I woke up with a searing pain coursing through my body, every inch of me aching. My head pounded, my arm throbbed, and my mouth tasted of blood. The metallic stench of sweat and fear hung heavy in the air. My eyes adjusted to the dim light, and I realized we weren't in a building. The floor beneath us vibrated, rumbling with the motion of what could only be a moving vehicle.

"Bloom?" I whispered, my throat dry and raspy.

"I'm here," she replied softly, her voice shaking. I could hear the faint sound of her crying. She was sitting just a few feet away, clutching her leg.

"Where are we?" I asked, crawling toward her.

"I don't know," she sniffled. "It's dark, and I can't tell how far we've gone."

I glanced around the space, my heart sinking. The walls were lined with metal, the air stale and suffocating. A faint light seeped in from a seam near the door, casting eerie shadows.

As I dragged myself toward the door, my arm screamed in protest. I ignored the pain, focusing on the faint light and the sliver of hope it offered. I pressed my ear against the door. Nothing. No voices. No footsteps. Just the steady hum of tires on asphalt.

"Bloom," I whispered. "Come here."

She crawled over, wincing with each movement. "What is it?"

I gestured to the door. "I think this leads outside. I don't hear anyone nearby."

Her eyes widened. "You want to jump out? Jamie, we're moving—what if we don't make it?"

"We have to try," I said firmly, though fear clawed at my insides. "We don't know where they're taking us, but we know it's not good. We can't stay."

I tested the handle, holding my breath. It wasn't locked. The door creaked open slightly, and a gust of cool night air rushed in. Beyond the door, darkness stretched endlessly, with the faint glow of a distant city on the horizon.

"Slide off," Bloom suggested, her voice trembling. "If we jump, we'll break something for sure."

I nodded. "Okay, but we need to hurry."

We positioned ourselves at the edge of the open door, the cold wind whipping at our faces. The city lights grew fainter with each passing second. My heart hammered in my chest.

"On three," I said. "One... two... three!"

We slid off the edge, tumbling into the night. The ground rushed up to meet us, and the impact was brutal. Pain exploded through my body as I rolled into the grass, sharp rocks and debris tearing at my skin. Bloom cried out beside me, her voice filled with agony.

I tried to sit up, clutching my arm. "Bloom? Are you okay?"

She groaned, clutching her leg. "I think I twisted my ankle... and my arm hurts."

"Let me help you," I said, crawling over to her. She leaned on me, her breaths shallow and pained.

We were both a mess—scraped, bleeding, and barely able to move—but we were alive. That was all that mattered.

The faint rumble of an engine made us freeze. A set of headlights appeared in the distance, heading our way. My stomach twisted in fear. "Hide," I hissed, dragging Bloom toward the tall grass.

We crouched low, holding our breaths as the vehicle passed. The unmistakable outline of the van loomed in the foggy darkness. The kidnappers were looking for us.

"They're still close," I whispered. "We can't stay on the road."

Bloom nodded, tears streaming down her face. "How far do you think the city is?"

"Five miles, maybe more," I said, glancing at the distant lights. "But it's going to feel like ten if we stick to the fields."

The terrain was rough, and every step was agony. My arm hung useless at my side, throbbing with every heartbeat. Bloom limped beside me, her twisted ankle making progress slow. The darkness was oppressive, the tall grass rustling ominously around us.

"We need to rest," Bloom said after what felt like hours. Her voice was weak, her steps faltering.

I helped her to the ground, and we lay on the cool grass, staring up at the stars. The sky was breathtakingly clear, but the beauty of it felt mocking in the face of our desperation.

Bloom fell asleep quickly, her exhaustion overwhelming her fear. I lay awake, my mind racing. Where were we? Who were these men? And how far would they go to get us back?

The sound of an engine roared in the distance, jolting me awake. I sat up, my heart pounding. The lights of the van cut through the darkness like a blade, sweeping over the field. I shook Bloom awake.

"Bloom, they're coming! We have to move!"

But it was too late. The van skidded to a stop just yards away, and the men jumped out, their flashlights cutting through the darkness.

"Found them!" one of them barked.

Bloom and I scrambled to our feet, but there was nowhere to run. Rough hands grabbed us, dragging us back toward the vehicle.

"Let us go!" I screamed, thrashing against my captor's grip.

"Shut her up," another man growled. A cloth was pressed over my face, the sickly-sweet smell filling my nostrils. My vision blurred, and darkness claimed me.

When I woke, the air was thick and stifling. I was lying on a cold, hard floor, my wrists bound behind me. The faint hum of machinery and the distant sound of voices echoed around me.

Bloom was beside me, her face pale and tear-streaked. "Jamie," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I think we're in a warehouse."

I struggled to sit up, my body screaming in protest. The room was large and dimly lit, with crates stacked haphazardly along the walls. The air smelled of oil and saltwater.

"Where are we?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"I don't know," Bloom said. "But... I heard one of them say something about a port."

A cold dread settled over me. We weren't just far from home—we were in another country. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut.

"We have to get out of here," I said, my voice steady despite the fear clawing at my throat. "We can't give up."

Bloom nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "Together."

As the footsteps of our captors drew closer, I tightened my jaw, bracing myself for whatever came next. We had escaped once before. We would do it again.