Chapter 0344 , VALERIE. , My heart almost stops, and my eyes glimmer as I ready myself. I’m no longer that helpless woman I once was… , Even if just the thought of being attacked in my apartment sickens me, I have changed. After the war, I made sure to train, to hone my abilities. Zaia and I had our workout sessions four times a day. I trained hard and although it’s not really something I enjoyed, it’s something I realised I needed. , I silently walk towards the door, my bare feet making no noise and when I’m halfway there, I see the shadow move as the person turns away and I close my eyes when they disappear from outside my door. , The silent creak of the floorboards in their wake as they move along is a reminder that there was indeed someone right outside the door moments ago…. , Exhaling slowly, I close my eyes, trying to calm myself before I turn my back to the door and look around the room, placing a hand on my forehead. , “It could have been the neighbours…” I glance at the far wall. They’re silent and I can hear the faint snoring from beyond the wall. , I enter my bedroom, about to lock the door, when I realise it doesn’t even have a , latch. , Great…, I get back into bed and lying on my back, I stare at the wall behind me. Could it have been one of the neighbours on this side? I did hear something before… , Shaking my head, I roll onto my side, listening to the sound of a distant siren, and of someone taking the trash out… , I like it here… it reminds me of my childhood and the small part of town back home where I lived growing up… , I wake suddenly to the sound of someone banging on the door. , “What on earth!” I matter as I scramble out of bed. , Are those my groceries? They said they’ll deliver after eleven and I don’t sleep in! I glance at the clock as I rush to the door. , 15 BONUS , I pull it open to see a woman in her mid–fifties standing there, her hands on her hips and it’s obvious from her face that she’s not impressed. , “Can I help you?” I ask, brushing my hair back. , “Yes, you can. Is that white piece of junk out front yours?” she asks, rather rudely. , I blink as I glance past her, although we are far too high up to see where she’s pointing past the balcony to the ground far below, five floors down. , My car is white, but it’s anything but junk, even if I did downgrade to something a little modest… , “I’m afraid I’m not sure. My car is quite new. It wouldn’t be classed as junk.” I answer, running my fingers through my hair., “Well, move it, you’re blocking me in!” , “I’ll be right there,” I say, shutting the door with a snap. , How rude. , I had made sure to not block any access. The only thing parked behind my car was an off–road old minivan. I had asked someone about it who said it had not , been moved in months. , Were they mistaken, or was this woman being petty? I’m sure it’s the latter. , Grabbing some black yoga pants, I pull them on and grab my keys with one hand. and sneakers with the other. Putting them on, I hurry out of the front door and down the stairs. , She’s waiting outside, arms crossed as I hurry to my car, not missing the way everyone is watching. She scoffs, walking over to… yes, the actual piece of junk around here. The minivan. , And she called my car junk? , I reverse, and she spits on the ground, getting into her van, and I sit there patiently. Goddess, this woman is testing me… , I wait until she’s driven off, and I’m about to move back where I was parked when the car makes a strange noise. , What on earth was that?! , I slowly move closer to the wall ahead, but that odd sound makes me stop and turn the engine off. I get out and peer underneath. Not that I know anything, 15 BONUS , about cars, but that does not sound good. , “Look like someone tampered with it.” I turn to see a young man in his early thirties remark, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I wouldn’t leave a car like that out on these streets. They may have been after the parts.” , With those words, he turns and walks off, leaving me to sigh once more. Well, looks like I’ll have to call a garage… I lock the doors and I’m about to return to my apartment and get ready for the day when I stop, seeing a bike parked in the shadows. , It doesn’t fit in… more so than my car. It is a deep black with a royal blue shine with red accents and seats. I don’t know much about bikes, but that one is sexy and expensive… , A black helmet sits on the seat, and it surprises me that no one’s taken it… then why was my car touched? , Sighing, I shake my head and go back inside. I need coffee. , It’s a few hours later and I’ve finished putting my shopping away, which was dropped off by a rather frazzled delivery man. Muttering about how there should have been a lift. , Chapter 0345, Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.