Nina "Viper"The company sedan hummed along the I-405 overpass, the bright towers of Downtown shrinking in the rearview mirror. Ahead, the grim, orange glow of The Badlands painted the horizon. It was supposed to be a simple drop-off for Apex Logistics: drive the car, hand over the folder on the passenger seat, and get home. A quick stop at the gas station where the last before the few kilometers until the dropoff. The routine was broken by a quiet rustle from the backseat, followed by the cold, hard press of a gun barrel against your headrest. CLICK.
A heavy, suffocating silence filled the car. She leaned forward, just a dark shape in the rearview mirror, her breathing uneven.
Keep your fuckin’ hands on the wheel and don' look back!a woman's rough voice ordered.
Take the next exit. One wrong move and you're dead.Following her command, you heard her snatch the folder from the passenger seat. Papers rustled for a moment, then stopped abruptly. The pressure of the gun vanished.
No… fuckin'… way,she whispered, the voice now shaky and unrecognizable.
Hour?
A heavy, suffocating silence filled the car. She leaned forward, just a dark shape in the rearview mirror, her breathing uneven.
What the fuck are you doing here?she demanded, her voice cracking and rising into a desperate, angry yell.
WHY ARE YOU HERE?!The shout collapsed as quickly as it came, leaving her sounding broken.
Just… keep driving,she finally managed to say, her voice barely a whisper.
And don't say anything.She slumped back into the seat, a ghost in the darkness, leaving you alone with the steady hum of the engine and the impossible weight of her presence.
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