I ran through the dimly lit hallways, trusting my instincts to guide me towards freedom. The sounds of footsteps echoed behind me, a reminder that I was being pursued. I could hear Luca's furious voice, shouting at Ace for allowing me to escape with his gun.
Finally, I burst through the doors and found myself outside, greeted by a torrential downpour. The rain soaked through my clothes, plastering my hair to my face, but I didn't stop. Adrenaline fueled my movements as I navigated through the bushes and shrubs, not daring to pause or look back.
Every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs heightened my sense of urgency, pushing me forward. I didn't know where I was heading, only that I needed to put as much distance between myself and that place as possible.
I arrived at a secluded alley in a shady neighborhood, my whole body aching from hours of relentless running. The darkness of the alley, coupled with the continuing rain, added to the eerie atmosphere. Finding a far corner, I sat down, my breaths ragged, and waited for the rain to subside, hoping to catch my breath and gather my thoughts.
As I sat there, trying to blend into the shadows, two figures stumbled into the alley, their drunken laughter echoing off the walls. It was a guy and a lady, their voices slurred as they leaned against each other. He pinned her to the wall, and they began to passionately kiss, their drunken revelry oblivious to the world around them.
"I enjoyed tonight," she murmured between kisses, her voice filled with intoxication.
Inside, I silently pleaded for them to leave, not wanting to draw any attention to myself. Eventually, a cab pulled up, and the lady hopped in, promising to see him soon with a playful wink. As the cab drove away, the guy turned to his phone, presumably checking messages or calls.
That's when his eyes widened in shock, his gaze locking onto me in the darkness of the alley. I held my breath, my heart pounding in my chest, unsure of what his reaction would be.
He took a step closer. "I can see you," he acknowledged calmly.
I rose to my feet, keeping the gun pointed at him, my voice firm. "Stay back. Who are you? Don't move, or I will shoot," I warned, my heart racing with adrenaline.
"Whoa, calm down," he urged, his tone soothing. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"What are you doing here?" I demanded, my grip on the gun steady.
"I'm just taking a shortcut on my way home," he explained, his demeanor calm and collected.
"How do I know you're not working for him?" I asked again, suspicion coloring my words as I glanced around warily.
"Working? For who?" he asked, genuine confusion in his eyes. "Miss, what are you talking about?"
I hesitated, unsure of whether to trust him. "Look, if you want, I can go and pretend I've never seen you here," he offered, taking a step back to give me space.
Reluctantly, I lowered the gun, the weight of my actions sinking in. "No, I'm sorry," I muttered, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me.
He sensed my vulnerability and offered, "Do you need a place to stay? You look frozen. You don't have to be afraid of me. I'm not going to hurt you."
I swallowed hard, realizing I had nowhere else to go and that I was indeed starving. "Thank you," I whispered, my voice hoarse with emotion. "What is your name?"
He introduced himself as Shadow, I nodded in acknowledgment. "Okay, Shadow," I replied gratefully.
He led the way through the rain-soaked streets until we reached a small house. "Come in, it isn't that warm though," he warned as we stepped inside.
The interior of the house was tidy, a welcome change from the chaos I had experienced earlier.He immediately called out for his flatmate, a grouchy-looking ginger-haired man named Dom, who appeared groggily from another room, clearly roused from sleep.
"This is my flatmate and friend," Shadow explained to me.
Dom's irritation was evident as he addressed Shadow. "Where have you been, Shadow? I called you. We needed you tonight."
"I told you I was going to the bar," Shadow replied, unapologetic. "Something came up."
Dom's glare intensified, Shadow turned to me, a small smile on his face. "What's your name again?" he asked.
"Aria," I replied, feeling a bit more at ease in their presence.
Shadow then turned back to Dom, introducing me. "This is Aria. She needs a place to crash," he explained.
Dom rolled his eyes but addressed me nonetheless. "Aria, do you mind if I talk to this idiot for a moment?" he asked, his tone still gruff.
"No, not at all," I replied, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the brewing tension.
Shadow reassured me and left to talk to Dom, I sank onto the couch, my mind swirling with doubts about whether coming here was a good idea.
Dom's voice was filled with concern and agitation as he confronted Shadow outside. "What the hell is wrong with you man? Why would you bring a girl here? You know we can get in deep shit for this," Dom exclaimed, frustrated .
Shadow let out a heavy sigh, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I know, but I couldn't leave her there. It was raining heavily out there, and she's soaked. Besides, there's nothing here for her to see," he reasoned.
Curiosity tinged Dom's tone as he inquired further, "Where did you find her?"
"In the alley. She pointed a gun at me," Shadow replied matter-of-factly.
Dom's eyes widened in surprise and concern. "Whoa, hold on. Why the hell is she carrying a gun? I hope you haven't brought trouble to our door, Shadow," he warned.
Shadow's tone turned defensive as he explained, "Man, she was scared for fuck's sake."
Dom's expression hardened as he voiced his apprehension, "The boss will kill you if he finds out."
"I will talk to Cassian," Shadow promised, feeling the weight of the situation bearing down on him.
"You better, or I will," Dom replied sternly, emphasizing the seriousness of the matter.