She was jolted awake by the subtle change in the aircraft's pressure and the pilot's calm voice announcing their initial descent into City F. Blinking, she rubbed her eyes groggily, the remnants of sleep clinging to her. For a disorienting second, she did not remember where she was. Then it all came flooding back.
The plane touched down smoothly. By the time she had gathered her small bag and walked down the aircraft steps, a sleek black car was already waiting on the tarmac, its engine running softly. The cool, unfamiliar air of City F hit her, sharp and bracing.
One of her guards held the car door open for her. Bella slid inside, the quiet luxury of the vehicle a stark contrast to her rumpled dress and frayed nerves. Her first action was to pull out her phone. Her screen glowed in the dim interior as she brought up the tracking app, her heart pounding a nervous rhythm against her ribs. The blinking marker was still there, stationary in an area she did not recognize.
