Annabelle took a step back, her eyes locked on Elijah. "I don't believe you," she said, her voice firm. "Liam, let's get out of here."
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Liam nodded, his eyes never leaving Elijah's face. "Yeah, let's go."
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As they turned to leave, Elijah's smile faltered, his eyes flashing with anger. "Annabelle, don't be foolish," he spat. "You need me to uncover the truth."
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But Annabelle didn't look back. She followed Liam, her heart pounding in her chest.
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As they walked away, Liam turned to her. "We need to find a safe place to hide," he said. "Elijah will stop at nothing to keep you under his control."
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Annabelle nodded, her mind racing. She knew Liam was right. Elijah had been manipulating her all along.
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But she also knew she couldn't give up. She had to keep searching for the truth, no matter the danger.
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Liam led her to a small, nondescript apartment on the outskirts of the city. "This is a safe house," he explained. "We can hide out here for a while."
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Annabelle nodded, still trying to process everything that had happened. She couldn't believe she had trusted Elijah, that she had let him manipulate her for so long.
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As they settled into the apartment, Liam began to explain his research on Elijah and the Order of the Veil. "They're a secret society," he said. "They've been hiding in plain sight for centuries, pulling the strings from behind the scenes."
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Annabelle listened, horrified. She had stumbled into something much bigger and more sinister than she had ever imagined.
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But she was determined to see it through. She was going to expose the Order of the Veil, no matter what it took.
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Just then, Liam's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his expression grim. "It's a message from an unknown number," he said. "It says, 'We know where you are. You can't hide forever.'"
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Annabelle's heart skipped a beat. They had found them already.
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Liam's eyes locked onto Annabelle's, his expression serious. "We need to move," he said. "Now."
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Annabelle nodded, her heart racing. They quickly gathered their belongings and left the apartment, finding themselves in a deserted alleyway.
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As they emerged onto the main street, Annabelle saw them. Men in black suits, their eyes scanning the crowd.
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"We have to split up," Liam whispered, grabbing her hand. "Meet me at the old clock tower at midnight."
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Liam wait. Annabelle stopped him, her shivering hands held on to him for dear life. He carefully uncovered her hands from his and placed a tender kiss at the corner of her lips.
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You are going to be alright, he said.
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Annabelle nodded, her mind racing. She took off in one direction, the men hot on her heels.
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She dodged through the crowded streets, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't let them catch her.
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Finally, she saw a narrow opening between two buildings. She squeezed through the gap, finding herself in a hidden courtyard.
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She leaned against the wall, catching her breath. She had lost them.
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But as she looked up, she saw a figure watching her from the shadows.
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