City Of Shadows

was angry, like it had something to prove. Adrian didn't even bother with an umbrella. He had his hoodie

s a kid, words never liked him. They stuck in his throat, twisted around his tongue

e bus stop, past the corner buka where that old woman always tried to make him eat. Then into

basement. Just him, files, old coffee, and peace. No one came

ewhere to go even when she was just walking to the elevator. She started working as the personal assistant to the CEO. M

down to the basement, Adr

e 3H-25B. The CEO nee

r like a fool. She raise

speak,

metal drawers. When he found the file, she took

e metal cabinet, talking like Adrian was someone she knew. At first, he thought she was just being polite. But then s

t tell anyone, but he wore his less-wrin

g out a delay report, Lara walked in fast. Her face was pale. Her lipstick was

ere for a bit

e sat on a pile of files, hugging he

ly. "I opened a file I shouldn't hav

n swa

he asked suddenly, looking

what to say. So

ich tech guy. He's into things.

n bli

pied one of the files before I could stop myself

frozen, h

h," she said, voice low. "Someone no

dded

help me?"

lly should've. But something

-

tion. She was wearing a hoodie, glasses, and a mask.

ne followed yo

nod

ive. "Keep it. Don't plug i

the first full wo

to me, you take this

He was just a shy file guy who liked pea

ep. He stared at the flas

stairs was empty. By afternoon, someone said she had t

pped. Like nothing happened

w somethin

-

e plugged the flash drive into an old laptop at a

was titled

one video. Adrian clicked the video

Darius, the CEO, sat at the head of a table. Cal

m the family," Dariu

t mafia rumor

Lara

-

night, he didn't go home. He slept at the train station. In the

him a message. No

re n

he phone i

-

t, someone tapped him on the shou

as L

looked thinner. Eyes su

d still be i

whether to hu

she said. "But I escaped.

real. He reached out, touc

them down," sh

d. But then

-

elt like anime stuff. But Lara had everything mapped. With the files, the

e email accounts. Scheduled everything.

it was Lara's fire. Or maybe it was

they launched the leak,

ow, I want to tel

oked

Even though you barely ta

d, heart

ightly. Just once

ything, but she se

-

ning, the le

the files,

ice, but by federal agents. Everything came crash

ed in a motel, watch

it," she

oked

We

"You're not

till

aver than most

ed at h

me again?" she

nod

me, he kiss

-

onths

ment anymore. He had a small desk in a sunlit

ok. About everything. She

ny of their small apartment, watching the c

't need m

ilence wa

n't need noi