Shocked!

Sophia just came back home after the meeting she had with my friends. She was still trying to find out about my whereabouts, even though the search had died down both at home and in the country. My parents had moved on with their lives a week ago after my disappearance, but my sister hadn't. She was conducting a secret search for me, and my friends were helping her. Although Sophia was just eighteen years old, she had always called herself an adult since she turned thirteen. Funny, right?


Sophia sat on a couch in the parlor, drinking a bottle of water with her phone in hand. As she continued chatting on her phone, it rang. She looked at the name before picking up.


"Hello James," Sophia greeted the caller.


"Hey Phie, I have good news about your sister," James said.


Sophia raised an eyebrow and adjusted on the couch.


"What's the news?" she asked.


"I think I know where Arizona is and who kidnapped her," James revealed.


"Really? Where? And who kidnapped her?" Sophia questioned at once.


"With the information I got, Arizona was kidnapped by a Mafia Lord, and she'll get married to him in less than a month," James dropped the bombshell.


Sophia's eyes widened in shock.


"What!" she screamed, alerting the maids around.


"Are you okay, ma'am?" one of the maids asked.


"Can't you see I'm on a call?" Sophia snapped at the maids, who bent her head down before apologizing and leaving.


Confused why Sophia wasn't speaking, James spoke up.


"Are you still on the call, Phie?" he asked.


"Yes, I am," Sophia replied.


"So, where is this Mafia living?" Sophia questioned, laying emphasis on 'this'.


"I'm still working on that. Once I hack the location, I'll let you know," James answered.


"Okay, thanks so much. I'll be expecting it," Sophia replied.


"Yeah, have a nice day Phie, bye," James said.


"Bye..." Sophia replied as she cut the call.


She dropped her phone on the table, looking at the wall in front of her with a determined face.


"Don't worry, sis. I'll find you and bring you back home," Sophia said to herself, drinking the remaining water in the bottle.


****


"Did you had a nightmare?" Falcon asked, his voice unexpectedly gentle.


I hesitated, taken aback. How did he know? I thought.

Venom's visit flashed through my mind.

Had he told Falcon?

"Did Venom tell you?" I questioned him back, surprising him.


"Why? Did he know you have a nightmare?" Falcon asked, raising an eyebrow.


"I don't know; I was just asking," I replied immediately. Falcon looked at me as if he knew I was lying but didn't complain.


"Okay, if you say so," Falcon said, walking away from my front.


"Why did you ask if I had a nightmare?" I questioned.


"I was just curious because you have a swollen eye," he replied.


"Oh," I murmured, taking the gun Falcon gave me with a look of surprise in my eyes.


"This again?" I questioned him, furrowing my eyebrow. Falcon nodded.


"Yes, you don't know how to shoot. What you did last time was just child's play. You just want to start the real practice, Ari," Falcon told me.


My heart melted at his words, and as if he knew I was somehow sad, he spoke.


"I'm sure you love your life, Ari. This training is for your good, not mine, so stop being lazy!" He snapped at me, and I took my lower lip in, my sadness deepening at his sudden outburst.


Maybe he's right, I thought to myself, concentrating back on my attack.


Although I missed my friends and sister, there was nothing I could do. I couldn't escape; I had to accept everything that came my way, either good or bad.


As I targeted my attack, I shot at it, and it almost hit the point. I sighed.


"All you have to do is concentrate on your attack, and it won't be hard," I heard Falcon's voice behind me.


I nodded, looking at my target with focus, my eyes concentrated.


As I continued looking at it with all my concentration, I let out the bullet, and it shot straight at the point.


I released a sigh of relief, beaming with joy inside.


I removed the headphone from my ear to settle it on my neck, expecting a compliment from Falcon.


I turned to look at him, who held an expressionless face, staring at me.


He tore his gaze away from me after some time and moved close.


"That was good," he complimented.


Yes! I said inwardly, a smile appearing on my lips.


"Thank you," I replied, and he nodded.


Walking back and forth, he spoke.


"What you did was just the topic of your training, not the starting point. So next time you do something as simple as that, don't expect to receive a compliment from me again until you are perfect. What I said earlier was just because I had pity on your face.You can continue training, and do not leave here or stop training until l am back,” Falcon told me, and without waiting for a response, he left.

What was that? I asked inwardly.


"He had pity on my face?" I asked myself before scoffing loudly. Do I look that bad?


"Nah, I'm sure he was just teasing me," I told no one in particular.


What an asshole! I said inwardly before continuing training.


Falcon walked through the corridor, the only sound being the echo of his shoes.


After he got to his office, he sent for Venom, who arrived after some time.


"Falcon, is there a problem?" Venom asked, sitting in the chair in front of Falcon.


Venom was surprised when a maid came to call him because Falcon rarely sent for him, except during a mission or something similar, but on a normal day like this he would be the one to disturb Falcon in his office. This surprise meeting was really a shock to him.


"Everything is good; I just wanted to ask you a question," Falcon replied.


Venom adjusted on his seat.


"What is the matter?" Venom questioned, raising an eyebrow.


"Did you go to Ari's room last night?" Falcon asked calmly.


Venom furrowed his brow.


Did Ari tell him anything? Venom questioned inwardly.


Venom cleared his throat.


"Why are you asking?" Venom questioned.


"That shouldn't be your problem, because I'm sure my question is straightforward. So speak up," Falcon said slowly but coldly.


Venom kept staring at Falcon, unsure whether to tell the truth or lie.


Falcon continued staring at the confused Venom, his patience wearing thin.


When he couldn't hold it any longer, he spoke.


"Answer me if you love your life," Falcon threatened, pulling out his gun.


Venom swallowed at Falcon's sudden movement.


"Yes, I did," Venom replied immediately.


Falcon’s eyes widened in surprise.