed his orders out of fear, but now, something had shifted. Watching him brutalize captives, treating them as mere objects, was beginning to eat away at her soul. She wasn't like him. Or at least, she didn't want to be.
Sitting in her lavish room, far removed from the prison cells below, Lily stared at her reflection in the mirror. She didn't recognize herself anymore. The person staring back at her was cold, distant—a far cry from the girl who had once dreamed of a simple life. The Broker had twisted her, manipulated her until she had no choice but to comply.
But as she watched the horrors unfold, something inside her was changing. Could she really betray The Broker and survive? Could she go back to her father, Raymond, after all this time
Hours later, the atmosphere in the fortress buzzed with tension. The auction was about to begin. Bidders arrived, each escorted by armed guards, their faces hidden behind masks, their eyes cold and calculating. Sam could hear their murmurs outside her cell—discussing the "merchandise," deciding which captives were worth the most.
Ethan met Sam and Angela in the dimly lit hallway, his expression grim. "It's time."
They moved quickly, blending into the shadows as Ethan led them through a maze of corridors. Every step brought them closer to freedom, but Sam's heart raced with each passing guard. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
Suddenly, a group of captives huddled nearby caught Sam's attention. One of the men, his face gaunt and eyes hollow, shook his head. "You're fools. If you try to escape, you'll only get yourselves killed."
Angela faltered. "Maybe he's right..."
"No," Sam whispered fiercely. "We keep going."
The man laughed bitterly. "You don't know what you're up against."
Ethan pulled Sam aside, his expression tense. "We have to move now. We can't wait for everyone to come around."
Sam gave a quick nod. "Let's go."
They continued down the passageway, but just as they reached the entrance to the tunnels, a loud shout echoed behind them. Ethan froze. "They're onto us."
Before Sam could react, two guards appeared from around the corner, their weapons drawn. "Stop!"
Ethan turned to Sam, desperation in his eyes. "Go! Now!"
"I'm not leaving you," Sam hissed.
"You have to!" Ethan pushed her toward the tunnel. "I'll hold them off."
Sam hesitated, but the sound of approaching footsteps made the decision for her. With a final glance at Ethan, she grabbed Angela's arm and darted into the tunnel. The darkness swallowed them as they ran, the shouts of the guards growing fainter behind them.
"Where do we go now?" Angela panted, her voice shaky.
"We keep moving," Sam said, her voice steely with determination. "We find a way out."
But deep down, she knew the hardest part was still ahead.
***
As they navigated the narrow, winding tunnels, Sam's thoughts kept drifting back to Ethan. He had risked everything to help her escape, but now he was in the hands of the syndicate. And she didn't know if she would ever see him again.
Her phone buzzed—a message from Mike: *"The auction is about to start
. You need to hurry."*
Sam quickened her pace, her heart pounding in her chest. They were running out of time.
And if Ethan didn't make it… she was on her own.
Just as they neared the exit, Angela grabbed Sam's arm. "Wait," she whispered, pointing ahead. "It's a trap."
Sam's blood ran cold.