Chapter 5: Deer in Headlights

(Solaris)

I decided not to open shop today. Thankfully the client from yesterday was kind enough to help me successfully get rid of the body, no questions asked.

Although he was suspiciously efficient at it but hey, who am I to judge?

I tried ignoring the file, I really did. I could just put it away, what I don’t know won’t hurt me, or anyone else for that matter, so what someone gave their life to deliver this to me, it obviously can’t be that important, even if it was how is that my responsibility? After hours of self-contemplating, an internal struggle, and a cup of coffee, I finally worked up the courage to insert it in my computer, which left me as equally confused as I was the night before.

The whole document was encrypted, filled with strange numbers and symbols I’ve never seen before. Now I am a woman of many talents, but computing, is not one of them. Even if I was unable to decode it, I knew someone who could. Something deep down was telling me I needed to do this.

I planned to leave after tonight, lay low for a while, who knows who's coming after this file, and how many lives they're willing to take in exchange for it.

I just needed to get this blood off the shop’s floors. It shouldn't take too long.

.

It's nearly 8 pm and I'm still scrubbing, violently. I tried all sorts of mixtures to clean it with, even some color faded, and I chipped a nail, but for some reason the blood is still very much there.

I suddenly hear a loud knock at the door, the sign says ‘closed’ so I'm wondering if this person knows how to read.

Thankfully I remembered to lock it this time, so I stay still, hoping they'd leave eventually. It goes quiet for a while and just as I'm about to go back to scrubbing...BAM! My door has been kicked in, completely shattered, shards scattering across the floor.

I throw everything that’s in my hands and run towards the storage room.

The glass crunches under heavy shoes "I know you're in here" a deep voice speaks.

"Because you were nice to me yesterday, allow me a chance to repay the favor, I came here with orders to kill you, but if you hand me the file, I promise I'll finish it quickly”

Zephyr. He sounded nothing like the broken man he was twenty-four hours ago.

"I don't think finishing quick is something to brag about bud" I yell back, still hidden.

"Why don't you come here, and I’ll show you what I can brag about" he says while following my voice. "I don't want to hurt you, but don't test my patience" I hear his thundering footsteps approaching, my heart pounding harder with each one, as he gets closer and closer.

The second he opens the door I splash him with some "Geiven", a liquid made by me. It's usually used to help with indigestion but could temporarily blind you if sprayed directly in the eyes, that part I usually tend to gloss over in a sales pitch.

Still, the first mistake he made was to fight me in my own territory.

He shrieks in pain, causing him to stumble back, clawing at his face as if that does any help.

I seize the opportunity to swiftly run past him while he’s occupied, lock him inside the room and dash out the already broken front door. There was a 50% chance of this plan working so I was still in disbelief. I had managed to escape death but what awaited me outside was even worse.

Multiple police cars, parked in all directions blocking the exits. They all jumped at the sight of me, alerted, like a bunch of wolves stumbling upon an unknowing prey.

I was, quite literally, a deer in headlights.

"Put your arms where I can see them Viper" says one policeman on the megaphone.

Just as I expected, my identity has been leaked.

There's no way these airheads figured it out on their own, and judging by the fact that Zephyr was the first to come after me, it'll be safe to assume his people were the ones behind the leak…but sending him right afterwards to kill me would be a suicide mission, placing him right at the murder scene by the time the cops, or anyone else arrived.

They want him gone as well, maybe not dead, but gone.

This way they'd take out two birds with one stone. Bet they didn't think I'd last this long.

"Let me talk to her" one cop hurriedly says as he ran towards the one holding the megaphone, snatching it out of his hands.

I look over to see none other than Roman??? That motherfu- blue doesn't even look good on him anyways.

"Listen Solaris, we don't want to hurt you-"

"Why does everyone keep saying that?!"

My mind is running Olympics level laps, trying to figure out what the hell is going on. My options now were either getting arrested by the filthiest work force in the city, or re-joining the man assigned to kill me, whom I also temporarily blinded.

Roman approaches me steadily, cautiously, like I'm a wild animal escaping from my cage at the zoo.

I know resistance would be useless, even though I have chemicals on me that could have him start eating through a tube for the rest of his life, I would still get caught, so I surrendered peacefully.

He pushed me up against the wall, and quickly bent my arms behind my back as he cuffs one of them, I assume he didn't want another officer doing the honours to ensure I don't get hurt. The moment he goes to cuff the other, a sound of gunshots in the distance catches us all by surprise.

A car coming towards us at high speed, men out of three windows with pistols and rifles start shooting.

I recognize the symbol drawn on the front, "The Thorns" were here, armed and loaded, which took us all by surprise as this specific area was off limits for any of the Triad’s interference, something was happening, and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t know a thing.

"Viper!" one of them yells "were gonna get you bitch". Also forgot to mention I sold some information regarding the southern-central area of the city which may have cost them a few business endeavours and gave some people their homes back, so The Thorns aren’t really in my favor at the moment.

Turns out my identity wasn’t only leaked to the cops. To think it could get any worse.

Next thing I know, the police and Thorns are engaging in a shootout. Roman rapidly grabs my arm, pulling me down "stay" he commands, before leaving to assist his comrades. Maybe the blinded killer isn't a bad choice after all.

I use the chaos to crawl back inside, unnoticed. To find him washing his eyes with plant water. He had broken down the locked wooden door with his feet. Repairs are gonna cost a bitch.

"You do know that these contain even more chemicals, right? Not to mention dirt, and fertilizers"

"What the hell did you do to me" he seethes.

"Relax you'll be fine in a bit, now if you'll excuse me"

As I make a run for it through the back door he catches me firmly, with closed eyes. "I'm going to need that file"

"We have no time for this do you not hear the sounds outside"

"The cops can't do shit to me" he scoffs.

"Oh really, and how’s your relationship with The Thorns?"

He pauses for a moment; I hear him curse under his breath.

"Wishing you nothing but terrible luck in your escape" I say yanking my hand away, trying to make a run for it.

"Oh no you don't" he says as he lunges at me, grabbing my waist, slightly lifting me off the ground.

The cuffs attached to my hand jingle as I squirm attempting to break free, but it was as if I was being held by iron chains. He wouldn't budge.

"I'd appreciate it if you stop that now" he says unamused.

"Put me down. Now." It comes out whinier than I'd hoped.

"Fine" The second I'm on the floor he grabs the handcuffs and attaches the other side to his own wrist.

"What the hell man!" I yell.

"Listen, we both have a common interest at the moment, which would be staying alive, now while I could butcher every single one of those fuckers out there with nothing but these two hands, but thanks to you I've been blinded"

"It's only temporary though I wouldn't worry about it too much"

He lowers his voice to a more serious tone "I need eyes, and you need strength, that's the only way we're making it out of here alive"

"It's not like you've given me much of a choice" I shake the cuffs making sure he hears them.

"Now, which way out?" he asks.

"Follow me."