The sound of thunder rumbling across the sky had me looking outside the window of Jace's BMW.
The old man sat on the passenger's side at my insistence when he tried to force me to sit there. I didn't want to.
I didn't want to sit beside a stranger.
Honestly, I had wanted to leave the old man and Jace and go on my merry way. Wizardo was probably furious with me.
But, as bizarre as it was, he didn't even pick up my calls a while ago. It was a little frustrating when he did that.
And I wouldn't say I like the simple fact that I acted like his mistress when it happened—fuming, irritated, and needing an explanation.
I'm actually wondering if the man even had a personal life.
I'd be jealous and happy for him all the same if he had. At least one of us was trying to live. Me? I'm only living because I have yet to accomplish one thing.
Unless that was over, I'm not allowed to die.
The car coming to a stop jerked me out of my thoughts. I had to blink and was surprised to see an unfamiliar neighborhood outside.
They call it The Subs.
It has no specific backstory for its name. I grew up hearing about it, and well, according to most, this was where people who quietly rebelled against the government stayed.
It was further away from the city.
Underdeveloped and poorly kept. The busted streetlights were never replaced, and the drones usually appeared once or twice around the place every six hours or less.
I happened to come to the place once or twice. It was all for the mission.
The first time, I was a little perplexed that such a place existed.
I wanted to be mad at the government too. However, I had other things to deal with besides those scums.
Maybe in another lifetime, when my parents weren't dead and I'm not living as an assassin, I might consider being a human hazard to the government. I'll annoy the hell out of them until they take action to help people who actually need help.
Plus, if I were to do something about this situation, I need power. I have yet to gain that.
But, I do have a way to gain power.
Still, the timing isn't right.
"Can I try and convince you for the last time to move into the apartment I bought for you?"
Jace's deep voice got me out of my thoughts. I didn't realize I was swimming in it again.
He was looking at the old man. But the old man waved him off with a disgruntled grunt before opening the door.
The old man turned to me. I smiled, waving him goodbye.
"I'll come to visit your stall, gramps. More often than you'd like."
The old man made a face, his disapproval clearly written on his furrowed forehead. I answered it with a salute.
"You are both stubborn. It would be the death of me."
I chuckled and almost missed seeing the slight smile on his lips before he turned away.
Hopping out of the car, the old man muttered some curse words. He didn't slam the door, but he clicked his tongue.
As he turned to leave and go inside his house—a simple-looking one sitting right in front of us, Jace honked twice.
The old man waved without turning around.
I watched the old man search for his keys in his pants pockets. His pace was slow, and a tiny limp was evident in his gait.
While looking at him enter the comfort of his house, I noticed the black jeep that had come earlier. It sat several houses away from the old man's.
I could be wrong.
However, my keen eyesight and memory told me otherwise.
When it was just us, Jace caught my gaze in the rearview mirror. I folded my arms over my chest.
"You and I need to talk. But let's call it a night."
I pursed my lips.
There was something in that gaze of his. I couldn't decide if I was attracted to his mysterious persona oozing out of him or if it was just plain curiosity.
I had wanted to say something sarcastic but then changed my mind when he revved the engine. My thoughts were swirling with questions.
I'm afraid that if I try to speak, I'd accidentally spill them out. It was a dangerous thing to be too curious.
Seven once told me that I need to restrain my need to know. There would be instances when it would eat at you, and you'll find it hard to resist.
However, one must stand their ground.
I had always been a curious kid.
Seven had figured that out the moment I started training. I had asked him questions, and sometimes I won answers he wouldn't have shared if I didn't ask.
But that was when he also lectured me to put my curiosity in its proper place. If I get too curious, I end up revealing myself more than the person or thing I was curious about.
That was why he termed it as dangerous.
Dangerous for me.
The ride from The Subs back to the city was brief. When the first sign came into view, I took a deep breath.
"You can drop me here," I called out.
Jace looked at me from the rearview mirror.
I expected some sort of argument. Like he would demand to bring me home after that fight. And mind you, it was late.
Not that I was scared of going home myself. But let's just say I had those girly fantasies.
I hate watching movies.
Mentally silencing my thoughts, I sat straight as he parked the car on a nearby curb.
People were scarce by then.
Despite how progressive technology was, it was better to stay safe.
The drones could only cover that much ground.
Hence, a curfew was set in place.
One glance at my watch told me it was almost past the allotted time.
"I'd hate to say this but anyway, thanks for the ride."
Jace scoffed but didn't say anything. I was left to wonder what that meant but decided to leave the matter unsettled.
I watched him speed away. My curiosity about him had reached its limit.