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As we continue on our path, another gold-embossed note appears at our feet. This one reads: "La stanza sicura non è sicura. Non fidarti di nessuno."
The safe room isn't safe. Trust no one.
My heart races as I process the warning, my stomach twisting in knots.
"Trust no one?" Dario repeats, his brow furrowed. "What do you think that means?"
"Maybe it's a warning," I suggest hesitantly, folding the note and slipping it into my pocket. "But if the ghost is telling us the safe room isn't safe, where do we go?"
"Whoever this 'Ghost' is, they've been right so far," Dario points out, his eyes scanning our surroundings for any sign of danger.
"But this might be the perfect time to see if he's speaking the truth. We'll walk towards the safe house, and if we find trouble, find an escape. This might be his chance to prove himself to us."
I nod, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. "You're right. We can't afford to ignore their warnings, but we also can't let our guard down."
"Agreed," he says, offering me a reassuring smile.
Despite the gnawing uncertainty in my chest, I find solace in Dario's unwavering confidence. The connection between us grows stronger with every passing moment, and I feel this perilous situation has only served to bring us closer.
"Let's keep going," I say, my determination renewed. "We'll follow the notes, but we'll trust our instincts too."
"Always," he replies, his hand squeezing mine for emphasis.
As we make our way deeper into the palazzo, the sense of being watched lingers, like a ghostly presence hovering just out of sight. But with Dario by my side, I find strength.
"Jasmine," Dario warns, his voice low and tense. "Stay close."
Before I have a chance to respond, the sudden shattering of glass pierces the stillness of the corridor. The sound of a bullet whizzing past us follows almost instantly, its lethal trajectory missing us by mere inches.
My heart lurches into my throat as the reality of the situation sinks in - someone is trying to kill us.
"Get down!" Dario shouts, his reflexes kicking in before my brain has even processed the danger. He grabs me by the arm, yanking me out of the line of fire and pressing me into an alcove for safety. His body shields mine, instinctively protecting me from harm.
"Are you okay?" he asks urgently, his dark eyes searching mine for any sign of injury.
"I'm fine," I manage to gasp out, my pulse still thundering in my ears. "What just happened?"
"Someone took a shot at us," he says grimly, his gaze flicking back to the shattered window through which the bullet had come. "We need to move, now."
"Right," I agree, my mind racing as I struggle to make sense of the situation. It's clear now that someone doesn't want us following the mysterious 'G's' notes. Or worse, they want us dead.
"Stay behind me," Dario instructs, gripping my hand tightly.
"Let's go," he whispers, and together, we make our way down the dimly lit corridor, our senses heightened and our hearts pounding with adrenaline.
Dario leads the way, his movements fluid and purposeful, while my own are hesitant, and unsure. This is, after all, his territory and I'm unfamiliar with it.
"Wait," I whisper suddenly, stopping in my tracks as I catch a flicker of movement from the corner of my eye. Dario freezes as well, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of danger.
Our gazes lock for a brief moment, and in that instant, I know he understands what I've just realized – we're not alone.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoes down the hallway, growing louder with each passing second. My heart leaps into my throat, and I can feel my entire body tensing up in preparation for whatever comes next. Dario's grip on my hand tightens, and I can sense his readiness to protect me at all costs.
Dario looks around and then points at an open window behind me. He places a finger on his lip and carefully mouths "Exit,” while pointing at it with the other.
Chapter 10
Shadows and Whispers
