Chapter 31: Arriving at Jessica’s Residence
However, after a few seconds, I finally walked toward Jessica.
I hugged her slowly, then gently pulled her into my arms. Her head naturally rested against my left shoulder, while I lightly patted her back.
My hand then stroked her hair softly.
There were no words.
Just a simple embrace.
Yet strangely… that only made Jessica cry even harder.
Her hands clutched the back of my clothes, as if she was afraid I would disappear the moment she let go. Her sobs grew deeper, like someone who was finally letting all the pain pour out at once.
I didn’t know what to say.
So I simply kept holding her, letting her cry within that warm embrace.
A few moments passed.
Jessica’s sobbing slowly subsided.
Her breathing gradually returned to normal, and her trembling body began to calm down little by little.
Then I noticed something.
Her body suddenly felt heavier.
I turned my head slightly… and saw that Jessica had actually fallen asleep on my shoulder.
That caught me off guard.
Seriously?
Do all women fall asleep right after crying if someone hugs them?
Or maybe this woman had simply been too exhausted from the start.
Ah, whatever.
I should check if she’s carrying something like her home address. If I find a house key or an ID card, I can take her home right away.
I carefully checked the pockets of her jacket, trying not to wake her.
After a while, I found an ID card that belonged to Jessica. Besides that, I also found a small key—most likely her house key.
Hmm… judging from the address written on the ID card, her place isn’t too far from here.
Good.
At least I don’t have to swing across half the city while carrying someone.
I carefully carried Jessica in my arms, making sure she remained comfortably asleep. Her head rested against my chest, her breathing soft and steady.
Then I walked out of the abandoned building.
The night air of Hell’s Kitchen greeted me as I stepped outside. The streetlights glowed dimly, while the sounds of the city echoed faintly in the distance.
I bent my knees slightly.
Then—I jumped.
My body shot into the air, and within seconds I was already swinging between the buildings of Hell’s Kitchen.
With Jessica asleep in my arms, I headed toward her home.
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Not long after, I finally arrived at Jessica’s apartment building. Without wasting a single moment, without any hesitation, I immediately swung upward with speed, using the momentum from my previous swing as my body soared high into the air in a smooth arc.
The night wind brushed against my face with a sharp chill, piercing my skin and making my breath slightly heavier for a moment. The sound of the rushing wind rang clearly in my ears, blending with the steady rhythm of my heartbeat.
In one precise motion, I adjusted my position before landing smoothly on the twentieth floor. My shoes touched the corridor floor with a light sound, barely audible—just a faint echo that quickly faded away.
As soon as my footing stabilized, I began walking down the rather long corridor. The ceiling lights glowed dimly, some of them flickering slightly, casting a weak, yellowish light that felt cold, creating a quiet atmosphere that was somewhat empty and still.
Faint shadows stretched along the walls, lengthening and shrinking as I moved past them. It was already past six-twenty, and the sky outside had turned completely dark, leaving only the faint reflection of the city lights beyond the window at the end of the hallway.
My footsteps sounded soft yet clear in the silence of the corridor. Each step was controlled, steady—not rushed, yet not relaxed either. The rhythm remained consistent, as if I had already calculated the distance and timing perfectly in my mind.
My gaze swept across each door number carefully, one by one, making sure nothing was overlooked. My focus remained sharp, undistracted by anything, fixed on a single goal—finding Jessica’s apartment room as quickly as possible.
After walking for a while, I finally found the right unit. Without wasting even a second, I immediately took out Jessica’s apartment key, which had been in my hand all along, its cold metal clearly محسوس against my fingers.
With a quick yet cautious movement, I inserted the key into the keyhole. I turned it slowly, restraining every friction to avoid making any noise. A few seconds later, a soft click was heard, nearly swallowed by the silence, almost like an illusion.
The door opened little by little.
I immediately stepped inside the apartment while still carrying Jessica over my shoulder. One of my hands supported her body to keep it steady, making sure she wouldn’t slip.
Jessica’s body felt weak and light, warm against my shoulder, while her breathing was soft and steady near my ear, indicating that she was still unconscious.
The air inside the room felt warmer compared to the hallway outside, carrying a faint, gentle scent that brought a slight sense of comfort, contrasting with the cold atmosphere from before.
But before fully closing the door, I paused for a moment. My hand reached out to pull back the key still hanging in the lock, making sure nothing was left behind.
After confirming the key was in my hand, I slowly closed the door until it was completely shut. I pressed the door a little more firmly to ensure it was truly locked, leaving not even the slightest gap.
I then walked deeper into the apartment. With careful steps, I began opening the doors one by one. Each doorknob was turned slowly, each door opened little by little, making sure no noise would break the silence.
The apartment felt quiet and empty, as if no life existed within it. The only sound was Jessica’s soft breathing over my shoulder, the sole sign of human presence in that place.
After searching for a while, I finally found the right bedroom. I immediately stepped inside and approached the bed on the side of the room, its neatly arranged sheets faintly reflecting the dim light.
Carefully, I lowered Jessica’s body and laid her down on the bed. I adjusted her position slowly, making sure her head rested comfortably on the pillow and her body was not stiff, allowing her to rest peacefully without disturbance.
After that, I walked to the table beside the bed with calm steps. The surface of the table was neat, holding only a few of Jessica’s personal belongings.
I placed Jessica’s wallet there carefully, making sure it was secure and wouldn’t shift. My fingers held it for a brief moment before slowly letting go. Without lingering, I immediately turned around and walked out of the room.
I closed the bedroom door quietly, holding the handle to prevent any sound. After the door was tightly shut, I walked toward the apartment’s entrance.
My steps remained light and controlled. With a quick motion, I locked the door from the inside and left the key hanging there. After that, I turned around and walked toward the balcony without hesitation.
Upon reaching the balcony, I opened the door and stepped outside. The night air immediately greeted me with a chill that was clearly felt against my skin. The wind blew quite strongly at this height, carrying faint sounds from the streets below.
Without hesitation, I closed the balcony door tightly, making sure there were no suspicious signs left behind.
Then, without wasting any time, I jumped out.
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