Maya's heart sank when she saw the message from The Punisher. She had hoped, even prayed, that he had forgotten about her, that his strange requests were a thing of the past. But the message was there, waiting for her.
Her fingers hovered over the screen, hesitation holding her back. She'd been through this before—her mind racing with doubts, fear, and the sickening knowledge that she was about to risk everything for a paycheck. It was too much. It had almost cost her life last time.
But the money—1.5 million rupiahs—was more than she'd ever earned from any of her other sketches. She bit her lip, her eyes flickering to the corner of the room where her art supplies sat neatly organized. The tension in her chest made it hard to breathe. She didn't want to go. She didn't want to put herself in danger again.
I can't… I can't keep doing this, she thought, her hands trembling slightly. But then she read the message again.
The Punisher wants me to draw the last moment of a delivery truck driver. Near the center of religious buildings and school in Juanda station. Near the statue. At that intersection.
She exhaled sharply, closing her eyes. The fear gnawed at her, but the temptation of the money was too strong. The risk was high, but the reward was even higher.
I've come this far, Maya reasoned with herself. I can't back out now. It's just another moment, another risk to take.
I've come this far, Maya reasoned with herself. I can't back out now. It's just another moment, another risk to take.
"I'll do it."
Her stomach twisted as she hit send. She didn't know why she had agreed, but she couldn't shake the feeling that the Punisher's strange requests were leading her somewhere—somewhere dark, somewhere dangerous, and somewhere she could never leave behind.
-------------------------------End of Chapter 4-------------------------------------