Chapter Two: Necklace

This afternoon I was in a hurry to go to the building where the police cops waiting for me. I should give my reports to them so that they will know about my progression on the mission. When I came to the building, I was running quickly inside when I bumped into other people. They also looked at me in surprise because I seemed to be chasing someone.

''I'm sorry!'' I apologize to the people I bumped into. I need to catch up because my job is in a dangerous situation. My eyes were teary from thinking about what could happen today, I just hope that they don't fire me.

The elevator was full and I don't have time to wait so I just went up the stairs. Although my feet hurt, I was able to climb the stairs while holding on to the railings so that I would not fall. I also saw other officers and undercovers coming downstairs seriously looking at me.

''Oh, why did she come back? I thought she was already salvaged..I-I mean fired?''

''If it weren't for her, our plans wouldn't have been ruined,'' murmured the other officer. 

I stopped of a sudden when I heard their gossip. I was even more nervous and afraid to pursue my plan but I just sighed and calmed myself. I should not be carried away by what other people are saying. When I got inside the office I saw the police officers and other undercovers gathered. They were all surprised to see me because they thought that I was dead.

''I survived,'' I said nervously. None of them spoke because they were just looking at me as if I had committed a great sin. Their eyes were judging me and I can feel the tension between us.

''Is there something wrong?'' I asked. The female police officer named Charlotte stood up from her chair and approached me. As she approached, I was surprised when she suddenly slapped me hard in the face. I grabbed my cheek as I looked at her.

What the hell. ''W-what's wrong?'' I mumbled.

''What's wrong?! It's you Freeda!! You messed up everything and now you are the only reason why Officer Sebastian is missing!'' she shouted. My whole body stiffened and what she said was repeated in my ears. I looked at the others who were also looking at me dejectedly.

''How did that happen? What was my fault? I risked my life in the hands of the opponents to help,'' I said while opening my sling bag. I took some papers and flash drives from my bag and showed them to them but they had no reactions. I waited for someone to accept it but they didn’t care.

''This proves that I did something, I found a lead and hopefully this helps,'' I insisted.

''That's useless, what else are we going to do in this mission if you've already ruined everything. Plan A and B didn't go well. We can't catch them and now how come Officer Sebastian is missing since you didn't come back here after your mission two days ago and we all thought that you're dead and you may be forgetting that you broke the rules, we already warned you to let us know on what you're doing but you we're incompetent,'' Officer Jameson murmured, he was very disappointed.

''We know that you are a good undercover Freeda even if you don't go through some hard training, you have become very outstanding but with your overconfidence, in yourself, you are unaware that you have put someone else life in danger, I always told you to be wise on your actions, one mistake that you make will affect everyone so you need to be careful,'' Mrs.Johannson added and she looked at me in despair. She was kind to me but this is the first time that I'd heard something like this from her.

I could not speak at all and I was hurt by what they were saying. No one accepted my evidence for the investigation so I put it back in my bag. So it looks like they don’t need me here anymore.

''I understand all of you. I know I made a big mistake so I'm very sorry. I'm just doing what I can. I just thought that all of you would appreciate my efforts and sacrifices,'' I apologized and admitted my mistakes.

''Tsk. That's why we don't understand you Freeda. You don't think right, you don't listen to us and you're not ready for the jobs you're tasked to do. So I wonder how you were accepted? Why did Sebastian want you? Maybe you both had an agreement?! Well, never mind, and yes you are really brave and know how to fight but your knowledge is not enough because you don't even have a degree and you know what's worse? You're stupid as f*ck!'' Officer Charlotte insulted me.

I just ignore what she said earlier but I will not allow her to just insult me as a person. I couldn't control myself so I suddenly punched her in the face. She fell after that and others stood up to help her. Her nose was bleeding but I was not afraid of what she will do to me. I was not shaken because I remained standing while looking at their faces.

''You have no right to reprimand me like that. You are an officer but that doesn't mean that I will always respect you. Respect is earned, not given. Don't ever compare yourself to yourself because we are different. Lastly, don't insult my knowledge and ability because you don't know what I went through,'' I muttered, I tried to calm but I can't control myself anymore. I was emotional.

''How dare you! You are ungrateful! If it weren't for us you would have nothing to eat and no place to live,'' another person interrupted. I smiled bitterly and I lost even more respect for all of them. They don't deserve to be respected because they insulted me for who I am. All of my sacrifices in this work went to nothing. 

''All of you have helped me a lot but that is not the basis for you to ruin and trample on me. I am also a human being who makes mistakes. Please remember and also think that I entered this situation even though it is difficult and dangerous for me because none of you are brave to catch the criminals. I did everything for the sake of this operation and my grandmother, all of you was also the inspiration that I wanted to be better. Now everything has changed and I know that all of you are just using me,'' I said tearfully. 

They could not speak and I could see the guilt in their eyes. They forced me to join here and I was dazzled by the money they offered. I was able to provide for our needs and to pay for my grandmother's bills at the hospital but in return, I got bruises and scars all over my body, but it's okay because I can handle the pain. Even though what I entered was dangerous, I didn't think about it, I just faced and conquered my fears but I also didn't realize that in exchange for money is my life.

''You don't have to fire me because I'm leaving. I did and tried everything but I don't belong here,'' I dictated while wiping my tears. They have no reaction and Charlotte was madly looking at me. Sometimes those who are jealous are the ones who are good at destroying other people. 

''After you destroy everything you were just leaving as if nothing happened!'' I heard someone scolded. I was about to leave but I stopped at the door and I took a deep breath, I turned and faced them for the last time.

''Don't worry, I'm the one to blame for Officer Sebastian's disappearance so I promise I'll bring him back alive,'' I confidently said.

I continued to exit and took the elevator so that I could get off easily. There was no one else so I was alone here inside the elevator. I leaned to the side while thinking about my big problem now I had lost my job.

Where can I get money now?

When I got out of the building, I thought of cooling down first. I was thinking too much that my brain would explode. I saw a vending machine on the side of the building so I dropped a coin there to drink. I was annoyed when nothing was falling on it so I kicked it up. After getting the drinks I walked down the street near the park and I can feel like I was walking weakly like a zombie, my whole body was so tired that I wanted to lie down in the coffin.

I suddenly remembered what happened to me the night I encountered the enemies. I found out that the man named Magnus had a twin brother who is Cassius. They knew that I was spying on them for a long time so they already planned to confuse and deceived me with their faces to trap me. They also wanted to find out who was ordering me so I fought them. That's why I had some bruises on my body and I almost died there when I felt weak and could not fight anymore.

"Who ordered you to follow us? What have we done?" Magnus asked me. I sat up and could not stand when Magnus strongly kicked me in the leg.    

"I was only ordered because your name was listed on the lists of the suspects," I answered.

"Hmm..so who is that person? Tell me if you don't want to die!" he threatened me, he touched my chin and lifted my face.

"Whatever you do I have nothing to say," I demanded, glaring at him.

"Even if your grandmother's life is in danger?" I was shocked by what Cassius said so I was scared. He attacked me using my weakness.

"Don't try to hurt her! Please I'm begging you not my grandma!!" I cried as I glared at him.

''Then tell it if you don’t want anyone to perish,''  Magnus mandated. These idiots are blackmailing me. I was about to say it but I had a bright idea to deceive them. I thought of another person's name to make them confused but the truth will remain in my mind.

Officer Sebastian Ellionor was the mastermind. ''It was Mr.Benjamin Scott,'' I lied.

Magnus was looking at me like he was analyzing my face while Cassius was standing while holding my phone. They took my phone from my pocket that's why I couldn’t call some backup. 

''Thanks for lying, so now we know who he is,'' Cassius smirked.

''Sebastian Ellionor, hmm..familiar,'' Magnus chided. My eyes widened in shock and I was confused about how they found it out. I didn't say anything about that person so I was afraid of what they could do. Are they mind readers?

Magnus let go of me and stood up. I couldn't speak because of fear so I tried to stand up but my leg hurts. I noticed that they were looking at each other as if they were planning to do something to me and for sure they are going to kill me.

''Let's follow what Maximus ordered,'' Cassius said and I heard he mentioned someone.

Who's Maximus?

I was scared as I backed away because they were approaching me and it looks like this was the end of me. Magnus pointed his gun at me and was about to pull the trigger but I startled them when I took the gun with my long foot. I kicked the gun in his hands and I was lucky to get it quickly.

''Gotcha! Tables have turned,'' I smirked while stroking my hair. They were both surprised to see that I was still able to stand. 

''You used my weakness to knock me down but you will never succeed. I will fight for my loved ones until my last breath,'' I said seriously and my blood seemed to boil with anger at them.

I was brought back to my senses when someone ran and bumped me. I noticed the man seemed to be chasing someone so I wondered what was going on there.

''Thief! Chase that man!'' an old woman shouted. I was alarmed so I wanted to help the old lady to chase the thief she was pointing to. I tried to run faster even though my legs were numb. I saw the man crossing the road so I followed him.

"Hey! Stop there!!" I shouted. The man turned to me and noticed me chasing him so he ran even faster. He turned left in the street but I knew the detour here so I ran there in the right street to catch him on the other corner. When I turned around, I quickly went to a street that the man could pass. I saw him run there first so I followed him and for sure he can't escape from me. 

I ran out of breath but I stopped chasing when I saw that he was already in my corner. There was no way out so he is trapped. I held my two hands on my knee while chasing my breath. The man was looking at me in the distance and I slowly approached him. He didn't move while his hands were in his pockets. He was a tall man but I wasn't afraid. I wanted to punch his shameless face because he committed theft.

''Why do you have to steal?'' I asked, he did not speak and just stared at me. He just kept quiet but I knew that he would run away from me.

''It was not my fault and you don't know what happened so don't intrude,'' he suddenly spoke and my eyebrows rose.

''If you did nothing wrong then why did you run away?! You are just suspicious because of your actions,'' I muttered, wiping my sweat on my forehead.

''No one would listen and understand me so I better leave,'' he said emotionlessly. I noticed something strange in his eyes. I could see that he was innocent but I should not be carried away by his pitiful eyes. I have been deceived many times so it will not happen again.

''I am ready to listen and understand you. So let me help you to fix the trouble,'' I insisted, trying to get his trust.

''You can't do anything. You don't know me so better to stay away,'' he warned. He was like a spoiled brat seven-year-old boy who didn't get some money from his mother. 

I dared to approach him but I was surprised when he took something from his pocket. I stopped because it might be a gun or a knife, I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that it was just a necklace. It looks like he is going to get back what he stole. He suddenly threw the necklace he was holding at me so I catch it. I see that it was an expensive gold necklace so my eyes widened in surprise.

''I didn't steal that necklace because I owned it,'' he said confidently, a bitter smile forming on his lips. I let him come near me and I'm just confused about what happened because the old woman shouted earlier that he was a thief.

''Why did you give this to me if this was yours?'' I asked. My forehead wrinkled why does this guy suddenly become nice.

''I'm not giving that to you. I just want you to keep it,'' he answered.

''What if I lose this?'' I asked. I wondered if I might sell this one for sure, it was expensive so maybe I'll have a hundred or thousands of dollars in return. I saw him grin and bring his face closer to mine. It was weird but I suddenly remembered someone on the way he walks near me.

He resembles Cassius. Is this a de javu?

''I won't worry because no matter where and how far you'll take that, it will still come back to me,'' he assured, his brown eyes glittered. We stared at each other and I could not understand what he was saying. 

''It also means that we will meet again,'' he added. My eyebrows raise as I looked at the necklace on my palm and I noticed a name engraved on its pendant. I saw him walking away and I couldn't understand why I wouldn't chase him. It was as if something was holding me back so I couldn't move from where I was standing.

''Jude,'' I whispered his name.