The Zodiac of PRA V: The Finale

Chapter 37

“I think he’s lost.” Jenna said after Doug made yet another turn to the same street he was on just minutes before.

“Maybe he’s on to us?” Ryan thought out loud.

Erin shook her head “No, he’s not that quick.” Jenna and Ryan turned to each other and nodded in agreement “He just might be lost.”

“Great.” Jenna sighed as they took turns after turns until he finally pulled into a parking structure “What? The mall? At a time like this?”

Stopping the car on the street, she unbuckled her seatbelt “Come on, if we drive in, he’ll know he’s being followed.”

The three jogged down the structure, turning around a corner, they quickly whipped back when Doug got out of his car. There were little cars still parked in the lot, he turned to set the alarm on his car with a push of a button “He’s got an alarm?!” Jenna hissed, “Look at the car! It probably cost more to install than the car itself.”

“Shh…” Erin lifted a finger to her lips “Come on.” She waved when Doug was within a far distance. He was turning another corner and there they saw a long black limo. He looked around suddenly causing the three snoopers to duck behind a pillar. Erin peeked out and saw the limo door open as he crawled inside.

“Is that Darren’s limo?” Ryan asked.

“You think they’re having a threesome?” Jenna asked, the two turned to her surprised “It could happen.”

When the car began to shift up and down, the three looked at each other with widened eyes “Oh my God…” Erin sighed, “Come on.” She was suddenly pulled back by Jenna.

“You’re going to confront them right now?” Jenna asked in shock, Erin nodded “They’re probably naked in there!”

“I have to stop it before it gets any worse.” Erin knew she owed Darren that much. She began walking in the driveway towards the limo with Jenna and Ryan close behind. They turned their heads after hearing a car screeching around the corner. The car was charging at them at full speed “Move!!” Erin cried as Jenna and Ryan dove to the side, she looked up and found a water pipe as she took a leap and pulled herself in a flat position parallel to the ground until the car drove past them. She jumped down and turned to the other two “You guys okay?”

They nodded “I didn’t see who was driving.” Jenna took Ryan’s helping has as he pulled her to her feet.

“Whoever it was, they knew we were here.” Ryan slapped his palms together to clean off the excess dirt “We were probably being watched.”

“Luke!” Erin remembered. She was about to turn when she remembered the limo but it had disappeared “Where did it go?”

“I didn’t hear it leave.” Ryan claimed.

Shaking her head, she turned to the two “We don’t have time for this.” Racing to her car, she drove home in top speed “Hold on.” She warned after making a screeching sharp turn. With the speed she was driving, a cop spotted her with ease as he turned on his siren and followed her. She glanced at the rear view mirror and shifted to a higher gear “Not today buddy.”

“I feel like a fugitive.” Jenna said with a bit of excitement.

“Ga Jei, maybe you should stop and explain?” Ryan suggested “I’m sure he won’t give you a ticket if he knew who we were.”

“No, Luke could be in danger.” Erin shook it off as she continued to speed up the hill to her home. The cop turned on his speaker and asked her to pull over but still refusing until she reached her home. Her heart stopped when she saw the front door open, the lights were turned on.

Getting out of the car, the policeman pulled out his gun and aimed it at her “Stop there with your hands up!!”

Erin sighed with frustration as she turned to Jenna “I’ll take care of this.” The young girl urged as she turned to the cop “We’re with the P.R.A.!” she announced.

Walking into the home, her instincts were not good. She found his keys thrown on the ground, the coffee table over turned and the lamp fallen to the ground. Rolling her hand into a fist as she cried out angrily punching the couch. Ryan came in seconds later to check on her “Ga Jei.” His eyes searched around and noticed the disheveled place.

“They got him.” She said flatly.

Jenna came in after that as she halted at the door “What happened here?” Erin lowered her head and shook it, her hands gripping on the couch cushion. Closing the door, she found a piece of paper taped to the back “Erin, look!” yanking it off, she read it “Ha ha, we tricked you.” Flipping over the paper to see if there was anything else, she shook her head “Cute.”

“Who do you think it’s from?” Ryan wondered as he turned to Erin, who had picked up something from the floor.

“You guys should go to sleep, it’s getting late.” Erin advised.

**************

She pulled the black car into the alley and put it in park. Getting out of the car, she popped the trunk and pulled him out of the compartment. Luke was tied from the wrists and a cloth was stuffed in his mouth, his eyes angry as he stared at her “Don’t stare at me like that, I didn’t want to do it.” Reina assured him as she closed the trunk and pulled him into what look like a run down home.

Escorting him to Hung Gor’s office as she pushed him into the room “Not bad.” Ah Gam glanced at his watch “You’re actually ten seconds late.”

“Better late than never.” Reina snapped. She turned to Hung Gor “I kept my part of the deal, I hope you’ll do yours.”

He sighed with boredom “Ah Gam.” He nodded. Handing over the explosive control to Reina “I had no idea it was so easy. I would’ve had you take another person.”

She glared angrily at him while breaking apart the control and taking out the batteries and stomping her foot over it. Hung Gor was not an easy man to say no to, he was greedy to ask her for another favor, when she declined, he planted explosives around her and Matt’s home. She had no choice but to do what he asked “What are you going to do with him?”

“That’s none of your concern!” Hung Gor snapped “I hate it when people ask questions! Only I get to ask them!!” soon after his explosion, he cooled down but the veins were still popping from his neck “Now then, we’ll contact you Sunday and see how you made out with the real mission.”

Luke began calling for her, his eyes desperate “I’m sorry Luke. Better you than Matt.” She said sadly and turned to leave.

After she left, he was in instant fear for his life. Backing against the door, he looked from Hung Gor’s crazy smile to Ah Gam’s cold face “Take him out of here.” The boss waved nonchalantly.

Bowing slightly, Ah Gam took a hold of Luke’s arm roughly as he walked him out of the room and through another hall to the manufacturing company. He took him through another large room where cages were hanging from the ceiling. It looked like a animal show. Lowering a cage, Ah Gam pushed him inside “I guess Carmen won’t miss you much now.” He snickered “When Becca told me about Brad’s twin brother, I didn’t want to believe it but now seeing you…” he threw his head back with a laugh “So you have a little crush on Carmen? Well, good luck with that.” He said sarcastically before locking the cage and dragging it upwards.

Luke had a slight fear of heights as he suddenly felt dizzy. Sitting himself down, he rolled his bottom and legs in the circle of this tied arms so that he could remove the cloth from his mouth. His chest felt heavy as he breathed from his mouth “What the hell is this place?” he asked to himself.

“Hung Gor has a little fetish for torture.” A female voice spoke up, which startled him. Luke spun in circles as he looked around terrified “I’m not a ghost, I’m in the cage diagonal to you.” Jessie advised calmly.

He winced to make out the tiny figure “You were kidnapped too?”

“Yeah.” She sighed sadly “First accused for killing my boyfriend and taken to jail for a court date then kidnapped on the way to the temporary jail. Before I know it, I’m like a monkey trapped. Only taken out when they need a good laugh.”

“I’m sorry.” Luke said sincerely “If it makes you feel better, I’m not sure why I was kidnapped.”

“What’s your relation to the P.R.A. team?” Jessie questioned.

“None. Well, not exactly. I live with Erin, Doug, Ryan and Jenna.” He explained.

Jessie tilted her head “You’re Luke?” he nodded strangely “Erin’s told me about you.”

“You know Erin?!” Luke asked, suddenly relieved to know he was not the only one on a boat.

“I’m Jessie Lai. The Team’s psychologist.” She introduced.

“I’d shake your hand but I’m caged up.” He cracked.

She laughed despite their situation “You make jokes when you’re scared?”

“And I talk a lot too.” He added with a laugh and slumped with defeat “This is how I’m going to die huh? I’ll never get the girl of my dreams and I won’t run my own radio station. I’ll never get to travel the world…I…won’t be a movie star” he was choked up when he felt the tears ready to come out.

“Hey, we’ll be okay. The Team will save us. I know Doug is trying hard to help me. He’s probably cleared my name already.” Jessie was confident.

************

Doug came home in high spirits, not expecting anyone to be home as he closed the door gently. Suddenly the room lights lit up and appeared the three standing with their arms crossed “Holy crap! What the hell are you guys doing? Trying to take me to an early grave?” he clutched his chest.

“Don’t change the subject!” Jenna snapped “Where were you just now?”

“I told you guys, I went to see a friend.” He said breezing by them but Erin stepped in front of him “It’s a guy.” He rolled his eyes dramatically.

“Really?” Erin narrowed her eyes “Is that why you drove out to the mall’s structure at eleven at night? Snuck into a limo and drove off?”

“H…how…how did you know?” swallowing his spit as he cleared his throat nervously “You guys followed me?”

Jenna suddenly grabbed him by the arm and shook him “Doug! This is wrong! She’s married for goodness sakes. Darren will kill you!” she pushed him with force.

“Darren? What does he have to do with this?” Doug asked innocently.

“Don’t lie, we all know its Mia.” Erin shook her head sadly “I didn’t want to believe it but now that I saw it with my own eyes. Have you forgotten Jessie?”

Doug laughed, “You guys are crazy. There’s nothing going on with me and Mia.”

Erin was appalled that he could stand there and lie to their faces even with the evidence that they had “Stop denying it! We know Doug. I’ll beat it out of you if you don’t fess up.” She threatened.

“There’s nothing to—” before he could finish, she attacked him and he moved away with instincts “Hey!” she was not kidding as she began enveloping in a charging fight with Doug.

Ryan nudged Jenna “Should we help?”

“No, I think Erin’s got it.” Jenna chuckled.

“No, I mean help Doug. She’ll break his arm.” He pointed when Erin was able to pin him onto the couch.

“Say it!!” she challenged.

“No!!” Doug groaned in pain “Help!! Kids, help me!!” his only free arm flaring in the air.

“Ga Jei.” Ryan quickly rushed to his rescue as he pulled her off Doug’s back “You’re going to hurt him. Maybe it wasn’t Mia?”

She spun her head to him with wide eyes “You were there tonight, Ryan.”

“Listen, we didn’t exactly see Mia inside that limo. I know there’s not that many in Kowloon but we have to give him the benefit of the doubt. Remember the first rule, innocent before proven guilty.” Ryan said reasonably.

“Damn! How come you can make so much sense from that?” Jenna commended “I think we should bend the rules for his case.” She leered her eyes at Doug, who whipped his chin in the air “It should be guilty until proven innocent.”

“You little smartass--” Doug began.

Erin raised a hand to silence them “Wait, I think Ryan is right.” She stepped closer to Doug while he backed away “You better wish and pray I don’t find you snooping around. Because if and when I find out the truth and it is what I think it is…you’re going to wish you were a girl.” She growled.

“Well on a lighter note, Luke was kidnapped.” Jenna said brightly.

“He what?!” Doug asked.

“We don’t know who took him.” Erin sighed, she felt a headache coming on as she took a seat on the couch.

“Go to bed, its no use losing sleep over. We have a big mission tomorrow.” Jenna advised. Nodding, she walked towards the stairs. Turning to Doug, she pointed her finger into his chest “And you! Turn back while you can!” reaching for Ryan’s hand “Come on, let’s go to bed.” Doug began chuckling as Jenna spun around and pointed, “Don’t even start!! I didn’t mean that we’re sleeping together.” Ryan shrugged helplessly at Doug.

Chapter 38

Erin found it hard to sleep that night knowing that Luke was locked up somewhere. She could only imagine what they were doing to him. It was a few hours until they were to meet at headquarters. She felt the sudden need to clear her conscience as she woke and dressed in warm clothes due to the cold weather they were having lately. The sky was still dark when she reached the cemetery. It was locked as she expected, looking around she found the coast clear as she climbed the gate and entered.

Stuffing her hands in her pockets, she found his grave with ease. Kneeling in front of it as she bowed with respect “Hey you. Betcha didn’t think I could be up so early.” His picture stared back at her with a frozen smile “I’m sorry. I seemed to have lost your brother.” She didn’t have the heart to look at his picture “I’m so useless, I can’t even protect one person. He was taken from right under my nose and it didn’t occur to me until later. Maybe I really am not cut out for it.” Tearing up, she lowered her head with closed eyes “Why won’t it stop?”

“Because that is your destiny.” A haunting voice appeared before her as she raised her head at the same time a tear slid from her cheek. The face was familiar but she knew the words, the tone “Long time no see.” He grinned, his dimple still in place as she last remembered.

“Brad.” Erin whispered, tears of joy escaped. He sat on the gravestone comfortably “What should I do?”

“Erin, haven’t you learned anything in the past four years?” he asked gently.

Nodding, she gulped back the tears “Yes, that I can’t do this without you.”

Shaking his head, the silhouette answered, “No, you can. And you have all the answers, you know what to do, you just want someone to agree with you. I’ll always be there when you need me but there comes a time when you’ll need more than that. I am only a figure of your imagination when you feel helpless.”

She laughed at herself pathetically “So basically, I’m a crazy woman that talks to herself thinking that she’s talking to her dead fiancé.”

Jumping off the stone, he knelt down in front of her “I’m as real as you make me.” His eyes were vibrant as he smiled “Close your eyes.” Erin found it ridiculous but she decided to do as he asked. She felt something cold touch her face “You feel that?” nodding while keeping her eyes shut, afraid if she opened them he would leave “You’re not crazy, just confused. Whatever happens to Luke, I will forgive you. It’s not your responsibility Erin, you have to understand that. Everything happens for a reason.”

“I am my biggest critique.” Erin opened her eyes and sighed when he was still present.

He looked at the sky and realized the sun was rising “I have to go. Be strong.” Brad advised before disappearing into the wind.

She felt newly charged as she got up and ran out of the cemetery ready to take on the mission. Erin was the first to enter headquarters as she checked out her gun and bulletproof vest. Glancing at her watch, she realized the rest would not be there for at least another two hours. Marching to the training room, she practiced her gunfire and martial arts.

It felt like hours until she was finally exhausted. She had no idea he was watching her the whole time “I’m glad you found a new drive.” He leaned against the door coolly.

Erin wiped the sweat from her forehead “They got Luke.” She said flatly.

“I know.” Devin replied with a grin. He pulled a photo from his shirt and showed it to her “It appears Hung Gor is gathering his own circus.”

Her brows wrinkled when she noticed the cages in the picture “We’ll get him.” She passed it back to him.

He raised his brows in surprise “Well, I’m not sure I like this new confidence you have. It’s one thing to have confidence but it’s another to be cocky.”

“No, cocky is when you think you’re God’s gift to women. I am just sure of myself.” Erin smiled victoriously.

He laughed humorously “Contrary to what you may believe, I only think I’m God’s gift to you…alas you haven’t noticed it yet.”

She reached for her water bottle as she took a long gulp and walked by him with a crooked grin “And I won’t ever realize it.” She walked backwards with a teasing grin “I’m going to shower before the meeting, I’d ask you to come but your ego might take up all the room.” Devin nodded with a pressed lip smile, defeated.

*************

“Are we clear on everything?” Devin asked again. The team nodded firmly as they secured the vests under their normal clothes and guns in pocket.

Doug shifted uneasily “My vest is a little small.”

“That’s because that’s not yours doofus. It’s Reina’s.” Mia pointed out with a laugh.

“No wonder the girl looked at me funny.” Doug peeled off the vest as Reina switched with him “Hope you don’t mind the sweat smell, I didn’t have time to shower this morning.” The group groaned with disgust.

Devin shook his head at the bunch “I don’t want any rock unturned, pull aside anyone that looks suspicious. Ted and his team will be helping the second we call them. Let’s do good today team.”

“Yes Sir!!” there was proud grins and confidence in their eyes as they saluted him.

“Move out!” he ordered.

“Wait, where’s Carmen?” Mia noticed.

“That’s a first.” Doug snickered.

“She’s running late.” Devin said shortly “Let’s go.”

Taking separate cabs, the divided groups marched to their positions. Mia and Erin raced towards the crowded escalators “Scorpio and Pisces on board.” They checked in the minute the reached the third floor.

“Good, start from the top.” Devin answered, “Be careful girls.”

“Isn’t that sweet, he’s worried for us.” Mia teased her friend.

Erin ignored her friend with a shaking head as she spotted something different on their way up to the fourth floor. She nodded to a guy snooping in a corridor that appeared to be an emergency exit “You see him?”

“Yeah. I’ll get him, you keep going up.” Mia turned and ran the opposite way the escalators were going. Taking two steps at a time, she managed to beat the moving stairs.

“Hot cappuccino please.” Doug ordered. Ryan looked at him exasperatedly “I need to wake up!”

“That’s fine.” Devin replied, “Act normal, that will distract the terrorists.”

Picking up his drink, he found a seat underneath an umbrella table as he sat down careful not to spill his drink. Ryan opened a newspaper while his eyes searched the area for anyone suspicious “That’s very subtle hole.” Doug said with extra sarcasm as he pointed to the hole in the middle of the paper that was obviously cut.

Jenna pouted, “That was MY idea!”

Doug laughed, “Now it makes sense. Ryan isn’t that dumb.”

Matt patted Jenna on the shoulder as he nodded to a few passerby that looked at her strangely “Come on.” Suddenly, his eye caught on a moving motorcycle that zoomed by them. His eyes tracing the car until it turned a corner.

“What’s wrong?” Jenna asked.

Touching his ear piece, he warned the rest “Guys, look out for a motorcycle guy. I have a feeling he might be one of them.”

“Ah Gam rides a motorcycle.” Erin advised from her position.

“Darren, do you see anything strange?” Devin asked.

“No. Everything is clear.” He stayed low behind his long binoculars that was especially set up for him across the mall.

Reina was restless “I should be out there.”

“I’ve made up my mind.” Devin said firmly.

Mia’s hand sat over her gun in the pocket as she opened the door carefully and followed along the empty hallway “Pisces is inside the cave, everything clear so far…”

“Cave?” Doug laughed, “That’s a stupid code.”

“Well you should understand since you speak stupid language!” Mia blurted suddenly, she heard a door slam close. Yanking out her gun, she pointed down the hall “Who’s there?!”

“You see someone?” Erin asked.

Mia moved quickly down and noticed a door ajar “It’s a stairwell. Erin, he’s going to the fourth floor.”

“I’m on it!” Erin answered as she sprinted towards the same emergency exit that was vertical from Mia’s position. Pushing the door open, she raced down the hall to the stairwell in time to catch the guy walking out “Stop!” she ordered. Panicking, he turned and ran back down the stairs. He was quickly sandwiched with Mia at the bottom and Erin at the top.

“Run! Come on!” Mia challenged with a beckoning finger. The guy looked from one girl to the other as he took a chance with Erin, who looked more petite from the crazy woman. Wincing, Mia turned away after Erin punched him clear across the face “Oooh, wrong choice.” Stepping on his chest, she asked, “Where is it?”

“Where is what? Who are you people?” the guy asked “I didn’t steal anything!”

“Steal?” Erin motioned for Mia to take her feet off “What the hell are you doing snooping in this hallway?”

“I…I…I was eh…” he looked embarrassed as he turned away, tongue tied.

Erin sighed “Checking out the salesgirl at the computer shop.” Pulling him to his feet, she nodded to the exit “Get out.” Turning to Mia, she shook her head “Come on.”

“Sir, I think I see the guy in the motorcycle.” Darren advised when he spotted the guy parking his bike on the sidewalk by a meter. Pulling off his helmet, he had a clear view of the guy’s face “It’s Ah Gam!”

“Team, stay on your toes!” Devin ordered. Reina clutched her stomach suddenly. At the corner of his eyes, he could see her “What’s wrong?” he asked without much feeling.

“I don’t know. It just hurts.” She groaned in pain.

Matt stopped in his tracks as he looked worried “Reina, are you okay? She was having stomach pains last night.”

“I have to get to a restroom.” Reina shook her head. Devin softened as he watched her face wrinkle in excruciating pain, nodding, he gave her the green light to leave.

“Come back the minute you feel better.” He said with authority while taking over the computer map of the Time Square section.

The second she was out of the van, she turned off the earpiece and raced towards the mall. On the second floor, she found the shop with ease. The sales girl greeted her with a smile as she nodded and grabbed a shirt on the table “I want to try this on.”

“Sure, let me get—”

“This room is available.” She pointed to a room that opened emerging Ah Gam as he slid pass her. Entering, she found the gun he hid behind a hung up shirt. Pushing it into the back of her jeans, securing its position “Sorry Doug.” She whispered before opening the door to take care of business.

Chapter 39

“Oh my God!” Doug cried out suddenly causing Ryan to jump in his seat.

“What? What happened? Did you see something??” his eyes darted around for anything out of the ordinary.

Doug laughed as he pointed to a girl walking away “You can see through her skirt.”

The rest of the team sighed with relief “Gee, I have no idea why you are single.” Jenna chirped.

“Watch it kid.” Doug warned.

Ryan sighed, “Can we focus please, anything can happen—” at the warning, a gunshot rang out from nowhere causing everyone who heard to jump into a frenzy. People began running in different directions when another shot rang out.

“Darren, do you see anything?” Devin asked quickly.

“Negative. I don’t know where it’s coming from.” Darren searched the entire place as he moved the binoculars in the surrounding area “They must be hidden. People are going mad.” He noticed a few tripped over others and were beginning to get trampled “Ryan, your right twelve o’clock, a girl is being run over.”

“I’m on it.” He turned to Doug “I’ll be right back.”

Erin and Mia raced towards the escalator when the shots could be heard from outside. On their way down, Erin spotted Ah Gam calmly walking towards the escalator moving opposite from them “Look.” She nudged Mia “I’ll be back.” Not waiting for the escalator to take her safely to the flat ground, she jumped over the edge and landed on her feet with ease. Chasing him towards the escalator leaving Mia to exit the mall by herself.

Touching her ear, she deactivated the ear piece and took a backdoor route, her eyes moving up careful to make sure Erin was still after Ah Gam.

*************

“Reina! You need to return to your station.” Devin commanded. After a few seconds of no answer, his instincts told him it wasn’t good. Exiting the coverup van, he jumped out and ran towards Time Square.

Matt and Jenna found it hard to run against the traffic “Where do you think she went?” Jenna asked. Matt shook his head, afraid of his own theory. Instead he pushed his way through, opening the way for Jenna to move faster.

Darren moved across the busy place and instantly caught someone out of the ordinary “It’s Becca!” he followed the figure and knew it was her “Guys, I think she has a weapon.”

“Where?” Doug spun in a circle as he tried to find her amongst the crowd.

“She’s not going to kill you.” Jenna rolled her eyes while Matt contained a small smile.

“How do you know?!” Doug asked nervously “Where is Ryan?”

“Guys, I think I found something.” Outside by the garden, inside the bushes laid a huge black box covered in dirt, a digital clock counting backwards “Possibly a bomb.” He guessed.

“What’s the time?” Devin asked while jogging.

“5 minutes 34 seconds and moving fast.” Ryan looked up to make sure no one was around as he leaned down and picked it up “I’m taking it away from the crowd.” He advised.

“There could be more. Team spread out and look for them.” Devin instructed.

Erin chased Ah Gam up the roof of the mall as she stood grounded “No where to run.” She said calmly “What are you doing here?”

“Watching a show.” He grinned victoriously as he turned his head to the right, the building where Darren was standing guard.

Erin watched in horror as someone snuck up behind him “Darren, watch out!!” she warned but it was too late, the girl had an advantage. Her eyes squinted as she made out the face, it was Reina. Glaring at Ah Gam, she had no choice but to leave and help her teammate.”

“By the time you get there it will be too late.” Ah Gam laughed as he saw her sprinting to the fire escape.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Darren demanded when he blocked her vicious punch.

“I don’t want to hurt you Darren, just move out of my way and let me do what I have to do!” Reina said.

“Reina?” Matt stopped as he turned up to the rooftop and saw the two in a brawl. He heard her voice through Darren’s ear piece.

“What is she doing?” Jenna repeated.

His eyes hardened as he changed his direction “I’m going to find out.” He started towards the street “You check outside the mall.” He said to Jenna before disappearing into a pool of people.

Darren did not want to hurt her as he only blocked but didn’t attack, giving her a big advantage. She was relentless and stopped at nothing. Spinning around him, she hit him on the back of the neck in the human’s body weak spot. He fell to the ground unconscious. Reina hopped over his body and took charge of the sniper gun “Reina! REINA!!!” Matt called with all his might but it seemed she was a different person. Her only target was one thing, kill someone.

Erin finally made her way on the ground from the seven floors building when a bullet flew from Reina’s position caused her to freeze. She turned her head in time to see a person falling to the ground. When she turned back to Reina, she was no longer on the roof. Running towards the crowd that began to surround the person, she pushed her way through “Move! Move away!!” Erin’s heart pounded when she saw Mia cradling Doug’s body in a pool of blood.

“Stay with me…please…don’t die.” Mia coaxed, whispering in his ear.

“I called backup.” Devin said “Who was shot?!”

“Doug.” Erin said flatly “It went through his vest.”

Ryan stopped dead in his tracks with the bomb still in his hands, he made it to the van just as he heard Erin “What?”

Jenna laughed nervously “That was strange, I thought you said Doug…”

“I did.” Erin turned her head as she began pushing the people away “Give him some air!!” eyes red as she felt suffocating. Head turning, she noticed Mia hugging onto Doug’s lifeless body, tears dripping from her face.

Darren woke up slowly, his head pounding and neck throbbing as he looked around, he was alone again. When he heard sirens calling in the distance, he moved over the ledge and found a huge crowd surrounding something. He peeked through the eye piece and saw Erin instructing the crowd. But his view was blocked by the people, he wans’t sure what the commotion was about. Unlocking the sniper gun and binoculars, he placed it in the bag and headed across the street. When he finally reached the crowd, the white stretcher was being pushed hurriedly to the ambulance. He caught a quick glimpse of Doug’s pale face while Mia holding onto his hand. She hopped into the van and they drove off.

His heart sinking, he turned slowly to catch Erin’s gaze on him. Her tears of sympathy. Not a single word was exchanged, his expression told her everything. He knew. Devin made his way over as the cops began to tame the crowd. Jenna had found another bomb. Suddenly remembering Ryan, she called “Ryan, can you hear me? Ryan!”

Sniffing back the tears, he answered “Yeah. The bombs are fake. It’s just a scam.” He said while heading back to the team.

“They are?” Jenna asked.

“At three minutes, a joker face appeared where the time showed. It laughed and said ‘fooled you’. This was just a scam!!” Ryan suddenly felt a wave of emotion as he slammed the device onto the ground causing it to crash.

Jenna dodged a few people standing around as she spotted Ryan standing a block away, fist clenched together. Running towards him, she found her way into his embrace. Her eyes already red from the tears “He’ll be okay, right?” He didn’t know what to tell her, only held her tighter while his leaned his cheek against her head.

*************

Carmen found the old sewing manufacture as she picked the big bolted lock on the door. Looking around, she made sure everything was clear before opening the sliding metal doors. It rumbled with echo in the empty place. Closing it carefully, she rushed towards the back where a door stood. Opening the door, she knew she hit jackpot when the cages were hung above her head “How does he know?” she thought of how Devin was able to find the place and asked her to go there while the rest were at Time Square.

“Carmen?” Luke was lying down when he heard a voice. Turning up, he saw it was her “Carmen!”

“Luke!” she smiled happily “I’ll get you down.”

“Save Jessie too.” He pointed to a girl in a cage not too far from him.

“Is she okay?” Carmen asked while she trying to work the chain controls attached to the top of the cage.

Luke nodded “She’s just weak, they only feed us once a day.”

“Those bastards!” Carmen cursed while she released the lever slowly dropping Luke’s cage first. She began picking the lock.

“I’ve never been happier to see you.” Luke said sincerely, his eyes only seeing her.

She dodged his gaze “Don’t thank me yet. We’re not out of this hell hole yet.”

“Right.” A male voice said calmly causing Carmen to stop her hands. A gun pointed to her head as the guy moved to the side showing his face “Carmen, long time no see.”

“Ah Gam?” Carmen frowned “What…you…you work for Hung Gor?”

“Sure, why not? It pays the bills.” He said smugly “Move away.” He pointed her against the wall. She had no choice but to do as he asked. Pressing a button with his free hand, the chain pulled Luke’s cage back to where it was before “You picked the wrong team to be on.” He stepped closer.

“I picked the wrong friend.” She said with regret.

Ah Gam snickered “Yes, I was always just a friend. What was about Brad that you liked? It doesn’t matter anyways, he’s dead. And he’s not Brad!” he cried out pointing the gun at Luke. She found her only chance to overpower him as she spun a kick at his hand throwing the gun from his hand. Soon they entwined in a fist fight but it was obvious he was holding back for her. They paused to catch their breath as he looked at her hurtfully “You would kill me to save him wouldn’t you?”

“I don’t want to kill anyone.” Carmen said calmly “I just want you to let them go. Please Ah Gam…what did you turn into? Why are you working for this monster?”

“That monster has given me everything that I have.” Ah Gam replied through gritted teeth.

“It’s not too late to turn back.” Carmen coaxed, she hated to see her friend on the wrong side of the road.

His eyes twitched to her right “It’s already too late.”

She saw the twitch as she spun around and was met with Becca’s gun “What do you see in this girl anyways?” she snickered. Ah Gam moved towards the control robotically as he released a cage and watched as Becca forced her inside. Carmen looked at him desperately but didn’t beg him, her instincts told her he was not all that bad. He didn’t dare look at her in the eyes.

SIUBINGLIBRARY 2004