Chapter 17 - RACE TO THE SANCTUARY
The heavy armored SUV burst through the heavy wrought-iron gates of the Vance estate, shattering the locks and speeding out onto the main highway.
Elena drove with both hands gripped tightly on the wheel, while Jax sat in the passenger seat, wrapping his shoulder wound with a medical kit from the glove compartment.
The storm outside had finally passed, leaving behind a thick blanket of fog along the mountain pass.
Jax pulled out Victor's captured phone, checking for any incoming communications.
The phone vibrated suddenly in his hand.
It was a text message from an unknown encrypted number.
Jax opened the message, his heart skipping a beat.
It contained a set of GPS coordinates located at an old abandoned lighthouse along the northern coastline, followed by a short text:
“She is getting worse. Hurry. — S”
Jax’s face drained of color as he looked at the screen.
"What is it, Jax?" Elena asked, noticing his sudden change in demeanor.
"Sophia took Lily to the old lighthouse," Jax said, his voice laced with sudden anxiety.
"Something is wrong."
"What do you mean 'wrong'? Is Lily hurt?!" Elena shrieked, her foot pressing harder on the gas pedal.
"I don't know," Jax said, trying to keep his voice steady. "We need to get there right now."
The SUV tore down the coastal highway, its tires kicking up thick clouds of mist against the dark night.
Thirty minutes later, the silhouette of the rusted lighthouse appeared against the dark backdrop of the churning ocean waves.
The structure was dark, save for a faint, flickering light near the base.
Elena slammed the brakes, stopping the SUV right in front of the lighthouse entrance.
Jax pulled out his sidearm, pushing the passenger door open despite the sharp, burning pain in his injured shoulder.
"Stay behind me, Elena," Jax instructed, moving cautiously toward the wooden entrance door.
The front door was ajar, swinging softly in the cold ocean breeze.
Jax pushed the door open, stepping inside the circular room.
Blood dripped down the spiral iron staircase in the center of the room.
At the bottom of the stairs lay Sophia, slumped against the wall, her breathing ragged and shallow.
"Sophia!" Elena cried out, rushing past Jax to kneel beside her friend.
Sophia opened her eyes weakly, looking up at them with faint, tearful eyes.
"I... I brought her here..." Sophia whispered, clutching her chest. "I tried to stop the bleeding..."
Jax’s stomach dropped into a cold abyss.
"Where is Lily?!" Jax demanded, his voice cracking with sudden terror.
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Sophia raised a trembling hand, pointing toward the top of the dark spiral staircase.
"A car... followed us..." Sophia choked out. "Someone... was waiting inside..."
