• Gina At The Street •
The confusion swirled within her, a thick fog of uncertainty. Daniel, her only hope had refused to help just even worst than she had expected.
It's true she expected him to be mad at her but never expected him to seal his heart so tight to the extent of hating her so much even after all the explanation she made.
The condition has left her adrift and vulnerable. Her sister, the one person who might have offered solace, was lost somewhere in the labyrinthine city. Where could she possibly turn? The thought of facing her enemies alone, knowing they were lurking in the shadows, sent a chill down her spine. It was a trap, a cruel game of hide-and-seek where she was the only one who didn't know the rules.
She had no choice but to return to Daniel, even though he had pushed her away. The thought of it was like a hook lodged in her throat, a painful reminder of her rejection. But she couldn't just surrender to despair. She had to fight, to protect herself, to survive. But if she returns to back to Daniel, maybe, just maybe, she would stumble upon her sister, and together they could convince Daniel to let her into the team.
However there is no way she could consider going back, she had seen the way Daniel warned her sternly never to return, if she do it will be a consequence that both her and Tina would have to bear together.
Question gnawed at her: where could she go? Home was out of the question, because going home, she might see a dangerous trap set by her enemies. They would use her, manipulate her, and ultimately, she feared, they would end her. The only option was to disappear, to become someone else, a phantom in the crowded city. She needed to find a place where she could hide her true identity, a place where she could start anew.
However, as she was making her way out of the woods, the cold seeped into her bones as she trudged along the deserted street. The shadows stretched long and menacing, mirroring the fear that gripped her heart. She needed shelter, a place to rest her weary body and gather her thoughts. But there was nothing but the endless expanse of trees, their branches clawing at the sky like skeletal fingers.
The cold was relentless, biting into her skin, making her tremble uncontrollably. She had to find warmth, a fire, a place to sleep. The woods offered no solace, only the rustling of leaves and the eerie silence of the night. She had no choice but to press on, her body aching with fatigue, her mind racing with worry. The first house she would find, once she escaped the woods, would be her sanctuary, her temporary haven from the storm that raged within her.
But as she pondered the idea, a wave of unease washed over her. Staying in the first house she will see immediately she was stepping out of the woods? No! that wouldn't be safe for her, even for a short while, was too risky. The police or common men or even those that want to take the bid put on Daniel's head alerted by might come looking for him and on the process they might see her and recognise her instead, and she couldn't risk falling into their clutches. She needed a more secluded, more discreet place to hide.
She pushed on, her legs heavy with fatigue, her mind churning with worry. The forest seemed to stretch on forever, a labyrinth of shadows and whispering leaves. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she emerged into the city, the harsh glow of streetlights a stark contrast to the darkness she had left behind. It was late, too late to find a safe haven. She couldn't knock on anyone's door, not knowing who might be inside, who might betray her.
Even if someone offered her shelter, she would refuse. She couldn't trust anyone, because she can't risk getting captured by Mr. Danforth anymore, not after what she had endured. Accepting hospitality could be a death sentence, a trap laid by the police or other forces of it's colleagues. They might bribe or threaten the person who took her in, turning them into her enemy. No, she had to find a way to slip into a place unnoticed, to disappear into the anonymity of the city.
As she wandered out of the forest, the first house she met was a modest dwelling with faded paint and overgrown ivy, didn't seem secure enough, even if it was, she wouldn't because it's too close to the woods.
She continued walking, her heart pounding in her chest. Finally, she found a house that seemed perfect: quiet, unassuming, with a sense of stillness that spoke of emptiness. It looked like a family home, but the windows were dark, the curtains drawn, and the silence was almost deafening. She tried to peek inside, but the curtains and the shadows obscured her view.  
She thought of staying there but that's a terrible idea because the house alone looked exactly like it was owned by a criminal. It was a gamble, but she decided to take a chance. Staying inside, hidden from the world, felt safer than sleeping on the cold, unforgiving streets.
But how could possibly get inside the house though? It was sealed up everywhere but even if she finds away then there is no way she is going inside that house, it looked so creepy.
She was torn between her need for shelter and the fear that gnawed at her. She wanted to knock, and see if someone is inside and then ask if she could stay, but something held her back. Her mind was a whirlwind of anxiety, her fear so intense that she couldn't even bring herself to knock. Instead, she sat on the chair in veranda, her body trembling with cold and apprehension.
The chair was surprisingly comfortable, and she noticed a bed sheet lying on the porch. She picked it up, wrapping it around herself for warmth. The exhaustion of the day, the fear, the constant running, finally overwhelmed her. She drifted off to sleep, the chair surprisingly comfortable, the sheet a meager shield against the chill of the night.
She slept deeply, the exhaustion of the day finally claiming her. At first, she was too afraid to sleep, her mind on high alert, but the day's events had taken their toll. She had run, she had hidden, she had faced danger. Her body needed rest, her mind needed a reprieve.
She was vaguely aware of sounds, of movement, but her sleep was so deep that she didn't fully register them.  
After what felt like just a minute, a hand touched her, a gentle touch that woke her from her slumber. Her eyes fluttered open, blurry and heavy with sleep. The hand touched her again, and she finally roused herself, yawning deeply. Her vision was still blurred, and she wiped the sleep from her eyes.
"Hey, are you alright? What are you doing here?" A man's voice, deep and gruff, filled the air. The words snapped her awake, her fear returning with a vengeance. She scrambled to her feet, her body trembling, her heart pounding in her chest.
Her heart pounded in her chest, a frantic drumbeat against her ribs. She scrambled back, nearly toppling over the chair as she did. The man standing before her didn't seem menacing, just... ordinary. He looked like any other man you might pass on the street, but you never truly knew someone's intentions just by looking at them. Some people wore innocence like a mask, hiding a heart as dark as night.
"I- I'm so sorry," she stammered, her voice trembling. "I just... I needed a place to rest. It's been a long, stressful night. I should be going." She wanted to flee, but the man's words stopped her.
"Wait," he said gently. "Why don't you stay a while? You look exhausted, and it's clear you're not feeling well. I have some food inside, perhaps you'd like to eat something before you leave, if you don't mind though?"
His words, laced with concern, made her pause. His demeanor, his genuine concern, was at odds with the news that had been swirling around her. If he knew who she was, if he knew the danger she was in, wouldn't he be acting differently? His reaction, his casual kindness, suggested he was completely oblivious to the chaos that had engulfed her life.
She was the wife of the most prominent politician in the country, a target of unknown forces. Yet, this man, this stranger in a small, quiet house, seemed to have no idea.