Chapter 12: Reckoning

The weight of Ashley's words hung in the air, a challenge to the darkness that had haunted her for so long. Rachel's eyes searched hers, and for a moment, Ashley wondered if her friend was having second thoughts. But then, Rachel nodded, a determined look settling on her face. "We do," Rachel said, her voice firm. "We have enough evidence to take Alev down, to make him pay for what he's done." Ashley felt a surge of adrenaline course through her veins, a sense of purpose that she hadn't felt in years. She stood up, her eyes locked onto Rachel's, and together, they began to make plans. They spent the next few hours gathering everything they needed, from the video to witness statements, and by the time they were finished, they had a solid case against Alev. Ashley felt a sense of satisfaction, of closure, that she hadn't felt in a long time. As they were about to leave, Ashley's phone buzzed. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should answer it, but something compelled her to pick it up. The voice on the other end was distorted, unrecognizable. "You think you've won, don't you?" the voice said, a sneer twisting the words. "You think you've finally got me?" Ashley's heart skipped a beat as she realized who it was. "Alev," she said, her voice cold. There was a pause on the other end, and for a moment, Ashley wondered if she had lost the connection. But then, the voice spoke again. "You have no idea what you're dealing with," it said. "You have no idea what's coming." The line went dead, and Ashley was left standing there, her heart racing. She looked at Rachel, and saw the concern etched on her face. "What is it?" Rachel asked. Ashley's eyes locked onto hers. "It's Alev," she said. "He knows what we're planning." Rachel's face hardened, a determined look settling on her features. "We need to go to the police," she said. "We need to tell them everything." Ashley nodded, and together, they left the house, determined to bring Alev to justice. As they walked out the door, a sleek black car screeched to a halt outside, and Ender, Alev's henchman, jumped out, his eyes fixed on Ashley. With a sudden burst of speed, Ender sprinted towards them, but in his haste, he lost control and ran over a nearby street performer, who was sitting on the sidewalk with a sign that read "Mama Mama". The performer let out a loud yelp as Ender's tires screeched to a halt just inches from Ashley and Rachel's faces. The sound of shattering glass and crunching metal filled the air, and Ashley's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the crumpled form of the street performer. Ender quickly jumped out of the car, his face pale, and rushed to the performer's side. Ashley and Rachel took advantage of the distraction to make a run for it, dashing down the sidewalk as Ender's angry shouts echoed behind them.