Evening.
A woman dressed in black stopped at the back of Edison Hospital.
Black outfit.
Black nose mask.
Hair pulled into a low ponytail.
Avery.
She didn't need a card to get in.
The door has already been opened for her.
A slow smirk touched her lips.
Vicent.
She slipped into the hallway, keeping close to the walls and ducking behind pillars whenever a camera came into view.
The hospital was quieter at night, but not quiet enough.
Every sound seemed louder.
Every step felt risky.
Instead of using the elevator, Avery took the stairs.
By the time she reached the sixth floor, sweat clung to her skin.
She exhaled sharply.
"Damn stairs," she muttered under her breath.
A few seconds later, she stopped in front of a door.
Her eyes dropped to the nameplate.
Dr Albert Edison.
Avery stared at it for a moment. Her lips curved slightly.
"What are you hiding, Albert?" she murmured.
She pushed the door open.
A loud creak made her freeze.
"Seriously?" she muttered again.
She stepped inside.
The office was pitch black.
Avery pulled out her flashlight and moved around the room before heading straight for Albert's desk.
She sat in his chair and turned on the computer.
Within seconds, she typed in the password.
Her eyes scanned the screen until one file caught her attention.
V.I.R.U.S
Avery frowned.
"What the hell is that?"
She quickly inserted her pen drive into the computer and waited for the file to load.
Then- footsteps.
Avery's head snapped towards the door.
A man's voice echoed outside.
Her heart slammed against her chest.
Albert wasn't supposed to be back this early.
*****RAVE***
Veronica stepped into the room. The same room she always used with Max.
She flipped the light.
For a second, she just stood there...breathing it in.
The scent lingered.
Sex.
If Alex wouldn't give her what she wants, someone else would.
Every time they were here, the cleaner changed the bedsheets immediately.
That was the rule.
No traces.
Veronica smirked faintly.
Authority has its benefits.
She walked towards the bathroom, already pulling at her clothes, letting them fall behind her like she didn't care where they landed.
She just needed an hour alone.
Two hours later-
Veronica emerged from the bathroom, skin damp, relaxed.
She peeled off the last of her clothes and removed her mask, tossing it aside without a second thought.
The room felt different now.
Too quiet.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
Something was off.
********Albert's Office*****
Avery froze. Albert's voice.
The last person she wanted to hear right now.
She dropped to the floor and crawled under the desk just as his footsteps drew closer.
Quiet.
Her breathing turned shallow.
On the screen, the file was still loading.
97%.
The office door opened.
Avery jekked slightly, and her head hit the underside of the desk.
A sharp pain shot through her skull.
Albert stopped.
"Who's there?" he asked.
Avery pressed a hand over her mouth.
Silence.
Albert's voice hardened.
"I've got a gun. Come out while I'm being nice."
Avery shut her eyes.
Damn it.
A second later, the lights came on.
Albert searched the office carefully.
Behind the curtains.
Behind the sofa.
Every corner.
Nothing.
He stood still in the middle of the room, his eyes narrowing.
Then his gaze landed on the desk.
Something was off.
Albert slowly walked toward it.
"I'm going to say this one last time," he said coldly. "Who's there?"
He moved closer.
Closer.
Then-
BANG.
A loud noise exploded in the hallway.
Albert cursed and rushed out with his gun.
Avery's eyes snapped open.
Clear.
She crawled out from under the desk, snatched the pen drive from the computer, and shoved it into her pocket.
She turned off the computer.
With tousled hair and a racing heart, she dashed out of the office.