Uncontrollable

➳ chapter one

Nothing calmed her more than sitting amidst the chaos. During rush hour, with hordes of people bustling to catch their train home, the traffic causing delays that angered most, there was no more perfect image of chaos, and nothing eased her nerves more than standing back as an onlooker.

Astrid sat alone on a bench along the wall, no one stopping long enough to bother to take a seat. Her imposing figure probably didn't help either; the combination of ripped jeans and a scrutinizing gaze sent anyone who dared to near far in the other direction.

Stray figures clogged up the platform, glancing briefly at one of the screens that detailed the schedule before jumping onto one of the old trains that reeked of old rubber and smoke. The mixture of body stench and cigarette smoke made her nose wrinkle, and the jammed cars weren't the best part of the journey either.

If she was being honest, there were several reasons to avoid the trains at all costs. But they held a certain charm that drew her back each time. For one, it was quicker than going back to the warehouse on foot. Second, the trains gave her time to think.

Her mind worked best when she could observe the world, and there was no shortage of passerby on the public transportation. Her eyes picked up on the small details, analyzing them until she could formulate a backstory for whoever passed, and whenever she sat onboard, it came along with the promise that she could breathe while watching the city of Kempton breeze by.

Astrid heaved a sigh. Recently, her mind had a lot to think about.

On instinct, her gaze shifted over to the newspaper stand that stood on the right side of her bench. Only a few had bothered taking one, but it didn't matter. The paper had managed to spread its way through the city, and by now, everyone had become familiar with the headline that continued to dominate two days later.

Infamous Gang Hacker Brought Into Custody!

Astrid skimmed the first few lines, though she had read it enough times that she could've repeated it without looking.

"The infamous hacker known as Nikhil Varma was brought into custody Tuesday afternoon. Of Indian descent, Nikhil, or "Nik" as he prefers to be called, has been suspected of several computer crimes," it read. She skipped down a paragraph. "Currently, the hacker awaits his punishment at the sheriff station. Sheriff Roberts believes the hacker will be transported to Velaria—the large prison better suited for containing criminals of his caliber."

The grainy photograph of Nik stared back at her. The camera quality had darkened his brown skin, emphasizing the glare he gave to the photographer. Her stomach twisted in unease.

The picture felt like a lie. The entire article felt like a lie, even though large portions of it were true. Nik was one of the most skilled hackers she had ever encountered—if not the best. Daisy couldn't compare to him. He was good at what he did, and because of that, he was one of the Soldiers' greatest assets.

She wondered how the rest of the Silent Soldiers were faring without him. For one of the most feared gangs in Kempton, they heavily relied on Nik, and this loss would hurt them more than the public—or the police—realized.

But that wasn't why her stomach turned itself inside her.

Astrid could admit to her crimes. She was by no means innocent, and she had enough blood on her hands that could put her in Velaria the second the handcuffs ended up on her wrists. Nik could admit to his own crimes too. He'd probably entered the police database enough times to earn his criminal status.

But he'd never killed anyone. He'd never hurt anyone directly. She was certain that he'd find it very difficult to fire a gun if asked. He was the mastermind behind the scenes—not the one pulling the trigger. There were dozens of people who deserved to end up behind bars, but Nik was not one of them.