Page 46 of Silent Night

There was no response, only the eerie quiet that seemed to swallow her words whole. Sheila hesitated, torn between the desire to investigate the scream and the fear of what she might find. But she knew she couldn't afford to hesitate; someone's life could be at stake.

Taking a deep breath, she began to move cautiously in the direction she thought the scream had come from, her gun held steady in front of her. Her footsteps were loud in the cavernous space, each step feeling like it might give away her position.

The basement was a labyrinth of concrete pillars and sudden corners, the shadows playing tricks on her senses. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, each beat a reminder of how out of her element she truly was.

Get it together, Sheila, she thought, trying to steady her breathing.

She strained her ears, listening for any sound that might give her a clue as to where the scream had come from. Time seemed to slow, each second an eternity as she waited for something, anything, to guide her.

Then, ever so faintly, she heard it: a soft whimper. Her body tensed, instincts taking over as she moved toward the sound, her gun at the ready. As she approached a rusted SUV, the whimpering grew louder, and she realized it was coming from the trunk.

Please let this be Heather, she thought, her chest tightening with anxiety. She reached for the latch, her fingers trembling as she popped the trunk open. She held her breath, bracing herself for what she might find inside.

The sight that greeted her sent a wave of relief and horror washing over her. A young woman lay bound and gagged in the trunk, her tear-streaked face a testament to her ordeal. She had long, blonde hair matted with sweat and dirt, and her blue eyes were wide with fear. Sheila's heart clenched as she recognized her as Heather, the woman who had been abducted earlier that same day.

"Hi, Heather," Sheila said softly, trying to project calm even as adrenaline coursed through her veins. "I'm with the police. I'm here to help you."

Heather's eyes flickered with a mixture of hope and terror, and Sheila knew that she had to get her out of there as quickly as possible. But what if the kidnapper was nearby, watching? What if he came back at any moment? She shook her head, trying to clear the doubts that threatened to paralyze her. Heather needed her, and she couldn't let fear stand in her way.

Sheila reached for the gag, her fingers brushing against Heather's trembling lips, which were chapped and bruised. She carefully pulled it away, revealing the raw skin beneath the coarse fabric.

"Please don't scream," Sheila said, her voice both gentle and firm. "I'm going to get you out of this mess, I promise."

Heather nodded, her eyes brimming with tears that spilled over onto her flushed cheeks. Her body shuddered, a silent sob wracking her frame. As Sheila examined the knots binding Heather's wrists and ankles, she noticed they were intricate and tight—the work of someone who knew what they were doing.

"Okay, let's get these off," she muttered, her fingers working deftly at the knots, sweat beading on her brow as she struggled to loosen the ropes. Each passing moment felt like an eternity.

"Th-thank you," Heather managed, her voice hoarse. "But we need to hurry. He said he'd be back soon."

The terror in Heather's eyes was contagious, and Sheila felt her stomach churn with unease. She forced herself to focus on the task at hand, refusing to let panic overcome her.

"Alright, just breathe with me, okay?" she said, trying to project calm despite the tremor in her voice. "Inhale...exhale. We'll be out of here before you know it."

As Heather attempted to follow her instructions, her breaths came in shallow gasps, her chest rising and falling rapidly. It was clear she was teetering on the edge of hysteria, and Sheila's concern only grew.

"Come on," Sheila whispered under her breath, her fingers flying as she finally managed to unravel the last of the knot holding Heather's wrists together. "Got it."

Heather's arms dropped to her sides, and Sheila quickly moved on to her ankles. She couldn't help but glance around the dark basement, her senses heightened as she prayed that Finn would return soon. They needed backup, and they needed it now.

Having finished untying Heather, Sheila straightened and looked around, searching for Finn. Should she shout to him, as he'd suggested? What if the killer was lurking nearby?

Maybe it would be better to go find him, she thought. Maybe—

Before she could finish the thought, the few overhead lights partially illuminating the basement went off, plunging them into an abyss of blackness.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

The darkness swallowed the parking garage basement whole, leaving Sheila's heart pounding. She could feel Heather's terror reverberating through the air as the young woman began to hyperventilate, still cramped in the confines of the SUV's trunk.

"He's coming back!" Heather whispered, her voice cracking.

"Shh," Sheila urged, trying to steady her own nerves. "Stay quiet." The blackness was suffocating, yet she knew that any sound they made could be their undoing.

Closing her eyes for a moment, Sheila forced herself to focus and listen for any telltale signs of movement. Her fingers brushed against the cold metal of her cell phone in her pocket, and she considered using its flashlight. But she couldn't risk giving away their location. She bit her lip, adrenaline coursing through her veins like wildfire. Where the hell was Finn?

She cursed inwardly, feeling the weight of responsibility heavy on her shoulders. It was as if the walls of the parking garage were closing in, threatening to crush her. In this moment, she felt utterly alone, lost in a sea of shadows with only her instincts to guide her. Her heart raced, her breath coming in short, labored gasps. Was she in over her head?

But no, she had come this far, and there was no turning back now. Sheila gritted her teeth, clenching her fists as she steadied her breathing. She was an Olympic-level kickboxer, after all—she'd faced challenges before, and she would face this one too. For Heather's sake.

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