chapter 38

GMN-1 turned to other GMNs bringing out her machine gun and loading bullets. 

"There are about 15+ up there who want our head" she corked the gun and said "shoot at sight"

They opened the huge double doors and fortunately it wasn't locked. They moved inside and closed the door behind them. 

"The door was open" GMN-6 said

"Yeah, the easiest part so far. I can really tell they are luring us in" GMN-2 said

"We just need to get the box and get out" GMN-3 said

"And how do you propose we do that? " GMN-6 asked

"This place is vast and we don't know exactly where the box it and from the looks of things we may have to split up " GMN-1 said

"I think our first priority should be to eliminate possible dangers and threats" GMN-2 said

"He's right. Dead people don't attack" GMN-1 said. 

"So we basically take out possible threats while finding clues to where the box is" GMN-6 stated

Finally she's back on track, most of the GMNs thought.

GMN-1 just nodded and proceeded them inside. They walked into the room and looked around for possible threats. The room was sparsely furnished with more chairs than tables and a lot of magazines. It looked more like a waiting area than an entertainment area. Who would need a waiting area in their home? The sparse furniture meant no place to hide so as expected it was empty. GMN-6 walked over to the biggest table at the centre which held a lot of magazines and a massive fruit bowl with varieties of fruits. It wasn't tempting because she could bet  it wasn't safe for consumption. She looked through the titles of the magazines, their themes seem to make her stomach churn. Psycho much? 

"No threat, no secret passage or safe just cameras" GMN-2 said

"Let's move on then" GMN-3 said already heading out the door. 

GMN-1 went back to the front door, locked it and used something to wedge it so that they wouldn't have to worry about sneak attacks after checking the rooms. The proceed into a long and wide corridor, they could see the pictures and artifacts hung on the wall, there were also some very expensive art pieces. It made them wonder what their source of income was since the folder didn't give them much information to go by. They approached two doors that were opposite each other. GMN-1 stood watch at the corridor while 3 and 6 took the door by the left and 2 the one by the right. 

GMN 3 and 6 stood beside the door listening for heart beats there was none but you couldn't be too careful with psychos. 6 opened the door slowly and quietly while 3 was the first to go in with 6 on his heels. The room looked like a mini hall with weird decorations as GMN-6 would like to put it. There were black curtains at the edges and some covering the far end of the hall. There were also red designs here and there, a touch of sea green and of course multi-colored lights, some of which look like spotlights. Weird room! For some reason there were mini stages scattered all over the spaces as well as long steel poles that span from ceiling to the nearest floor, some on the stages and some on the ordinary ground. There were also chairs and couches, a bar for drinks and another bar that seemed to hold sound equipment. There were pictures scattered around the walls. The theme of the pictures felt disturbing to them but somehow very enlightening. It showed the male and female human forms in all its glory. The GMNs momentarily stared at the pictures, they could recall seeing the glory of any form other than their own. 

GMN-3 cleared his throat awkwardly while GMN-6 looked from some of the pictures to GMN-3 trying to see where each exhibited part fell in. Don't get her wrong, her form looked like those of the female humans so maybe the other ones were applicable to GMN-3. She gave him an accessing look trying to reconcile what she was seeing with the physical example in front of her. 

GMN-3 turned a bit pink and moved forward awkwardly shaking his head as if to get rid of the thoughts inside them. After a while GMN-6 abandoned her fascination with the pictures and continued their search. So far they had not detected any signs of life in this room, only more cameras. They proceeded to look for secret compartments, they found some but didn't think their contents were significant to their cause. They still put them into their backpack. They stumbled across two rooms and one bathroom behind the hall whose entrance was hidden behind heavy curtains. There were two doors, each leading to a bedroom and each bedroom had a connecting door to the same bathroom. The theme of one is red and the other black which made 6 think they had a thing for these colours. The pictures were more extensive than the ones in the hall but portrayed the same topic. Of course no signs of life or hidden compartment anywhere so they proceeded back out. 

GMN-2 entered what appeared to be a very neat living room with two doors excluding the one he came in through. He quickly glanced into the room at the end of the living room, it was a dinning room, he listened no heartbeat aside his, just 12 chairs and a flower vase with no flower. He exited the room and entered the other, it was a modern kitchen filled with up to date appliances and spotless. He checked around and saw no one. He saw two doors, one led to the dinning room he already checked and the other led to another corridor. He entered into the corridor and walked left towards the intersection. He heard heart beats. 

GMN 3 and 6 walked out of the other room and met 1 in the corridor. She raised her eyebrow in inquiry and GMN-3 shook his head in a negative while GMN-6 looked smug. She ignored that look as she heard heart beats approaching from the corridor ahead. She tried to perceive the person's scent but there we're a lot of scents in this place. The others slowed their breathing, enter the nearest room and sidling to the wall, keeping their guns at ready. GMN-1 entered the room 2 had entered and didn't see him. She decided to wait till the person turned the corner. 

Immediately GMN-2 turned the corner, GMN-6 jumped out of the rooms and fired which also made GMN-2 to fire and dodge before either of them realised who it was. GMN-2's bullet went through the door behind her while GMN-6's bullet went through the wall. 

"Easy! "GMN-2 exclaimed coming out when he realized it was GMN-6

"sorry" GMN-6 said as 1 and 3 came out from where they were. 

"Connecting doors, no human" GMN-2 said

"Any safes? " GMN-1 asked

"Didn't notice any. The corridor goes the opposite way" GMN-2 replied. Did he even check? 

"You two check this corridor, I'm with him" GMN-1 said pointing to GMN 3 and 6 then GMN-2.

They all nodded and GMN-1 entered the room GMN-2 had previously entered while 6 and 3 continued the corridor. 

GMN-1 went  into the room and subtly checked for hidden safes and secret doors, she didn't find any. She met 2 at the other corridor. 

"There are rooms behind but no doors" she whisphered

"We should check the other way" GMN-2 replied and 1 nodded. 

They set off on the corridor and came a door. 

"I'll stand watch you go in" GMN-2 inclined his head to the door and GMN-1 nodded

She opened the door and stepped into a bedroom. It was furnished but not much and there was no sign someone was currently inhabiting, no sign of a secret door or safe or hidden anything. There was only a chair, stool, bed, beside cabinet and a wardrobe. She opened the bedside cabinet and saw rolls of something she didn't know. The description on it was considered vague at most. She decided not to pay attention to it. The wardrobe was empty except for the camera hidden in a corner. She entered the lone door she saw in the room, it led to a connecting bathroom which also connected to another room. The room was the same as the one she previously entered. The difference was the colour scheme. She exited and met GMN-2 outside. They continued down the corridor. Few steps away they approached a door at the opposite side of the wall. They could hear heartbeats from inside about 3 different heartbeats. GMN-1 stood to the side of the wall and with one hand opened the door slowly. Light reflected off the marble floor inside. GMN-2 tried to sneak in and retreated as two bullets flew past him. OK, threats identified. 

He motioned to GMN-1 at the count of three and did the counting himself. They both burst in. GMN-2 shot the first threat who was obviously the one that tried to make his head a bullet holder. 

Coming into the room, right in front of her was a large ball of brown fur growling at her. She couldn't decide if it was trying to intimidate her or make up its mind if it should attack.

"Sit! '' GMN-1 commanded, it stared at her while growling but after a while found the floor. 

GMN-2 went to drag over the man that was still conscious but bleeding. The room was vast with a sunken pool in the middle. Great, they even have an indoor pool. She looked around taking in the room, nothing to hide here. 

GMN-1 heard a noise from the next room and stood up to investigate. The creature made to follow her. 

"Stay! " she commanded and it whimpered but sat still. She signalled to GMN-2 that she was checking the next room and he nodded. 

GMN-1 made her way back to the corridor and proceeded down. There was no other door on the opposite side except the ones leading to that bedroom but there was still one more door on the side she was before the door at the end of the corridor. She stood at the remaining door. She could sense two heartbeats inside and one was directly behind the door. Holding her gun in one hand, she slammed the door open with force hitting who so ever was behind it and firing at the lady who raised up her gun. She caught her square in the right shoulder. She made to fire again and GMN-1 caught her on her left leg. The lady slumped to the ground. She turned to look at the man that was half conscious on the ground and knocked him out before proceeding to the woman. She removed every thing she had on her person that could be used as a weapon and kicked her gun far from her. GMN-1 proceeded to look round to find anything useful but she doubted. It was a game room with little furniture attached to the wall, they we're mostly in the middle with lots of space around them. There we're various games ranging from board games to table games, video games, virtual reality, target games and lots more but no safe or secret compartment and definitely no secret room. There was a framed picture on the wall. It was more like a calligraphed symbol of some sort. She of course shifted the picture but there was nothing behind. She broke the frame and tucked the picture away. She looked around more and decided to drag her hostages and leave when she noticed a virtual device away from the others. That struck her as strange

She picked it up and it looked broken. She didn't have time to really check when she heard a certain noise.  She just grabbed it and grabbed another that looked like it. She stepped out of the room and checked the door at the end of the corridor and it led outside. She locked it and grabbed a table from the game room and blocked it. She dragged the two humans to the room she had left GMN-2.

She met 2 just as she heard footsteps coming towards them she looked out and saw GMN 3 and 6. She thought as much. 

GMN 3 and 6 entered inside the pool room and looked at the humans that had been captured, okay? Seems like they had a little more action than the both of them. Then suddenly GMN-6 squealed in excitement when she noticed the huge dog. She was beside it in seconds rubbing it's head and back. The animal seem to enjoy the attention. 

"Oh so cute, can I keep him? " she asked lovingly. GMN-3 just rolled his eyes and sighed as she cooed at the animal. GMN-2 cleared his throat which made 6 stand and straighten up still petting the dog with one hand. 

"Find something? " GMN-2 asked

"Yeah. Down the corridor there's a huge bathroom with a secret exit behind it leading to an obviously booby trapped tunnel, an office with a secret safe and a basement which doubles as their holding cells. And there's this" GMN-6 said, handing two files to GMN-2. He took the files while GMN-3 moved closer to the door to keep watch. 

"Are there prisoners down at their holding cells? " GMN-1 asked

"Yeah and there's a door leading to a massive grave yard" GMN-6 replied

GMN-1 didn't comment on her answer as she went about examining their hostages

"Shouldn't we do something about their wounds? " GMN-3 asked from the door. 

"Not yet" GMN-1 said walking towards the pool with a water can she retrieved from one of them and then filled it with pool water before going back to meet the rest. 

"The four of them have similar tattoos" GMN-1 began bringing out the picture she had taken from the game room and showing it to them. Back there it had looked like a form of beautification or artistic sense but now it felt like something more.

"Looks like the symbol drawn on the first page of this file" GMN-2 said showing them. 

"Three instances of the same symbol cannot be a coincidence" GMN-3 contributed 

"I think we've stumbled upon a cult, that's the only way the things in these files will ever make sense and might I say they are distinctly and heavily coded" GMN-2 said

"And whatever we are looking for should either be of symbolic relevance or great value, judging by their efforts to keep us out" GMN-6 mused around

"There other tatoos at opposite sides, similar but different especially in number" GMN-1 said still studying her hostages. "Looks like a ranking system of some sort" she said as they looked over the tatoos. Even GMN-3 had to leave his post by the door to take a look before returning. 

GMN-1 tore strips of clothes from those that were wounded and wrapped their wounds before pouring water on them to get them conscious including the man she had purposely knocked out. 

"Welcome back" GMN-6 said mockingly while GMN-1 stood to the side observing. 

The humans looked around the room when their eyes could finally focus and saw two young men and two girls. 

"What does your tatoos mean? " GMN-2 asked they all looked at him and kept quiet. 

"Not very responsive" GMN-3 commented like he expected it

"What does this mean? " GMN-2 asked again holding up the picture with the symbol. 

"It's a picture " the man that was shot hissed

"I know what it is, what I want to know is what it means. " GMN-2 replied

The lone woman laughed like a hyena, at least that was the closest similarity according to GMN-6.

"glad you find something amusing about your situation " GMN-2 said as GMN-6 stamped her foot. She was growing impatient. "You see the lady over there, well me being nice is trying her patience so I suggest you talk before things gets worse " 

"What!? We aren't even afraid of you and you want us to fear her?" The  man that was unscathed said. 

"Ever the gentleman " the woman mocked. The fact she was still saucy admist the pain she should be feeling impressed them but she was about to know pain from the look on GMN-6. GMN-1 looked impatient. They we're running out of time and she didn't intend to waste more time. She made a quick exit to the game room and reappeared with duct tape. She handed it over to GMN-6 who took the pleasure of taping their eyes open, one by one. 

"How about we start again" GMN-1 stated. Her tone commanded their attention and made them wary. "Where can I find the twins? "

"Obviously in their house" the woman answered

"Wrong answer! " GMN-6 said cheerily and it was followed by a high pitch scream and curses. The men looked at the girl in front of them with growing horror. She gave them a beautiful smile as their female partner fell unconscious with eyes still open. 

"You monster! What did you do to her!? " the man that was unscathed shrieked 

"You have eyes and they are wide open. I believe a question was asked"GMN-6 replied

"We are not going to tell you anything! " the man unscathed said and GMN-6 smiled

"Wrong answer again but good for me" she said which was followed by more screams from the man why the other man's faced contorted in horror. "I guess I don't need to ask you, your answer will be the same" she said as she made her way over to him

"Wait... They... They're upstairs. " the man said

"Upstairs is not a definite location, where are they? " GMN-6 said as the man screamed

"Wait wait wait... I'll tell you " the man said heaving "second floor in the control room" the man said in fear

"Good boy" GMN-6 said rubbing his head. The dog whined

"Great now the dog is jealous " GMN-3 said, he had this weird inflation in his voice that made GMN-1 turn and look at him. She turned back to the task at hand. The other man had calmed down. GMN-1 sprinkled water on the woman but it took sometime before she revived. She was still in serious pain. GMN-1 squatted to their level seeing that the three captives were seated on the ground. 

"I'm looking for a bronze box" GMN-1 began

Immediately she mentioned the box their eyes seem to widen in fear. 

"No one touches the bronze box! " the woman exclaimed 

"You do know the box I speak of, are you going to tell me where it is or are we going to torture it out of you? " GMN-1 asked standing up 

"You'll never find it even if you search here for years" the woman spat

"So it is indeed here, how do I find it? " GMN-1 asked

"You're not getting anything out of me! " the woman yelled 

"Perhaps" GMN-1 said signalling to GMN-6 who tortured the woman. Her scream rang out that they had to cover their ears. GMN-1 turned to the man that was unscathed. 

"Tell us what we want to know and you can save your wife from me" GMN-1 said

Wife? GMN-6 thought. Well that wasn't her problem but how did GMN-1 know?

"Don't tell her any... Aaaaaaaaaaaaa..." The woman screamed

"Stop! Stop it! " the man yelled but no one paid attention to him. 

"Best start talking" GMN-1 said folding her arms as GMN-6 tortured the woman yet again. 

"Damn it! Just stop, I'll talk... Please! " the man begged. 

GMN-1 signalled 6 who let the woman be, for now. 

"The box... The box... is said to hold the power of life and death. I... I don't know... how but that is what we're told" the man began casting glances at the two girls and then his wife.

Pppf! GMN-3 internal spat blood. He couldn't believe they just risked life and limb to find a superstitious box. Doc must have gone crazy, he better look at her brain scan as soon as they get back.

"That wasn't the question or do you need a reminder of what the question was? " GMN-6 said inching closer to his wife. 

"No no no. Is in the house since it was moved last but I don't know where? " the man said

"OK" GMN-6 said trying to grab the woman who tried to shrink away from her. 

"Wait! Wait there is a map, in the library that shows how to find it" at their skeptical look, he nodded vigorously "I swear on everything I hold dear, that was what we we're told. It's in the library on the first floor"

"I believe you. Guess that's all we need to know for now, anything else? " GMN-1 asked

"Just to be clear the twins are humans right? Like they can be killed?" GMN-6 asked. She wasn't ready to waste her time and find out that the twins we're some kind of immortals with special powers like in the movies. 

"Yes but there is a curse on whoever that kills the guardians" the man replied 

"Then we'll have to make sure not to draw their death blood" GMN-1 said like it was a forgone conclusion. 

"What!?" The other GMNs shouted

"You can't be serious" GMN-6 added

"I can't have a curse hanging over us now can I?" GMN-1 said, packing up the files, picture and their hostages' guns. She just left one for the man that was unscathed. 

"What are you doing ?" GMN-6 questioned. She just couldn't believe GMN-1 just gave the man a gun. The woman seem to be conscious but in serious pain. She released their binds and untapped their eyes. They blinked and winced until the got accustomed to that. 

"Leaving, you're coming ?" GMN-1 said

"Are we going to leave them alive!? " GMN-6 asked. This was ridiculous! 

"I kept my word" she said heading to the door with GMN-2 behind her. 

"Seriously even the b*tch that kept insulting us? Come on! " GMN-6 exclaimed. She was having a hard time believing this and even a harder time accepting it but from the looks of things it seems like everyone unanimously agreed. To say she was pissed was an understatement. She was frustrated but she didn't see an alternative. She reluctantly made to follow the rest out when she saw movements behind. The crazy b*txh was using her last energy to grab the gun and fire at her turned back when the man that was previously shot tried to stop her but got shot in the process. The annoying thing was even after the man fell, the bitch aimed at her and laughed with her hand on the trigger.

GMN-6 saw a gun being handed to her through her peripheral vision and didn't stop to check who, but in the next three second she killed the crazy b*tch and her husband. The husband wanted to be the human shield of his wife and ended up dead weight. Where the woman got the strength to fire the gun was baffling because she was literally still on the ground. Even after GMN-6 "accidentally" shot the husband she had to kill the woman, yeah because she really wanted to and secondly her vengeance was body boosting. She turned back to her fellow GMNs, she wasn't really feeling guilty, that woman deserved to die but she felt bad going against the don't kill consensus, just a tiny bit bad. She wasn't going to apologise though. 

"So that didn't go as we agreed" GMN-6 said

"Faster than I expected" GMN-1 agreed as she finally stepped out into the corridor 

"Wait, but you let them go in keeping your word…" GMN-6 sometimes had a hard time keeping up with GMN-1's logic 

"I said save them from me, I didn't vouch for any other person" GMN-1 said. GMN 2 and 3 shook their head. "Besides even if we let them go, there is no way they are making it out alive or in one piece and supposing they do whatever cult they belong to will be after their tails. You just gave them the easiest way out" GMN-1 said heading for the stairs. 

GMN-6 watched the retreating back of GMN-1, so she knew this was going to happen and anticipated it. She really didn't want to be on her bad side ever. 

"Library first floor, psychos second floor, which do we go after first? " GMN-6 whispered 

"The map, the psychos are just personal vendetta, plus we may need them to explain the map." GMN-2 said and they all nodded. They looked behind them and sure enough the dog was still following them. 

"Didn't we get rid of the dog? " GMN-3 asked

"Nope, I'm keeping him" GMN-6 said and crossed GMN 2 and 1 and stopped behind 3.

"Will you keep moving? " GMN-6 asked and the dog wagged its tail happily 

GMN-3 scoffed but moved forward up the stairs. GMN 1 and 2 looked at each other and said nothing. This was going to prove interesting. As they approached the bend of the stairs, the GMNs and the dog paused as the GMNs pulled out their gun and kept it at ready. They could hear different heartbeats coming from the top floor. GMN-3 signalled they should  hold on and sped up the stairs. Few seconds later they heard two gun shots and then he was motioning them up the remainder of the stairs. They were greeted by another living room that was tastefully furnished. They heard silent footsteps approaching from outside the room. GMN-6 took out one of the men while GMN-2 took out the second. The dog barked and wagged its tail as if to say congratulations.

You useless creature! At least show some loyalty to the lackeys of your owners.

"Six down, how many more to go? " GMN-3 asked it was a rhetorical question but somebody answered anyway. 

"Who cares? We get what we want and blow the whole place up" GMN-6 answered

"Don't even dare! " GMN-1 said. She had plans, serious plans, didn't know why but it just came to her. 

GMN-6 made to move again when the dog started barking uncontrollably. It wouldn't let her go and when she tried to evade it the dog nipped at her shoe. 

"Wait! I think he's trying to tell me something." GMN-6 said

"What could a dog possibly tell you that you haven't said yourself? " GMN-3 mocked and stepped forward. GMN-1 reacted quickly and grabbed him before he fell. 

"You have your answer. " GMN-2 said. He couldn't believe that GMN-3 was so distracted that he didn't notice that even when the dog barked. 

GMN-1 stooped and touched the ground, well at least she tried to. It was just like the one they saw aside. Ground where there's none. There has to be a control switch or a part that was solid. She was really tired if playing these games. The dog continued to bark and she followed it's line of sight and the first thing that came into mind was 'cliché much'. The button was behind the only painting in the room. Was it her or did they have a weird aesthetic sense. It was probably her because she could bet that all artworks have symbolic meaning to them like pieces in a puzzle. She flipped the switch and the ground rolled into place. How much did it cost to have a place like this. They must be rich. 

They made their way across choosing to go left first since they heard heartbeats from the right. It looked like an ambush, well they'll play with them at their own time. They went down the corridor and found a large dining room with huge screens around the wall more like a conference dining table, a conference room, intercom room and finally the library. Opposite these rooms were bedrooms more like guest bedrooms. 

The library was huge and well stock. It had everything from prehistoric to contemporary and even beyond. Literature, art, science, social science and even religion but no map. 

"I hate to break it to you but it seems like that man got away with lying to us" GMN-6 frowned

"You killed the man how is that getting away? " GMN-3 asked

"I would have taken my time and enjoyed the process " GMN-6 retorted

"I don't think he lied. We just haven't found the library he was... " GMN-3 began when he heard a parting sound and some shelves of books parted to reveal a secret room that housed a secret library. "...talking about"

"Found it" GMN-1 said

They walked into the secret library and the entrance closed behind them. Interesting. The overhead light automatically came on. Very interesting. 

"So we are here, how do we find the map among this...? " GMN-6 asked looking at the columns and columns of books that almost towered from ceiling to floor. 

"It would either be in the most unusual places" GMN-2 said

"Or the most obvious places" GMN-1 completed 

GMN-6 looked at the both of them. GMN-1 was beginning to do that weird mind reading, sentence completing stuff she did with GMN-4 that manages to freak her out. Like how can you know what another person is thinking! 

"We should spread out" GMN-3 said picking an aisle. 

After thirty minutes of searching with the dog sleeping in the center they came up with nothing. 

"Nothing" GMN-3 said

"Me too" GMN-6 said

"It has to be here somewhere, maybe it's camouflaged " GMN-2 said

"That would make sense" GMN-3 agreed

"You will never find it even if you searched here for years" GMN-1 repeated the woman's words to herself

"She was talking about the box" GMN-6 said

"And how to find it" GMN-1 said in a contemplative manner. They knew that tone of voice. 

GMN-1 pondered. They've searched all the unusual and usual places yet they still couldn't find the map. For the woman to be so sure that they wouldn't find the box that means the map was crucial to finding the box. The map has to be somewhere people won't look or look and ignore or look and not see. Where could that be? 

She headed to the section she saw maps. They we're looking for a map a special map, there is a tendency that people won't assume it would be kept together with other ordinary map. She searched the maps and even the globe but she still found nothing. There has to be something she was missing. She rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes chanting 'bronze'

"I think she's going crazy" GMN-6 whispered to the rest

"Just let her be" GMN-3 cautioned

"Why is it so important to her anyway? " GMN-6 asked just as GMN-1 walked off to the opposite direction. She scanned the titles and pulled out one and tapped the book as the others watched her. 

"Let's try this, I call out countries you bring out their maps" GMN-1 said and the guys we're on it. "Serbia. Mesopotamia. Egypt. Syria. China. " she called out and the guys separated their maps from the rest. They didn't know what she was doing but just went along with her, hopefully it would prove useful. She came over and lay the maps side by side. It didn't seem right to her. She kept rearranging till she noticed little character inscription on it ending with an exclamation. She rearranged it following the inscription. It was traditional Chinese, how fitting. 

'search less to find something'

"Search less to find something? " GMN-2 said unsure

"That is just rich" GMN-6 said, folding her arms. "Not only did I unknowingly enrol for physical training classes, I also enrolled for free language classes and now they want me to solve riddles and puzzles, what next? Play bob the builder?"

"It has to be helpful in some way" GMN-1 said, running her hands through her hair. This was so frustrating. 'Search less to find something' what kind of clue is that, unless... She looked at the maps. She had arranged the map in a certain order to make sense of the message or instruction, whatever that was. What if the instruction was more of a format. She decided to test her theory. The diagonal opposite of where the characters were written had something which seemed to be also incorporated into the individual maps that would go unnoticed if you were looking for something special. She arranged them based on the characters. 

"073°N"GMN-1 finally said 

"Directions? " GMN-2 asked in confusion 

"Probably a decorated tombstone or a minefield in the middle of nowhere!" GMN-6 retorted.

GMN-1 walked off and they just watched her. They've understood that whenever she was like this, they just let her be. She walked to the space in front of the racks and stood on the drawing of the sun on the floor. She pointed towards various directions muttering to herself before she started walking towards GMN-6 who got out of the way even before GMN-1 reached her. 

GMN-1 brought down the framed blueprint of the house. She had wondered why it was framed, it didn't matter now. She held the frame and let it drop to the ground without care and the glass shattered. She carefully picked out the bull print from the mess. She held it in front of her and studied it for sometime and still didn't find any clue to the location of the box. She turned around and re-read the text in the picture beside where the blueprint used to be. The picture showed someone in a room looking through a telescope and seeing an ocean. Below was written 'Reality but not. Follow the red' there was nothing red in the picture. She could feel she was close but missing something. 

"Reality but not" GMN-1 mused to herself. How can something be a reality at the same time and not. That can only be possible if it is an illusion or a hallucination or... She fished in her backpack and brought out the virtual reality device. The other GMNs gathered around her like she was about to perform a miracle. 

"I have two but I don't know which is it or if any would " GMN-1 said putting one of the device on. She switched it on but it appeared not to respond but suddenly it seemed to respond or she thought it did. The device seem to clear the screen and became an eyeglass because she could still see the room and things in it including her hand she stretched in front of her. Maybe it was the other one or maybe this was a looking glass of some sort. She placed the blueprint in front of her. The device appeared to scan the paper and then zoomed in like she was transported to another room or time. The suddenness nearly made her stumble. She regained her footing. 

"The room is different" GMN-1 muttered 

"What about the map? " GMN-2 asked

She looked at the map she was holding again it was still the blueprint of the house but this time instead of rooms it showed treasures. 

"It's right here! " GMN-1 said enthusiastically 

"Where exactly? " GMN-6 asked because she was not seeing any other additional information on the blueprint. GMN-1 turned to show her but couldn't see her. That was strange, she could see everything in the room before. She stretched forth her hand again, a hand came into view but it wasn't her hand. 

"Can you see me? " GMN-1 asked

"Interesting" GMN-6 replied. So what now? You wear a VR device and suddenly feel invisible? What else? The world is a giant marshmellow?

"We can see you, why? " GMN-3 replied instead

"I can't see you but I can see this" GMN-1 said raising the blueprint. "But it's kind of different now"

"How? " GMN-2 asked

"It's like a treasure map." GMN-1 replied

"Does it show you where the bronze box is? " GMN-3 asked

"Although some are labelled it has many chest written and some just labelled 'treasure' so it's hard to tell from the map exactly where it is" GMN-1 replied 

"What of the red it asked you to follow? " GMN-2 asked, looking at the painting while GMN-1 subtly moved as she felt someone touch her backpack. GMN-6 who was unzipping her backpack was trying to rummage inside, careful of the blade. 

"There is nothing in red" GMN-1 replied 

"But there is. A thin line of... blood! Interesting. " GMN-6 said tracing the line with her index finger. She was seeing red strips on plain paper. 

The two GMNs could see 6 wearing the second VR. GMN-3 got a pencil and drew the line on the blueprint as 6 traced them. When they we're done GMN 1 and 6 took off the VR and packed it back in GMN-1's backpack. 

"We need to split up because it would be faster. Seeing it's already morning and judging by how much Doc wants the box she might send the others after us, so we need to hurry before they get here." GMN-1 said

"Okay. 1 and I will find the chest, 3 think you handle the twins with 6?" GMN-2 said

GMN 1 and 3 tried to show no reaction to that but 6 wasn't dumb. 

"I'm a wild cat luckily your eyes is not looking attractive for now. C'mon doggie! "GMN-6 said ignoring every other person. The dog looked like it wanted to stay but ended up obediently following its self-proclaimed  mistress. 

"No killing " GMN-1 said to 3 who gave a grim nod and followed after 6 and the dog. 

GMN 1 and 2 followed the line drawn on the blueprint. The blueprint wasn't much different than when she had the VR on. Rather than have the names of room indicating which room is which it had the name of the treasure to be found in each room. 

The map led them outside and they had to overcome some booby traps but it got them to a cementary. How convienent. There own private burial ground. Now where exactly was it. She wore the first VR, it didn't show her anything so she wore the second one which GMN-6 had worn. 

"X marks the spot" She muttered to herself and pointed out to GMN-2. Shovel in hand and few minutes later a dusty and dirty bronze box was uncovered. 

So much trouble for this? It wasn't a very big bronze chest like they we're expecting, big enough to hold a huge amount of gold, silver and other jewels. It looked way smaller than they expected. GMN-2 heaved it to the surface 

"It is sure heavier than it looks" GMN-2 said getting out of the hole and avoided touching his clothes. 

"Wait! There's something below" GMN-1 said and jumped in. GMN-2 made to tell her that she should wait that he would get it but seeing that she was already down there it was no use. She uncovered a large piece of leather wrapped around something with a seal. This gets more interesting. 

GMN-1 helped 2 take the box inside even though he insisted he could do it alone. They took it back to the house each holding one of it's handles. As they entered the house they saw bodies littered everywhere and the holding cells were quiet. 

The bodies trailed from the ground floor to the second floor right to the office on the third floor. The bodies around the wide open office were more gruseomely murdered. 

"What did they do? " GMN-2 asked in surprise 

"Not 'they', 'she' " GMN-3 said pointing at GMN-6 whose sleeves were dripping. 

"You said not to kill the twins, you didn't say anything about the rest of them" GMN-6 said. She had murdered them with her bare hands. They really underestimated how angry she was. GMN-1 looked indifferent. The bloodied twins looked horrified. They did some things, mean things, sadistic things but all they've done in their lives cannot compare to what that girl did in few minutes. She was a walking monster. 

GMN-1 walked across the room and looked at the twins. So much for the high and mighty. She felt somewhat disappointed. She expected more from the people who turned their property into a death trap. They looked up at her from their position on the ground. 

"How did I do? " GMN-1 asked them. They looked like her not understanding what she was talking about. 

"You wouldn't believe how arrogant they were! " GMN-6 exclaimed, getting up. The twins cowered back subconsciously moving towards GMN-1. GMN-3 just shook his head calling them stupid and ignorant in his head. In a bid for safety they were moving from torture to hell. Their action seem to slightly amuse GMN-1. 

GMN-1 left and reappeared with three heads and dropped them in front of the twins. The twins tried to maintain a Stoic expression even though they were afraid but she saw right through them. One would wonder how two psychopaths who were notorious for their sadistic and mind boggling gruesome activities were trembling. However she knew GMN-6, the girl could defy human expectations let alone when she's angry. 

"Heads, challenge and keeping me, it's the other way round. I have you but I don't intend on keeping you " GMN-1 said like she was bored

"You can't kill us" one of the twins said. GMN-1 picked up a piece of wood in front of him and roughly brushed it on his arm. It drew blood, she looked at the piece of wood with new found interest. The twins swallowed. 

"Tell us about your cult! " GMN-2 demanded

"Kill us! " the other twins spat

"We'll get to that in due time" GMN-1 responded from the opposite side. She pressed a button and entered the secret room. Unlike other secret room when the wall parted it still maintained an illusion that the wall was still there so the person going inside appeared to be walking through the wall. Nice! She appeared later having gotten one of the things she actually wanted from them. She proceeded to open their drawers, raking what she thought was necessary. She packed a bunch of keys then holding a very strange one in her hand, she motioned to the door. 

"Let's go"

GMN-6 grabbed the twins, 2 and 3 the box while she followed behind with the dog. They got to the door they blocked that led outside and unblocked it and opened it stepping outside. GMN-1 locked it and caught up with them. 

"Leave them here" GMN-1 said racing ahead to the gate. The others followed suit. GMN-6 threw them on the ground roughly and left. The force knocked the wind out of them. They managed to sit up. 

"Cowards! " One of the twins yelled. GMN-6 was about to go back when 1 stopped her. She looked towards the twins and pressed a button. All the booby traps they face resurfaced. The GMNs watched the twins fall into the shark den. 

"We can't swim! " one of the twins shouted

"I know" GMN-1 said plainly turning her back and walking out. They could hear the screams. GMN-1 pressed another button and the screams intensified. She pressed the third button that set all the mechanisms in place so that trespassers will not know until it's too late. 

"How did you know? " GMN-3 asked 1. He knew that she had somehow activated the small torture device 6 had made them swallow. 

"She wouldn't miss the chance" She replied just as a car pulled along side theirs. It looked familiar sort of. 

GMN-4 hurriedly stepped out of the car and paused taking in their appearance before his eyes landed on GMN-1 who raised a brow. 

"Doc sent me to find out what's keeping you " GMN-4 stated removing his gaze from GMN-1

"What's in it? " GMN-4 asked as he watched GMN-2 put it in the back seat. 

"We don't know " GMN-3 replied 

"Let's get going " GMN-2 said trying to suppress his irritation

"You guys go ahead. We've got another mission " GMN-4 said opening the passenger's side for GMN-1. GMN-2 face crumpled a bit. 

"We've not reported on the one we just finished" GMN-2 said and GMN-4 smiled. GMN-1 kept her face blank and she stepped away from the other car and entered the one GMN-4 had open. She watched as GMN-4 flashed 2 a smile and went around to the driver's side and got in. 

"You sure keeping the box with them is smart? " GMN-4 asked her. 

"The box stays there " GMN-1 just replied as he drove off.