I recognized the voice before I even saw him.
Thomas Alison.
Max Nolan's right-hand man. The man who never hesitated to finish off anyone who betrayed the group. He came with several of his confidants.
I saw Wisley step back, his eyes widening, while Rachel let out a small squeal.
"Damn," Wisley whispered softly.
"I finally found you guys." Thomas' voice was deep and sharp, echoing through the rain. His eyes circled the three of us with a look full of contempt. "I thought who would be stupid enough to stab the group in the back, turns out it's you, Cassie... Wisley."
My heart pounded.
I should have known. Wisley had not only betrayed me, but also our group.
But why did Thomas mention my name too?
"Stop talking nonsense, Thomas."
Thomas just chuckled. "Nonsense?" He shifted his gaze to me for a moment, then back to Wisley. "I'll skip the pleasantries. Where is that document?"
I frowned. What documents?
Thomas grinned. "Don't play dumb. You two stole an important group document. And planned to hand it over to Frances, didn’t you?"
I was stunned. "What? I didn't-"
"Don't be stupid, Cassie." Wisley suddenly cut me off. "Thomas won't believe you."
I turned to him, looking for any other signs of a lie that I might not have caught yet.
But before I could digest the situation, Wisley glanced back at me and said, "I don't know. Maybe Cassie brought it."
I turned to him in shock. What?!
But I didn't have time to speak. Because the next second, everything happened so fast.
Wisley suddenly yanked Rachel behind him and shouted, "Rachel, run!"
Rachel ran, and I caught a glimpse of her triumphant grin before she vanished into the darkness.
Wisley chose to save Rachel and left me behind.
Anger and hurt burned in my chest, but before I could do anything, I could see Thomas' gaze on me turn darker, sharper. I could see the anger stored there.
"So this is your partnership? Max paired you two for this mission because he believed in your cooperation. Apparently, he wasn’t wrong—but he wasn’t right either," he said, his voice now lower-more dangerous.
I shook my head hard. "I don't know anything about that document! I-"
"Shut up."
I saw Thomas raise his gun again-and this time, the muzzle was pointed at me.
I froze before taking a step back.
"Thomas, I don't-"
BANG!
A muffled scream escaped my lips as searing pain shot through my arm. I turned around-blood was starting to seep from my shirt, mixing with the rainwater.
I'm... shot.
My heart is racing. I had to escape.
With all my might, I turned and ran, despite the pain radiating through my body.
I heard Thomas shouting orders for his men to chase me, but I didn't care.
Before, I didn't really care if I died at Wisley's hands; when he pointed a gun at me, I was too shocked and beaten to fight back.
But now I realize, this child in my belly is innocent.
I must protect it.
I must live.
***
Limping, I entered the apartment I used to call home. My breathing was heavy, blood flowed from the wound on my arm, and my body felt weaker and weaker.
I just hope they don't think they can find me here, because I need to get here first before going anywhere.
This place was already falling apart. I can smell the gun smoke and the trail of destruction Thomas' men left behind.
It seemed like they had come here first to search for the documents Thomas mentioned earlier, before finally tracking down Wisley and me when they didn’t find them.
I stepped into the bedroom. The first thing I saw was the wide-open wardrobe, its contents disheveled.
I didn't have much time to ponder. Quickly, I opened the drawer of the bedside table.
My fingers trembled as I found what I was looking for-a small black box hidden under a pile of old documents.
I opened it.
Two silver rings glittered inside.
I held my breath.
I remembered finding them in Wisley's drawer a few weeks ago. He always said that after the last mission, we would get out of this world and live a normal life.
I was stupid. I believed it. I had even imagined what life with Wisley would be like in a more peaceful world.
But now I realized, it was all a lie.
My hand trembled as I picked up the ring. Instead of throwing them away, I took a thin chain from another drawer and slipped both rings into it.
I stare at them for a moment before draping them around my neck.
I wasn't going to wear them on my fingers like I had imagined. No, I would keep them here-right on my chest, as a reminder.
Every second of Wisley's betrayal will always be with me.
I forced myself up, grabbed a small backpack, and stuffed it with a few essentials—a fake passport, emergency cash, and the small knife Wisley had given me.
I touched the handle, then without hesitation slipped it under my jacket.
Wisley probably thinks I'm dead. But I'm still here.
***
I ran through the dark alley behind a rundown hotel—a place where no one asked for my identity as long as I had the cash.
The receptionist only gave me a quick glance as I threw a few bills onto the counter.
The small room I was staying in only had a rickety bed, a sink with a cracked mirror, and an old wooden table.
I locked the door, took a deep breath, then sat on the floor with my back against the wall. My hands trembled as I pulled a small knife from my jacket.
I tried to tilt my body while raising my shot arm. My breath catches as the tip of the knife touches the skin, then stabs slowly.
Heat ran through my arm. I bit my lip, holding back a scream.
Flashes of the past hit me.
Back then, it was Wisley who sat beside me just like this. His hands worked swiftly as he pulled the bullet from my body, his eyes filled with worry.
"I won't let anyone hurt you again," he said back then, his voice trembling. "I swear I'll kill the bastard who did this to you."
And he kept his promise. He killed for me.
Back then, that Wisley was mine.
But now, he accused me of treason. Accusing me of having an affair.
Now, he was the one who stuck the knife in my back.
I opened my eyes, coming back to reality. My hands trembled as I poured vodka over the wound.
The pain is excruciating.
My body trembled, my vision blurred, and before I knew it, everything went dark.
