Chapter 16: The Abandoned Warehouse

As they approached the warehouse, Emma's anxiety grew. The detective's words echoed in her mind: "We don't have much time." What if they were too late? What if Max was already...? She pushed the thought away, refusing to entertain it. She had to stay positive, for Max's sake, and for the sake of their unborn child. The abandoned warehouse loomed before them, its crumbling facade a testament to years of neglect. Detective James motioned for Emma to stay back, but she shook her head. "I need to see this," she said, her voice firm. He nodded, and together they stepped inside. The air was thick with dust and the stench of decay. Emma covered her nose with her shirt, her eyes scanning the dimly lit space. The only sound was the creaking of old wooden beams and the distant hum of a car driving by. As they moved deeper into the warehouse, Emma's heart began to pound. She saw old machinery, rusty and still, and stacks of crates that seemed to stretch up to the ceiling. Detective James led her to a makeshift room in the corner, constructed from plywood and tarps. "Stay here," he whispered, drawing his gun. Emma nodded, but her eyes were fixed on the room. She could see a figure slumped in a chair, his head bowed. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the familiar shape of Max's shoulders. "Max?" she called out, her voice trembling. The figure slowly lifted its head, and Emma's eyes locked onto his. Max's eyes, sunken and bruised, met hers. For a moment, they just stared at each other. Detective James moved forward, his gun still trained on the figure. "Max, can you hear me?" he asked. Max's gaze flickered to the detective, and then back to Emma. He tried to speak, but his voice was barely audible. "Emma..." Emma rushed forward, tears streaming down her face. "Max, it's me. I'm here." As she approached him, Max's eyes dropped to her stomach, and his expression changed. A glimmer of hope flickered to life, and he tried to stand. Emma rushed to support him, and Detective James moved to help. "Who did this to you?" Detective James demanded, his voice firm. Max's gaze drifted away, and Emma saw a flicker of fear in his eyes. "The woman," he whispered. "With green eyes." Emma's grip on Max's arm tightened. "What woman?" she asked, her voice urgent. Max's eyes locked onto hers, and she saw a spark of determination. "I'll tell you," he said, his voice growing stronger. "But first, you have to get me out of here. And you have to protect...our child." Emma's heart swelled with emotion as she looked at Max, and then at her stomach. She knew that she would do anything to keep them safe. Together, they would face whatever lay ahead, and they would uncover the truth.