THE WILD CAT

I arrived home from school, opening the door slowly. It was 8 PM, and I was extremely late. I knew my parents would be deeply upset with me. I was about to turn eighteen next week, and I saw this as becoming an adult, free to do whatever I wanted. However, my parents still treated me like a four-year-old child. This made me angry sometimes. I understood why they were overprotective. I was their only child. My mother became infertile after having me. Despite my openness to the idea, my father refused to adopt another child. He wanted to keep their focus entirely on me. I opened the door and immediately bowed my head. "I'm sorry for coming late," I said, clapping my hands together in a pleading gesture. "Susan and I had some projects to work on." I lied, using my best friend Susan as an excuse. In truth, she had suggested we go to the park, and from there, we explored the whole city. I didn't get any response. "They must be really mad at me," I whispered, my head still bowed down. I t

I staggered back, trying to process what he had just said. “An assassin? That can’t be true.” He nodded solemnly. “It’s true. Your father led a double life. He kept it hidden to protect you and your mother. But his enemies found out, and that’s why your parents were killed.” I sank onto the couch, my mind racing. “So, all those times we moved, all the secrecy—it was because of his job?” “Yes,” he confirmed. “Your father was one of the best, but that life comes with dangerous enemies.” I looked at him, still skeptical. “Why are you telling me this now? Where have you been all this time?” “I’ve been keeping an eye on you from a distance,” he said. “Your father wanted it that way. He didn’t want you to know unless it was absolutely necessary. But now, with him gone, it’s my responsibility to protect you.” I felt a mix of emotions—shock, anger, confusion. “How do I even know you’re telling the truth?” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, worn-out photograph of my fathe

“Stop!” a voice yelled.I panted heavily, my own ragged breathing echoing in my ears. As I looked up, my gaze landed on a sharp knife—its tip hovering dangerously close to my eye. The girl holding it had frozen mid-motion, her blade mere inches from my face.Panic surged through me. Forcing my numb legs to move, I scrambled back, my heart pounding.The girl remained perfectly still, her expression blank—unfeeling. She looked less like a person and more like a lethal, robotic creature wielding a knife.“Position!” Anthony’s voice rang out.At his command, the girl flipped backward with flawless precision, landing seamlessly in a straight line among the others.Under different circumstances, I might have been impressed by her skill. But right now, fear overshadowed everything else.Confusion clouded my mind as I took in the stares directed my way. Why was everyone looking at me?Then, I felt it—a presence behind me.Slowly, I turned.Three identical men stood there, their eyes locked on

Riley’s POV I stood still, staring at her as she stared back at me.“What is your name?” Serial asked. I could see amusement on her face, though I didn’t understand what she found funny. She should be in jail—she just killed someone.“Riley,” I said quietly, not wanting to end up like the dead girl. She smirked a little before speaking again.“Can you fight, Riley?” Serial asked, making me swallow hard.I didn’t want to fight anyone, let alone kill someone. I just wanted to get away from her as soon as I could.“I don’t think she can fight, Serial,” a girl said, walking toward us with two others behind her. All three wore dangerously revealing clothes, but their cold, sharp eyes told me they were not to be messed with.Serial turned to her. “And what makes you think that, Ava?” she said, using the girl’s name.Ava, the one who spoke, was slim, muscular, and had red hair. The two with her were both blonde and slender.“Well, we all saw how she almost passed out when she had a one-on-o

Riley’s POVI looked at Kika on the floor, blood all around her. But her image started to blur, and suddenly, I saw my parents—crying, begging for help. My feet kept moving toward her, but it felt like I was walking through a dream.Then I saw his face. The masked man. His face replaced Kika’s, and all I saw was him.I frowned, rage bubbling up. Then I dropped down and started punching. Over and over. My fists didn’t stop, even when people were yelling at me to stop.Why should I stop? This man killed my parents.Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the pixel blade on the ground. I reached for it and stood up.“Someone stop her!”“She’s going to kill Kika!”I didn’t care. I was ready to end him.I stepped away from the body and raised the blade high above my head.“Stop! Please!” I heard the voice again. It was him—begging for mercy.How dare he beg now?I raised the blade higher, eyes wide. “Die!” I shouted.But just as I was about to bring it down, someone grabbed my arm—tight. The bl