Chapter 9
The world lost its sound in that moment.
Victoria watched as Cocoa’s voice disappeared out the window, leaving only the sound of her own rapid heartbeat in her ears.
“Dong!” “Dong!” “Dong!”
Like heavy hammers, smashing all reason
The next second, the body reacted before the consciousness, and the bones made a sound of unbearable burden. She forcibly broke open the wrist that was suppressing her, and her elbow fiercely hit the throat of the person behind her.
At the moment when the other party released her hand in pain, she turned over and got up, kicked away the approaching henchman, and rushed towards the window with the help of the force.
“Stop her!”
Howard shouted sternly.
Another person rushed up and hugged her waist, she bent her knees and pushed towards the other person’s abdomen, breaking free amidst screams.
Five meters, three meters, one meter, the window was within reach, she didn’t hesitate at all, and leaped out.
The dusk was falling, and the lawn was silent.
Her breathing almost stopped, until…
“Meow…!
A faint call came from deep within the bushes.
Victoria nged forward and, in the moment of pushing aside the branches, met a pair of amber eyes.
Cocoa curled up in the grass, with its hind legs twisted unnaturally, blood on its mouth, but still struggling to crawl towards her.
“It’s okay… It’s all right..”
Trembling, she held the cat in her arms, her fingertips touching warm liquid. Cocoa had a wound on her abdomen, the blood staining her orange fur. Cocoa died on the way to the hospital
When Victoria was running with it in her arms, she could feel its small body getting colder little by little, its breath becoming weaker. Finally, it gently rubbed against her palm as if saying goodbye, and then it stopped moving
She stood under the streetlight, staring at it blankly, as if the whole world had come to a standstill
The rain started to fall, “pitter–pattering” on her hair and clothes, but she just stood there, i
unmoving
The next morning,
she buried it under the cherry blossom tree in the park.
That was Cocoa’s favorite place. In spring, it would always roll on the grass covered with petals, flapping to catch the falling pink petals.
Victoria squatted under the tree, her fingers gently brushing over the freshly turned soil, her throat feeling as if it were blocked and unable to make a sound, she did not cry.
I just squatted for a long time, until my legs went numb before slowly standing up, patting the dirt off my knees, and turning to leave.
The task arrived on time,
Victoria appeared at the assembly point as usual, dressed in black combat gear, expressionless as she checked her firearms, as if “nothing had happened.” Howard stood not far away, has gate swept over her several times, but she never look
Wade hesitated for a moment, walked over and whispered, “Victoria, Mr. Irwin wants you
to come over ”
She didn’t say anything, just walked stently towards Howard, stood in front of him, with eyes es calm as still water. Howard stared at her, as if trying to read something from her face, but in the end, he just said coldly, “Don’t disappoint me
Victoria topped at the corner of her mouth and didn’t answer.
The first half of the mission went collily, , almost eerily so.
The night was as dark as ink, Victoria hid in the shadows, her fingertips resting on the trigger, while Howard’s deep instructions came through the earpiece.
“Block A was cleared and prepared for handover.”
just as the goods were about to be loaded onto the ship.
“Police! Don’t move
The glaring searchlights suddenly lit up, and several red dots locked in from all directions.
“There is an ambush!”
Wade growled softly in the earpiece.
Gunshots rang out, bullets grazed the container and splattered into dazzling sparks.
Victoria rolled to the side, bullets chiseled a row of holes in her previous position, she raised her wrist to counterattack, shooting the sniper’s arm high
- up.
“Retreat!”
But it was too late, the police had obviously been prepared early, armored vehicles blocked the exit, fully armed special police surrounded from both sides, Victoria kicked open the iron door beside her, bullets chased her footsteps and exploded on the wall, splashing debris.
She dodged into cover, her breathing slightly erratic, but still calmly reloading
“Victoria! Gap on the east side!”
She looked up and saw Howard leading people towards the east side for a breakout, while Beatrice, the burden who should have stayed in the safe house, somehow followed along at some point, now in a panic as she clutched Howard’s arm, slowing down his pace.
A ballet grazed Howard’s shoulder, blood instantly sealing through his black jacket.
Victoria’s eyes turned cold, and she rushed out suddenly.
She accurately and fiercely broke through the police cordon, bullets grazing her waist, seemingly oblivious as she raised her hand and shot down the police officers blocking her path, clearing a bloody path for Howard.
“Go!” She pushed Howard away, but staggered back herself due to the reaction force, hitting the container.
The next second, the cold muzzle pressed against the back of her head.
“Don’t move.”
The police’s voice was close at hand.
More police officers surged forward, she was forced into a corner, the magazine was empty, and Howard’s figure had long disappeared into the night on the east side, taking Beatrice with him
Victoria leaned against the container and slowly raised her hands.
