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.
stood up, taking a deep breath. The first one I‘d done in so long, my chest having felt too
to this decision
heard it. The sound of a key clinking for a few seconds before
entering the room towards me. “Because there
thinking ‘thank you‘, praising how lucky I was to be given another chance. This was a good thing for me. A moment to redeem myself. A moment to show that I was still
small nod to show how grateful I was. Forcing myself to
A black attire that made it impossible for anyone to recognise me; this being accomplished via a moveable cloth mask that could be pulled up to cover both
important things when completing a mission like this. Making sure that no one saw me. Or, at least, if they did, then ensuring
all, no one wanted to be
and alleys along the way. Thankfully, my speed and strength made the journey easier, but I‘d be lying if I said my injuries weren‘t interfering at all. Truthfully, even back in the fresh air and with slightly faster healing, I knew I would still need another day or so before
regardless. · Running with only the intent in mind of proving myself to my father. Telling
run down looking apartment complex, but as I did so, I felt something
my mind, the start of a headache. Similar to what i‘d experienced on the night of the charity event.
my teeth against the pain and pushed through it. This wasn‘t the time and I could
needed to focus on
through the
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
job, all
location. I hadn‘t wanted to press for more details since it wasn‘t something I needed to know. Not to mention that I didn‘t
number one; obedience. Always follow the orders
finally came upon the room I was looking for; apartment thirty–six.
the burning in my head hadn‘t subsided, something I was doing my best to ignore. In fact, it made lockpicking the front door harder as concentrating became increasingly more difficult. Just a little bit longer though. I had to hold out for just a little
in the same direction. This almost guaranteeing the target‘s exact position. All I needed
testing the floor for any weakness that may create sound, and
–You don‘t have to…’
suddenly spoke behind me,
one
hell had that come from? It was almost like a whisper and yet I‘d heard it so clearly. As if it were right next to me. As if they were
wasn‘t just
difficult to focus as I looked around, frantically trying to spot
from the armchair in front of it. A
the pain and stood back up, walking to behind the armchair. Moving quietly until I stood right behind
was now or
going for a spot that would make this quick.
do this… You don‘t need to be…’ There
dagger out towards the voice, hoping to 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
knew what was wrong now. The same thing that had been messing with
…It was that drug.
drug that Kieran Lycroft had
must have still been in my system. Now, it was interfering with my work. Scaring me out of doing what
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!