Heart of the Empire

usy cleaning the apartment to distract her mind. She cleaned the floors, cleaned the dishes, and o

ecame motionless, feeling her heart beat rapidly. Who might that

r? A familiar voice

ly widened th

! Why are

d about your well-being. You appeared very different yesterday, so

ess. "Thanks for showing up, but this is

ed. "What's going on,

e's... he's dangerous. He gets involved in th

nifer, you can't stay he

" I have no place to go. If I go away, he will tr

," Lisa urgently exclaimed. "You are worthy

ddenly swung open and Kain entered, his face red

led with fright. "I had only..." I

ho the hell are you to be ch

er expression pleading. "J

rs welling up in her eyes.

nd shoved her towards the

urning back one last time. "Jenifer

to meet her friend's eyes. "

hind her. Kain turned to Jenifer, his expression dar

said quickly. "She came on h

l. The plaster cracked under the force. "You're lying

ered, tears streaming down her

g towards her. "You don't get to tell me anything.

body trembling. "Yes

haking her roughly. "You better. N

ifer said, her voice ba

t believe you. You're hiding something.

nd closets, and throwing clothes and belongings everyw

. "There isn't any more mo

ess and kicking over the nightstand. "

ce. She could no longer continue living in this manner. She pivoted and dashed

heard Kain's voice rev

r gasps as she ran down the stairs. Suddenly, she emerg

" Kain's voice h

ainst the wall, trying to make herself smaller. His loud foots

I can see through your efforts

art thumping in her chest. She had to dev

a plan, a way to get away. She noticed a fire escape ladder only a short distance away. Ta

hed off the edge. "Do you believe you can escape me?

rooftop, she scanned the area for an alternate route to descend. There was a clo

d appeared above the rooft

delay in observing his actions. Running on the rooftop, she searched for a route

tion. "Jenifer, you cannot avoid being found by me!" I wil

alleys and side streets, aiming to create as much space between them as s

the shadows. She felt a sinking in her heart as realization set in. The

he is!" one of

too delayed. She heard a gunshot and then experienced a searing sensation i

d, holding onto her

tern and unyielding. One of them coldly st

the necklace her mother had gifted her, feeling the cool metal against her skin as she p

heck," sai