Raegan, boiling over with frustration, wished she could literally crack open Lauren's skull to understand why Lauren hadn't grasped the gravity of their situation. Their captors had blatantly discussed plans to eliminate both of them.

Trying to keep her cool, Raegan pressed Lauren, "Didn't you catch their words? They intended to peg you as the fall guy, planning to kill us both and then pin it all on you."

Lauren halted, thinking back. The heavier man had indeed said something like that.

Raegan continued, "Think about it. If they were really about to send you off on a plane, why the harsh treatment?"

The evidence was clear. Lauren was missing a chunk of her scalp due to the heavier man's assault, leaving a gruesome, raw wound.

Raegan had to look away since the sight was too much to bear. Lauren seemed to be beyond feeling any pain, perhaps numbed by some experimental chemical.

Lauren's condition was dire, teetering on the brink of death. The timeframe for the drug's effectiveness was uncertain.

Raegan implored with urgency, “Lauren, we don't have the luxury of time. They're planning to end us soon. Let's team up to take down these guys. We can settle our own scores later."

Raegan's composed manner made Lauren second-guess whether she was the scapegoat of their schemes, as Raegan had warned.

Loosening her hold, Lauren hissed a warning, "Stay put. I'm going to check."

Lauren crept to the door and caught the tall man in the midst of a phone call. "Got it. Consider it done. No survivors, you can be sure of that. The crazy one won't survive the trip, making things easier."

Lauren's heart raced. Her act of madness at the psychiatric facility was a strategy to seek treatment and dodge legal repercussions.

Despite her efforts, the legal system had found her mentally fit at the time of the crime and confirmed her death sentence.

It dawned on Lauren that she was the "crazy one" the tall man referred to. She had been thoroughly tricked. They indeed intended to kill her.

Retreating, Lauren accidentally nudged a wooden plank, causing it to emit a loud creak.

The tall man snapped to attention. "Gotta go!" he snarled and ended the call before storming into the room.

In a frenzy, Raegan attempted to dart away, which, oddly enough, put the tall man at ease. He was more worried about Raegan escaping than Lauren.

The tall man moved closer to Raegan and said, "Seems like you are frightened, trying to run away..."

Raegan, petrified, shouted, "Stay back! What do you think you're doing?"

The tall man lit up a cigarette, murmuring, "Wish I had the time to stick around, but alas..."