Chapter 49

"This drive contains the information about the Korean mafia," Ilsel announced. He's scrolling down to the file he opened. Trance and Nine watched him behind. He typed on his phone before turning his gaze to them, "I'm afraid this is a spare drive. A replica of the not just billions of dollars but trillions of worth."

"Then why you told us it's the original?" Trance walked over to him and placed her arm on his swivel chair. She stole a glance at Nine, "Are you sure the contents are the same as the original?"

"Yes. I became a mafia member before I became part of Excalibur," Ilsel explained. Trance heaves out a deep breath, rubbing her temple. Nine lifted her gaze at the blue-eyed woman as the space beside her on the couch sank. Nine was wondering for a reason for Trance's sudden bitter expression. Emotion is such an enigmatic labyrinth for her.

"Nine," Trance spoke out while looking at Ilsel and stood up. Trance placed her hand beneath Nine's gloved hands, thinking twice before relaxing her shoulder. Trance wrapped her fingers on Nine's hand as she met the gaze cold as snow.

"Why?"

"I want to go somewhere. I need to have a word with you," Nine stared at her with unconvinced eyes. She glanced at her hand and then at Trance. Trance smiled softly before intertwining their fingers, "Come on, just this once. Please? You'll like that place." Trance rose up from her seat.

"What if I don't? I have things to finish."

"I'll do those tasks later. Just tell me what to do. Can you do me a favor?"

"Tch." Nine stands up while looking away.

"Where are you two going?" Ilsel got his eyes fixed on the women's hands clasped together.

'Friends. Yes. Friends.'

'Strange. Nine doesn't do that even with her friends. Did she allow her friends to do that to her or let them do her work? Did she, Ilsel? Did SHE?'

' 'Yo, did she allows anyone? Oh. Trance you're playing with fire.'

"You better tell me where I'll drop you. I have other reports to finish." Nine shifts the gear-attention on the road that welcomes the front lights of her car.

"I'm going to Solstice bar."

"I know why you're out."

"You know me. Really. It's too slow inside the organization." Trance softly brushed her finger against the gloc's trigger on her side. Putting on the fool's mask brings the whole atmosphere down-the warmth of Trance's palm hugs the metal as the car stops.

"It's about time, Lady Hikari. I already have enough evidence against you being a traitor." Nine opened the glove compartment. Locks dig themselves into the doors. Trance aimed her gloc to the window beside her. Nine leaned in her seat, watching the woman begin to panic, "Using a gun to silence someone is a convenient way. Are you sure it'll work for me? Don't forget that this car is bulletproof, Hikari."

"How did you---"

"Know your name? I'll give you three seconds. Make a run if you want to see the morning dew." The doors opened, and Trance don't think twice to run outside. Nine pulled out a gun with a silencer from the pocket of her trench coat. Trance stopped in front of the unclimbable wall. Trance can feel herself shrinking by the blonde's gaze. Is fighting necessary when you're in the falcon's grasp? Wherein your life is the exchange of the action so the choice you have made?

Not for her. Not for Trance.

Trance pulled the trigger.

"See, I know what you have done. I told you one, don't let your guard down," A bullet hits near the hand, causing Trance to accidentally release the gun. Nine curled her index gently on the hair covering Trance's face. Trance can feel her breath hitching after Nine smelled her hair, "Smells like french vanilla too. Sadly, it's a waste once you're six feet beneath."

One step forward, grabbing the hollow of her cheeks. Trance has nowhere to run knowing she gets pulled close to the personification of the reaper. How could she injure someone as Nine? A person where stabbing or shooting doesn't work on? Fear? That's new to her vocabulary. She feels it now. Fear exists in her of the gun aimed at her head. There is the emotion she never thought will pass on her if her life is on the brink of its end.

"Sir, it's a piece of bad news. Another member of Excalibur caught our undercover."

"What does this member of Excalibur looks like?"

"I can't figure it out. He's wearing a mask but it's only half of the face."

"The eye color?"

"It's like the fire, sir."

"Leave! Now!"

"The prey finally caught on the trap. Cover your ears." Nine whispered. Trance quickly pressed her palms on her ears. She can hear her heart pounding against her ears seconds before Nine pulled the trigger. Bullet hits his temple--preventing the man to place his finger on the trigger.

"Hey, can you hear me?" Trance opened her eyes, founding a man lying in the bush. Blood sprayed on the floor, bathing the roots. She can still sense Nine's touch despite her hand being no longer there. Trance crouched, hiding her crimson shade face.

"Hey."

Nine lowered herself down to Trance's level. Reluctant they might say but there she is, thinking twice before tapping Trance's shoulder. A simple touch that sends a thousand volts to Trance's skin.

"Nine, you wouldn't mind if you still drop me at Solstice bar, right?"

"Yes."

"You wouldn't mind what happened here, right?"

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing, is the cleaning team on their way?"

"They're on standby."

"Do you mean they saw us?"

Nine straightened her clothes and helped Trance to stand up. Trance followed Nine inside their car--pretending to be innocent.

"I thought you will kill me," Trance laughed, nervously. Nine leaned on her--scanning her face and then a small click of metal echoed inside the secluded space. Handcuffs welcome Trance after she raised her hands, "Fuck!"

"I will bring the person you wished to talk with, say his name now."

"I will if you remove these handcuffs on me!"

"No."

"No?! How dare you, Nine!"

"How dare me? Any minute from now, I will make your head explode. I have proven that you're performing things behind the watch of the headmistresses or even the captain." Nine stepped on the gas pedal, "Seems like you forgot that slaughtering the proven traitors is one the jurisdiction is given to me. Say the name and maybe I'll be considerate to let you live for the next 24 hours."

Let live. Two words, somehow made Trance wish for time will stand still. However, dying is a problem? If it is Nine? She doesn't think so.

"Madeleine. It is his name." Trance mumbled, "What about killing me now?"

"How pathetic." The car stopped, "Think mind games of yours would work on me?" Nine removed her mask.

"When you're asking me to say the name and I didn't reply, you're blabbering nonsensical things now that I did you told me another fuckery. Are you stupid, Nine?"

"Goddamn it, Hikari. You're pissing me off." Trance sat in silence after Nine exited the car. There is no point in an argument. No point in twisting things. Sounds of vehicle horns hit Trance soon Nine opened the door beside her. Nine unlocks the cuff on Trance's right wrist and then places it on her left wrist. Nine grabbed Trance's right hand.

"What are you doing?"

"You will go inside with me." Trance got dragged by Nine.

Nine handed the bouncer a small card before they entered inside.

"Wow, you got a card here."

"It's none of your business. Where is he?"

"He's always sitting on the bar." Going through the crowd, Trance holds onto Nine's arm until they reached the place.

"Hime! You're finally here!" A man blonde man wearing a trench coat waved at Trance with a glass of cocktail in his other hand. Trance waved at him back.

"I never expect you'll bring your friend," Madeleine's crimson-colored eyes landed on their bounded hands, "Both of you got a pair of pretty bracelets over there."

"Nine, this is Madeleine. My friend. Madeleine, this is Nine. My.."

"You lover?" The man asked before drinking his whiskey. Dressed formally and hair dark as midnight. Their bartender slides the bottle of vodka to Nine with a smirk creeping on his face.

"Funny joke, Tyler. Quit smirking, William. Both of you still owe me five hundred pesos." Nine deadpanned. Nine tapped Trance's arms--motioning her to have a sit.

"Did you bring it?"

"Woah! Hime, your wife is a bit possessive." Madeleine laughed. The bartender shook his head in disappointment.

"The fucking audacity of this dwarf Karen." Nine commented.

"Excuse me?"

"Excuse you."

"This bitch." Madeleine marched towards her, pissed.

"Bro, you look like a bitch more than me. Who's in the right mind will yell like crazy fuck?" Nine laughed, "And I'm not her wife."

"Good thing because I can't tolerate you."

"Not yet."

"Deserve." The man beside Nine commented. Nine give him a high-five, "Hold your break, Madeleine. Don't drag Harper into this. Labyrinth doesn't want her brother to be in trouble."

"Tyler has a point, Madeleine." Nine drinks half of her vodka, "I'm not your business here." She smirked, annoying the guy in front of them.

"Calm down, Madeleine," Trance smiled, "Nine is just like that."

"I know, Hime." Madeleine handed Trance a brown envelope, "You don't need to pay me. My service is always free for you."

Trance opened the envelope--revealing the documents.

"A clinic, huh? Interesting."