"I'm not holding this against you since it's the first time you've let me down, but if this happens again, I can't guarantee your future," the boss spat, his eyes glinting menacingly as they fixed on Ryder.
"Understood," Ryder replied, his voice steady, but inside a storm of emotions raged.
That was the end of their exchange before the boss pivoted sharply on his heels, leaving behind a thick silence.
Once he disappeared from sight, everyone else finally exhaled, their tense shoulders dropping as relief washed over them.
Axe, hands planted defiantly on his hips, shot a glance in the direction of the boss before turning back to Ryder.
"I was looking forward to seeing your bruised face," he muttered, disappointment lacing his words. It was a familiar frustration—while everyone else faced consequences for even the slightest misstep, Ryder seemed to have a second chance.
Ryder shrugged off the comment, his face an impenetrable mask of boredom, though a flicker of annoyance stirred beneath the surface.
He stepped past Axe, heading towards Blade, who lay sprawled on the ground, the cold floor not receiving any sympathy from the others milling about as if Blade didn't exist.
Gripping Blade's jacket from behind, Ryder yanked him upright, dragging him along as his leg dragged limply behind, leaving a harsh line against the floor.
They were in a hideout—a place of refuge, but now it felt like a prison as the boss had commanded Ryder to leave.
With an internal sigh, he reconciled that this situation might even serve as a blessing.
He unceremoniously tossed Blade onto a bed made hastily. A fleeting glance at the guy with blonde hair brought no satisfaction.
As he turned to go, Blade's voice broke the moment. "Maverick!" The name echoed through the room, halting him.
Blade twisted on the bed, the remnants of struggle evident in his slurry words. "Where the hell are you going? We both know you don't have anywhere to spend your days," he slurred, exhaustion evident in his gaze.
"I'll find somewhere," Maverick replied nonchalantly. "Get better until then." With that, he pivoted again, stepping out into the night.
He caught sight of Axe and a few others gathered around the crackling bonfire.
Axe's smirk hinted at satisfaction, and Maverick felt a flicker of irritation but forced himself to remain composed.
He turned toward his gleaming black bike, the metal frame glinting under the silver moonlight like a wild beast waiting to be unleashed.
With a swift motion, he mounted the bike, revving the engine to life, the growl echoing into the night before he sped away. His silver chain dangling across his chest.
****
Three days later, Melody woke to a new normal, the suffocating weight of being watched finally lifted.
She felt a surge of relief—no one was pursuing her, and she could reclaim her life as she always had.
Yet, lingering in the corners of her mind were haunting words, a reminder that she wouldn't be swayed by intimidation any longer.
Dressed in her uniform, with her dark hair sleekly pulled into a bun, Melody stepped into the office, the buzz of conversation surrounding her. Discussions swirled about the bank robbery, the topic still fresh and charged with adrenaline.
"It was chaos, and then there's Melody, right in front of him—she didn't flinch or panic but instead said... If you don't fire…" The narrator's voice trailed off as Melody entered their midst, their gazes turning toward her, dragging her into their spotlight.
She felt a swirl of emotions.
"Melody!" One of her colleagues brightened upon spotting her, drawing her from her reverie.
"We were just discussing you! Come join us," the girl urged her smile a warm invitation.
Melody paused, scanning the faces of her co-workers. For once, they seemed genuinely pleased to see her. Perhaps the chaos of the robbery had bridged the gap between them.
Melody's natural confidence surged; she approached, her smile breaking across her face. "What are we discussing?" she asked, curiosity twinkling in her eyes.
"Your bravery, dear! You almost gave your life for us," one of them said, placing a hand on her shoulder, their eyes glistening with a mix of admiration and gratitude.
Melody chuckled lightly, finding humor in the reality of the moment.
"Unfortunately, that didn't quite happen," another added, lightening the mood further.
"Could you share what was running through your mind at that moment?" someone else asked, their eagerness evident.
Melody's expression shifted, her thoughts racing back to that moment.
She grappled with her memories, searching for the thread of logic that had compelled her to act so boldly.
Was it the knowledge that she had called the police, assuring herself that help was on the way? It had to be; she was merely stalling for time until their arrival.
But before she could express herself, the manager's voice cut through the chatter.
"Oh, excuse me," she said, as her colleagues parted, allowing her to navigate through the cluster of people toward her boss's desk.
He sat amid a sea of paperwork, his brow furrowed with irritation, but his demeanor shifted to warmth as she entered the office.
"You called for me?" Melody inquired.
"Congratulations on your promotion, Melody! The board has decided to recognize your bravery during the incident at the office." His voice resonated with sincerity, and a wave of surprise washed over her, causing her eyes to widen in astonishment.
Excitement bubbled within her as she processed the news, and in a flurry of energy, she reached for her phone, her fingers trembling with anticipation, eager to share the moment with her aunt.
"Aunt Nina, guess what just happened?" Melody's voice rang out, vibrant and filled with enthusiasm.
"I'm not one for guessing games, dear," Aunt Nina replied, her tone playful yet intrigued, as she busily moved about Melody's apartment, tidying up the chaos left behind.
"I got promoted today… Can you believe it?" Melody exclaimed, her voice muffled as she clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle an excited squeal. Her heart raced.
Aunt Nina's face lit up with a beaming smile. "You deserve every bit of it, Mel! You've worked so hard and waited so patiently for this moment. How about we have a little celebration right here at your place? What do you think?"
"I say YES! THANK YOU SO MUCH, AUNT!" Melody responded, before sending lots of kisses over the phone, feeling an overwhelming rush of affection for her supportive aunt.
"Have you told Ethan about your good news? I bet he'll be thrilled," her aunt suggested thoughtfully and Melody's heart sank momentarily.
Ethan, her boyfriend, was not someone she felt eager to share her success with at that moment.
Their relationship had been tense. She hadn't updated him on the chaos at the bank the day before. She imagined he had seen the news but chose to stay silent, and, to be honest, she didn't care.
Choosing to overlook her troubled thoughts about Ethan, she beamed, "I've got to run, Aunt! Please make plenty of delicious food for our celebration!" She ended the call with a smile, planting another kiss on her phone screen before hanging up.
The remainder of Melody's day at work felt like a joyous whirlwind.
Each task she tackled seemed to radiate with newfound energy; it was as though she were lighter, floating through her responsibilities with an unmatched zeal that lifted her spirit.
Each congratulatory smile from her colleagues only amplified her happiness. As the day drew to a close and the sun sank low in the sky, painting it in hues of orange and purple, she waved goodbye to her coworkers and headed to her car, brimming with joy.
"Let's add some music to this celebration!" she said to herself, deciding to break her usual routine of silence during drives.
With a flick of her wrist, she turned on the radio, swaying her body to the jubilant tunes as her heart danced with excitement, all while keeping her focus on the road ahead.
The sky was gradually becoming darker.
However, as she approached the suspension bridge, a frown creased her forehead when her car suddenly came to an abrupt halt.
"Hey, why are you stopping here of all places?" she muttered, lightly tapping the dashboard, half-expecting it to respond.
She turned off the engine and attempted to restart it, but the car remained unyielding, its silence a mockery of her previous jubilation.
Biting her lip in frustration, Melody checked her phone for the time. The late hour loomed over her, and an unsettling sense of vulnerability began to creep in. The city, was anything but safe at night.
Why did her car have to break down now?