BEYOND THE TRUTH OF FATE

Suitcase in hand, you head to the station. It is a short walk without any incidents but you are paranoid. What if someone was watching you? Waiting in line for the train to arrive, you mentally go over the contents of your new suitcase you bought just yesterday in that cheap store on 54th Street.

Cash as requested, check.

Resume, check.

Those documents you had to pull a couple of strings for, check.

You wonder if there is anything else the job that you applied for, needs. Realizing that you are freaking out in nervousness and that there is nothing you could do about it even if you forgot something, you check your watch in frustration. The train chugs in slowly taking its own time. You get in and see around you. Everyone suddenly seems interested in you especially that old woman across you.

You shake your head and diagnose the feeling as nerves. The one-hour train ride is torture and you clutch your suitcase tightly as though your life depended on it which it did. You get off the train and you walk in the most unsuspecting way that you can in the current situation. All along thinking about the letter that you had received a week ago.

You had been in your house, frustrated over the bills that you could not pay and how you may end up in jail soon if you do not pay them within a month. All the bills seemed like a decade ago now as you are stepping into your new life. That letter changed your life. It informed you of what you needed to do and how. You are now heading to the address listed in the letter just as your benefactor advised you to. The address mentioned in the letter was,

" #3452,

22nd Lane,

Sacremente Enclaves,

New York City.

There is a shed somewhere on this street. Go there and do what was mentioned earlier. Get in without someone seeing you and keep all that is necessary with you out of sight in a suitcase or something."

You scold yourself to focus on the present and not what happened earlier. The past can not be changed by what you could do now could shatter your future. You head out of the station and you see another long line of passengers waiting for a taxi. As you wave one down, you start asking the driver if they know the location where the letter told you to drop off. You notice an old woman waiting at your elbow. But this was not the time for politeness. Then, you almost shriek in fear. It is the same lady who was staring at you earlier. You ignore her fearfully and think of what lies in front of you.

You decide that it is time to start your new life. You get in the car and go through the letter once again. It takes time for the driver to understand the location but you make it in time. After paying the driver, you wait until he is gone to start going to the shed. There is a bodyguard inside and he scans you for any weapons.

You go in.

The room is big and looks just what a shed would look like. You could probably fit three alligators in there if they did not eat your arms off. There are guards everywhere and the shed is surprisingly big for well, a shed. There are two floors and guards posted in every corner that you can imagine. You look around in awe and a voice disturbs you.

A person whose back is facing you starts speaking, "I hope you got the money. Remember, this is for us to trust you only. We will be giving you some houses to steal from. Once you earn the money you are giving us, we will repay that amount in triples. Got it?"

You squint your eyes. The person is sitting in the shadows but you can see him clearly. There are two bodyguards posted alongside him. One thing that surprises you is that none of them had guns.

You say, "Yea, of course. Thank you."

The man turns slightly and asks confused, "You will be getting the amount you earn. What's there o thank me for?" You smile and say, "Thank you for trusting me. Your gang has finally been caught. You steal innocent people's houses. The police are here. All the best."

The doors suddenly fly open and officers come in. You almost jump back in surprise. Amidst the officers, the old woman from the train catches your eye and nods. You gulp back in response.

Once the bad guys are caught, you go to the old woman and she congratulates you. You smile thinking back on that fateful day.

You were on your couch wallowing in your self-pity. Then, you noticed an envelope amongst your bills. Thinking it was another bill, you decided to rip it open quick like a band-aid. Instead, it was a letter. It told you that the police have been trying to locate a gang for a very long time. They got a wonderful clue but they needed someone new to test it out. They promised to pay your bills and give you extra money. You took the offer like a hungry person. You are going to their office later today and they will be offering you a permanent undercover cop job. That letter changed your life from a bankrupt to now a high-paid police officer. You are rich!

The old woman smiled as if she was remembering it too. But she does not know what you plan to do next.

NOTE BY AUTHOR:

Hey! Thanks for reading this story. There will be a part two coming out soon. I hope you are excited about that. If you like this story and want to check out more of my work and follow me on Reedsy. You do have to know that I am new to this whole second person writing style. Which is why this story might not be top-notch. However, my writing skills are pretty decent (if I can say so myself.)

I am also a published author and you can buy my sci-fi thriller meets crime novel here:

https://notionpress.com/read/the-city-that-wasn-t