5
579words
If I paused,I'd see his disheveled state,and I feared losing control over myself.
As my evidence mounted,the politician's crimes became stark—bribery,murder,even sexual assault to a child.
Seeing"sexual assault to child",I slammed the desk in rage.
This politician—I swear I would expose his crimes and bring him to justice!
As I finalized the evidence for handover,Sophie called.
"Anna Clarke,I underestimated you.You gathered so much evidence."
How did she know?
I checked the window—no one.
"Don't be shocked.That teddy bear on your second shelf?I can see you through it."
Realizing something,I stared at the bear.
Due to my job,I never kept gifts at home—except Daniel's.
I tore the bear apart,finding a blinking camera inside.
"Felix is with me.8 p.m.tonight,bring all evidence to the abandoned factory in the outskirts.Don't be late."
"Oh and, don't try anything clever or call the police.I can't guarantee what will happen."
She chuckled,hanging up.
It was 7:30 p.m. already—8 p.m.was just minutes away.
Sophie left no me time to call for backups.I grabbed the evidence and rushed out.
At the factory,dozens of armed mercenaries stood guard.
Felix was hanging from the rafters,bleeding from his thigh,unconscious.
Sophie stood in the center,a table before her with what looked like photos,too far to see clearly.
"Congrats,right on time."
"He's been bleeding for seven minutes.Hand over the evidence,and you can take him."
I kept the evidence behind my back,not handing it over immediately.
"When did you betray Daniel?"
Sophie feigned distress,she tilted her head and nodded.
"When?Honestly,I'm not sure."
"Maybe when my father raped me at 14?"
"Or when I was "gifted" to old men for their pleasure?"
I froze.Sophie's father was a renowned philanthropist,a city tycoon, a millionaire.I hadn't imagined he was a monster,or that Sophie endured such as a child.
She burst into laughter,wiping tears.
"Don't look at me with that disgusting pity."
"Keep asking questions if you want,but the clock is ticking for Felix."
I glanced at Felix—pale,his thigh wound deep,bleeding heavily.Without treatment,he'd sure die.
I stepped forward.A mercenary blocked me.I handed over the evidence,and they tossed Felix at my feet.
"Anna,I wasn't lying about one thing.Daniel loves you—so much it makes me jealous!"
Sophie's face twisted.She showed her phone—call logs with Daniel,the latest from 30 minutes ago.
"Daniel's almost here.The show I planned for you is about to start."
Dread hit me.I supported Felix up on his feet,turning to flee,but mercenaries stopped me.
Sophie slowly took off all her clothes,revealing a body covered in old scars—knife wounds,cigarette burns.
"The man you're after is Leo Harris,deputy finance director.He's corrupt, and he’s a murderer.But it won't matter—you're the one who’s about to go to prison for corruption and murder."
"Anna,it's time you get a taste of this ugly world."
Sophie checked the time,smiling brightly,and pressed a button.
My pupils shrank.A journalist's instincts told me what was coming.
"Run!"
I carried Felix,sprinting out,but it was too late.
The bomb exploded in a brilliant burst,the shockwave knocking me down.
The world spun before my eyes,my ears ringing,head foggy.
Sophie and all the evidence were consumed in the blast...
Shaking my head,through blurred vision,I saw Daniel charge toward me.
He grabbed me,shouting.My eardrums,damaged in the blast,still caught his accusations.
"Why did you kill Sophie?Why!Anna,you killed to cover your tracks,didn't you?"
What was he saying?
Before I could wrap my head around it,I heard police sirens coming.
Daniel personally handed me to the police.
"You were right.People change.You're not the Anna I knew."
