Chapter One: Brave

It was almost midnight, few people could be seen around wandering in these dark streets here in Bucharest. Some of them went into bars to party and within those parties, there are illegal activities.

Some people use and sell illegal drugs, do prostitution, some are thieves and murderers. These are the evil doings that cannot be suppressed. It is difficult to stop and prevent since there are reasons why they can do such things. We all have our bad sides and all of us have different million reasons why we can do bad things.

I also have a bad side that no one knows.

Finally, what I was waiting for came. I saw the limousine parked in the distance. Someone comes out there wearing a black coat and hat. On his descent, I noticed the fading of the lamp posts in the other corner but a few poles outside were illuminated so it provided a little light in this dark alley. I was just watching them here inside the phone booth. I also wore a cap so that others wouldn't notice me. This cap came from my dad and this is what he left me when he was still alive.

I noticed the man from afar looking around the place and his glance suddenly stopped in my direction. I immediately turned around while pretending to be talking here inside the phone booth. ''Confirmation. They are already here in the Amsterdam Red Light District, updating undercover 007,'' I said on the phone even though I didn't call anyone. I went here alone without any backup but I will just send them my location anyways. I just want to do this mission alone.

In my pretense, I had time to follow the mysterious man. There were other gentlemen wearing tuxedos following him. Those men were part of an organization that as far as I knew was led by a drug lord. My only target, for now, is to follow that man who owned a large company. He was a businessman and the police wants to investigate his background profile and other private transactions.

I have to follow him because this is my task and they assigned me in this case, but if I fail in this mission I will not receive any money afterward. Money is important to me at these times, it is the only thing that can save my grandmother's life. Grandma was sick so she needs to be treated. Right now I have no source of income so I have no choice but to enter this undercover agent operation. They have allowed me to have a job even if I did not have a degree in criminal justice or law enforcement. I only graduated from high school and I'm glad that they still accepted me.

Having a part-time job in coffee shops and a fast-food chain was hard. The money I earn is not enough for paying my tuition and for my grandma's medicine. It is difficult to study while working so for now I have decided to stop studying because I need to earn money first to survive. Working in these operations seems fun, I enjoyed hunting and catching the criminals. When I worked with them they only ordered me to spy and monitor their suspects and I always give my best in everything to accomplish my missions.

This time this is my seventh mission. This will be a little bit risky but I don't have to worry since I can easily contact the police department. I have been in danger many times and luckily I always survived.  

As I exited the phone booth I walked over to the bar were the one I was following entered. Even before I got in there I felt nervous, my nervousness is normal but I feel like there's something wrong, I can't explain it but I just don't have a good feeling. I took a deep breath as I thought about what made me stronger. For my grandmother I will do everything, I just need to motivate myself to face the fear.

When I stepped into the building the security guards opened the glass door. After entering, I saw many people inside and it was dizzy to see them dancing everywhere while the disco light is up. All of them were drinking liquors, smoking cigarettes, some are secretly selling drugs while others were doing sexual things.

My eyes wandered inside as I looked for the man but I could not see him anywhere. I decided to look for a seat and I saw that there was a space near the counter. It's a bit dark inside but I'm not removing my cap. The music was also loud and I'm not comfortable in this kind of place. I've been to bars many times but I don't drink, I just walk inside whenever I have to follow someone. 

''Hey! Why are you alone darling?'' I heard a flirty voice of an elderly man. He sat in the chair next to me. I didn’t speak and just looked straight ahead. I was surprised when he suddenly took my cap off my head.

''Oh!Young lady! Do you want some fun? Come with me darling,'' he stroked my hair and I tried to remain my calmness.

''Take your hands off me,'' I warned him, I turned and glared at him but he just grinned as he looked at me from head to toe.

''It's a little hard to talk to you but you might come along when I pay you a large amount,'' he offered and opened his wallet that was full of dollars. I was disgusted to hear his voice. I have seen many innocent teenagers being targeted by these ruthless people. Others are dazzled by the money they are offered and in return is their dignity. Poor victims.

''If you think that I'm a prostitute well I'm sorry you approached the wrong person,'' I said as I took off my cap from him and moved seats. He suddenly pulled me hard so I could not leave. I wanted to let go but he held my wrist tightly.

''No woman has ever rejected me so you can’t leave when I haven't tasted you,'' he exclaimed, looking at me maliciously.

''I have respect for the elderly but when it comes to you there is none,'' I glared and loose on his grip. I should have left but I groaned in pain when he pulled my hair.

''You shameless b*tch!'' he shouted. I couldn't control myself anymore so I pushed him hard. He lay on the floor and many people were startled to watch us.

The old man stood up and was about to grab me but I prepared my left foot and kicked him hard in the face. He stumbled on the table at the counter but he tried to stand while touching his bleeding nose.

''You're a b*tch! You b*llsh*t!'' he cursed.

Suddenly he picked up and lifted the chair that was on the side and threw it at me. I avoided it and he just smoked more in anger so he would love to punch me but I just avoided the old man's blows. To stop him, I kicked him again so he fell to the floor and lost consciousness.

"Pedophiles like you deserve that," I said. I fixed my hair but I was surprised to see that everyone was already looking at me. I immediately put on my cap because I am not comfortable that others could see my bare face.

When I looked in the other direction I suddenly saw the man I was following coming out. I no longer hesitated so I followed him outside. The man was walking alone in the left direction while talking on his phone. It's hard to go near there but all I have to do is find the perfect timing to the corner and blackmail him. He can be the whistleblower so we could find a lead and get pieces of information about the criminals that we have been looking for.

The man stopped not far away and I quickly hide at the side of a building when he turned around. I leaned against the wall while taking a deep breath. I was nervous about what I was going to do because I would have a hard time cornering him. When I peeked, I did not see the man anymore. He suddenly disappeared so I was confused by the possible paths he took. He stopped and stood near here the pedestrian lane so he could cross the road and go to the other side.

My eyes wandered everywhere and all I could see were cars and a few people walking down the streets. I just found myself here in the dark corner, it was quiet and there was a lot of garbage scattered everywhere. It was also cold and my hair was blown by the wind. I could also hear my footsteps as I walk in this dark street at the back of an old building.

There were no other people here so I thought that I had taken the wrong path. Even before I looked back I could hear someone was walking behind me. My body stiffened in my position when I felt that someone is coming. Those footsteps caused nervousness all over my body. When I could no longer hear any noise I slowly turned around. As I turned, my eyes widened to see the man I was looking for. He was Magnus.

"You will never get tired of searching," he said. It was as if cold water had been poured on me when he kept coming closer and closer until we were only a few inches apart.

"I surrendered myself to you. Undercover Freeda Adelaina Miller," he sneered and smirk. I was even more surprised when he mentioned my full name. I don't know how he found it out when I didn't tell anyone except the police officers I trusted at work. Lastly, I only have a codename so I was wondering how they knew my real name.

"H-how did you k-know my name?" I stuttered. He grinned and looked at me foolishly. 

"Hmmm...I just guessed it and...boo!!" he startled me and I flinched. "Bingo! My guess was right," he laugh sarcastically.

I look at him unbelievably and my fists were clasped, I would like to punch his face when he looks at me foolishly as if I was just a joke to him.

"Oh calm down! You might punch me!" he begged. I was annoyed so I suddenly pulled his collar and he was a bit surprised but he did nothing and just let me do what I was doing.

"I know you have connections with the people behind those illegal activities. So now tell me who they are?!" I asked seriously. He thought for a second and I waited for him to answer my question.

"What if I don’t say anything that you’re going to do to me?" he mocked. I tightened my grip on him even more and pulled him closer to me. He didn't move and just kept his blue eyes staring at me.

"If you don't say anything I will be forced to hurt you," I warned. He fell silent for a while and sighed.

"Then just hurt me. I would rather be hurt than to let you know my secret anyways," he babbled. I seem to be running out of patience with this man.

"Do you think I'm stupid?! Doesn't mean that I'm a woman you won't fight me anymore?That you think only men are strong while women are weak?Well no. We're just fair and equal,'' I complained. He was still smiling like a fool and he seemed to be underestimating me.

''Aren't you afraid of being imprisoned for what you're doing?!'' I exclaimed.

''Why should I be afraid if I didn't do anything wrong,'' he urged, rolling his eyes.

''Nothing wrong? Are you kidding me?! You are with other people who are doing bad things! Is it okay for you to see drugs scattered everywhere?! Seeing women being enslaved?!'' I shouted at him and his face was emotionless.

''I know you want to accomplish your mission as an undercover, but you are catching the wrong people,'' he said seriously. 

''What do you mean? That I make mistakes in my work? It looks like you're the one who made mistakes between the two of us,'' I scolded him.

''Hmmm really? You might be shocked when you find out who I am,'' he blurted. I let go of my grip on his collar and crossed my arms. He adjusted himself while looking at me. This moron seems to play but I will make sure that I can get information from him.

''You are Magnus so don't fool me,'' I said and remained my gaze at him.

''You're almost right but you're referring to someone else,'' he lied. He maybe thought that he could fool me with his lies.  

''Tss. You can lie as much as you can. I will not stop you. So if you're not Magnus then who you are?'' I retorted while raising my eyebrow.

I noticed that he was removing his wristwatch and I was watching his movement and listening carefully to how he spoke. I don't know what tactic he was doing to deceive me.

''I'll just give you a clue,'' he insisted. He was walking slowly around me and I could sense his strange behavior. It looked like he was going to do something that I do not expect.

''I am a part of Shakespeare's play. I manipulated Marcus Brutus and assassinated Julius Caesar,'' he riddled. I raised my eyebrow and disgustedly looked at him. I'm just wasting my time with this jerk and I want to knock him down now to finish this mess.

''So you're saying you're Cassius?'' I sarcastically asked.

''Yes, I am Cassius and the person behind you is the person you think I was,'' he cleared. I was a little confused by what he said but I could feel that someone was behind me so I quickly turned around.

What's happening?

When I saw who it was my eyes widened to see a man who looked exactly like the man I was talking to. He was also wearing a black tuxedo and wearing a black hat. I gulped when the man smirked at me. Unbelievable.

"It's me, Magnus. The one you've been looking for," he said while putting a cigarette on his lips.

What I saw was shocking and I am confused with the two of them. They fooled me so that I would not succeed. I was so shocked and I didn't expect what I found out tonight.

The twins deceived me.

"So all this time, both of you are exchanging persona to fool me. Woah!What a twist!" I shrugged.  

"I told you that you were wrong, but you don't want to believe me so I have no choice but to tell you the truth," Cassius explained.

"Now that you know who we are, we are the ones who need to know something from you,'' Magnus said seriously and I was nervous.

Both of them were looking at each other like they are talking telepathically and for sure they will gonna kill me.

''If you think that I will give up then you guys were wrong,'' I demanded while stretching my fingers. 

''Then give us a good fight woman,'' Cassius challenged me.

''I'm used to fighting so don't ever underestimate me,'' I boldly said while removing my cap and hiding it inside my bag.

I am Freeda Adelaina Miller the brave woman who can face everything and never back down in a battle.