Chapter 2: The Chase

Juan’s breath caught in his throat, but he didn’t say anything. He just looked away, his chest aching, his mind a storm of anger, guilt, and fear.

He knew Dominic was right. He had met Arya down by the plan he had made. Instead of protecting her, he had put her life at risk. And now, how could he even be there for her with everything crumbling down?

He should have let her go when he had the chance. If he was so scared of Dominic getting to her, he should have taken her out of the country or even just out of the state. Somewhere quiet. Somewhere far. Somewhere she wouldn’t have to live looking over her shoulder.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Dominic asked.

“Fuck off, Dominic,” Juan said through clenched teeth. He didn’t wait for a reply. He turned, walked to the end of the corridor, and into the wide lobby space. The windows there stretched from the floor to the ceiling, looking out onto the city. It was morning. Cars moved up and down the roads like nothing was wrong. A bus passed by. A woman pushed a stroller on the sidewalk below. The world outside looked like everything was okay.

But everything wasn’t okay.

“Fuck,” he whispered, running a hand through his hair. He didn’t even know how long he stood there. He rubbed his face and stared out the glass.

Then hs caught something odd out of the corner of his eye that made him freeze momentarily and gown turn.

Someone was walking quickly down the hall. They wore hospital scrubs—loose pants and a top—but the color was wrong. It was green, but not the kind the nurses here wore. Too bright and too green. And they had on a hairnet, but no ID badge or any name tag. No clipboard either and their shoes were wrong too. Not the soft ones hospital staff wore. These were black sneakers that left a small patch of muddy prints on the floor.

Juan squinted to be sure he wasn't mistaken. What hospital staff will leave dirty prints on the floor.

The person didn’t look up. They turned their face away slightly as they walked past him toward the elevator at the far end of the lobby.

His heart began to race. He stepped forward.

“Hey!” he called out.

The person didn’t stop, rather the person quickened theor pace. They reached the elevator and tapped the button to open it.

“Hey!” Juan said again, louder. He broke into a run. “Hey, you!”

The elevator doors opened. The person stepped inside quickly and turned their face just enough for Juan to catch a glimpse.

Something cold ran through his spine.

It was the same face he had seen. That was the person who shot tje bullet to arya. He hadn’t been sure then. But he was sure now.

“Open it!” Juan shouted, banging on the elevator doors as they began to slide closed. “Open the damn door!"

The doors shut.

Juan didn’t wait.

He turned around and ran to the stairs.

He took them two at a time, leaping down the steps. His legs burned by the third floor, but he didn’t stop. He kept going. He pushed the door open and stepped out fast, his eyes scanning the wide hospital floor.

He couldn't see the man.

He turned toward the far hallway and ran again. There was a back corner near the fire exit and some lockers. He turned just in time to see someone yanking off a green scrub top and tossing it into a trash bin. The person didn’t notice him yet. They pulled a hoodie over their head, then reached down and shoved something into a side backpack.

Juan broke into a sprint.

“Hey!” he shouted.

The person turned their head just slightly, then bolted.

Juan chased him as fast as he could weaving through an open door and into one of the hospital’s back corridors. It wasn’t meant for public use. Boxes were stacked high, janitor carts stood against the wall, a nurse stepped out of a supply closet just in time to scream as the two men flew past her.

“Stop him!” Juan shouted.

But the nurse was too startled to move.

The man turned a sharp corner, almost slipped, and kept running. Juan’s lungs burned, but he didn’t let up. He knocked over a stool, stumbled slightly, but kept going.

“Get back here!” he yelled.

They passed through another exit door and into the hospital parking structure. The air was cooler here. The concrete was stained with old oil marks. A car pulled into the lot, headlights flashing across Juan’s face. He turned away and kept his eyes forward.

The man was still ahead, jumping over a parking barrier and ducking behind a line of cars.

Juan followed.

He reached the row, but the man was gone.

He stopped. His chest rose and fell quickly. He looked left, then right. The place was quiet.

He took a step forward, then paused, his ears straining for sound but here was nothing.

“Shit,” he whispered, looking under a nearby van but it was empty as well. He walked forward and turned into the next row. A nurse was getting into her car, glancing at him strangely. He ignored her and kept moving.

He checked three more rows but there was still nothing. He was going kewp searching but then his phone buzzed in his pocket.

Reluctantly, Juan pulled it out, still breathing hard. His fingers were damp with sweat yjay swiping across the phone was hard.

There was a message notification from a number that was unsaved and he could not recognize the number as well.

Furrowing his brows, he opened his text and his eyes scanned over the message.

You run quite fast though, but not fast enough.

She’ll die next time, and so will you.

Watch your back Moreno.