Felicia tilted her head, speechless. What was the point? Explaining herself felt futile; no one seemed to care about her grievances or the injustice she'd suffered. She shook her head, refusing to waste her breath. Grabbing Carmen's arm, she walked away without looking back.

Descending the mountain, Carmen avoided mentioning the incident near the old tower or Myra. Instead, she kept the conversation light, chattering about inconsequential things and pointing out the scenery. Felicia smiled, appreciating Carmen's effort to shift the mood and played along. Their cheerful chatter made the descent quick, and soon they reached the base of the hill.

At the mountain's foot, Carmen's face brightened. "How about some stew? My treat!" she suggested.

"Sure!" Felicia replied with a grin. "I'll take you up on that!"

Carmen was the kind of friend who always had your back. Though their acquaintance was short, their bond, forged during a life-or-death situation on a rooftop, had quickly solidified. They'd discovered a surprising kinship, their struggles mirroring each other's in uncanny ways, making them each other's closest confidante.

Sharing a smile, they walked toward the bus stop at the hill's base. Numerous options for returning to the city were available—buses, taxis, even private cars. But trouble, as it often does, arrived unexpectedly.

As they approached the stop, a car screeched toward them. Felicia's reflexes instantly took over; she yanked Carmen back just in time. The car skidded to a halt where they'd been moments before. All four doors burst open, and five burly men emerged, their intentions unmistakable—they were after Felicia.

Felicia's eyes narrowed. She shoved Carmen hard, barking, "Run!"

Carmen didn't move, tilting her head defiantly. "I'm not leaving you. Whatever this is, we face it together."

There was no time for argument. Felicia spotted two more cars speeding toward them, their headlights cutting through the twilight. Escape would soon be impossible. Gritting her teeth, she gave Carmen a sharp look. "If you stay, you'll only hinder me. If you run, you might actually make a difference. Understand?"

Carmen hesitated, the weight of Felicia's words settling upon her. Torn between guilt and determination, she finally nodded firmly, understanding what must be done.

Without a word, Carmen sprinted down the path, disappearing into the shadows as Felicia stood her ground. The men ignored her; their focus was solely on Felicia. She tightened her grip on a small blade hidden in her palm and drew three silver needles from her pocket.

As the men closed in, Felicia struck first. The needles flashed, and she lunged forward, her blade aimed at their vital meridian. The men dodged the blade, but in their haste, missed the almost invisible needles. Three stumbled, clutching their shoulders, eyes widening in confusion as sharp pain shot through their chests. They collapsed like stones, their bodies rigid.

The two remaining cars swerved into position, surrounding her. Their headlights glared menacingly. Three down, but more were coming. Felicia knew better than to overestimate herself. She couldn't possibly overcome so many with brute force alone. Her silver needles were limited, and while she had poison powder, it was only temporarily incapacitating, not lethal. These weren't amateurs; their physique and speed made that clear.

Felicia spun and bolted before the cars could box her in. As she ran, she shouted at the top of her lungs, "Human traffickers! They're trying to kidnap me! Help!" The two remaining men froze. At this point, survival was her only priority.