Chapter 3

"Why the hell do I have to get involved in this mess?" Louelita muttered under her breath, frustration lacing every word as she hurriedly gathered supplies in the supermarket.

She had tried to put off going outside for as long as possible, but her food stock had finally run out. She had even considered ordering a delivery, but something-or someone-seemed determined to make sure she left the house.

Dressed in a black hooded jacket, brown baggy pants, and low-cut shoes, she tried her best to blend in. Her long hair, usually tied back, was loose around her shoulders, and she kept her head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone around her. The last thing she wanted was attention.

For an entire week, she had been immersed in her case, tirelessly digging through files and hacking into hidden servers to uncover the sickening crimes of powerful politicians. And what she found made her stomach churn.

They weren't just corrupt-they were monsters.

Human trafficking. Drug smuggling. Sexual exploitation. Murder.

They had turned the world into their personal playground, preying on the innocent without a shred of remorse. They were demons in expensive suits, using their wealth and influence to bury their sins.

Louelita had worked day and night, breaking into their secured sites, extracting evidence, and preparing to expose their filth to the world. But every time she tried to leak the information, it vanished. Deleted as if it had never existed.

Someone was watching her. Blocking her. Silencing her.

And now, she was being forced out of her safe space.

She clenched her fists. 'I need to warn Sister Faith.'

She shoved a few more necessities into her cart, but her movements became more rigid as the uneasy feeling in her gut grew stronger.

There were eyes on her.

Not just the usual glances from strangers passing by, but a persistent, calculated gaze that sent shivers down her spine.

Her breathing hitched. Maybe going outside was a mistake.

She should have just found another delivery service, even if it meant paying three times the price.

Despite her efforts to stay inconspicuous, she could feel people looking at her. Judging her. Whispering.

Were they really just regular customers? Or was she being paranoid?

Either way, her nerves were shot.

She averted her gaze, ignoring the occasional forced smile from strangers. It felt suffocating. Every second she spent outside was draining her.

'I need to get out of here.'

Louelita rushed through the aisles, barely checking what she grabbed, and made her way to the cashier.

The young woman behind the register greeted her with a polite smile. "Good afternoon, Ma'am! Lovely weather today, isn't it?"

Louelita bit her lower lip. She didn't respond. She just wanted this to be over.

The cashier, offended by her silence, deliberately slowed her movements.

One by one, she swiped each item at an agonizing pace, glancing up at Louelita as if waiting for a reaction.

Louelita's foot tapped against the floor impatiently. 'She's doing this on purpose.'

Her anxiety skyrocketed. The weight of unseen stares made it even worse.

She clenched her hands into fists, her nails digging into her palms. "P-Please hurry," she finally said, her voice trembling.

The cashier ignored her.

The blatant disregard made her throat tighten. She felt small. Helpless. Her entire body trembled as she tried to suppress the panic rising within her.

'This is hell.'

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the cashier announced, "That'll be 6,077 pesos, Ma'am."

There was an edge to her tone-a barely concealed mockery-but Louelita didn't care.

She paid, grabbed her bags, and bolted out of the supermarket without looking back.

Even as she stepped into the open air, the weight on her chest didn't lift. The world outside was just as suffocating.

'I hate this. I hate being outside. I hate being around people.'

Louelita would rather live in complete solitude than endure this constant anxiety.

She quickly flagged down a taxi and climbed inside, rattling off her address before pulling the door shut.

She didn't bother looking at the driver. She didn't care.

She just wanted to go home.

After sometime, Louelita sat stiffly in the backseat, gripping her bags tightly. Her teeth worried at her fingernails as she stared blankly at the passing streets.

She wanted to believe she was safe now, but the uneasy feeling hadn't gone away.

Something was wrong.

The driver was stealing glances at her through the rearview mirror.

Her stomach twisted.

'Why is he looking at me like that?'

She forced herself to breathe steadily, pretending not to notice. Maybe he was just nosy. Maybe she was just overthinking.

But then-

The taxi turned onto an unfamiliar road.

Her heart stopped.

Another turn. Then another.

Buildings disappeared, replaced by empty roads and the dense silhouette of trees.

Panic surged through her veins.

Her fingers tightened around her phone as she swallowed the lump in her throat.

The driver smirked. He knew she had figured it out.

Louelita's pulse pounded in her ears. She had to act fast.

She pulled up her messages and typed frantically.

To: Sister Faith

I think this is my end. Someone is trying to kill me. If you're reading this, please don't worry. Maybe this is just my fate. I love you, Sister. Thank you for being my family.

Her hands trembled as she hit send.

She clenched her eyes shut.

This was it.

She had spent her life digging into darkness, and now the darkness had found her.

For the first time in years, she felt truly powerless.

The taxi drove further and further away from the city, bumping along a rough, uneven road.

Louelita's breathing grew shallow.

She had no weapons. No way to fight back.

She had been so focused on exposing corruption that she never prepared for the consequences.

She was a fool.

The car came to a sudden stop.

Her body jolted forward, and before she could react, the driver stepped out and yanked open her door.

"Get out." His voice was sharp. Cold.

Louelita froze.

Beyond the car, there was nothing but darkness. No streetlights. No houses. Just towering trees and the faint sound of crashing waves.

Her blood turned to ice.

He had taken her to an isolated spot-far from anyone who could help.

'Oh, God. Oh, God.'

Her breath hitched as she met his gaze.

He held a gun.

Her stomach twisted violently.

She was smart, wasn't she? She was supposed to be smart.

Then why the hell didn't she run when she had the chance?

"Please," she whispered, desperation leaking into her voice. "I haven't done anything wrong. I was just doing my job."

The man scoffed. "So am I."

Her heartbeat pounded against her ribcage.

He was going to kill her.

'No. No. I don't want to die.'

She was frozen in place, terror rooting her to the seat.

The man clicked his tongue. "Don't make this harder than it needs to be."

Then he grabbed her arm and yanked her out.

Louelita stumbled, her legs shaking beneath her.

Her vision blurred.

'This is it. This is how I die.'

The wind howled around them, carrying the scent of salt and damp earth.

Her thoughts spiraled.

Alone. She was always alone. And now, she would die alone.

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.

She should have fought back. She should have learned how to defend herself.

But it was too late now.

The man's grip tightened as he dragged her forward.

Louelita's breath hitched.

Then, in a desperate, reckless moment-

She ran, but then fate isn't agreeing with her right now.