CHAPTER 1— NO TURNING BACK
Chapter one
Ariana woke in the cold darkness of the basement, the thin mattress pressing into her ribs as a dull ache settled in her chest. Even as the sun barely rose, she was awake, stiff, sore, carrying the weight of another restless night. She dragged herself up the narrow staircase, her legs heavy, only to be greeted by the mess she had learned to call home, dirty plates stacked carelessly, crumbs littering the table, empty bottles of cheap alcohol scattered across the floor, and a sour smell that clung to the air like it refused to leave. She didn’t need to guess.
It was her father’s doing.
Another mess.
Another reminder of what she was in this house; nothing more than someone meant to clean up after them. She let out a quiet breath and rolled up her sleeves, cleaning the mess without a word.
It wasn’t new. It never was.
She moved to the kitchen and made a simple breakfast, her actions automatic, like she had done it a thousand times before.
She didn’t eat. She knew better.
Grabbing her bag, Ariana slipped out before anyone could wake up. Before the insults started.
The only thing on her mind now was the job.
She needed the money.
And that was enough reason to go.
The door clicked shut behind her.
Ariana didn’t look back.
The cold air hit her face as she stepped into the street, pulling her hoodie tighter around herself. For a moment, she just stood there, breathing.
Then she reached for her phone.
The screen lit up, one message. A location.
Nothing else.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the device.
Still no details…
Just like last time. Her mind drifted
Back to the bar.
The noise. The laughter. The smell of cheap alcohol clinging to everything.
She had been wiping down a table when she heard them.
“I’m telling you, we need someone,” one of the men said, his voice low but careless. “Just a simple job. Drive, wait, that’s it.”
“And you’re willing to pay that much?” another scoffed.
“It’s nothing. As long as it gets done.”
Ariana hadn’t meant to listen.
But the number they mentioned, it made her pause.That kind of money…
Before she could think it through, she stepped closer.
“I’ll do it.” The men went quiet.
One of them looked her over, slow, unimpressed.
“You?”
Ariana lifted her chin slightly.
“You said it’s simple. I can drive.”
A brief silence. Then
A smirk.
“Fine,” the man said, pulling out his phone. “You’ll get the details when it’s time. Don’t ask questions. Just follow instructions.”
Something about the way he said it made her hesitate.
Don’t ask questions.
She should have walked away. But instead
“When do I start?”
She swallowed hard, forcing herself to stop overthinking. No more excuses. No more doubts.
That was all it took.
“I just need the money,” she muttered under her breath, more to convince herself than anything else.
The location blinked again on her screen.
She started walking.
The place wasn’t far. A quiet lot. Too quiet.
And there it was.
The truck.
Black. Clean. Waiting.
Ariana slowed her steps, something about it felt… wrong.
You’re overthinking.
It’s just a job.
She reached for the handle anyway, the door opened easily. Too easily. She got in.
The engine started without hesitation.
Her grip tightened on the steering wheel.
Why does this feel like a mistake?
She exhaled sharply.
“Because everything feels like a mistake,” she whispered.
The phone buzzed again. Another message.
Drive to the intersection. Wait.
No name.
No explanation.
Ariana stared at it for a second too long.
You can still walk away.
Her han
d hovered over the ignition. Then slowly…
She pressed the accelerator.
