Code Of Silence ~ Vinnie Hacker

Chapter 1: Masked Men

TW: mentions of kidnapping & guns!
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"Mom!" She let out a breath over the speaker of her phone, "I already told you! Two times!" she complained as she wrapped her fingers around the doorknob, "It doesn't matter how many times you try and convince me...I'm not coming back home" Elina said as she opened the door and walked into her apartment.

"El, honey, you know how unsafe it is for you to stay in that apartment?" she heard her mother remark once again, "Your father and I are just worried for you, darling. What's the worst that could happen if you just came and stayed with us for one week? In your own room!"

"Mom, I'm tired of repeating myself. I'm not going back to that house again." Taking steps towards her bedroom she added, "I know how to protect myself; I'm not a little kid anymore." she sighed. "Besides, tell him that I don't need bodyguards to come and protect me. If he was worried enough, he would've called and asked me himself." Elina muttered over the phone as she laid down on the bed.

"Darling, you're aware of how busy your father is, He really wanted to call you but-" She was cut off by the sound of her daughter's groans.

"Yes mom, I'm fully aware that he has work. Oh wait, one minor detail. He still can't stand to even look at me in the eyes, much less check up on me." She scoffed, "After that day, after what happened-" She drew in a long breath, "After the incident, he hasn't even called me by my name, and you expect me to believe that he wants me back in that mansion?" She paused with another deep breath, stress creeping throughout her entire body.

"I'm finally living my life the way I want to...I like being away from everyone." She looked out through her window at the view of the city against the horizon.

Her mother tried to argue again with worry laced in her voice on the other end "But darling, all I am asking from you-"

"Mom! I'm not coming back. I love you. Say hi to everyone for me. Bye bye. Love you." Elina finished as she hung up the phone and threw it across the bed, her legs sore from pacing.

Just as she was about to fall asleep, she heard a knock at the door; Her eyes immediately opened wide as the sound only grew more harsh. Elina quickly jumped off the bed and made her way towards the kitchen silently, panic racing through her as she reached her hand across the kitchen counter towards the display of knives. Grabbing the closest knife she could reach, she held it tight in her left hand while gradually wrapping her right around the doorknob of the front door.

"H-hello?" She uttered out as she brought her ear closer to the door for any hint on who the stranger on the other side of the door could be.

"Is anyone there?" She voiced again, biting her lip in anticipation while waiting for an answer. She readjusted the knife in her hand as sweat made the hilt of the knife start to slide.

After a few seconds of silence, she heard a voice behind the door, "It's Violet, El open the door." she heard as she frowned in confusion. 

"Letty?" She let out a breath, "What are you doing here?" Elina asked as she opened the door.

"Well ouch-" Violet let out a chuckle as she welcomed herself inside, "What's with the knife?" She asked, dropping her purse on the counter, walking towards the couch to sit down.

"I- I mean I didn't know you were coming- so I thought it- it mi-" She took deep breaths as she pushed the door shut, locking it instantly.

"Who?" Violet turned around to look at her friend, unbuttoning her coat waiting for her to respond.

"Them." Elina dragged her feet across the floor back to the kitchen counter, setting down the knife in the sink, and dropping her head into the palm of her slightly trembling hands.