THE NEWS

ARYA’S POV The hostel room felt even smaller when I returned, the walls seeming to press in as I closed the door behind me and leaned against it. The money Marco had given me sat heavy in my pocket. I had no idea what I just did. "There you are!" Cherry burst through the door, she had a key to my room, just like I had one to hers. "I was starting to worry. How did the job hunt go? Any luck?" I moved to the bed and sat down heavily, pulling out the cash. Cherry's eyes widened. "Holy shit. Did you rob someone?" "No." I set the money on the bed between us. "I called Marco." "Marco?" Cherry frowned. "Who's Marco?" "Someone from... before. From my old life." I wrapped my arms around myself. "He's an old family friend. I called him because I was desperate, and he wants to help." "Help how?" Cherry's tone was immediately suspicious. "Because that's a lot of money, Arya. Nobody just hands over that kind of cash without wanting something in return.” "It's not like that. He just… he wants to t