Chapter 14

With a final zip of my bag, I was finally done packing, well just to recheck. Clothes, check. The folder, check. My wallet, check. Lastly my phone or the newly acquired phone, I got last week. I destroyed my last one before getting here since it could pinpoint my exact location even though I built it myself from scratch, you can never be too careful.

"Oh god, no."

I started panicking, checking all the bags compartments the phone sadly wasn't there

"No, please no."

My voice cracking under pressure

"It has to be around here."

I let out a sigh of relief when I feel a bump in my jacket's pocket, taking a sit in my bed to still my racing heart.

It only took a few weeks before my so-called peace ended. Well, what did I expect? This place to be a sanctuary. The mere thought made me chuckle.

It was never been in the first place.

A loud knock echoed through the room disturbing me from my thoughts. With a groan, I sluggishly dragged my entire being to the door upon opening it I was face to face to a smirking;

Dylan.

For a long time, I haven't seen him, he looks somewhat more presentable and much more good-looking than usual. From the way he kept bouncing from the soles of his feet, he was excited about something. My suspicion was right when I spotted a duffel bag slung on his right shoulder

"Looks like you're going on a trip."

I pointed out which he nodded eagerly

"Yeah, and it's all thanks to you."

I squinted "Don't tell me."

"Yup."

Emphasizing the p at the end before breaking into another grin, dangling a set of keys in front of me

"The boss wants me to take you all the way there, safe and sound."

I could only cringe and facepalmed at his statement

"How considerate of her."

Grabbing the backpack from the bed, I made one look at the room. This was probably my last day here, there may be no more next time since getting killed in the field was unavoidable and with a bounty on my head, it'll be even more difficult.

"Let's go."

There's no point in worrying about the little things since I'll probably die soon enough. The two of us made our way to the elevator, no word was said between the two of us.

"Oh by the way Rachel's coming with us."

Just by the name made me stop in my tracks

"Well then, I'll just take the train by myself."

"Not so fast."

He roughly grabbed my bag and pulled me inside the elevator

"No need to worry your cute little head, the boss specifically told her to not harm a single strand of hair on your head."

He tried assuring me but I could only pout in defeat, earning a chuckle from him. We arrived at the storage room, only to see it empty. It was probably too early in the morning to be this empty

"Come on."

The two of us crossed the empty room. His pace was much faster than mine making me trail behind, which I didn't mind at all. He only stopped when we arrive at the platform, on top of it parked a black, BMW and leaning to it was none other than Rachel. Both hands stuffed inside the pocket of her hoodie and had this bored expression on her face but when she saw Dylan her mood suddenly lightened.

"You ready."

She nodded at Dylan who went straight to the driver's seat. When he was out of sight, Rachel then turned to me our eyes meet. Grey eyes were glaring at me and I could only give her a questionable look in return. Oddly tonight, she was dressed in a short skirt. Her two katanas hung from her belt and lastly combat boots. I could only scoff at her overdramatic appearance before making my way to the passenger seat

"Look I don't like you."

Pointing her finger at my chest to emphasize her point

"Likewise," I grumbled, swatting her hand away.

She gap at the action and I gotta say the look on her face right now was priceless. I tried to hide my amusement but failed as I could feel the corners of my lip twitch into a grin.

"Listen you little."

I didn't hear the last of it since I already slipped into the passenger's seat. From the window, I could see Rachel stomped her foot in frustration

"You're a little menace."

Dylan said between laughs while I returned the compliment with a smirk

"Oh god, what's that smell?!"

I tried covering my poor nose from the horrid smell but it was still there. There was only one thing that smelled that bad, the thing that I hated the most; Hanging from his rearview mirror, the dreaded pinecone air freshener. Nope, I'm not going to sit here all the way to another country with that in here. Much to Dylan's protest, I threw the air fresher out the window.

"What was that for?!"

"If you don't want your car to have puke in it, you'll leave it be."

He stared at me dumbfounded but didn't protest in the slightest.

We waited for Rachel to finish her own little outburst, the two of us not making any small talk and just watch at the 22-year-old stomp her foot in frustration.

"Oh by the way here."

Dylan passed me a silver briefcase and gestured to open it, I gave him a skeptical look which he encourages me with a thumbs up. Slowly clicking the locks waiting for a bomb to just blow up my face but there wasn't, so with semi-shacking hands, I lift the cover only to see a pair of Beretta M9 pistol but it was kind of small than its original look.

"That has been modified to suit you, it also has a built-in silencer and I made sure that it's black." He said, "I hope that it is in your liking."

"But why?"

He merely smiled at me before looking away

"Take it as an apology from last time."

The heartfelt gesture made something stir inside of me that I haven't felt for a long time; appreciation maybe. I stared at the two guns and then at Dylan. This was all too new for me, no one has given me something without expecting anything in return.

Everything comes with a price, it always does.

In a quiet tone, I muttered a quick thank you. Dylan only nodded and leave it just like that.

After another few minutes, Rachel finally calmed down which was a huge relief. Slamming the door behind her as she slumped down in her seat. Dylan then pressed a button that made the platform rise towards the ceiling.

Almost a month of living down here with just fluorescent lights didn't do any good to my eyes, that's why when we arrived outside I could only close my eyes from the harsh sunlight. My vision started whirling, black spots appearing out of nowhere not to mention the tears that started falling down my cheeks.

The new environment was just too much.

"You okay?"

"Yeah."

Rubbing my eyes did nothing to soothe my pain but it eventually got better, just in time for Dylan to start the engine. I don't know what lies ahead but I do know that it will eventually get me killed, I just hope that it won't hurt that much.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Hana your tea is exceptional as always."

Hanabi could only smile at the compliment, pouring a cup for herself.

The steam draft through the morning air, a sweet and floral fragrance danced through the breeze. The two were having their early tea at the balcony today, both enjoying each other's company. Hanabi took a seat across from her boss, whirling the cup in her hand, and with the softest tone, she can muster asked.

"Boss you know I had never question your orders before." Silently she prayed that it would not annoy her in any way, her boss however only smiled. She gently placed her cup down with a small click "Of course, that's why you're my executive, to begin with." She replied in an almost bored tone,

Hanabi could only bite her lip in fear. As she was about to reply a loud beep drew her attention towards the garden, at the center stood a sleek black BMW. The underworld's mistress could only prop her chin in the palm of her right hand, watching in amusement at her executive's expression.

"Why her?!" The question came up short as the car drove away

"That's easy she's one of my pawns, she's only good as a sacrificial piece."

She gestured for Hanabi to lean closer

"Let me tell you a little secret, she's actually...."

Hanabi's eyes widen in both shock and disbelief

"How is that possible?"

She rasped out, the boss slowly sipped her tea before answering

"She'll make a fine leverage and a great bait to lure him out."

Hanabi could only stare at the wicked smile painted on her boss's face. She can sometimes forget how cruel of a person her boss really is, instances like this make her question herself if the boss she swore to obey is really what you call a human being.

' How exciting. '

The thrill made her shiver in anticipation, blood would spill and create rivers, corpses would pile up to create mountains and the grand engineer who would oversee such acts happen would be... The devil herself. Everything's going to crumble down to the ground. Cities, no Countries will all go up in flames and she had a front-row seat to watch it all burn, the mere thought of it made her lips tug into a smile.