In the aftermath, Aria left the penthouse the same way she had sneaked in. She passed from the elevator down to the first floor where her bike was. But unbeknownst to her, Kieran was still in the lounge, hands pocketed as he watched her drive away on the bike.
Kieran sighed. He definitely heard her conversation, and it seemed she was somehow going to meet someone. He stared at his palm for answers to whether worrying about this should be his cup of tea.
Soon enough, Aria drove to the front of a metal-built structure. It was made in the shape of a square, the warehouse where the gang always met… their base.
She sighed as she put down her bike helmet, thinking about Mrs Jackson actually being around. It won't be a nice thing that awaits her – she was damn sure of that. But, it wasn't like she could leave either. They will find you wherever you go, even if you hide at the end of the world.
She gripped the metallic handle of the large gate and pulled it up. Specks of dust blew over her face, and she coughed silently at the same moment the gate groaned as it pushed itself upwards.
But raising her glance up, Aria seized the cough. As a matter of fact, she held her breath as well.
She stepped inside in a sluggish manner, jaws held tight, and her hand dropped from her nose. Her chest tightened.
"What…?" she mumbled, but this… this was too much to be real. It had to be a dream.
Because down the dimly lit, wide warehouse were her two friends – Tiffany and Eve – kneeling before Mrs Jackson, who sat on a chair, with the rest of the team circling around them. Aria's slow steps echoed down the warehouse, drawing everyone's attention straight away…
In a sudden moment, she heard a sudden movement behind her, but before she could turn, a club's edge slammed against the back of her head.
Aria staggered, dropped to her knees when unable to fight against the shrieking pain not only in her ears but all over her body. She gasped as she was going out of breath… And in the end, her stomach crashed hard against the ground.
After she had lost consciousness, two guys from behind her flanked her sides and dragged her body over the ground before one of them dropped the club on the floor. The same club that had knocked Aria down just a few seconds ago.
Minutes later, Aria's eyes opened. She heard the crackling of burning coal and tasted the smooth palate of fine sand. It was expected because she was lying on the warehouse's dusty floor, as this might be the dirtiest place in the world. They had not cleaned it for ages.
She grunted as she struggled up to her knees, after realising her hands had been tied behind her. There was no way out of this other than facing whatever happens…. The moment she looked up, her saliva streamed down her throat.
"Madam…" she stuttered, almost dragging on the ground before the woman stopped her with a hand gesture.
It was her. Their boss. Madam Jackson.
She sat on an iron chair before her, wearing a blue gown with her neck and wrists adorned with jewellery.
Aria looked left, and it was the sight of the captain she met, who crossed his arms behind his back with a neutral expression. Everyone else in the room were the gang members, except for two other people.
"…How did you guys end up here?" Aria whispered to one of her friends, who were tied in the same way she was.
Tiffany, the yellow-haired teenage girl, cried back, "They just came out of nowhere and took us. Who are they?"
Eve, slim with a baby face, asked with concern, "Are you all right, Aria? And… do you know these people?"
Aria's lips parted to speak, but they froze mid-statement. What was she going to tell her friends about them? That they were the ones she had worked with for years as hired killers?
No way!
Turning her glance at the ever-calm Mrs Jackson, she pleaded in a rushed manner, "… P-please let them go! I will take full responsibility for this, ma- "
"Worthless bastard. You think I am here to negotiate with you?" Mrs Jackson snickered. She then extended her hand to the captain, who immediately handed over a pistol. Aria gasped – she was about to worry about death when the woman threw the pistol on the floor before them.
The three friends looked between the gun and Mrs Jackson. What were they supposed to do with this?
Mrs Jackson pronounced in a relaxed manner, "I am giving either you or one of your friends a chance to live. Kill one to save the life of the other you value most between both of them. Or, you friends... one of you take the gun and kill her. It's that simple."
The captain looked at Mrs Jackson out of the corner of his eye, but what could he say? What could he do? Even if he thinks this is a cruel thing to do to a comrade they had worked with for years, because of just one failed mission… Should he go ahead and ruin everything for all of them?
He turned to Aria and thought, 'I'm sorry.'
Aria leaned forward immediately, gritting her teeth as she spoke, "Just kill me, please! I will go down! They know nothing about this, and this is all because of me! I—"
"You fool!" Mrs Jackson groaned. "Do you think whatever bond you guys hold is more important than your lives? If you die now, they'll mourn you for a few months or years, and when they see what makes them happy, they will laugh and forget about you. Graduating from university, getting married, seeing their children full of energy… This will all go deeper into their hearts. And guess what they will say when they remember you? She was the best friend ever…"
"Still…!" Aria cut in through gritted teeth, "… They have got nothing to do with this! I am the one who failed to kill the target, so this is all on m…"
The words dissolved in her throat. She could feel it – widened eyes staring at her from the right, filled with disbelief and anxiety. Her own breathing grew shallow, her throat felt dry… What had she just said?
The moment she glanced right towards her friends, Tiffany drew a few inches away from her.
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A/N: Oh my God! The tickets and stones are coming in more than I expected! You guys are the best! A huge *thank you* to Kordoch52 for the golden tickets and power stones. And Iamanavidreader, DaWayn_Easton (again!), Orihime, Johan_Pretorius_7500, and Kokayi! Love you all!
We're now getting closer to the milestone day by day. Please vote with golden tickets and power stones! Thanks for reading!
*Please don't forget to check the author's note in next chapter*