Zuri sat at her desk lost in thought. This was her first day back at work. Her boyfriend Liam had whisked her away for a mini-vacation at a local resort on the other side of the island. She was expecting him to pop the question, but their time together was cut short when he got called away on urgent business. Liam worked with a government organization and his job required a lot of last-minute trips overseas. Zuri was used to this and she didn't usually make a fuss when he had to leave but this time, she was a little peeved. She was ready to leave the resort, but he pleaded with her and she decided to stay. She eventually had a great time.
Zuri had a pretty normal life. A job she liked, great friends and an amazing boyfriend who adored her. She was happy with her life but sometimes felt like something was missing. The day went by swiftly. Zuri had planned to meet her best friend Sade for lunch but Sade had to cancel because of a meeting. Zuri then decided to shorten her lunch break and head home early. Liam was supposed to return from his trip today and she wanted to pick him up at the airport. He had sent her his flight details so she knew when he would arrive. She jumped at the chance to get home and freshen up before driving to the airport.
The moment she arrived home Zuri knew something was wrong. The front door was wide open. She immediately suspected foul play, however, before panicking she cautiously approached the house. Her next thought was that Liam had come home early to surprise her. That certainly wouldn’t be unusual. When she peeked through the open door her worst fears were realised. The place was ransacked. In an instant, Zuri turned on her heels, locked herself in her car and called the police. She was relieved when they finally arrived a few minutes later. By this time, she had already texted Liam, she didn’t want him to worry so she withheld the details.
"Good afternoon ma'am," the first officer stated as he approached her, "I'm Detective Irvin Adams."
"Thanks for coming Detective Adams," Zuri responded.
Detective Adams directed a few of his colleagues to check inside and around the house. Once he received the signal that the house was safe he asked Zuri to accompany him inside. That way she could help identify if anything was stolen. Zuri gasped as she entered the house. It was a complete mess. Furniture was overturned papers were strewn across the floor drawers were open and the contents were emptied. She later confirmed that nothing of note was missing. It seemed that whoever broke in was looking for something. Zuri had no idea what that was.
A car screeched to a stop at the edge of the driveway and Liam leapt out, He was at the door in two breaths. He pulled Zuri into a hug.
"Hey is everything okay? Are you okay? Are you hurt?" he asked cupping her face.
"I'm fine, there was a break-in but I wasn't here when it happened," Zuri answered.
"Thank goodness, you're okay!" Liam exclaimed hugging her again.
"Detective Adams this is my boyfriend, Liam, we both live here" stated Zuri as she introduced Liam to the Detective.
Liam shook his hand and then looked past the detective. His jaw dropped as he noticed the state of their home. In a split second, his expression darkened. Unlike Zuri, Liam knew exactly what the intruder was looking for. Liam was keeping a secret from Zuri. She knew that he worked with the government. What she didn't know was that he was an agent who specialised in international espionage. He longed to reveal the truth to his girlfriend but his superiors advised him against it. This time, however, he decided to tell her the truth.
After what seemed like an eternity later, the police finished processing the scene and Zuri closed her door after saying goodbye to Detective Adams and his team. She leaned against the door and let out an exasperated sigh as she assessed the mess before her. Pulling out her phone she called her boss knowing that she would not make it to work the next day. Zuri expressed her regret for having to miss work so soon after returning but her boss would hear nothing of it. She gave her the rest of the week off.
When the call ended Zuri looked up to find Liam looking at her with a solemn look on his face.
"Zuri, there's something you must know" he stated solemnly. She knew it must be serious because he rarely used her name.
They picked their way through the clutter and sat on the sofa which surprisingly was not overturned. Liam took Zuri's hand and held her gaze before speaking up.
"Zuri, I know this might not mean anything in a few minutes but I want you to know that you mean a lot to me," Liam began.
"I don't understand, what do you mean?" Zuri asked.
"I know sweetheart, please let me explain." he continued. He then proceeded to tell her everything.
Zuri stared at Liam in silence. She was dumbstruck. Her mind was filled with confusion and anger. It felt like her entire world was collapsing as the weight of his words hit her like a freight train. Everything she thought she knew was a lie. Liam looked deep into her eyes searching for a sign that she could forgive him but she looked away. She couldn't look at him. Zuri pulled away, got up and walked toward the door. She couldn't bear to look at Liam, she had to get away from him. He attempted to hold her hand.
"Don't touch me!" she said as she whirled on him. He opened his mouth as if to say something but the words didn't come.
Walking through the door without a second glance was all she could do to prevent the tears that stung her eyes from pouring out. Zuri had no idea where she was walking to, but she needed to clear her head. If there was ever a time she needed her best friend was now, but Sade was still at work and Zuri had left the house without her cell phone. She stumbled into the park a few blocks away from her apartment. Noticing an empty bench in the far corner she took a seat.
The park was quiet, save for the soft rustle of leaves stirred by the afternoon breeze. The scent of fresh-cut grass lingered in the air, mingling with the faint perfume of blooming flowers nearby. Children’s laughter echoed faintly from a distant playground, but here, in this quiet corner, everything felt still. Sunlight filtered through the canopy of trees above, casting dappled shadows that danced across the ground. Zuri closed her eyes, letting the moment wash over her, a brief respite from the chaos in her mind. She had so many questions. Was everything Liam told her a lie? What was she going to do? Why did someone break into her house? As she mulled over the questions in her mind, a strange feeling crept over her, the unsettling sense of being watched. She turned slowly, her breath catching when she spotted a shadowy figure partially hidden behind a tree, staring directly at her. She couldn't see who it was but she had no intention to find out.
Zuri wanted to go home, she wasn't sure how she would face Liam, but she didn't know if this person was dangerous. She knew, however, that she was not about to be a victim so she headed in the opposite direction away from the creepy stranger watching her. Zuri was no secret agent but she had her wits about her. The park had a second exit and that's the one she took. There was a small cafe across from the park and she entered and ducked into a booth close to the entrance. She quickly grabbed a menu and hid her face, pretending to read it. Sure enough, the stranger followed her into the restaurant but strolled right by her. She caught a glimpse of him and noticed a long scar on his right cheek. There was a crash as the man bumped into a server carrying a tray of empty plates. Zuri used this diversion to quickly exit the cafe and head home. She checked a few times to see if she was still being followed but her previous pursuer was nowhere in sight.
"Zuri! Thank goodness you're okay, I was worried sick!" Liam greeted her as she walked into the house.
"Never mind that!" Zuri responded, pushing past him "Why did someone break into our house? And why was I being followed? What sort of mess have you dragged me into Liam?" She prodded.
"You were followed?" Liam's eyes darkened as he pulled a handgun from the back of his waistband. Zuri was shocked and scared as this was something she hadn't known him to carry. Who was this man? she thought.
Liam looked through the window and double-checked the doors to ensure they were locked.
"I don't think I was followed here." Zuri clarified, "Earlier in the park I noticed someone watching me and then he followed me into the cafe across from the park. That's where I gave him the slip."
"You did?" Liam asked with a hint of pride in his eyes. Zuri went on to explain how she got away from the strange man. He then went to make a phone call.
"So you're a spy?" Zuri questioned as Liam re-entered the room.
"Yes," he said. "And I've been compromised. Luke, a rogue agent has been hunting me for months. And now he knows about you". he continued. "I don't know how, but I promise to keep you safe, just please trust me."
Zuri wasn't sure what to make of the situation but she loved Liam and even though he was not completely honest with her she trusted him.
"Okay," she replied, "But no more secrets"
Later that evening, Liam told Zuri they would have to go into protective custody, which would take a few days to finalise the arrangements. Until then, they needed to stay off the radar. He had a safe house outside of town where they could hide for a while, but they would need to pack up and leave home that night. Zuri was hesitant to uproot her life without explanations but Liam convinced her it was the best way to keep everyone else safe. It was late when they headed out and made their way to the safehouse. Liam used a few driving manoeuvres to confirm that they weren't followed. They even switched cars along the way.
Somewhere on the journey, Zuri fell asleep. She woke up when Liam pulled into the driveway of a sleek modern house. The safe house was tucked away in a quiet residential neighbourhood. The furniture inside was a combination of rustic and contemporary pieces. High-tech security systems were discreetly embedded in every corner, from motion sensors to reinforced doors, ensuring their safety. It perfectly blended comfort and security, offering a refuge without feeling like a bunker. Zuri looked around in awe if she had to leave the comfort of her home, she was glad that the place wasn't some cabin in the woods.
The next few days were a blur. Their plan to get into protective custody took more than a few days. Zuri quickly learned that life in hiding was not as glamorous as the movies made it seem. She missed her old life, her job, her friends; everything she had taken for granted. They tried their best to keep a low profile. Liam learnt that Luke also had spies and knew they couldn't be too careful. While in hiding Liam told Zuri the full story. Luke had been his partner in the agency, but he had gone rogue after a mission went south. He blamed Liam for the fallout and was now out for revenge.
"You're in danger because of me," he said to her one night as they sat on the balcony staring out into the night. "I'm sorry." he continued, his voice thick with guilt.
Zuri stayed quiet, deep in thought. Unsure of how to respond, she simply brushed her fingers against his, a silent acknowledgement.
It was finally time for them to be placed into protective custody. The extraction team was waiting for them at a checkpoint where they would be flown out of the country to start new lives. The plan was set in motion, and as they had done before, they set out under the cover of darkness. Their destination was a parking garage near the airport, where they were instructed to find a black Chevy Suburban.
Liam drove with precision, taking detours and doubling back to ensure they weren't being followed. Zuri’s heart pounded, but for the first time in days, hope flickered in her chest. Maybe they were going to make it out of this unscathed. The garage was nearly empty as they pulled in, its dim, flickering lights casting long shadows over the concrete.
They parked a few rows away from the Suburban and got out, scanning their surroundings. Everything seemed quiet, too quiet. As they walked toward the vehicle, a chill crept down Zuri’s spine. The SUV's doors were ajar, yet there was no sign of the extraction team. The air felt heavy and thick with the sense that something was very wrong.
"Liam, I don't like this," Zuri whispered, her eyes darting around the shadows.
"Stay close," Liam replied, his hand moving instinctively to the concealed weapon at his side.
They approached cautiously, every step echoing in the silence. Just as they reached the vehicle, a loud clang reverberated through the garage, followed by the sound of footsteps closing in from all directions.
Without warning, Luke emerged from behind a nearby pillar, a sinister grin spreading across his face. “Going somewhere?” he sneered, brandishing a gun.
Liam pushed Zuri behind him, drawing his weapon. “I don’t know how you found us, but this ends now,” he said, his voice steady.
Both men stared each other down, unmoving in an intense standoff. Zuri's pulse raced as she looked around for a way out. In one swift motion, Luke lunged forward knocking the gun from Liam’s hand. They tumbled to the ground, fists flying. Zuri ducked behind a parked car, frantically searching for something to use as a weapon. Her eyes landed on a heavy wrench lying on the ground, likely left behind by a mechanic. She grabbed it, adrenaline surging through her veins. Luke somehow gained the upper hand. He was about to aim when Zuri swung the wrench striking his arm. This sent the weapon skittering across the floor. Liam then managed to flip Luke over.
They both reached for the weapon. Then there was a bang and everything went black. For a moment, Zuri thought the worst, but then the dim emergency lights flickered back on, revealing that the power had cut out, triggering the backup generator. The distraction gave Liam enough time to disarm Luke and pin him to the ground. The police burst through the doors and promptly arrested Luke. Zuri breathed a sigh of relief. The ordeal was finally over and they made it out alive. Albeit they were both pretty banged up. She leapt to Liam's side and wrapped her arms around him, refusing to hold back the tears. He returned her embrace and they hugged until two medics came to assess their injuries. They held on to each other as the medics led them to the ambulance's back for treatment.
As the paramedics checked them over, Zuri looked at Liam, her heart swelling with love and relief. They had faced death together and come out the other side.
"What happens now?" she asked softly.
Liam smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "We start over. No more secrets, I promise."
Zuri nodded, her grip on his hand tightening. "As long as we're together, that's all that matters."
And for the first time in what felt like forever, Zuri allowed herself to believe that everything would be okay. They had survived the darkness, and now it was time to step into the light together.
-The End-
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