Chapter 8 ESCAPE

REBEL

Piece by piece, the parasite gnawed away at my patience. Not the marble flooring, the lavish chandeliers, or even the dizzying city vistas from the penthouse windows, but rather being imprisoned in this rich jail, choked me. He was the one. Daniel. His obsessive urge to keep me "safe," his all-consuming infatuation, and his continual monitoring Secure? From what? The entire world? Me? He was unable to comprehend. Then there was his devoted friend Michael, who had likewise determined that I needed to be protected and pampered. Every move I took and every breath I took was tracked by the two of them. Months had passed. Months of oppressive attention to detail, guards following me like shadows, and Daniel's refusal To give me even a moment of solitude. However, tonight was different. Daniel had a crucial meeting that he was unable to cancel for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. His second-in-command, Klaus, was left to watch me while he was away. Klaus with his hundred guards in a joyous band. Adorable. I would lose them all in five minutes, or 10 if I was feeling dramatic. I had nearly convinced myself to stay. For Daniel's benefit. I was aware of his love for me. He was afraid in addition to being compulsive. I'm terrified that something could happen to me and that the group that is after me could be successful. And there was a tiny, emotional, silly part of me that wanted to calm that dread. However, losing was that aspect tonight. The conflict. I put on a similar nose mask, put on a sleek black sweatshirt, and put on brown contacts. I couldn't recognise myself in the mirror; I was just another shadow in the darkness. I muttered, "Let's see how good your fortress is, Daniel," with a slight smirk tugging at my lips. --- It was almost comically easy to move around the apartment without making noise. The guards were predictable-too dependent on technology and cameras-and my soft-soled boots didn't make a sound on the smooth marble. I had memorised their flaws and studied their routines for weeks. They failed because of their conceit. They saw me as nothing more than Daniel's feisty girlfriend, a pampered lady who was rebelling against her opulent cage. They didn't recognise me. I was dubbed Rebel by the world. Assassin.Legend. Ghost. The group wanted me dead, so there was some validity to Daniel's worry over my safety. But the solution was not to hide myself away. I wasn't a flower that needed protection or a bird that needed a cage. I was an uncontrollable force of nature, a hurricane. And I would prove it tonight. It took less than two minutes to turn off the alarm. With the dexterity of a virtuoso, my fingertips moved across the touchscreen, avoiding the code. The cameras? Sent to a feed that loops. The guards? As I slid through their lines undetected, let's just say I left them scratching their heads. As I entered the cold night air, the city welcomed me like an old lover. I felt a dizzying surge from the sharp flavour of freedom and the murmur of distant conversations. I inhaled deeply, relishing the experience, and then proceeded. --- Marvin Siyes. A name that was now at the top of my list of things to hit. I had pieced together the threat posed by Marvin, even though Daniel hadn't told me about it. A business rival named Marvin dared to take advantage of Daniel's vulnerability, which was me. Marvin's most audacious-and last-mistake had been hiring an assassin over the dark web to kill Daniel. Marvin was unaware that I was the assassin he had hired. It was deliciously ironic. While charming, his offer of half a billion dollars was superfluous. I didn't require his funds. It was a personal kill.

The establishment operated from a den of depravity and wickedness. The music's deep bass pounded through the floor like a heartbeat as neon lights flickered over the entrance. Avoiding the cameras and bouncers at the front, I sneaked in through a side door. Despite the gloomy hallways' stench of alcohol and despair, I continued to move, my senses keen. Marvin's office was upstairs, and two burly men stood watch. Amateurs. I easily dispatched both, one with a quick, vicious twist of the neck and the other with a sword to the throat. They fell to the ground in silence. I arrived prepared, but the office door was reinforced. The lock was blown with a tiny charge without sounding an alert. When the door opened, Marvin was seated behind a desk with a smug look on his face. He didn't flinch at all. "So, you're the legendary Rebel," he said in a confident drawl. "I have to say, I anticipated-" He was interrupted by the muffled gunshot. Blood pooled on the desk as he collapsed forward, his eyes wide with horror. "Daniel says goodbye," I said as I drew closer. I looked straight into the concealed camera in the room's corner, alerting whoever was looking that I had visited and that Marvin's demise served as a warning. I switched out my contacts for green ones, let my red wig fall down my back and changed into a glittering silver outfit I had previously hidden.

I was completely engulfed by the music as I danced before taking two shots of my drink.

It was easy to slip back into Daniel's penthouse. The guards were unaware, and their arrogance was my best ally. By the time I got to my room, it seemed as though I had never left, except for Daniel, who was waiting for me. He sat in a comfortable armchair by the window, holding a glass of red wine, his dark eyes staring at me as I walked in. The silence was oppressive, and his cool manner was more unnerving than any outburst. "Did you have fun?" he asked in a smooth, almost playful voice.

I froze. "You were aware?" "Rebel, I know everything." His eyes never left mine as he sipped his wine slowly. "You ought to be aware of that by now." My heart pounded, but my face remained expressionless. "So why did you not stop me?" Daniel got to his feet, moving slowly and deliberately, almost like a predator. "Because I was curious if you could pull it off." Though his eyes revealed a storm simmering beneath the surface, his lips curled into a small smile. "You didn't let me down." With his hands cradling my face, he took two steps to get closer to me. His touch sent chills down my spine since it was compassionate and possessive at the same time. His breath was warm against my skin as he said, "But don't take my indulgence for leniency."His breath was warm against my skin as he whispered. Rebel, you're mine. I also don't share. Despite my heart thumping in my chest, I kept my exhilaration and terror hidden from him. "Daniel, I'm not something you can own," I said, my words laced with defiance. I briefly feared he would lose control as his eyes darkened. Instead, he drew me in and planted a kiss on my lips that was equal parts passion and punishment. His voice was a hoarse snarl as he finally withdrew. "I own you. Remember it. There was still a long way to go in our battle. I didn't want it to end, though, as his lips found mine once more.