Chapter 344
0344
VALERIE.
My heart almost stops, and my eyes glimmer as I ready myself. I’m no longer that helpless woman I
once was…
Even if just the thought of being attacked in my apartment sickens me, I have changed. After the war, I
made sure to train, to hone my abilities. Zaia and I had our workout sessions four times a day. I trained
hard and although it’s not really something I enjoyed, it’s something I realised I needed.
I silently walk towards the door, my bare feet making no noise and when I’m halfway there, I see the
shadow move as the person turns away and I close my eyes when they disappear from outside my
door.
The silent creak of the floorboards in their wake as they move along is a reminder that there was
indeed someone right outside the door moments ago….
Exhaling slowly, I close my eyes, trying to calm myself before I turn my back to the door and look
around the room, placing a hand on my forehead.
“It could have been the neighbours…” I glance at the far wall. They’re silent and I can hear the faint
snoring from beyond the wall.
I enter my bedroom, about to lock the door, when I realise it doesn’t even have a
latch.
Great…
I get back into bed and lying on my back, I stare at the wall behind me. Could it have been one of the
neighbours on this side? I did hear something before…
Shaking my head, I roll onto my side, listening to the sound of a distant siren, and of someone taking
the trash out…
I like it here… it reminds me of my childhood and the small part of town back home where I lived
growing up…
I wake suddenly to the sound of someone banging on the door.
“What on earth!” I matter as I scramble out of bed.
Are those my groceries? They said they’ll deliver after eleven and I don’t sleep in! I glance at the clock
as I rush to the door.
+15 BONUS
I pull it open to see a woman in her mid–fifties standing there, her hands on her hips and it’s obvious
from her face that she’s not impressed.
“Can I help you?” I ask, brushing my hair back.
“Yes, you can. Is that white piece of junk out front yours?” she asks, rather rudely.
I blink as I glance past her, although we are far too high up to see where she’s pointing past the
balcony to the ground far below, five floors down.
My car is white, but it’s anything but junk, even if I did downgrade to something a little modest…
“I’m afraid I’m not sure. My car is quite new. It wouldn’t be classed as junk.” I answer, running my
fingers through my hair.
“Well, move it, you’re blocking me in!”
“I’ll be right there,” I say, shutting the door with a snap.
How rude.
I had made sure to not block any access. The only thing parked behind my car was an off–road old
minivan. I had asked someone about it who said it had not
been moved in months.
Were they mistaken, or was this woman being petty? I’m sure it’s the latter.
Grabbing some black yoga pants, I pull them on and grab my keys with one hand. and sneakers with
the other. Putting them on, I hurry out of the front door and down the stairs.
She’s waiting outside, arms crossed as I hurry to my car, not missing the way everyone is watching.
She scoffs, walking over to… yes, the actual piece of junk around here. The minivan.
And she called my car junk?
I reverse, and she spits on the ground, getting into her van, and I sit there patiently. Goddess, this
woman is testing me…
I wait until she’s driven off, and I’m about to move back where I was parked when the car makes a
strange noise.
What on earth was that?!
I slowly move closer to the wall ahead, but that odd sound makes me stop and turn the engine off. I get
out and peer underneath. Not that I know anything
+15 BONUS
about cars, but that does not sound good.
“Look like someone tampered with it.” I turn to see a young man in his early thirties remark, shoving his
hands in his pockets. “I wouldn’t leave a car like that out on these streets. They may have been after
the parts.”
With those words, he turns and walks off, leaving me to sigh once more. Well, looks like I’ll have to call
a garage… I lock the doors and I’m about to return to my apartment and get ready for the day when I
stop, seeing a bike parked in the shadows.
It doesn’t fit in… more so than my car. It is a deep black with a royal blue shine with red accents and
seats. I don’t know much about bikes, but that one is sexy and expensive…
A black helmet sits on the seat, and it surprises me that no one’s taken it… then why was my car
touched?
Sighing, I shake my head and go back inside. I need coffee.
It’s a few hours later and I’ve finished putting my shopping away, which was dropped off by a rather
frazzled delivery man. Muttering about how there should have been a lift.
0345