THE SELECTED SEVEN

CHAPTER NINE

SELENA RETURNS HOME

It was already six-thirty PM, and dusk had started to envelop the sky, casting a warm, golden hue across the horizon. The fading sunlight painted the clouds in shades of pink and orange, creating a breathtaking spectacle that signaled the end of the day. As the vibrant colors began to dim, a gentle cool breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby trees, bringing with it the earthy scent of approaching nightfall. The sounds of chirping crickets gradually filled the air, creating a soothing melody that harmonized with the distant laughter of children playing in the neighborhood. Street lamps flickered to life one by one, illuminating the pathways and giving a soft glow to the cozy homes lining the street. The world seemed to slow down in those tranquil moments, offering a brief respite before the hustle and bustle of evening activities commenced.

Having hastily returned to her car, Selena closed her bonnet with a firm, decisive thud that echoed in the stillness of the night. She slid excitedly into the driver's seat, her heart racing with adrenaline coursing through her veins. She had every reason to feel elated at this moment; the so-called mission—one fraught with risks and moral dilemmas—had been accomplished. Soon, the obituary of the esteemed professor, who had unknowingly played a pivotal role in a plot much larger than himself, would be announced. She could already envision Victor's proud expression, knowing that she had successfully brought the mission to fruition, thereby validating her daring choice to become embroiled in such a perilous endeavor.

Turning the ignition key, the car engine roared to life with a satisfying growl, a sound that enveloped her in a cocoon of triumph and relief. "In God's dictionary, one word is conspicuously absent: IMPOSSIBILITY. In my proverbial world, much like God's, everything is within reach, no matter how challenging it may seem.

Failure has no place in my life; therefore, I will not fail in any mission I undertake." She thought to herself. After slowly revving the car twice to ensure everything was functioning correctly, she took a moment to compose herself. She depressed the clutch pedal and engaged the gear with renewed confidence, before cautiously driving out from her hidden parking space onto the main road. The exhilaration coursing through her felt electrifying; she punched the acceleration, zooming away from the scene of the crime, her pulse quickening in rhythm with the surge of speed.

She was driving at eighty kilometers per hour, and her desperation to leave the location before any fleeting chance of being caught invaded her thoughts. With the road ahead stretching out like a dark ribbon, illuminated by the piercing glow of her headlights, everything felt surreal. However, after she'd traveled one mile, a large speed bump loomed ahead, a potential obstacle she had failed to notice at her high speed. By the time her eyes registered the bump, it was far too late; in a frantic response, she stamped on the brake pedal, the tires screeching against the asphalt in a desperate cry for grip. The car came to an abrupt halt, the engine sputtering and ultimately giving way to silence.

Struggling to calm her racing mind, tinged with a mix of fear and urgency, she attempted to restart the car but was met with the frustrating sound of silence, a stark contrast to the earlier roar of the engine. Panic began to creep into her chest, and Selena realized she had to act quickly. She stepped out of the vehicle, her muscles tense with urgency, and approached the front to open the bonnet, determined to diagnose the problem. Any seasoned car mechanic would suggest that the jarring stop may have disrupted the connection of the battery terminals, a possibility that now felt more plausible.

As she began to fiddle with the various components nestled under the hood, she soon discovered that one of the battery terminals was indeed loose. To her astonishment, nestled among the wires was a small stone, as if it had been deliberately placed there for this exact purpose, a sinister thought flickering through her mind momentarily like a shadow in the night. After carefully removing the stone with shaking hands, she struck the loose terminal back into place, securing it firmly with a resolve born from desperation.

With a newfound sense of hope kindling within her, she closed the bonnet and returned to the driver’s seat, heart pounding. She took a deep breath, the taste of victory mingling with the metallic scent of lingering fear. Turning the ignition once more, the engine roared back to life, sounding strong and steady, filling her with a euphoric sense of relief. Everything felt perfect now; the chaos of the previous moments ebbed away, fading like a distant bad dream. She heaved a long sigh of relief, the weight of the world lifting from her shoulders, before finally heading for her house, eager to embrace the reassuring normalcy of her routine, even while knowing that her life would never truly be the same.

As she merged back onto the road, a wave of exhilaration washed over her, lifting her spirits higher than the nighttime sky that enveloped her. The adrenaline from her narrow escape still coursed through her veins, igniting her senses and sharpening her focus. Her skin tingled as the chill of the evening air seeped through the cracked windows, yet rather than causing discomfort, it intensified her sense of liberation—a feeling so intoxicating that she couldn’t help but smile.

With each passing mile, her heart raced, not only from the thrill of evading capture but also from the overwhelming triumph of her success. The image of Victor's approving smile danced vividly in her mind, a beacon of motivation pushing her ever forward. She envisioned the headlines that would soon flood the newspapers, each more sensational than the last, speculating how everyone would react to the shocking news of the professor's sudden and untimely demise. Would they mourn his loss, or would they celebrate the end of his notorious reign?

Selena navigated the winding country roads with a sense of purpose, the towering trees blurring past her like dark shadows drawn from an artist's imagination, their branches reaching out like fingers trying to grasp her. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery light, illuminating her path and illuminating her way toward freedom. She savored these fleeting moments of exhilaration, feeling as though she were flying away from the scene of her monumental accomplishment, relishing the solitude as the world faded behind her.

Yet, amidst her triumph, the enveloping darkness of the woods whispered a haunting reminder of what could have been. Had anyone witnessed her swift escape? Were the police already on her trail, closing in on her with unfaltering determination? Despite the electrifying rush of victory, doubt began to creep stealthily into the corners of her mind—an unwelcome intruder. She shook her head vigorously, dispelling those thoughts like a pesky fly that buzzed around her ear. The mission had been flawlessly executed, and right now, she needed to keep her focus on getting home safely.

As she continued her drive, familiar landscapes morphed into something more than mere countryside; they transformed into a tapestry of her life, each mile a thread woven into the fabric of her existence. The knowledge that she had seized control of her destiny bolstered her determination, making her feel as if she were invincible. Each curve of the road and each shadowy turn invited her to contemplate what lay ahead, filling her with anticipation and readying her for whatever challenges might come next.

With a final glance in the rearview mirror, she couldn't help but bite her lip and grin, a wide expression portraying the chaos she had left behind. Nothing would be the same again; she had orchestrated it all with the precision of a master conductor leading an orchestra.

Just now, her phone started ringing, cutting through the hushed stillness of the evening. The glow of the screen illuminated her face as she saw Victor's name flash across it. Perhaps he was calling to check in, eager to find out if the assignment had been executed successfully—a task laden with pressure and expectation.

"Hello, my boss," Selena answered, her voice bubbling with uncontained elation as she leaned back against the soft, leather seat of her car. A surge of thrill and accomplishment coursed through her, warming her from the inside out. "I told you I would make you proud. The deed is done successfully. I just had a firm handshake with the Professor, a handshake, he will never experience again in his lifetime." Her words dripped with irony, her tone playful, yet laced with an undertone of dark satisfaction. "By now, the professor will be dining in hell with the devil..." she added, her face brightening with a mischievous grin that lit up the dim interior of the vehicle like a spark in the dark.

A momentary silence enveloped the call, creating a tension that hung in the air before Victor’s confused voice sliced through. "I am confused," he replied, his tone wavering between bewilderment and concern, clearly struggling to make sense of her cryptic words. "What do you mean by saying you had a good handshake with him? I thought you were supposed to kill him, weren't you? You know how crucial this assignment was!"

Selena could almost hear the wheels turning in Victor's head as he processed her message, and, appreciating the dramatic flair, she played coy. "Trust me, you'll find out firsthand," she remarked, her tone shifting to one of seriousness while still carrying an underlying hint of satisfaction that she could not suppress. "I'll call you soon," she added confidently, her voice steady and resolute, before disconnecting the call.

With her phone now resting in her lap, she refocused on the road ahead. The streets were alive with the hum of late-night traffic, and she felt an exhilarating rush of adrenaline from the events of the evening still pulsing through her veins, mingling with a sense of intoxicating freedom. It was a heady mix that made her heart race as she expertly maneuvered through the busy streets, each turn a testament to her unexpected triumph.

The stars twinkled above her like distant fireworks, celebrating her success as she pulled into her secluded driveway. It marked a triumphant end to a mission completed with unparalleled skill and cunning, a testament to her indomitable spirit.