Chapter 2

"Boosh!"

I was startled by the sound of something that seemed to fall and break. My reflexes were all alerted. I stood up quickly and opened the lights on. I saw my bedside table vase on the floor. I heard little mousses' sounds and the flashing of running mice away from the crime they committed. Those stupid rats caused the scene. Just how many was it for this week?

I stood up to clean the broken pieces. What an ironic situation, a broken girl, trying to fix a broken vase. A sweat slowly traveled from my cheek down to my chin. Maybe because I had that dream once again, my mood just dropped from the pit. But I should still thank the rats as they woke me up from that nightmare.

I finished cleaning the whole mess and decided to throw it away. My eyes roamed around my rented room. It's just a studio type of room. With a single wooden bed on the right. A small bedside table against the feet of my bed. A small circular old table with two broken chairs that I had to fix. Besides the table were a small sink and my tiny kitchen. One square table in front of a broken glass window and a tiny bathroom that even a child couldn't fit in.

It seemed that I was a mouse in a box. The room looked like it was about to give up anytime, but I wouldn't be here for long. I had to get used to this until I succeeded. This was actually nothing from what I had experienced after that night.

Sleepless nights on the ground with nothing but thin and vulnerable leaves that we've found helpful as bedding on the rugged and cold floor. Water from the river. Wild fruits and deers that we needed to cut for each of the survivors. We were at our lowest for months, not days nor weeks, but for months, before we found a ray of hope when we saw a rightful place for us to stay in.

And remember, that was something I always do.

My whole routine every day was always the same. I got up and fixed my beds. I liked it super neat that I tried to iron the bed and pillow sheets every morning. Maybe because I wanted to be at least presentable and clean even though the whole room itself was something a rat would live at.

After doing my morning chores, I jumped into the cold shower. As much as I wanted a hot shower, my apartment did not have nos. So probably, even when the winter came, I would have to find a solution to keep warm.

Using a flowery soap, I rubbed and cleansed my body with it. Making sure that I did not miss any part.

I chose something simple, or rather, there weren't any choices. I denim jeans, white tennis shoes, and a black hoodie. I looked at my reflection in the cracked and broken half-body mirror. I snorted when I couldn't help but compare my younger self to myself.

A dress for just a barbecue dinner?

Now, I couldn't wear a dress even for the grandest party. Funny how everything turned upside down just because of competition and pride.

After finishing my outfit, my stomach made a growling sound. I held it and made sure that it was growling really hard.

"Oh shit, I am hungry." I sighed and thought if I just had food that I could eat.

I went to my kitchen, just five steps away from my bed. My heart immediately fell off when I saw that only an egg and a piece of bread were left inside. I sighed while leaning my hands on the broken door of the fridge.

A sour and foul smell mixed with the rustic scent welcomed my nose as I stayed the fridge open for a full minute. Well, I didn't vomit anymore because I was used to it now.

I grabbed one small egg and one slice of bread. My lazy ass heated the pan and waited for it to be hot. I even yawned while waiting. I fried the egg and toasted the bread. While waiting to be cooked, I got a plate with a sunny-side-up egg and toasted brown bread.

After I finished my food, I washed my plate. In my peripheral vision, my wall clock showed that I had 30 minutes left to reach my work and did not receive any penalties. I put my shoes on, put my hood on my head, and immediately went out of the room.

"Good evening!" A woman in her middle age greeted me with a smile plastered on her face. She's watering her plants just outside her door. She was my neighbor next door.

She was well-known on our floor for being the kindest and the happiest person alive. Every time I went out and would see her, she would always greet me at any time of the day with a bright smile on her face. Her voice was gentle and soft even though she was greeting me with a loud voice.

I noticed that she was always talking to her plants, watering them, and even had names for each of them. I didn't know why but her aura and character were familiar to me.

I passed by her, with my head bowed, making my hood fall past my forehead, and hid a little smile on my face. Everything about her made me remember my late mother. Her smile, laugh, the way she talks, her mannerism, and her heart. If she was just here right now.

I shook my head and whispered.

"Avery, remember, you should not be attached to someone here. No one, not a child, not a middle-aged woman, especially not a man. I cannot, and I do not have to." I shook my head and put my hands inside the pockets of my jacket.

Trying to get this thought out of my mind, I looked down at the road I was walking on. Like how I always walk, look down, and ignore everyone.

I went down the building and walked in the streets of Tucson. This street was always filled with crime, so it was not a shock to me when I heard a siren.

Tucson was a city where a powerful alpha ruled the town. It was said that their alpha was planning to attack another pack for this month in the third central city of the country. Balders Pack had already conquered several bags and owned several different towns.

It's not like Tucson would have a worse crime rate in the country. But most of the mafias and gangsters' groups were living here, making Tucson city one of the most dangerous cities in the country.

"Waaaaaahhhhhhh." Even when the car was parked, the engine sound was still on.

I saw policemen, which were basically wolves' soldiers in the form of police. Most of them were also former gangsters or mafia leaders, so probably, that was why they were still feeling like they owned the street or whatnot.

I saw one policeman transform into a wolf and jump on the car when the intersection stopped me from crossing the street. It created a loud bang, and the car's horn didn't go off. The werewolf, which was twice the size of the car, danced like a drunkard. The other policemen who were with them laughed and cheered.

Stupid policemen.

"Hello, is this the Emsa division? I am watching these three policemen that just turned into their wolf form and created a ruckus in a car! Can someone stop this, please?" a young woman, maybe in her late 20's, said as I saw her holding a phone in her ear.

She's with a young girl. They held hand to hand; while the young woman's eyes were watching the stupid policemen, the child was looking at me. Her mouth had a lollipop on it, and her bag back looked more significant than her bag.

I tried to ignore her, but she inserted her hand into the pocket of her jacket. She took a second before pulling her hand out, handing me an unopened lollipop.

I raised an eyebrow at her. Looked at my empty side and back just to make sure that she was offering it to me. I closed my fist and tried to ignore her. I looked before me and just looked down to watch my second-hand rubber shoes.

And when I thought that the child would stop, I found her minimal shoes near mine. I looked at her and saw that she had escaped the hand of her guardian. She's still giving me the lollipop.

"Go away, child," I firmly whispered to her.

But she just stepped closer and apparently put the lollipop she was offering in my jacket's pocket.

She then took out her lollipop and said, "Don't be sad now, miss beautiful."

After she said that, she immediately ran back and held her guardian's hand. The red light turned green. The young woman and the child walked first while I was left standing and holding the lollipop.

Why was it that children were so innocent?

I gritted my teeth and reminded myself of my goal here. I looked down and tried to hide my face when two policemen walked beside me. I covered my head with the hood.

"Hey! You, there!" a police officer who walked past beside me shouted.

I got nervous as another wolf ran to my side. I thought the wolf could smell me when it turned its back and met my eyes. But thankfully, it seemed like it was just waiting for another wolf to come with it.

Because of my nervousness and doubts, I strolled and checked if someone had noticed or tailed me from behind. With all my fortune, I arrived at the bar with nothing special that happened.

No. I was not a prostitute. Even if I was covered with hatred and revenge was the only thing in my mind, being a prostitute or entertainer would not even in my choice.

I chose to be a waitress in this bar. This bar was called Padi's, and it's one of the high-end bars in the city. Most of the customers here were from the higher part of society. But even being just a waitress, crud men were all around, especially when even waitresses had to wear almost nothing.

I had to cope with this shit undercover even if I complained and disagreed. Because whether I liked it or not, this was the easiest way to start my revenge for these people.

I gritted my teeth. A bunch of men was outside the back entrance sitting like broken douchebags. They looked at me with lust when they saw my shadow. Disgusting people.

"Hey, gorgeous!"

"Sexy here!"

"Come here, beautiful."

I looked at them with an emotionless face. I entered the bar, hands inside my pocket, ignoring their dirtiest gestures and voices.

When I saw the clock, I sighed in relief because I had arrived on time.

Pew! Thank God I was not late.

My feet led me to my locker, and as usual, it was filled with trash. Papers and plastics overflowed as soon as I opened my locker. I watched them fall like someone was throwing them. I heard the girls inside the locker room laugh secretly instead of saying their thoughts aloud.

These useless co-workers. I knew that most of my fellow waitresses here hated me.

Just ignore them, Av. I once again reminded myself.