CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY – THE MADMAN’S TEST

Before she could respond, however, Carter's voice slithered out of the darkness once more, laced with a sinister edge that made the hairs on the back of her neck prickle. "You see, I've taken the liberty of arranging a little... test, shall we say," he purred. "A series of tasks, each more challenging than the last, designed to push you to your limits and beyond." Laura felt her stomach churn, a tendril of dread unfurling within her as she began to grasp the full implications of his words. "And if I refuse?" she challenged, her voice little more than a hoarse whisper. Carter's laughter echoed through the warehouse, a harsh, grating sound that seemed to grate against her very bones. "Then the girl dies," he said simply, his tone utterly devoid of remorse or empathy. "It's as simple as that, Miss Jay. The choice is yours." For a long, agonizing moment, Laura found herself paralyzed with indecision, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions. Every instinct screamed a