C21 Don’t Let Go

The sound of engines grew louder.

Headlights flickered through the trees outside the warehouse like restless ghosts moving through the forest.

Aisha’s stomach dropped.

“That’s… a lot of cars,” she whispered.

Arjun was already moving.

His hand closed around hers firmly as he pulled her toward the back of the building.

“Stay close.”

They reached the rear door just as headlights flooded through the front entrance.

Men shouted outside.

“CHECK THE BUILDING!”

Arjun pushed the rusted door open slowly.

Cold mountain air rushed in.

Dark forest.

Steep slope behind the warehouse.

Aisha looked down the hill.

“Please tell me you didn’t park miles away.”

“Two kilometers.”

She stared at him.

“You’re joking.”

“I’m not.”

A voice shouted from inside the warehouse.

“THEY’RE GONE!”

Arjun didn’t hesitate.

“Run.”

They bolted into the forest.

Branches whipped against Aisha’s arms as they rushed downhill through the dark trees.

Her heart pounded violently.

Part fear.

Part adrenaline.

Part something else entirely.

Behind them, angry voices echoed through the night.

“THIS WAY!”

“THEY WENT INTO THE TREES!”

Aisha nearly slipped on loose gravel.

Arjun’s arm wrapped around her instantly, pulling her upright.

“Careful.”

Even while running, he was watching her.

Making sure she stayed steady.

Making sure she stayed close.

Gunshots cracked through the forest.

Bang.

A bullet hit a tree trunk nearby.

Wood splintered.

“ARE THEY SHOOTING?!” Aisha gasped.

“Yes.”

“That seems excessive!”

Arjun pulled her behind a large boulder.

“Stay down.”

They crouched together in the shadows, both breathing hard.

The search lights from the vehicles cut through the trees above them.

Men shouting.

Footsteps moving closer.

Aisha leaned slightly against him without thinking.

Her shoulder pressed against his chest.

Warm.

Solid.

Safe.

For a moment neither of them moved.

Then she whispered quietly—

“You came.”

Arjun didn’t answer immediately.

His eyes stayed focused on the search lights moving across the forest.

Calculating.

Watching.

Finally he spoke.

“Of course I did.”

The simplicity of the answer made her chest tighten.

More voices echoed nearby.

“They can’t be far!”

“Spread out!”

Arjun leaned closer to her ear.

“We move when the lights pass.”

His voice was low.

Close.

Too close.

Aisha suddenly became very aware of their position.

Pressed together behind the rock.

His arm still around her.

His breath brushing lightly against her hair.

Her heart started racing again.

And it had nothing to do with the men searching for them.

The lights moved away slowly.

Arjun stood first.

Then pulled her up beside him.

But when he tried to step forward—

She didn’t move.

He looked back.

Her hand was still gripping his jacket.

Their eyes met in the dark forest.

For a second the world around them faded again.

No kidnappers.

No guns.

Just the quiet mountain night.

And the way they always seemed to end up standing too close to each other.

Aisha cleared her throat awkwardly.

“Don’t get the wrong idea.”

Arjun raised an eyebrow.

“I’m not.”

She hesitated.

Then said quietly—

“I just… don’t want to get kidnapped again tonight.”

His mouth twitched slightly.

The closest thing to a smile she had ever seen from him.

“Then don’t let go.”

So she didn’t.

And together they disappeared deeper into the dark forest.