The apartment door burst open so hard it slammed against the wall.
"Maya?" Tessa startled, nearly dropping the mug in her hands.
"What's wrong?"
Maya didn't answer immediately.
She stood frozen in the doorway, chest heaving, eyes wide with panic. Her face had gone pale, all the color drained from it as though she had just seen a ghost.
"Maya?" Tessa repeated, fear creeping into her voice now. "You're scaring me."
Maya shut the door behind her with shaking hands and locked it—once, twice, three times. Then she turned slowly.
"Tessa," she said, her voice trembling. "You need to sit down."
Tessa's stomach dropped.
"No," she whispered. "No, don't say it like that. Just—just tell me."
Maya rushed toward her, grabbing her shoulders. "Your face is everywhere."
Tessa blinked. "What?"
"Everywhere," Maya repeated, her voice rising. "Instagram. Facebook. X. News blogs. Even group chats. Your face—your name—everything."
Tessa shook her head slowly, disbelief washing over her. "That's not possible. I didn't post anything."
"It's not you," Maya said quickly. "It's him."
"Him?" Tessa echoed.
"Mr. Collins."
The name sliced through her like a blade.
Her legs gave way, and she sank onto the couch. "What… what did he do?"
Maya pulled out her phone with trembling fingers. "He's looking for you."
She turned the screen toward Tessa.
And the world stopped.
There it was.
Her face.
A picture she recognized instantly—taken from an old family event. She looked younger. Softer. Smiling, unaware of what her future held.
Beneath it, bold letters screamed:
MISSING — REWARD OFFERED
Tessa's breath hitched.
"Read it," Maya whispered.
Her eyes scanned the text, her vision blurring with every word.
Tessa Smith, age 24. Last seen leaving her family home. If found, please report immediately. A generous reward will be paid for her safe return.
At the bottom—
An amount.
Her chest tightened violently.
"That's… that's a ransom," she breathed.
"Yes," Maya said. "He's placed a bounty on you."
Tessa pressed a hand to her mouth, nausea rising sharply. "So people are… looking for me?"
Maya nodded. "Actively. I overheard two guys at work talking about it. They were joking about how easy it would be to spot you."
Tessa's heart pounded in her ears. "I—I went out today. I walked around. Anyone could have—"
Her voice broke.
Maya grabbed her hands. "Hey. You're safe right now. I locked the door. No one followed me."
"But what if they do next time?" Tessa whispered. "What if someone recognizes me?"
Maya swallowed hard. "That's the problem."
Tessa stared at the screen again, her face staring back at her like a stranger.
"I can't go out anymore," she said faintly.
"No," Maya agreed. "You can't."
Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.
Finally, Tessa whispered, "He's trying to force me back."
"Yes," Maya said softly. "And money makes people dangerous."
Tessa stood abruptly, panic surging. "I need to hide."
"Okay," Maya said quickly. "We'll figure something out."
Tessa rushed into the bedroom, pulling open drawers with frantic hands.
"I can't look like this," she muttered. "I can't."
She grabbed a hoodie, dark, oversized and pulled it over her head. Then a scarf, wrapping it around her hair.
She found a pair of large sunglasses and slid them onto her face, even though it was already evening.
Maya watched silently from the doorway.
"You look like you're disappearing," Maya said quietly.
Tessa paused.
"That's exactly what I need to do."
She turned to the mirror.
She barely recognized herself.
"From now on," Tessa said, her voice steady despite the fear in her chest, "I don't go out alone. I don't talk to strangers. I don't use my real name."
Maya nodded. "I'll help you, I mean what are friends for?"her lips curved into smile
Tessa swallowed. "Thank you."
Maya hesitated. "But there's something else."
Tessa's heart sank. "What now?"
Maya held up her phone again. "The comments."
Tessa closed her eyes briefly.
"I don't want to see."
"You need to."
Reluctantly, she looked.
She probably ran off with some guy.
Bet she owes money.
I'd find her for that reward.
Easy money.
Her hands trembled.
"They don't even know me," she whispered.
"They don't need to," Maya said bitterly. "They just need the cash."
Tessa hugged herself, fear crawling up her spine.
A sudden knock echoed through the apartment.
Both women froze.
Knock. Knock.
Maya's eyes widened.
"Did you tell anyone I live here?" she whispered urgently.
Tessa shook her head, heart hammering. "No. Never."
Another knock, louder than the previous.
"Tessa Smith!" a male voice called from outside. "We just want to talk!"
Tessa's blood ran cold.
Maya backed away slowly. "How did they—?"
"I don't know," Tessa whispered, panic clawing at her chest.
The doorknob rattled.
"Open the door," the voice insisted. "You're worth a lot of money right now."
Maya grabbed Tessa's arm. "Bedroom. Now."
They tiptoed backward, every breath shallow.
The knocking intensified—harder, more aggressive.
"Tessa!" the man shouted. "You can't hide forever!"
Her heart felt like it might explode.
Maya shoved her toward the bedroom window. "Fire escape."
Tessa shook her head frantically. "I can't—I'm scared."
"Do you trust me?" Maya whispered fiercely.
"Yes," Tessa breathed.
"Then go."
Another voice joined the first. "She's inside, I swear."
Tessa's chest constricted painfully.
She climbed onto the windowsill, hands shaking as she looked down at the dark alley below.
Her phone buzzed violently in her pocket.
She nearly screamed.
Maya glanced at it.
Unknown number.
The message flashed on the screen.
You can run. But we will find you.
The front door creaked.
Someone was forcing it open.
Maya pushed Tessa gently. "Jump."
Tessa's breath caught in her throat as she looked back one last time.
"Maya—"
"I'll distract them," Maya said softly. "Go."
Tessa stepped onto the fire escape just as the door burst open.
Shouts filled the apartment.
Her hands slipped on the cold metal railing.
Below her, shadows moved.
And somewhere in the distance—
Sirens wailed.
Tessa's heart slammed violently as she climbed down.