Retribution

4.Swallowed By Ice.

Anastasiya Van Houten.

“ I have a file” I blurted out, barely concealing the desperation in my voice, watching slowly to see if he took the bait.

He stared back at me, his face neutral, except for an eyebrow raise, urging me to speak with a wave of his gun. “It’s called Pandora. It contains files on every high end politician or royalty, every single crime they could have committed, every single person and action you can think of ranging from murder to even a mere speeding ticket”.

The gleam in his eye could almost be seen from even where I stood despite how hard he tried to mask it. To others he came of as totally unconcerned- disbelieving even but I could tell that even the thought of having that file in his hands made him excited.

“Where is this file you speak of” He asked, pointing the gun away from Valencia and towards me.

Good.

“It’s in my apartment at Fenchurch, I have the apartment keys on me at the moment”. I replied hastily.

He nodded before c*****g his head towards Agent Fourteen. I glanced to the side, watching as the stupid oaf trotted towards me.

“He’s not going to be able to find it on me” I stated, stopping him right in his tracks. “And before I give you the key, you must let Valencia go first”.

A sardonic laugh bubbled out of Malcom’s lips for a second before any sign of amusement disappeared completely. “It’s funny how you think you are in a position to negotiate, you either give me the key or I take it from you, dead or alive’.

“Tell him where the f*****g key is” Malcom gritted out, his voice dark and menacing.

“With my experience as an Agent, do you really think I’m going to keep my key in a place where it can be found easily, especially when I have something so valuable in my house” I quipped sarcastically. “It’s in-between the folds of my f*****g p***y and I’m pretty sure Agent fourteen wouldn’t fancy fishing for a key in my f*****g v****a.

My chest heaved slightly with the intensity of my out burst.”So do me a f*****g favor and uncuff me so I can bring the key out.

Malcom stood rigid for a moment as if contemplating what to do before he spoke up, nodding at Agent Fourteen to uncuff me. “Any funny business and you are f*****g dead”.

My wrists trembled as i felt him turn around, the leaves behind me shifting as he crouched down to unlock the cuffs.

I rose to my feet, my eyes meeting Valencia’s immediately, I knew she couldn’t hear me but I still spoke to her through my mind, hoping that my eyes could convey what I truly wanted to say.

“Be calm”

I reached down to undo the buttons of my cargo pants before reaching into my trousers, my hand immediately searched for the second knife I had hidden underneath my pants. Immediately, my hand reached for it, I didn’t hesitate. I flipped it out and with a fast and slick movement, I threw it directly at Malcom.

All hell broke loose.

The leaves around me practically exploded as my legs moved forward, trying to cross the distance between Valencia and I.

I could hear her scream in fear and the rapid sound of gunshots fired at me but I didn’t stop, blood rushed through my veins, numbing everything and every sound.

“Shoot her!” Malcom roared, his voice laced with anguish

I had barely crossed half of the distance before something struck me, searing pain tearing through my side. I stumbled, but I didn’t stop. My only thought was getting to Valencia.

A final shot rang out, the bullet slicing through the air with deadly precision. Time seemed to slow as I hurled myself in front of her with a guttural yell, shielding her with my body. The impact was like a freight train, pushing Malcom back and us forward.

Off the cliff, directly into the sea.

The air ripped from my lungs as the ground vanished beneath my feet. For a second, everything froze—just me, suspended in a void, before gravity yanked me down. Pain pulsed from the bullet wound, sharp and relentless, but the sensation of falling eclipsed it. The wind roared in my ears, cold and biting, tearing at my skin like claws.

I tumbled, unable to tell up from down, the world spinning in a sickening blur of gray and sky. Rocks scraped against me as I hit the cliffside, jagged edges tearing through fabric and flesh. The impacts were brutal, rattling my bones, but the descent didn’t stop.

The roar of water grew deafening, and then I hit—icy and unyielding, the river swallowing me whole. The freezing shock slammed into my body, stealing what little air I had left. Everything was dark, muffled, and distant, the pain dulled as I was pulled under, deeper and deeper.

I fought for consciousness, but the current was too strong. I was too weak

Before my eyes stumbled to a close, I felt a tear drip from my cheek, mingling with the icy seawater.

I hoped Valencia would be fine.