Scanning the dark surroundings, I can feel a movement in the corner. I slowly take each step.In the corner, I flash my light, curl up, and hide its face. I lean closer. A little girl reveals to me. She has dirt all over herself that I can't tell. The only thing I could tell was her eyes. They flash rich hazel color. She huddles herself, scared.I lower my gun and put it back in its holster, "Hey," I say quietly, not to scare her off. "I'm not here to hurt you.""W-who...who are you?" She asks, with a stutter. She's terrified."I'm someone who will get you out of here." I reach for her, but she pulls herself back."No!" She whispers, screaming. "If Mama Eva knows I'm gone, she will hurt me. She will hurt the others."She's talking about the other children that were brought here. Luckily, I'm not worried since Ghost is doing his job on the other end.I pull up a small smile. "Don't worry, a friend of mine will save them.""But...but..." she looks away and hugs her legs tight. "Mama Eva
I can hear the Order men closing in, and if they see one of their comrades dead and the other passed out, this whole side quest operation will end."O-okay," she whispers, and just as she takes my hand, footsteps are heard above us.I pulled Persephone behind me, pulled my gun out from my holster, and hid under the stairs."What the fuck?" An Order man shouts. "Who the fuck did this?"Heavy shoes creak the wooden floor above us as they survey the scene. While they are up there, I planned to get the both of us out alive. Fragile hands held onto my dress tight. I look down at Persephone with her eyes closed and her body shaking. It must be scary for her to trust a stranger like me to get her out. But I had no choice but to take it with me. I hold her with my free arm."Shit, check the perimeter. This fucker didn't get too far." says Order men one ordered. "Nestor, check the girl.""Man, why must I check the brat?" complains Nester."Just do it," says Order Man one and snaps at Nestor. "
"Are you just going to sit there and sulk all day?" I say to the oversized kid sitting across the room, glaring at me, and I can't help but laugh in my head.Since we arrived in Los Angeles, staying in one of Odin's summer homes, I had to put an innocent act in front of Seth. I had to change from the bloody dress I had worn, remove all my makeup, and it's right back to an XL T-shirt and sweats.Persephone looked at me oddly when she first witnessed me binding my chest. I had to inform her it's part of a persona of mine, and it needs to be kept a secret.The following day, after one of Odin's family doctors came to check on me, I read through the reports from Kendall. Seth came busting in like there was a fire, and he gave one look at me, and all hell went loose.He kept wailing and screaming about how stupid and reckless I was to go on a mission alone. Of course, it was my duty, and I also had some teammates with me. Seth had taken his eyes off me and glared at Ghost and Gunner. They
I stand in front of Persephone's room, wondering how she is doing. After Seth left to grab food, I decided to check on her.With my nose close to the dark oak door, I raise my hand and knock on the door. Once I hear her voice, I open, take a peek inside, and find her sitting on the bed with her back against the headboard and her knee up under her chin. The worried look in her eyes makes me want to hold her until there is no crest on her forehead.I never had this feeling before, not with all the kids I have rescued. Whenever I see Persephone, I want to keep her hidden from the world that would harm her. It's like some instinct. She and I just met, and suddenly, I want to protect her. The first time I see her in a critical state, although she is properly pampered, a special childlike Persephone is nothing but treated as an object. Eva will keep her until she is in good use. Just like me.I remembered the day I was adopted, and I felt special. It was my big day, and although I had to le
I stand in front of the room where Persephone is sleeping deeply.After our lunch meal, the three of us, Seth, Persephone, and I talked; we had Sebastian, one of the butlers, bring us some of the board games, and because Persephone was unfamiliar with them, she became a pro. She even beat Seth in his favorite board game - Monopoly.Persephone became so rich she made Seth lose lots of play money. He even whines and cries like a baby. He was sitting in the corner, feeling ashamed. We just laughed at him, which made him look at us with a glare on his defeated face, and we laughed even more challenging than our stomachs hurt.After a two-hour Monopoly game, Seth wants to regain his title but can't beat a thirteen-year-old girl.I watched how Persephone got used to us being around during that time. Before I met her, she was a scared child eager to escape hell. It didn't take long for her to trust me, but she did because I promised her I would. While she and Seth were getting closer, I took
"Stop slouching over there. The vibe in this room is feeling uncomfortable, Seth," I say through the tall mirror as I finish fixing my tie.Seth wasn't too happy I'd be leaving the state - again. After a few days of bed rest, I can finally continue my mission. He has been begging me not to go. After the talk about my job being too dangerous and risking my life. What can I do?The Order is still active, making children's lives miserable. Eve and her minions walk around the world as if they own it.I can't let the Order sully the world with their manipulation and belief."Seth, I don't like this attitude of yours." I was getting antsy. "Look at Persephone; she looks calm and not even complaining."I look at the child on my bed with an iPad in her lap and an Apple Pen that I had Kendall ordered for me. She is doing whatever on her new device and not paying attention to the adults in the room. I perk up a smile and glade Persephone acts like the teenager she's supposed to be.I was afraid
At that time, I became sensitive and stupid. Seth tried to help me, but I got mad at him because I'm a woman.A soft knock returns my senses from my mind as Gunner sticks his head. "What is it?""Cap, Ghost is on the phone with the Big Boss," he says. His expression tells me that something is wrong. Big Boss he is referring to is Odin.Am I in trouble or something?"Okay, what does it have to do with me?" I ask him, then look at Persephone and Seth's curious faces. "Why didn't he call me through my phone?"Gunner shrug. "I don't know, but he wants to talk to you."I nod and follow Gunner out of the room as he leads me to the office, where I find Ghost on the phone."Yes, sir," he replies and spots me. I close the door and stand next to him. "Yes, sir. She is here. Okay."Ghost hands me the phone and leaves the room. I place the voice in my ear and answer. "Sir?""Terry dear, how are you feeling?" Odin's voice is heard on the other end of the call."I'm fine, sir. I can still feel the
"Here we are," I say to Persephone as I open the door to the new house.It's a modern family house, two-story, three bedrooms and two baths. I look to my left to see the entranceway to the kitchen, and to my right is the family room. It's similar to the Reid's house but a smaller version.I drop the luggage next to the door, allowing Persephone to explore the house. "Your room is upstairs to the left," I told her.As she went upstairs, I explored the house more. I found another bathroom down the hall next to the kitchen. Walking down the corridor ends with a door leading to the back of the house with an average-sized pool and a large tree. A treehouse sits there and a swing. I approach the swing, and memories of sitting on the swing set just looking at the sun over the tall fence keep me from leaving the place that was supposed to be my home. I pictured my young self sitting in that swing, hoping to jump over the fence if I swung hard enough.That never happened.I was scared.I clenc
"Your child didn't die," I state, watching as her expression becomes more agile. "You abandoned her.""No...""God wasn't calling for her because it was her duty. You abandoned her because your lover left you.""No! Shut up!" Eva screeched and held her head as if her brain was about to burst."The child you hated, the one you were about to kill, is alive and well."Eva became distraught, shaking her head - sun denial."You're lying...my child died because God needed her-""No, stop with the bullshit, Marjorie," cutting her off. "She's alive and well.""H-how...how do you know of this?" She staggers back, terrified. "No one knew about my past...No one!"I scoff, seeing how stupid she looks. Thanks to Kendall's discovery, I wouldn't stumble upon my birth certificate that day. Now that she's at her weakest, I must end it."You created the Order for what? Because you wanted the attention from the man who doesn't love you.""Shut up!""He doesn't care for you because he already has a famil
"There you are," then smacked me hard with her shotgun.I fell back on the floor and quickly moved to the side when she took a shot.I dash past her, heading to the emergency exit while she continues to shoot at me. I ran down a few stairs far down but stopped to catch my breath. Sitting on the bottom steps, I panted and then lay my back on the cold wall when I felt a warm, stinking pain on the back of my arm.My other hand reaches on my back and pulls to find fresh blood.Luckily, I've been shot in the arm, but it's a flesh wound; otherwise, if I didn't dodge, it would be the end of me. I wasn't quick enough because the virus was making me lose strength."Shit," I hiss. Then, I reached my pouch and applied medical treatment to myself.It was a quick fix, and I applied the wrap when I heard Eva roaring and looking for me."You can't hide forever, Little Sparrow," Eva taunted as she pulled another gunshot on me. "Soon, the virus will take over your body, and once I kill you, I'll be kn
The windows shattered as we entered the penthouse. I fell off Little Gunnar, pulled my gun from my holster, and aimed at Eva, the only one not bothered by our sudden entrance. The mayor, his two guards, and Pete hide from the impact."Get up," I grit through my teeth. Eva did not listen or move but sipped her cup of water. Not even caring, I charge toward her and grab her by the color of her red jacket with a gun to her head, "Are you deaf? I said get up." I snarl and shove her,"Who are you?" the mayor, Jimmy Murphy, called out as he emerged from the couch. "What is the meaning of this?"Unaware of what Eva had planned, he wasn't expecting her visit."My name is Sparrow, Mayor Murphy. I work for The Daggers under the leader and owner, Odin King. I can explain later and have the window fixed, but stay away from this woman," I say, pointing the gun at her head."What are you talking about?" He paused and looked at me. He seemed perplexed. "Your Sparrow? Do you know she told me about th
Bullets kept shooting from behind as I stayed hidden and had my head down to avoid getting my headshot."Fuck," I growl at the outcome. "This isn't good."The lengthier I wait, the more Eva will be suspicious of Pete. I don't think he can act like Poppy. If Eva knew Poppy was a fake, she would have him killed and detonated the bombs early.But why wait in the morning?I know it's already midnight, and the sun will take six hours to rise. Eva already convinced the mayor to lock down the city because of terrorist activities.She claims to use the smoke bombs fuse with her particular virus to pretend she has the cure.Unless...terrorist attacks...virus...oh fuck!That bitch will make me the terrorist, hence accusing me of starting a war. I'll be a public enemy to the country.I need to stop this disaster before innocent people die.Bullets kept flying over my head, and I was getting pissed that Eva had this all planned out from the start. I am infected with the virus, and once I am uncont
It's a race against time, and I feel my body fighting against the virus. I checked my watch as many times as possible, just watching the numbers on the seconds go down in a flash.The whole purpose of this virus is to give Eva the advantage of being a savior once she reveals that she has a cure. But also to prove that she is someone. Being rejected and unloved by the man she never considered a father made her who she is today.I exited the freeway and entered the streets of L.A. I put my bike to a halt, letting the engine run. I opened my helmet shield and glanced down at my watch to see the tracker on Pete. He and Eva were still moving, and I was just about a bit away. I shut the shield and drove in that direction. My earpiece beeped as I tapped the answer button on my bike."Ken, I'm close to Pete," I tell her."Cap, you are never going to believe this."I noticed the concern in her tone. "What?""I've searched the locations of the gas bombs in each of the cities you mentioned. Gues
Red.The color is a standard color you see on a traffic light to stop. The color you see on fruit, like apples and cherries. On a vegetable like tomatoes. Valentines can also symbolize romantic love and physical passion, making our hearts race toward someone we love. Red is the color of heightened emotion, strength, and power.But red can be a negative thing that you see. The color red is linked to passion, love, desire, power, anger, or rage.That is what I'm feeling right now. When Eva stepped off the boat, my whole body went on lockdown. My heart is palpitating, and my blood is boiling to the point I'm seeing red.Seeing her for so many years wearing that damn red outfit, I wanted to hit something. I hated her wearing red. It's okay for other people to have red on them or receive red roses, but red on Eva fits her perfectly as she is the devil herself. Flashy and cunning like one.My stomach churned. I wanted to throw up, but now it's not the time to be disgusted. I have to focus a
"Are you sure you don't want to join you? It's better to have back up close to the target." Kendall states and asks for god knows how many times.I plug in my earpiece as I scan my eyes around the dock. We have parked the disguised transportation truck into a small base for Kendall to monitor the pier. Although I was supposed to go alone, those two insisted that I couldn't argue with Odin, even with his worries that he sensed something would happen and that the whole Daggers would be hiding and in position in case this trade went south. When I told them the plan of using Pete, dressed as Poppy, for the trade, Kendall and everyone thought it wouldn't work, but knowing Pete, his master of disguise and a Dagger member, he could pull it off. Eva is cunning and sharp; she can sense something off in a snap with one wrong move.The plan is to use Pete to trade him with the vaccine. If my calculations are correct, she will hug her and say sweet words about her worries and affection. Pete migh
I arrived in front of his salon, where his apartment was on the top floor. I pressed the doorbell, and the door flung open. Pete surprised me with his presence; he had his expensive kimono bathrobe and his face plastered in a green facial mask. He taps his foot."Well, well, well, if it isn't Mr. Terry Young," Pete squinted his face, his pissed-off face, after opening his apartment door. His eyes scan me up and down, then inhale sharply. "Still sexy as ever."I clear my throat. "May I come in?"He stares at me for a minute or two, having second thoughts. "You did say you have to explain, so come inside," he said, walking away from the door and allowing me to step in.I sighed, and after I had closed my door, I looked around and saw that his apartment seemed normal and not in the ordinary except for all the colorful and furry furniture and artworks of naked people.I exhale in relief, yet a bit worried.What is Kendall talking about? There is nothing creepy about his place."It's been
If I don't return Poppy to her, hundreds of children will be killed.I dropped my phone on the counter and stared at it for a minute, thinking about what she had meant.It's not like she knows I'm her daughter. She only knows me as my male counterpart, even with her hackers, who can access my background records because there are none. Once you are joined in the Dagger program, you are listed as "nonexistent." We are only given our code name.I closed my eyes and thought of a way to handle the situation before tomorrow night.Opening my eyes, I grab my phone and speed-dial the number."Hello?" Greeting in a chorus tone."Pete, it's-""Terry!!" I pull my phone away from my ear as he screams. "Oh my gosh, I know that sexy tone anywhere. How long has it been since we talked? Five years? Three? Hmmm..."I shake my head. "It's only been two years.""Ah yes, a two...years..." he stays quiet for a second, then causes an outburst. "TWO YEARS! I didn't get your call after that. That day when yo