Chapter 9

"The Things We Hide"

Valeria's POV

-ˋˏ✄- - - - - - - -- - - -- - - -- - - -- - - --- - -- - - -- - - -- - - -- - - -- - - -- - - ♡⁠

Midtown was quieter than usual. It was the kind of quiet that didn't sit right. Not the peaceful kind—no, this was the "something's about to go wrong" kind. I should have listened to my gut and taken a cab straight home, but no. 

Curiosity had me hooked, and I'd spent the last three hours dissecting Moretti files. Now my mind was spinning, my body was tired, and all I wanted was my shitty apartment and my even shittier couch.

That's when I noticed them.

Three shadows, lingering too long at the mouth of the alley near my building. At first, I thought, Muggers? Really? In Midtown? But no, their suits were too crisp, and their silence too deliberate. These weren't street-level crooks.

Then came the voice. Smooth, deep, and dripping with the kind of menace you couldn't fake.

"Cipher," he said, stepping forward into the faint glow of a nearby streetlamp. His square jaw and cold eyes gave me instant bad-guy vibes. "We've been looking for you."

Cipher.

My blood ran cold. Nobody was supposed to know that name. Nobody. Every trace of my identity had been erased years ago. I was a ghost in the system, untraceable. How the hell did they find me?

I plastered on a cocky smile, hiding my shock. "You found me. Congrats. What's the prize? A participation trophy?"

His smirk widened, but there was no humor in it. "Smart mouth. Let's see if you're still talking after we're done."

"Charming," I muttered, already feeling for the knife tucked in my boot.

I didn't wait for him to make the first move. The guy closest to me lunged, and I reacted on instinct. I sidestepped, driving my knee into his gut. As he doubled over, I grabbed his arm and slammed him into the wall.

"Next?" I taunted, spinning to face the other two.

The second guy came at me with a knife, and I barely dodged in time. His blade sliced through the fabric of my jacket, grazing my arm. The sting of the cut only fueled my adrenaline. I grabbed his wrist, twisting it until the knife clattered to the ground.

"Lesson one," I hissed, shoving him backward. "Don't bring a knife to a fight you can't win."

The third guy didn't waste time. He swung hard, landing a punch to my ribs that knocked the air out of me. Pain shot through my chest, but I gritted my teeth and swung my elbow into his jaw. He staggered back, clutching his face.

The leader watched, amused. "Impressive," he said, clapping slowly. "But you're outnumbered, Cipher. You can't win."

"Watch me."

I reached under my jacket, pulling out my gun. It was small, but deadly.

"Back off," I growled, aiming at his chest.

He chuckled, shaking his head. "You think that'll scare me? Go ahead, pull the trigger. Let's see how far you get before my men gut you."

Before I could respond, pain exploded in my side. I gasped, looking down to see a blade buried just below my ribs. One of the bastards had circled behind me.

I stumbled, my vision blurring as the knife was yanked free. Blood poured from the wound, warm and sticky against my trembling hands. My knees hit the pavement, and the gun slipped from my grasp.

The leader crouched in front of me, his grin widening. "You've got spirit, Cipher. Too bad it won't save you."

I glared up at him, my breath ragged. "Go to hell."

Headlights flooded the alley, cutting through the darkness like a lifeline. The men hesitated, and I seized the opportunity to crawl away, my strength ebbing with every movement.

Lily. Lily's apartment. It wasn't far. If I could just make it there...

Each step felt like a mile, blood trailing behind me. By the time I reached her door, my vision was swimming. I banged weakly against the wood, my breath shallow.

The door opened, and Lily's face appeared, her eyes widening in horror. "Vee! Oh my God, what happened?!"

"Bad... night," I rasped, leaning heavily against the doorframe.

She grabbed my arm, pulling me inside. "You're bleeding everywhere! Vee, sit down! What the hell—"

"No hospitals," I interrupted, collapsing onto her couch. My head lolled back, the ceiling spinning above me.

"But you're—oh my God, Vee, you're dying!" Her voice cracked with panic as she grabbed towels to press against the wound.

"Don't freak out," I muttered weakly, though even I could hear how bad it sounded.

"I'm calling 911," she said, fumbling for her phone.

"No," I croaked, forcing my eyes open. "Just... trust me, okay? No hospitals."

Her face blurred as the blood loss pulled me under. The last thing I heard was her voice, shaking with panic. "Vee, stay with me! Please!"

-----

˗ˏˋ Author's note ˎˊ˗

Heyy (✿◡‿◡)

So what do you guys think? Your opinion means everything to me! So please tell me (^◕.◕^)

Your vote and comment makes another person's day!

Question of chapter:

Are you guys into K-pop? If so, what's your repeating song these days?

Cause I AM!!! Y'all I could rant all day. BTS. Balckpink. Stary Kids. Itzy. BabyMonster!! Ughhh.  

I've been banging Drip by BabyMonster these days!! They are so talented oh my gosh!!!

So, Comment ><

See you next Sunday!

Remember, you are never not loved.  Someone in this world loves you, someone already with you or someone whom you have't met yet. Keep dreaming <3

If not, I love you!

Byeeee

Izel

⋆.˚🦋༘⋆