Chapter 4 For Freedom, For a Better Future
601 Words
Emma froze.
She hadn't expected the patrolmen to expose her.
"Yes."
She decided to be honest. "It was me."
The man nodded at her frank response, a glint of admiration in his eyes.
Then he asked in a deep voice, "Why be a thief?"
Emma pulled up a chair and sat down, the white wolf still circling her.
"For freedom, for a better future."
She petted the wolf with one hand and accepted a teacup from the man with the other.
The man sensed there was more to her story and pressed on, "Anything else?"
With her skills, she had many options.
"I need to buy my freedom..."
"Buy your freedom?"
"I'm an orphan. My foster father saved me when I was young and trained me to be an agent."
An agent?
No wonder she was so skilled!
The man frowned, his sharp eyes studying her in the dim light, trying to see through her.
"So, you planned to use this heist to gain your freedom and retire with your boyfriend?"
Connecting this with her earlier mention of betrayal, the man pieced it together.
Emma nodded, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "That was the plan."
Being betrayed by those she trusted most.
Even the strongest heart would take time to recover from such a blow.
After confirming this, the man raised an eyebrow.
"Stay here. I'll check if the patrol is gone."
With that, he set down his teacup and walked to the door.
Emma wanted to stop him, but he had already stepped out.
She glanced back at the white wolf following her closely, her heart unusually calm.
"How strange, I trust a stranger."
She had even revealed her past.
"Howl—"
The white wolf nuzzled her again.
She looked at the teacup in her hand, her brow furrowing.
She had drunk the water he offered without any caution...
A wave of fatigue and dizziness suddenly hit her.
"What's happening?"
She leaned on the table, closing her eyes for a moment.
Outside.
The man peered through the door crack, then turned and went to the adjacent room.
He picked up a tablet from the sofa and sent a message.
"No need to pursue."
"Understood!"
When he returned, he saw Emma resting her head, dozing off.
He didn't disturb her, instead sitting on the sofa to rest.
Until the first light of dawn.
Emma finally woke up.
She looked at her watch; it was already 3 AM.
"Get up, we need to move!"
She stood, waking the sleeping man. "The patrol shifts at this time. If we wait any longer, we'll be stuck here another day!"
The man, still groggy, didn't refuse her suggestion.
To leave the island, they needed to know the route.
Emma led the way, the man following.
"Growl—"
Her stomach growled, reminding her of her hunger.
She clutched her stomach and pressed on.
After a few steps, she stumbled.
"What's wrong?"
The man quickly steadied her, his voice gentle.
Not wanting to waste any more time, she said, "Nothing, just twisted my ankle..."
The man looked down, his eyes deep and concerned.
Her face was pale. When he touched her, he felt her skin was hot.
He opened his mouth to warn her.
But Emma had already pulled away from his hold. "Let's go, we can't delay any longer!"
With that, her vision went black, and she lost consciousness.
When Emma woke up again, she saw a ceiling with European designs.
She moved slightly, finding herself in a soft bed, an IV needle in her wrist.
"This is the Smith family villa."
- Writer
