A Gift from the Goddess

"Are you ready to follow the rules now?"

...Rule number one...obedience.

Always follow the orders from the boss.

No questions asked.I'd broken that rule.I knew I was breaking it the moment I’d chosen to run that night.I knew it would land me here.And yet I still did it.I pulled my body upright from the old bed, more sluggish than I would have liked, and hated how] still felt so sore from the injuries inflicted several days earlier.

‘Days’. That was the key word.

That was how long I’d been trapped in here, alone with my thoughts as it forced me to reflect on every decision I’d made leading to this point.

Because, at its core, that was the true punishment.

It wasn’t the pain.

No, that was always over quickly.

Gavin did a great job of making sure the damage inflicted was swift yet efficient.

Always enough to get the point across and never seeming to even flinch as h e did what he did.

But it was the psychological punishment that truly made it horrific...

‘Days’.I'd been in here...for days.

Alone.

In pain.

Wondering how I’d managed to convince myself that running had been worth it.

Wondering how much longer it would take before punishment was finally over.

And now this was the first thing spoken to me after all that time.

This voice of my father on the other side of the door, asking if I was ‘ready to follow the rules’.

Yes, I was ready.Of course, I was ready.I was about ready to do anything, to say anything, if it meant finally getting out of here.I’d learnt my lesson the minute Gavin had ripped me from my bed.

There was only one authority in my life and that was my father.

It had always been my father.

..Someone I just wanted to be free of.I forced that thought away as quickly as it sprung to mind.

It was thoughts exactly like that which led me t o this moment.

Testing the patience of a man who had none.I wasn’t exempt from the rules because of our relationship.

If anything, this punishment had been necessary.I’d clearly become too complacent in its absence and needed the reminder.

Really, it was my fault.

All my fault.

"Raven?" prompted my father.

Slowly, I swung my legs out of the bed and stood up, taking a deep breath.

The first one I’d done in so long, my chest having felt too sore earlier.

..And I committed to this decision to obey.To obey *him*.

“I’m ready," I replied.

It didn’t take long before I heard it.

The sound of a key clinking for a few seconds before the satisfying click of the lock.

Within moments, I found myself face -to-face with my father after all this time.

"Good," he said, entering the room towards me.

"Because there is work to be done."

..Already? So soon? But, no, that was another incorrect thought.I should b e thinking ‘thank you’, praising how lucky I was to be given another chance.

This was a good thing for me.

A moment to redeem myself.

A moment to show that I was still loyal.

My father held out a manilla folder towards me and I took it, giving a small nod to show how grateful I was.

Forcing myself to believe that very thing.

job," he simply

know what

I knew only too

the hour, I had packed my

this being accomplished via a moveable cloth mask that could be pulled up

most important things when completing a mission like

sure that no one

then ensuring

no one wanted to be recognised at a murder

swiftly started heading to the location, choosing to stick to the shadows

my speed and strength made the journey easier, but I'd be lying if I said

even back in the fresh air and with slightly faster healing, I knew I would still need another day or so before I

But I persevered regardless.

the intent in mind of proving myself

that nothing else

enter the run-down looking apartment complex, but as I did so, I felt something that wasn’t just

a burning in my mind, the start

on the night of the charity

I wished would

it was again, now of all times.I gritted my teeth against the pain

deal with i t later

now, I just needed to focus

through the front door

been the easy part; entering the public area without

late at night but not late enough that people wouldn’t still be around, coming home from the local pubs

a deal when this side of town was as neglected as this apartment’s security

straightforward job, all things considered.I hadn’t been given much

a brief description,

press for more details since it wasn’t something

my

the orders from the

was no need to undergo

way up the stairs, choosing to avoid the elevator, until I finally came upon the room I

the corner and somewhat away from the eyes of anyone arriving via the

head hadn’t subsided, something I was doing my best

door harder as

little bit longer though.I had to hold out for just a

from aT.V.and smelt the scent of someone located

almost guaranteeing the

do was sneak up and

that should be simple enough to complete with the

took a few cautious steps, testing the floor for

Moving closer until—.

‘—you don’t have to..."

nowhere, a faint voice suddenly spoke behind me, and I instantly crouched to the

no one was

from? It was almost like a whisper and yet I’d

were

they were close enough

wasn’t

brain, a new pain pierced me

I looked around, frantically trying to

whoever had

yet there was definitely

speaking on the T.V could now be heard, along with some light snores coming

whoever had spoken, it wasn’t stemming from

man by the name of Noah.I persisted through the pain and stood back

I stood right behind the man

now

aimed my dagger, going for a spot that would make

was no need to cause unnecessary pain,

to do

it was again.I instantly spun around and lashed my dagger out towards the voice, hoping

sharp pain

it stop

was no one there...but I thought I knew what

same thing that had been messing with my head only days

...It was that drug.

drug that Kieran Lycroft had

effects of whatever he’d done to me must have still been in

with my work Scaring me

and I simply was just losing my mind finally? Had this last punishment been the straw that finally made me break? But I didn’t get a chance to think on it further as I was dragged back into reality, the sound of another mistake waiting

fuck?" someone

hell are

turned around once more and, sure enough, there

Awake.

in his living