Chapter 12

Author: Thanks for reading.

...................Great am alone.

Den: Did........

Author: Leave!!!!!!

********️️*******

Studying the drawing Mira presented, the three stared at her, waiting for her to say something.

Mira couldn't wait any longer. That look on her master's face as he stared at her, waiting, said nothing about wanting to know about Spider.

And it was very uncomfortable watching.

It looks like her master was undressing the woman with his eyes. What the heck?!

"Do you know him?" Mira spoke up, impatient and very much uncomfortable.

"Why are you looking for him?" The woman asked and the suspicions and concern in her tone couldn't be missed.

"Nothing bad and nothing worse," Den replied with a charming smile.

Too bad he wore a mask. That smile would have charmed the lady.

"I don't want any trouble," she said, visibly frightened and concerned.

These people did not know who they were dealing with.

"Don't worry, you won't have one. Just tell us what you know. Your identity will not be revealed" Den assured her and she stared at him, thinking.

Was it a good idea? But then,..........she also couldn't say no to this guy.

You can say, handsome men had a lot of control over her.

"He's here. That's all I can say" she revealed, exciting both Mira and Den while the old man didn't know how to react cause he had no idea of what was going on between the three (Den, Mira and Spider)

Wasn't much (The information), but this could do. Den thought.

Mira took back the paper, folded it, before shoving it into her pocket.

"Don't worry, looking for him ourselves will be no trouble. I'll find him" Mira said in excitement, getting up and the old man followed her lead.

As they head for the door, Den also got up, smiling charmingly at the woman as he said, "Thank you lovely lady, I hope we meet again"

The two stepped out, leaving them alone.

Disappointed yet expecting this, the woman said, "I should have known you were only here to get something. Men only comes when they need something"

These words made Den feel even more excited, "Leaving you saddens my heart, more than you think"

Oh, he was good with words.

She thought, smiling, feeling giddy.

"However, I prefer fate to make the decision. If fate permits, we'll meet again"

And there was a blow to the heart.

What a heartbreaker, yet she felt even more excited.

"I got used, yet am not angry"

"And I believe you know why" he replied and they stared at each other, smiling, the mood turning into something else.

He was just about to reach out for her mask, his intentions unknown, when suddenly, Mira called out his name.

"Master!!"

This broke the spell, and he took a step back.

"See you," he said before turning to leave.

"Products downstairs, intels upstairs" the woman shared but he didn't turn back and closed the door behind him the moment he exited.

Nervous, excited, the woman sighed, laying down her head on the table.

Her heart,.....she could feel her heart racing.

Wasn't the first time, but it was the first time she loved this feeling.

So much.

*********️️******

OUTSIDE

Coming out, Den looked fluttered, breathless, smiling ear to ear.

Definitely, he lost himself again.

*Sigh, Mira was tired of this.

"You didn't pay her right? Am amazed she let us go" the old man said.

What was he talking about? He (Den) knew she'll give them what they wanted, free of charge. The moment she said she'll tell them whatever they wanted to know.

"Also, such a huge place. How do we find him?" The old man asked, drawing their attention.

"Simple, we check every room. She said products downstairs, intels upstairs."

Uh? If that was so, was the woman into selling illegal products?

Was it the books?

Ah! Now wasn't the time for this!

Mira thought before saying, "So, we'll split up" Den nodded, "I'll take upstairs, you take downstairs" he (Den) said and Mira nodded, liking the idea.

"What about me?" The old man anxiously asked.

This place crept him out and he did not want to be left alone.

In all seriousness, Mira replied, "You're no longer our problem"

"Don't be harsh on the old man Mira" and the man nodded.

For the first time, he fully accepted being an old man even though he was.

"Take him with you"

Hearing this, she looked at Den, looking so irritated.

It was irritating!

Why should she be the one to keep the old man safe?!

He was not her problem and was old enough to take care of himself!

Also,.....his dirty eyes terrified her a lot!

................*Sigh, however, she couldn't go against her master's wishes.

Defeated, she accepted the situation, "Then master, when you find him, call me. I have keen ears I'll hear you"

"Yeah, the same keen ears which failed you in the woods" Den said, rolling his eyes.

If only Mira had noticed that 'Silent arrow' in time, he wouldn't have felt so scared and powerless at that moment.

"Do you have to bring this up?"

"You almost died in front of me! I don't want to bury my disciple. I want you to bury me"

"I know"

"Getting my hands dirty with your grave. Wasting my tears and emotions. Losing my body and dying of heartbreak"

Seriously?

"Do you have to add that?"

"Just take care of yourself"

"These five words would have been enough in the first place"

"And call me when you also find him. I'll end him myself"

"Hmmm" Mira replied and they looked at each other, smiling while the old man stared at them.

What a weird master and disciple.

What has he gotten himself into?

**********️️*****

ROOM 12

Eyes closed, fantasizing about the man (Den) when the door suddenly opened, drawing her out of her sinful fantasies.

She was surprised, but more than that, she was excited, thinking the man she fancy has come back.

"You just left and you're back. Is it that hard to leave me behind?" Smiling, she opened her eyes.

However, the smile disappeared the moment she saw the person who had just entered.

"Who are you?" She asked in a threatening tone, suspicious and alert.

This man couldn't be a customer, if so, he would have knocked.

And it definitely wasn't the man she liked. Sure, this guy also wore a mask, but it was that of the color black, matching the black clothes he wore.

(Note: Den's mask is that of the color white)

Wasn't the same one (The mask) wore in the black market either.

And he also had a sword.

The man she liked had no sword but the young girl did.

His structure...... height......., And she felt it. This guy was something else.

Danger,.......she felt danger.

She had to act fast.

Slowly, cautiously, she slipped her hand under the table.

"I mean no harm but I need what was brought to you. Someone important to me wants it. And if I don't get it, they might get into danger of getting it" the man said.

She was just about to press the 'alarm' button but stopped, surprised by what the man said.

"You know about it and the history behind it"

"And I need it. Hand it over quietly and there will be no trouble" the man said, his hand on his sword.

"Your hand on the sword says something else"

"So is your hand which is aiming for the alarm under the table" the man countered.

He knew about it.

This........This definitely was trouble.

Immediately, she pressed on the button and an annoying loud ring echoed throughout the building.

Alerting everyone of the danger.

*************️***️******

Yells and screams were heard, while some got ready and others were already fleeing.

The sellers and buyers, I mean.

Hearing the alarm and people rushing out of the rooms, Den hurried on his mission.

Checking rooms on the upstairs.

This wasn't the time.

What happened?

What the heck was this annoying alarm?

He had to hurry and find that bastard or else, he'll lose the last clue he had.

He has just reached room 30, but before he could open the door, someone else did. A man holding a huge bag, in panic, and terrified.

He ran past Den and he took the opportunity to hold the open door before it could close.

Spider might not be in there, but it still won't hurt to take a look, right?

Hurriedly, he went in and was taken back by what he saw. Making him stop in his tracks.

A man (Whose back was to him), dressed in black has just opened a secret door and was about to go in.

"Hey! You!" He called out, making the man discard his plans.

For some reason............

The man turned around, and Den noticed, he also wore the same mask that woman (In Room 12) did.

"You found me. Am impressed" he said, confirming his suspicion.

Immediately, he looked at his revealed arm, his left arm in particular, and sure enough, there was the tattoo of a spider.

He was the one he had been looking for.

He found him.

However, before he could take action, the lights suddenly went off.

"Catch me if you can" the man's voice sounded out and the lights came on again.

But this time,.....spider was nowhere to be seen, except the mask he wore, on the ground, before the opened secret door.

And Den was sure he escaped through it.

Talk about being annoying!!!!!

*Sigh, but it was okay, he'll go catch him.

Just like he wanted.

About to take a step, footsteps was heard and the concern tone of Mira was also heard,

"Master! We have to leave!"

Not now. Den had no plans of doing so until he caught that annoying man.

The door hasn't closed yet, meaning, he still has a chance.

The nerve of him to tell him to catch him if he can!

"Yes, we should leave now master Den" the terrified old man said.

He did not know what was going on but the sound of the alarm was giving off a bad omen.

He wanted to leave now.

Without saying a word, Den rushed off, heading for the door and Mira followed, worried about her master.

Old man Hond had no choice. He did not want to be alone.

And so, he also followed the two crazy master and disciple.

"Wait for me!" He yelled out as he rushed off to join them.

*********️️*******

Dark.

Way too dark.

The three couldn't see anything and were cautious, not to bump into each other or trigger a trap.

A narrow path leading to God knows where, but there was no turning back.

No one knew what was waiting for them back there or ahead.

But........*Sigh, this was crazy!

A crazy idea with no choice!!

"Master, what's this place and why are we here? Where are we going?"

'You should have asked this before you jumped in!' the annoyed old man thought but didn't dare say it out loud.

Mira terrified him a bit. On their search for the so-called spider, the young girl kept glaring at him, as if he owned her money or something.

"Probably an escape route. I saw Spider. He came this way"

Spider?

He really was here?

Mira didn't entirely believe that he'll be here.

Or, he'll still be here, but he was.

That evil guy really kept his word.

"What about you? How did you find me?" Den asked, curious about it, cause he did not call out to her to hint his location yet she still found him.

"The moment the alarm went on, I dropped everything and came back to look for you. I searched room after room until I found you" Mira answered, looking proud.

"So, you disobeyed my order"

Hmm, there was that, and that proud look disappeared.

Pouting, she said, "I'm sorry"

She was too worried to think of anything else.

"No need. Just be careful. We can't trigger a trap"

"Okay" she replied, in high spirit after getting away with her disobedient action.

"Seriously, why am I here? I don't know where we are. I should have just taken off alone"

Okay, this old man was getting on her nerves again.

"Old man Hond I wonder the same. I'm so tired of your nonsense. You should have taken off alone"

"Show some respect Mira" Den said in a stern tone.

Pouting, she replied, "Yes"

"He could be your grandfather"

"I'm not that old" and now the old man was annoyed.

Truth really hits where it hurts most.

"Well, he should start showing one himself. He's the elder, fellowship by example"

Uh? Was it always like this? A confused Den thought.

"I'll behavior well if he starts doing the same"

Seriously, these two..........one didn't look like the elder he was and the other didn't look like the kid she was.

None behaved like their age.

*Sigh, he (Den) really had a lot on his plate with these two around.

Huh?

Den sensed something, a presence, forcing him to make a stop. So did Mira (She sensed it too). Old man Hond who walked behind Mira bumped into her.

Infuriated, he said, "Give a warning child"

"Sure grandpa" Mira replied back and this made the old man even more angry but he did not dare voice out.

"You can sense it too" Den said and she replied, "I can, someone is coming"

The duo faced right, watching as the darkness slowly faded.

Light taking over.

And it was at this moment that they realized there were other paths after exiting the one they came through and this led to where they stood.

At the center.

Including the path they took, there was five, leading to the center and just one path ahead.

Leading to Heaven knows where.

Thinking they might face danger, Mira drew out her sword.

Both alert and ready for the danger.

While old man Hond, he.......he was excited.

"Light! Light!" He yelled out in excitement.

Talk about being ignorant in a group.

They watched as the cave brightened, the light getting closer and closer, the sound of footsteps approaching, getting closer and closer.

Louder.

"I'll deal with it if it is a threat" Mira announced and he (Den) smiled.

There was no way he was doing that on his own when he had such a competent disciple.

Den turned back his attention to the incoming guest and they watched as the guest came into view with the light, and to their surprise, it was a man who held a small glowing crystal ball in one hand.

And his other hand held onto his sword.

The crystal ball was the source of the light, glowing, brightening up the place.

The man was dressed in black clothes, wearing a black mask which hid half of his face. Revealing his eyes alone.

He looked surprised to see them, and his eyes said it.

His body, relaxing, slowly letting down his guard.

This man.........

"Savior!"

Disappointed, Den rolled his eyes, did she have to reveal his identity before he could?

Yes.

It was the same guy who saved Mira during their encounter with the bandits in the woods.

Den recognized him right away. His sword and his beautiful eyes being the first ones he recognized.

Not to mention, the sudden familiar feeling he felt when he saw him.

What was he doing here?

"You two......." The guy exclaimed, speechless and surprised. His tone and eyes revealed it to them.

One more person in their adventure.

This was going to be fun.

Den thought.

The two stared at each other. One (Den) smiling in excitement, and the other surprised and speechless.

A good adventure this was going to be.