NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: QUEEN!!!
After resting for a few more days and regaining her strength, Aurora felt ready to take the next step. She powered on her laptop, the familiar hum of its processor soothing her restless mind. As the screen came to life, she initiated a series of security protocols, masking her IP address and rerouting her connection through countless encrypted networks. Within minutes, she logged into an exclusive dark web portal—a haven for hackers, assassins, and other shadowy figures who thrived in the lawless corners of the digital world.
This was a place where morality held no sway, where secrets were traded, and blood could be bought for the right price. Aurora smirked as her screen loaded the list of available tasks.
Scrolling through the postings, her eyes twitched as she stumbled upon a bounty worth 1 billion dollars. The target: the elusive hacker known as "Queen." Aurora's lips curled into a sly smile.
"Well, aren't they ambitious?" she muttered to herself, leaning back in her chair. "Good luck catching that ghost."
Queen, as it happened, was none other than Aurora herself. The bounty had been posted by those desperate to unmask her, likely seeking revenge for past exploits. It wasn't the first time a price had been placed on her head, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.
Ignoring the post, she focused on more practical opportunities. As she scrolled further, she came across a task that caught her interest.
"Upgrade a security wall and fix system discrepancies. Payment: 400 million," she read aloud, raising an eyebrow. "Simple enough. Looks like someone's willing to pay a small fortune for basic maintenance. Amateur hour."
Without hesitation, she accepted the task and got to work.
For the next few hours, Aurora's fingers danced across the keyboard, her movements fluid and precise. The screen before her displayed an intricate matrix of green code, scrolling rapidly as she navigated through encrypted data and tore down firewalls with ease. She was a virtuoso in this digital symphony, her mind sharp and focused.
At one point, a small notification popped up on her screen:
"Connection detected. Another user attempting to breach the system."
Aurora smirked. "Trying to piggyback off my work? How bold."
She quickly deployed a countermeasure, tracing the intruder's signal back to its source. Within seconds, she had their location pinned.
"Gracia, S Country," she murmured. "Cute. But not cute enough."
With a few keystrokes, she sent a gentle reminder—a virus that crashed the intruder's system entirely.
"Lesson of the day: Don't mess with Queen," she said with a chuckle, shaking her head.
By the time she finished the security upgrade and other minor tasks, her overseas accounts had swelled with new deposits. She leaned back in her chair, satisfied with her progress. However, transferring large sums to her current Aurora account was out of the question. It would raise too many red flags, and staying under the radar was her top priority.
"Small steps," she muttered to herself. "First, sever ties with the so-called family, and then move forward."
Aurora decided to use the funds to begin her detoxification process. She searched for the herbs she needed, scrolling through various listings on the dark web. Most of the necessary ingredients were available and could be delivered discreetly.
"Ginseng, wolfberries, and reishi mushroom, Atis" she muttered, adding the items to her cart. But one crucial herb remained elusive.
Her search brought her to a special listing: "Tinospora cordifolia – Premium Grade – Auction Tomorrow."
Aurora frowned, her gaze fixed on the screen. The herb was rare and essential for neutralizing the slow-acting poison in her system. Missing the auction wasn't an option.
"I need that herb," she murmured, determination flashing in her eyes.
At that moment, her phone buzzed with a message from Cassandra.
"How are you feeling today? Have you eaten?"
Aurora smiled faintly, typing back a quick response:
"I'm fine. Thank you for checking on me, Cass. I owe you more than I can say."
As she sent the message to Cassandra, Aurora leaned back for a moment, her fingers tapping idly on the desk. A thought crossed her mind, one that left no room for hesitation. She owed Cassandra more than gratitude, and paying her back, even partially, felt like the right step forward.
Opening her bank's online portal, she sent a quick follow-up text to Cassandra:
"Hey, Cass, can you share your account number? I want to send you something."
The reply came almost immediately.
"Why? Aurora, you don't need to. I helped because I wanted to, not because I expect anything in return."
Aurora smiled faintly, shaking her head. Cassandra's kindness was refreshing, but Aurora wasn't someone who liked carrying debts. She quickly typed back:
"Just send it, Cass. Please. It's important to me."
Relenting, Cassandra sent her the details, though not without a note of protest. Aurora wasted no time. She transferred $10,000 into Cassandra's account. As the transaction confirmed, Aurora felt a small sense of satisfaction.
Moments later, Cassandra called, her voice a mix of surprise and concern. "Aurora, what is this? Ten thousand dollars? Are you serious? You didn't have to do this. You're still recovering!"
Aurora chuckled softly. "It's not a big deal, Cass. It's your hard-earned money you have spent on me and I had some saving from earlier and I wanted to pay you back. You've done so much for me—it's only fair."
"You didn't have to, though," Cassandra said, her tone still stunned. "You've been through enough. I helped because you're my friend, not because I expected anything."
"I know," Aurora said, her voice warm but firm. "But this isn't about obligation. It's about me doing the right thing. You stood by me when I had no one else. This is just a small way of showing my gratitude. Please, don't refuse it."
Cassandra sighed on the other end of the line, finally relenting. "Alright, but only if you promise to focus on yourself now. You've been through so much. You need to prioritize your health and recovery."
"I promise," Aurora replied, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "And thank you, Cass. For everything."
After ending the call, Aurora stared at the dim screen of her laptop, her determination rekindled. She wasn't just paying Cassandra back in money—this was about reclaiming control over her life, piece by piece.
"This is just the beginning," Aurora murmured to herself. "One step at a time."
With that, she returned to her preparations, ready to face the auction and take another step toward her ultimate goal. Detoxifying her body was just the beginning. Aurora—no, Luna—had plans. Plans that involved reclaiming her strength, uncovering the truth behind the betrayal that ended her past life, and delivering justice to those who thought they had destroyed her.
But first, she had to survive this life.
Her gaze returned to the screen, the countdown timer for the auction ticking away.
"Tomorrow," she whispered, a dark smile playing on her lips. "Let's see who dares outbid me."