Book 2 – Ch.#9
“Are you ready to follow the rules now?”
…Rule number one… obedience. Always follow the orders from the boss. No questions asked.
I‘d broken that rule. I knew I was breaking it the moment I‘d chosen to run that night. I knew it would land me here. And yet I still did it.
I pulled my body upright from the old bed, more sluggish than I would have liked, and hated how I still felt so sore from the injuries inflicted several days earlier.
‘Days‘. That was the key word.
That was how long I‘d been trapped in here, alone with my thoughts as it forced me to reflect on every decision I‘d made leading to this point,
Because, at its core, that was the true punishment.
It wasn‘t the pain. No, that was always over quickly. Gavin did a great job of making sure the damage inflicted was swift yet efficient. Always enough to get the point across and never seeming to even flinch as he did what he did.
But it was the psychological punishment that truly made it horrific.
…‘Days‘.
I’d been in here… for days.
Alone.
In pain.
Wondering how I’d managed to convince myself that running had been worth it. Wondering how much longer it would take before punishment was finally over.
And now this was the first thing spoken to me after all that time. This voice of my father on the other side of the door, asking if I was ‘ready to follow the rules‘.
Yes, I was ready.
Of course, I was ready.
I was about ready to do anything, to say anything, if it meant finally getting out of here. I‘d learnt my lesson the minute Gavin had ripped me from my bed. There was only one authority in my life and that was my father. It had always been my father.
…Someone I just wanted to be free of.
I forced that thought away as quickly as it sprung to mind. It was thoughts exactly like that which led me to this moment. Testing the patience of a man who had none. I wasn‘t exempt from the rules because of our relationship. If anything, this punishment had been necessary. I‘d clearly become too complacent in its absence and needed the reminder.
Really, it was my fault.
All my fault.
“Raven?” prompted my father.
taking a deep breath. The first one I‘d done in so long, my chest having
I committed to this
I heard it. The sound of a key clinking for a few seconds before the satisfying click of the lock. Within moments, I found myself face–to–face with my father
the room towards me. “Because there is work to be done.” …Already? So
‘thank you‘, praising how lucky I was to be given another chance. This was a good thing for me.
manilla folder towards me and I took it, giving a small nod to show how grateful I was. Forcing myself to believe that very thing. “It‘s a clean–up job,” he simply said. “You know what to do.”
for anyone to recognise me; this being accomplished via a
one of the most important things when completing a mission like this. Making sure that no one saw me. Or, at least, if they did, then
all, no one wanted to be recognised
to the shadows of the night and alleys along the way. Thankfully, my speed and strength made the journey easier, but I‘d be lying if I said
intent in mind of proving myself to my father. Telling myself that nothing else
intending to enter the run down looking apartment complex, but as I did so, I felt something that
what i‘d experienced on the night
it. This wasn‘t the time and I could deal with it
I just needed to focus on my
through the
was late at night but not late enough that people wouldn‘t still be around, coming home from the local pubs and bars. Yet I knew this wasn‘t that big of a deal when this side
job, all things
description, a time and a location. I hadn‘t wanted to press for more details since it wasn‘t something I needed to know. Not to
follow the orders from the boss.
to undergo another reminder so soon. I silently made my way up the stairs, choosing to avoid the elevator, until I finally came upon the room I was looking for; apartment thirty–six.
hadn‘t subsided, something I was doing my best to ignore. In fact, it made lockpicking the front door
a T.V, and smelt the scent of someone located in the same direction. This almost guaranteeing the target‘s exact position. All I needed to do was sneak up and end this
for any weakness
–You don‘t have to…’
a faint voice suddenly spoke behind me, and I instantly crouched to the ground
no one
from? It was almost like a whisper and yet I‘d heard it
it wasn‘t just
wince. Making it more difficult to focus as I looked around, frantically trying to spot the source. Searching for whoever
along with some light snores coming from the armchair in front of it. A confirmation that whoever had spoken, it wasn‘t stemming from the man I was here to see. A man by the name
to behind the armchair. Moving quietly until I stood right
was now or
arm and aimed my dagger, going for a spot that would make this quick. There was no need
this… You don‘t need to be…’ There it was
silence whoever it was once and for all. To stop the intense, sharp pain it seemed to bring me. To make it stop haunting me. …And yet only empty air filled the space
was wrong now. The same thing that had been messing with
…It was that drug.
drug that Kieran Lycroft had
he‘d done to me must have still been in my system. Now, it was interfering with my work. Scaring me
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!