"Andrei, I know that we have not always seen eye to eye on everything but i want you to know that you have always been a valuable part of our team."
That, together with a firm handshake, was the last thing Luca told me before i exited the building. He had the same half-crooked smile with that gray moustache that he always has, but i could tell from his eyes that he was furious. He was practically burning a hole through the back of my head as i left his office. Maybe he was angry that i didn't listen to his warnings, or maybe he was just mad to lose his senior systems engineer. Either way i didn't really care. This was something i had been thinking of doing ever since the first cracks appeared. I really should have bailed out back then, guess i was just naive and scared of losing my paycheck. I've lost so much sleep over the past few months that i just couldn't take it anymore, i had to leave. And today i finally did it. I signed all the papers and have officially been let go now. I talked to my lawyer and he said that legally speaking they can't do anything to me anymore, the NDA is void and if they try to sue it will result in a mistrial due to a lack of evidence. I really hope he's right. As glad as i am that i left, i still feel really uneasy. My hands are sweating a bit too much, ill leave a stain on the seat.
//
"Dear passengers, the next station is New Forsetia South"
//
The hum of the bullet train is always so calming. Honestly missed it a lot, the metro doesn't really hit the same. This is the first time i've left the city center since last summer i think. I wonder how things are back home, i haven't heard anything from my mom in a while. She's not one to reach out though, but i should tell her i'm coming back. The carriage is mostly empty, the only ones in it are me and a gentleman a few seats across on the other side. I can't see his face but he's wearing a pressed black suit and sunglasses it seems. Not surprising as this is the first class cabin but something about him is disturbing me, he feels out of place. Gio did tell me about a colleague of his claiming he got followed home one night. I don't know what to believe anymore, i just want to get home. It appears the train has no delays so we will get to Vemirka central in a bit less than three hours, my mom will probably be asleep by then. I'll try to sleep a bit in the meantime, the rain hitting the window makes the cabin sound fuller than it is.
Four hours later....
I clack open the lock of the apartment, and i instantly get hit with the smell of dust. I guess mom didn't clean up for a while. Inside it's dark, but i can make out the faint outline of the couch and kitchen. I'll just walk to my room so i don't wake her up. I step inside and lock the door behind me. As i'm taking off my shoes i notice that her shoes are missing. I get the most awful feeling in my stomach. I turn on the lights, and everything looks as usual apart from the fact it looks a little dusty. I call out her name, but i get no response. She's not home. I walk to her room and it's empty. The apartment looks like it hasn't been moved in ages. Why would she leave and not tell me? Maybe she went to Alexia's? I sit down on the couch and ponder over the situation. Alexia's not texted me in a while either. What is going on? I am pretty sure i didn't tell anyone i was gonna leave today so this is very very weird. This can't be the company's work can i? I didn't tell anyone but the lawyer about the things i saw. Why would they be suspicious of me. I made very sure that everything i documented was stored securely. Did they trace the forum posts to me? Did the lawyer rat me out? Why would they take my mom and sister?
//
The front door gets knocked four times
//
The thudding startles me and i jump up. What the hell? Who would knock my door in the middle of the night? Did i imagine it? I stand completely still and stare at the door. It feels like hours go by.
//
Four more knocks
//
Someone's at the door. I run to my room and open the safe to grab my pistol and slip it into my waistband. I really hope it's just the neighbor or something. I slowly shimmy to the front door and undo the lock and crack the door open a little. A flashlight hits me eyes and i'm temporarily blinded. Two men in suits slowly appear before me.
"Are you Andrei Popescu?"
"Yes? Who are yo-"
"Did you attempt to resign today from your position as senior systems engineer of project sword?"
"Y-Yes, again tell me who you are?"
"We are here on behalf of SPACOM. We know about your activities. You have to come with us. If you cooperate this can all be resolved peacefully."
"I don't work there anymore, and i am in my own home. You are not police, you have no warrant."
"Mister Popescu we highly reccomend you cooperate with us, please step out of your residence."
"I'm not going anywhere."
The door is blocking the left half of my body. I grab my pistol with my left hand and keep it behind the door.
"Mister Popescu, it would be in your interest to cooperate with us. We don't want this to get ugly."
"Why should i come with you? Do you want to silence me like you did the thousands of other people who came out with the truth?"
"Sir, please exit your residence."
The other man grips something on his belt. They are armed.
"I will call the police, you are disturbing me on my private property!"
"You have no such thing as private property, Andrei."
The other man lifts up his pistol. I am now staring down the black barrel of his gun.
"Step outside"
"No"
A few seconds pass. The man talking looks at the man with the gun. I grip my gun so tightly it hurts. I'm pointing it through the door, at them. I feel the spring of the trigger fight back against my finger. The man looks back at me again.
"Alright then."
GUNSHOT
