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For amoment, there was only silence, and Lucy began to wonder if her mind wasplaying tricks on her. But then the sound came again, this time louder and moredistinct. Footsteps echoed through the empty halls.
"Who'sthere?" she demanded, trying to inject some authority into her quaveringvoice.
Afigure emerged from the shadows at the end of the hallway, the weakillumination just strong enough to reveal the outline of a man. Lucy's heartleaped into her throat, remembering the rumors of a killer on the loose.
"Please,"she pleaded, her voice trembling with fear, "I'm lost. I just want to findmy friends."
The manremained silent, his gaze fixed on her as he took a step closer. She could seenow that he was tall and lean, dressed all in black. The light glinted offsomething metallic in his hand, and Lucy’s blood ran like ice through herveins.
"Stayback!" Lucy shouted, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. "Imean it!"
Hermind raced, frantically searching for a way to escape, but the hallways seemedto stretch on interminably in either direction.
Shewondered if this would be the last face she ever saw.
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
Themuseum's entrance loomed before Fiona and Jake, swallowing them as they hurriedinside. Security guards, faces etched with concern, quickly waved them throughthe locked doors. The air was thick with tension, and Fiona could feel herheartbeat thrumming in her ears as they entered.
"Canyou tell us what's happening?" Fiona asked, her voice strained as sheapproached a group of young women huddled together near the front desk. Theireyes were wide with fear, their hands wringing nervously at their skirts.
"Lucy—ourfriend—she just took off," one girl stammered, tears streaming down hercheeks. "We were looking at the insect exhibit when she freaked out andstomped on a spider. She said she needed a moment and would be rightback."
"Butthat was over ten minutes ago," another girl chimed in, biting her lip."And now, with all this talk about a potential killer in here, we'rereally worried about her."
Fiona'sstomach clenched, her earlier fears reigniting with a vengeance. Could Bradleyhave taken Lucy? Was she his next target? Her mind raced with terrifyingpossibilities, each worse than the last.
Fiona'schest tightened, her breath catching in her throat at the thought of Lucy aloneand vulnerable. She glanced at Jake, who seemed to share her concern. "We needto find her," she said urgently.
"Ofcourse," Jake agreed, his eyes scanning the room as if trying to spot anypotential danger lurking in the shadows. He turned to one of the securityguards standing nearby. "We'll need a search team to look for Lucy. Canyou make that happen?"
Theguard nodded, already reaching for his radio. But Fiona knew time was slippingthrough their fingers like sand in an hourglass. She couldn't afford to waitfor someone else to take action when Lucy's life hung in the balance.
As Jakediscussed logistics with the guard, Fiona approached the group of young womenagain. "Which way did Lucy go?" she asked, her voice barelyconcealing the panic she felt rising within her.
"Towardsthe east wing," one of the girls replied, her eyes wide and frightened."I think she took a wrong turn somewhere."
"Thankyou," Fiona murmured, her mind racing as she tried to recall the layout ofthe museum. The east wing was a labyrinth of exhibits and storerooms, a perfectplace for Bradley to hide and strike from the shadows.
"Hey,"Jake called out, his brow furrowed in concern as he noticed Fiona's suddendeparture. "Wait for the search team!"
ButFiona couldn't afford to wait. Each second that ticked by brought another twistof fear in her gut. She ignored Jake's plea, her heart pounding as she racedtowards the east wing, her determination fueled by a desperate need to saveLucy from the monster that hunted them all.
Fiona'ssneakers pounded the polished marble floor, her breath coming in short gasps asshe sprinted towards the east wing, where the corridors became carpeted. Thedim lighting seemed to close in around her, casting shadows that danced alongthe walls. She could hear Jake's voice fading behind her, his protest swallowedby the echoing hallways.
"Damnit, Fiona, wait!" But she didn't slow down.
Herheart raced, the adrenaline pumping through her veins as she tried to focus onthe mental map of the museum she had studied earlier. If only she had paid moreattention to the details, if only she hadn't been so concerned with catchingBradley, maybe they wouldn't be in this situation now.
Please,let me find her before it's too late, she told herselfbetween labored breaths, her thoughts a chaotic whirlwind of fear anddetermination.
Thedistant sound of hurried footsteps reached her ears, and she knew that thesearch team was mobilizing. They would fan out and search methodically, butFiona couldn't shake the feeling that she alone held the key to Lucy's safety.
As sherounded a corner, a faint noise caught her attention. A muffled whimper? Or wasit just her imagination, fueled by the mounting terror that threatened toconsume her?
"Lucy?"she called out hesitantly, straining to hear any sign of the missing girl. Butthere was only silence, thick and suffocating like a shroud.
Moretwists and turns led her further away from the relative safety of the mainhall. Fiona knew she was putting herself at risk, but the thought of Lucy'stear-streaked face and trembling hands propelled her forward.
