RAVEN.
Chapter 36: Well, This Seems Fun!

Chapter 36: Well, This Seems Fun!

By morning, Raven was already dressed, her red wig concealing her dark hair, her fake freckles in place, her eyes hidden behind the spectacles,, and her prosthetic covering her original body.

She didn’t want to wake Adam before heading out because of the previous night. Before she went to sleep, she told herself that Adam was like a brother, nothing more.

I shouldn’t fall for him. So he, too, should end his feelings for me... that is if indeed he has feelings for me.

With her bag slung on her shoulders, she quietly exited her room and made to the door.

"Oh! You’re awake!" Adam’s voice came from behind stopping her in her tracks. "Wow! I almost didn’t recognize you there. I thought a burglar had broken in."

She turned, "Adam, you’re awake early."

Adam was holding a cup of coffee and had on only singlets and shorts, his hairy biceps and arms exposed.

Get it together, Raven! You’ve been seeing those hairy biceps for ten years; why are you acting like this is the first time?!!

She screamed inwardly.

"Yeah, couldn’t sleep." Adam replied, "Hey, are you okay?"

"What? Yeah... yeah, I’m fine." Raven stuttered a bit, "Why do you ask?"

"Well... because of the way you ran off last night?" Adam answered oblivious of the Raven’s emotional turmoil. "It was weird. You didn’t even touch the food. So, I guess something is wrong? Is it Larry? Do you need my help with him?"

"What? No, no, no! Everything’s fine." Raven answered sharply, "I gotta go."

"Aren’t you hungry? I can microwave the food..."

"See you later!" Raven ran away, shutting the door behind her.

"Okaayyy. Now that’s weird." Adam said suspiciously.

Raven quickly took the elevator down to the lobby. She hailed a taxi and instructed the driver to take her to Hopkins Residence.

She told herself not to think of Adam.

This is no time for love, she told herself, I have to get revenge first before I pursue love.

A few minutes later, the cab was at Hopkins Residence. Raven paid for the cab fare and headed to the house.

She rang the doorbell and then waited but there was no response. Then she decided to try again, but the door opened, and to Raven’s genuine surprise, instead of Ali, Millie was standing in front of the door, clad in short silky pajamas and strappy top.

She raised her eyebrows, "Yes? And you might be."

"Oh, hello." Raven said politely, in an angelic voice, "I’m Mr Hopkins’s new assistant."

"Oh!" Millie blurted, "Come on in then."

Raven came in and closed the door behind her.

"You might not know me, but I’m Millie, by the way." Millie introduced. "Larry’s girlfriend."

"I’m Holly." Raven gave her a fake smile, "Nice to meet you. I didn’t know Mr Hopkins had a girlfriend as pretty as you."

As they advanced further into the foyer, Raven discovered that there were men in the mansion moving about the house with bug detectors as they scanned every wall.

Raven didn’t need to ask what was going on. She already knew. They had found the bug she placed on Millie’s handbag and were now searching around, just in case.

Larry came down the stairs, already looking dressed, with Ali and some group of guys with technical gadgets.

"We found nothing," Larry announced.

"Told you so." Millie said, "There’s no way she would’ve come here."

Raven saw Ali roll her eyes. Obviously, she didn’t like Millie... she didn’t like any girl in fact.

"But still, it’s good to be on the safe side," Larry replied. "You’re here Holly."

He threw his suitcase at Raven, and she caught it.

Ding dong!

The doorbell came.

"I’ll get it," Raven announced and moved to the door. She was terribly surprised to see a group of men outside the door.

And they weren’t looking decent. They had on dark singlets and jeans, and some of them had their hair spiked, dyed, and completely shaved. Some were carrying baseball bats, crowbars, brass knuckles, and so on.

With a single glance, she could tell that these were another mob.

Oh! He wasted no time in recruiting other mobs huh? Well, this seems fun! Raven thought.

"Uh..." She feigned surprise.

"Is Hopkins in?" The one who Raven assumed to be their lead questioned in an awful voice.

"Um... yeah. Who might you be..."

"Let them in!" Larry commanded and Raven obeyed.

She opened the door ajar, letting the men storm in. She counted them one by one as they did.

Sixty! Raven thought to herself as the last of them entered. More fun!

She closed the door and stood by the side as she watched and listened to Larry address them.

"This is the woman you are to capture." Larry announced, revealing a printed wanted flyer that had the picture of Raven from ten years ago, "She’s crazy and extremely dangerous. She took out thirty-five men all by herself last night. She could do more as far as we know. Hire more men if you can. And I want these flyers all across the streets of Chicago by noon. Am I clear?"

There was a murmur as they all chorused, "Yes sir."

"Now go! Find her." Larry said, "Spread across the city, you can stab her if you ever come in contact with her, you can beat the crap out of her, but do not kill her! That is my part. Now go!"

They all stormed out, Raven holding the door for them.

"We’ll be going too." The bug detectors said.

"Yeah, thank you for your work, have a great day."

The men gathered their gadgets and left.

"Wow! You were amazing!" Millie said as she walked up to Larry and leaned in for a kiss. "Makes me love you more."

Ali rolled her eyes, looking away as they kissed. Raven smirked a little, deciding it was time to use her just like she used Mandy.

"I’ll see you tonight, okay?"

"Okay." Millie replied, "But I really had a photoshoot today."

"Don’t you know what’s going on? That bitch has met you before, she can do anything. I don’t want to lose another person I care about."

"You won’t." Millie said, "I’m gonna stay right here and take a break from work till you come back."

Larry kissed her again. "The bodyguards will be here any moment now. I gotta go."

"Bye."

Larry turned and walked out the door, with Raven following closely behind.

The chauffeur was already there, waiting.

"Morning Mr. Hopkins." He greeted, opening the door.

Larry didn’t reply. He just got into the car.

"Hello." Raven offered him a pretty smile.

"Hi." The chauffeur replied, holding the door for Raven to enter.

Raven entered and then he closed the door. He got into the car and drove away.

As they were driven to the office, Raven’s next plans were already brewing in her mind.