Episode 8

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!!" I screamed, letting out all my frustration as I got up from the bed and ran towards the door, banging on it with my fists.

Furious, I continued swearing as I hitted the door, the harsh words flowing from my mouth in a torrent of suppressed rage. Each knock on the door was accompanied by a new insult, a new expression of my indignation.

"You bastard! Coward! Where are you, I'm going to take that gun of yours and put it inside your...!" The curses continued to come out, without stopping, until my voice began to become hoarse and my breathing became irregular.

Panting and still pulsing with the adrenaline of anger, I took a few steps back and leaned against the wall for a few seconds, trying to calm my rapid breathing. A sense of urgency overcame me as I realized I needed to do something, anything, to regain control of the situation.

My hands shook as I dove into the pockets of my clothes, frantically searching for my cell phone. But the realization that he wasn't there hit like a punch in the gut. "Zoey," I murmured regretfully, feeling the weight of worry pile up on my shoulders. "Has she already eaten? Will she still be awake? If she's staying up late playing games, I'd probably be scolding her by now..."

"Holy shit," I continued, with a tumultuous thought. "How am I going to notify Charlie now that I couldn't go to work today... WILL I BE ABLE TO GO TOMORROW? This time he's really going to fire me..."

Lying in the unfamiliar bed, a feeling of helplessness invaded me like an overwhelming wave. It was as if I was lost in a sea of ​​uncertainty, far from home. The silent walls of the room felt suffocating, enveloping me in an oppressive loneliness.

My thoughts revolved around the strange sequence of events that led me here. From the meeting on the subway to that moment, everything seemed surreal, as if she were trapped in a nightmare from which she couldn't wake up.

Voices echoed in my mind, unfamiliar faces appeared like ghosts in the darkness. And at the center of it all, I felt like a pawn in a game whose rules I didn't know.A feeling of tiredness settled over my body, weighing down my limbs and lulling me toward sleep.

KNOCK-KNOCK!

As I realized it, a strange sound echoed through the room, a knock on the door that made me shudder. I got up abruptly, not knowing for sure whether I had slept or not.

The door opened, revealing the imposing figure of a tall black woman, with dark tresses that cascaded down her back. Her eyes had a piercing green glow, and her expression was firm and determined. The woman entered the room with a tray in hand, her movements carrying a mixture of strength and grace.

She wore a simple but elegant outfit, complemented by jeans and a gray blouse that highlighted her confident posture. A scratch marked her face, black tattoos adorned her right arm, snaking across the skin until reaching her hand, which had small drawings of stars, where they were found in a mix of shapes and symbols. She wore a shiny golden necklace around her neck.

Her face displayed firm features, but her expression was softened by a look that conveyed a mixture of determination and compassion. There was no doubt that the woman was a person with a strong and intense presence.

With a silent nod, she placed the tray on the table next to the bed, the aroma of the fresh sandwich and freshly squeezed juice filling the room. She looked at me with a mix of curiosity and assessment, as if she were trying to decipher my thoughts before I even expressed them.

"I just wanted to..." I started, but stopped as she started to speak."You need to eat something," interrupting my attempt to speak.

We tried to speak at the same time, our words mixing together in a confusing cacophony. We both stopped abruptly, realizing the misunderstanding, and an awkward silence fell between us.

"I'm sorry, I..." I began, but the woman seemed to ignore my attempt at an explanation."I'm sorry about my brother earlier," she said, her voice softening a little. "He can be a little... rough sometimes."I stared at her, surprised by her unexpected admiration. "You… are you apologizing for the 'fireboy'?"She nodded, her eyes fixed on mine. "Yes. He may be... difficult to deal with, but Phoenix is ​​trying to do what he believes is right."

I was almost sure she was going to say dick in the ass, but she gave up mid-sentence. I swallowed hard, processing her words. "Well, even then, he could have been a little less of an asshole," I replied, feeling a little uncomfortable with the conversation.

She seemed to ponder for a moment before agreeing. "I understand. But now I'm not here to drag the conversation about him all night, I just want to make sure you're okay, you're essential to all of this."

Her statement took me by surprise, and I stared at her, not knowing what to say. "I'm essential? What do you mean?"

The woman approached, her eyes fixed on mine with intensity. "You have connections and skills that are needed for a mission we are planning. A mission that could change a lot of things, for a lot of people."

I blinked, processing her words. A mission? What was she talking about? But before I could formulate a response, she continued, her voice quick and urgent.

She hesitated for a moment before responding. "We need to break into the building you work in. There's crucial information inside that could help us protect our community. And we believe you're the right person to help us in this situation."

I sighed, feeling overwhelmed by the sudden responsibility I had been given. "I don't know if I can do this. It's all...too much for me."

She placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "You're not alone, Violet. We're all in this together. And we're going to do whatever it takes to protect our community, our families, and everyone in this town, and ensure a better future for all of us, just like Bryan said."

"The scary guy on a suit.." I muttered, a hint of sarcasm in my voice.

The woman let out a light laugh. "Yes, he can be a bit eccentric at times, but he never hesitated to help anyone in need. He is loyal to our cause and would do anything to ensure the safety of us all."

I nodded, pondering her words. "Well, he certainly has a... unique way of showing it."She smiled, agreeing. "That's true. But at the end of the day, we're all here for the same reason: to protect each other and fight for a better future."

"I prefer a future where I don't have to risk entering some kind of restricted area in a fucking military research company," I declared, my voice thick with uncertainty and concern.As the woman spoke, her figure moved around the room, as if the energy of her words was propelling her. I watched her carefully, but my mind wandered, lost in a sea of ​​uncertainty.This whole situation seemed crazy. 

Break into the building where I worked? I could barely process the idea. It was as if they were dragging me into one of those spy movies I used to watch, only this time I was the unwitting protagonist.

"This is all insane," I thought, as I tried to follow the conversation. "Do they really think I'm capable of this?"

The woman continued speaking, her tone becoming more and more convincing. She was so immersed in her mission that I felt somewhat lost, unable to follow her fervor.

As I stared at the half-open door, the woman's words echoed in the silent room, making me increasingly frightened by the whole situation. Fear began to settle inside me, and I was reluctant to get more deeply involved in it all. Increasingly, the idea of ​​escaping became irresistible.

Turbulent thoughts invaded my mind. The fear of putting myself in danger was overwhelming. What if something happened to me? Who would take care of Zoey? The mere thought of being vulnerable and unable to protect my little sister was enough to make me tremble.I decided to run away. 

The need to ensure my family's safety outweighed any other consideration at that time. So, without hesitation, I prepared to escape that room and the people who inhabited it, looking for an escape route.

But before I could take the first step, something quick and unexpected happened. A movement in the corner of my eye made me stop, and before I could react, I felt something hit me hard.

Surprise washed over me when I found myself knocked to the ground, caught in a sudden movement that escaped my perception. Instinctively, I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the imminent impact, but when I opened them again, I was greeted by the sight of the woman above me, holding me firmly by the arms.

A mix of confusion and bewilderment flooded my thoughts as I tried to process what had just happened. I looked for answers in her eyes, which now seemed moist, filled with an unidentified emotion.