Zodiac of PRA II: Forever Heroes

Chapter 28

After the meeting was over, Erin walked along the streets. She was beating herself down for Mia’s kidnapping. And Michael’s too. How stupid was she to leave the place, if only she didn’t mention that to Ted. Brad has been calling her for a few blocks now, yet she refused to answer. When he finally had enough, he raced over to her “Erin!”

She turned to him with special annoyance “If you want to yell at me, you might have to stand in line behind Darren.”

He sighed “If only you were more logical….” He paused when she looked at him hurtfully “Erin…I’m sorry…”

She shook her head while backing away “I don’t need this from you, Brad. I really don’t. Just go home.” She said harshly before turning her heels as she ran off.

The tears stung her eyes as she raced to the beach, her breathing was heavy from all the running. She didn’t dare to stop, afraid that if she did, she would not make it there. The sand made her feet feel heavy and she eventually tripped on the sand. She sat up and felt two hands covering her shoulders “Don’t be so hard on yourself.” Ted coaxed.

Erin sat up, but her hands remained buried into the sand “Don’t…I don’t want to hear anything right now.” She turned to him with a tearful expression “Just leave me alone.” She whispered while a fresh teardrop fell to the sand.

He nodded understandingly as he got up and walked away, giving her some peace and quiet. She lowered her head and closed her eyes while the sobs took over her body like a lightning bolt. Lord only knows what Chris was planning to do with Mia, her best friend. This wasn’t happening. Erin thought over and over, but the realization came when she received a phone call.

She reached to pick it up with her sandy fingers and answered it “Hello?”

“It’s been a long time, Erin.” Reina’s sarcastic voice was like a slap in the face.

Erin’s eyes hardened as her fingers balled into a fist “Let…them…go.” She said slowly but threateningly.

Reina’s laugh was too familiar as she answered “Tsk, tsk, tsk….poor…pathetic little Erin. How does it feel to be blamed for everything? Jessie’s death…Michael’s disappearance…and the sweet and lovable Mia’s death?”

“Don’t you DARE hurt her!” Erin cried into the phone.

“AW…it’s a little too late for that….” Reina laughed “You should have told me sooner. Maybe I would have spared her filthy life.” She spat harshly.

Erin’s eyes softened as she found herself begging to the enemy “Please…let her go. I know she’s not dead yet. What do you want with her?”

“You know me too well.” Reina said darkly “It’s good to have a laugh here and there, ironic that I was locked away with crazy laughing people. You should try it some time. But sorry…I cannot let Mia go…not until you die. Then she’ll go with you…”

“You bitch!” Erin snarled. She knew Reina was just messing with her mind.

Reina’s laugh was like an echo in her head as she laughed evilly “Someone can’t take a little joke. But think about, Erin…if you were dead…none of this would have happened. Your mere existence is only hurting those around you. One by one, they all will die…and because of whom? If only you’d use your scrawny little brain and think just for a second… if you weren’t alive, Ted and Brad would not be fighting over you. Ted would not do everything you request like a little puppy. But then again…Brad would never know that he cares for his old girlfriend, Nora…” she said her name with emphasis.

Erin couldn’t tear herself away from the phone as if her voice was completely hypnotic “Shut up…” she said in a daze.

“Don’t you want Mia, Michael…and Darwin…to come back safely? I’ll tell you what, if you trade your life for the three of them…I’ll let them go… freely. No questions asked.” Reina said firmly.

Erin’s eyes looked out at the setting sun, she was about to agree to the plan until she heard Mia’s voice break into her thoughts “No!! Erin, don’t do it!! She’s lying!! Don’t!!!”

“Mia?! MIA!!” Erin cried into the phone.

Reina snickered “My offer still stands.” With that she hung up the phone.

Erin widened her eyes as she realized her only contact to Mia was gone “Reina?! Reina!!” she looked at the phone with disgust as she chugged it across the beach and slumped down to the ground and cried her eyes out.

************** 5 days later **************

Darren had about four hours of sleep since the day that Mia was kidnapped. His hair was disheveled and still very bleach blond from the dye job. And then it reminded him, it was the same dye job at his very home where Mia was sitting on the couch giggling at him. The unshaven beard and mustache made him look like a slob. He dragged his feet over to the couch and sat down where Mia last sat in the house.

Slowly, his feet curled up on a ball as he wrapped his arms around his legs. His cries came softly but eventually he began rocking himself in the couch as sobs escaped his lips. His hot tears fell freely the more he thought of her. The smile that was so contagious which always managed to make him smile even when he was in his worse mood.

Thinking about how hard it was just to win her back, but now he felt like he lost her forever. Reina hated them and to have an agent in her hands only means one thing. Jessie was a great example, it was probably her that shot Jessie to death. His cry echoed through the mansion as he let it out painfully. He stood up suddenly ‘I can’t stay here…’ he thought to himself. The silence will surely eat him alive. He left the empty house and took his convertible out as he raced down the streets, not caring that he almost ran over some people.

He screeched his car to a stop when it reached the front of a bar. He got out and entered the place with people giving him strange looks. At the bar, he cut in a long line “Give me a shot of Tequila!” he ordered.

The people cried disapprovingly while the Bartender shook his head “Get in line, buddy.”

Darren nodded with a sarcastic smile but abruptly reached over the bar and twisted the guy’s shirt “I said…get me a fuckin…shot of tequila!” he let go of the guy roughly and pulled out a wad of cash “I’ll pay for all these people, just get me my drink first!”

The bartender nodded eventually and gave him a shot, Darren drank it quick as the alcohol burned his throat and disagreed with his stomach. But he ignored the burning sensation and placed the glass down and nodded at the guy. The bartender was faced with angry customers as he eventually gave the almost full bottle to Darren. He yanked it from the counter while his eyes could burn a hole through the wall. Tilting the bottle over his head as he took in the bitter drink. His eyes began to tear up as he thought about Mia.

The effects of the alcohol sunk in quickly as he felt the room spin. He walked around drunkily and eventually tripped over his own foot. The bottle flew out of his hand and hit someone on the leg. The girl lifted her leg up painfully “Watch it!” she growled at him.

Darren crawled his way over to the bottle and lifted it up with his hands. He smiled at it happily, not a single dropped spilled out. Suddenly, the girl let out another cry when he reached out to her leg to help himself stand up. He was met with a muscle guy’s arm, which knocked him off his feet “You fucking touched my girl!!” the man snarled.

Darren pulled himself up unsteadily as he pointed his bottle at the man “Don’t hit me…fatso!” he spat harshly.

“What the hell did you say?” the big guy turned his ear towards Darren.

“FATSO!!” Darren yelled before throwing a punch at the guy. Eventhough the guy didn’t expect the punch, he did not falter from his place. He turned to Darren with killing eyes and suddenly tackled Darren to the ground.

The crowd circled around them and were quick to begin chanting “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

The big guy began beating up on Darren until his face was swollen. But out of the blue the guy was kicked off of Darren. Doug was filling Eric on the history of the P.R.A. when they heard the chanting. To their surprise, they saw Darren being brutally beaten up by a guy twice his size. Eric pulled Darren up by the arm while Doug pointed to the big guy “What the hell are you trying to do? Kill him?”

“Get out of my way or I’ll kill you too!” he threatened.

Darren pushed Eric away as he stumbled over to Doug “I can fight my own battles.” He said dazily. The big guy took his chance as he threw a punch at Darren but he was quick to dodge it despite his drunken stage. Again the man tried to punch Darren but this time Darren caught his hand and pulled his arm back with a swift motion, he punch the guy in the eye. The ground shook as the guy fell to his back. Darren’s hand was throbbing but he remained cool and walked out with crooked steps.

Doug and Eric looked at each other as they quickly followed Darren “Where are you going?” Doug sighed.

Darren turned to them and pointed a finger at them “Don’t follow me…I will hit you both.” He turned and again tripped over his own foot.

Eric reached out to help him but was quickly pushed away “What do you look like?!” Doug asked as he helped Eric up and pointed to Darren “Like shit!” he grabbed Darren roughly by the collar and threw him in front of a parked car window “Look at yourself!”

“Shut up!!” Darren pushed himself off the car “You don’t know how it feels.” He said with red drunken eyes.

Doug laughed humorously but there was a hint of pain behind it “I don’t know what it feels like?” he pointed to himself “Maybe you’ve forgotten what happened to Jessie. Your luckier than I am…Mia is still alive.”

“How do you know?!!” Darren asked as he leaned himself on the car, his hand covering his face.

“Because I know!!” Doug yelled back, his face softened as he coaxed him “Come on.”

Darren yanked Doug’s hand away from his wrist “NO!”

Doug turned to him with his lips tightened “Fine…okay, you wanna fight? I’ll fight with you.” He pulled off his jacket and threw it on the ground. Only wearing his t-shirt as he put up his fist and gave Darren’s face a quick punch.

Darren slowly moved his face back and he too took off his jacket. He stumbled in his steps to keep him up as he threw a blank punch at Doug. Doug gracefully moved away as he spun to Darren’s back and pushed him to the ground with his kick. Eric put up a hand to stop them “Hey…that’s enough.” He reached out and helped Darren up, this time he did not fight his helping hand.

“You need help.” Doug sighed as he picked up the jackets and took one of Darren’s hand and wrapped it around his back neck.

“You’ve got a hard punch…” Darren muttered.

Eric laughed “It’s a sucker punch.”

Chapter 29

The P.R.A. were getting nowhere near finding out who the third suspect was. With Darren constantly drunk and angry, it was hard for them to communicate in the same room. Erin was completely out of it, she would only give one word answer if she was asked. After an hour of getting nothing, Matt sighed “Team, we are not solving anything if everyone is playing the silent card. I can’t do this on my own.” He said with emphasis towards Darren and Erin.

She shook her head “Can I go home? I don’t feel good.”

Matt frowned “No, you may not! We are not leaving this place until I get some answers!! You all signed up for this, that means you are to be dedicated to it. I don’t want to hear anymore excuses. We have an agent that’s been kidnapped, two clients under ransom and two innocent bystanders. People, there are others to be saved, lives to take back.”

Darren was the first to answer as he looked up “You’re right…We have to work together. Even if some people in this room do not practice that word…I will.” His eyes landed coldly on Erin and Ted. She has yet to tell them about her conversation with Reina.

“She called me…” Erin began, her eyes still glued to the table.

“Who?” Brad asked. Erin has been extra quiet since the incident and he could barely get a sentence out of her. Shelly was worried for her sister when she learned what had happened to Mia but according to Brad, it was not a good time to talk to Erin.

“Reina.” Erin sighed as she looked up, her eyes looked so tired and the dark circles under her eyes told them how many tears she has lost and the lack of sleep she’s had “She told me if I traded myself in, she would let the other five go unharmed.”

“Did you promise?” Matt asked.

Erin shook her head while Brad let out a sigh of relief “She’s just messing with your head.” He advised her.

“What if it’s true?” Darren asked. The group looked at him in horror and he explained coldly “I want Mia back…that’s all. I’m not saying I’d rather have Erin die. But if we could play with their plan and try to find where they’ve held them hostage, it wouldn’t be hard to save Erin too.”

Matt seemed to contemplating the idea “They want to play sly, then we’ll play sneaky. Has she called you back?” he asked Erin, who slowly shook her head.

“Maybe she’ll call me this time?” Darren asked, his eyes full of hope “I’m gonna go home and wait!” he announced and got up.

Matt put up a hand “Wait a minute Darren. All of you guys, go with him. It’s better to have a team than to split up.” He was wise behind his years.

The group evacuated and drove together back to Darren’s home. Little did they know that a gift sat there waiting for them. Darren picked up the box and shook it, which had a heavy object inside “What do you think it is?” Eric asked curiously.

“We’ll see.” Darren opened the door and walked inside. He opened it and noticed it was a video tape. It was just a normal black tape.

Brad nodded at him “Let’s see what it is.” He took the tape from Darren and popped it in the VCR.

The blurry black and white lines flashed on the screen while everyone took their seats. Suddenly an eyeball popped up and eventually the person moved away and appeared to be Chris. He knocked on the lens “Testing! Testing!” he smiled into the camera “Hello, there P.R.A. agents…welcome to my humble home.” He spread out his arms to a darkened room, the walls looked like it was made out of cement “How do you like the game so far?”

“Crazy bastard.” Doug snickered.

Chris laughed humorously despite the fact that everyone in that room wanted to tear his limbs to pieces “I guess you’re wondering what’s the next step? Hmm…I’m having too much fun with this…but let me give you a little hint. Someone…dies!” he gasped and covered his mouth while his eyes moved left and right as if he was hiding a secret.

Darren crunched his fist together “Bastard!!!” he cried at the screen.

Doug patted his friend on the shoulder “Calm down…let see what the psycho has to say.”

Chris waved to the camera person to follow him as he took them through a little hallway and into a room “How about a tour? This is the guest room.” Inside were five people sitting down blindfolded “Eenie, meenie, miny moe…which one should I pick?” he tapped his chin playfully and then reached down to Mia as he pulled her roughly by the arm “How about this one? Since I think Darren would be happy to see her.”

Mia struggled with her gags as she was pulled to another room. The camera settled down as Chris pushed her onto a chair and pulled out her gag and her blindfold roughly “Mia…” Darren whispered while his heart ached painfully.

“Say hi, sweetheart.” Chris laughed viciously as he pointed to the camera.

The glaring light burned her eyes as she turned away, it seems she’s been blindfolded for too long “Hi guys.” Mia managed to smile at the camera.

“Aww…isn’t that sweet?? A reunion.” Chris pouted his lips amusingly.

“Damn psycho…” Brad muttered.

“Go ahead, honey…talk…it’s your last chance.” Chris said wryly while the camera zoomed onto Mia’s face.

She winced when the light was directed into her eyes. She seemed tired and restless “Hi Darren…I miss you.” She smiled through the tears that were brimming her eyes “How are you doing without me? Can’t sleep, I bet…please…don’t be mad at anyone. Erin had nothing to do with this.” She shook her head vehemently.

Erin covered her mouth to hide the cries ready to escape. Her tears running down her face when Mia smiled at the camera again, she continued before gulping back the tears “I know you Darren…you’ve probably picked up drinking again. Don’t…please, it took you so long to get off.” She begged, the tears streaming down her pale face “I want nothing more than to hug you right now…I love you SOO much. Don’t worry about me…I’ll be fine. Whatever happens, we’ll meet again at the grave.” She nodded “You’ll come visit me right?” her eyes widened earnestly.

Darren couldn’t hold in the sobs as he cried “No…you can’t die, Mia!”

Brad turned to Erin who was on his left, she too was sobbing. He reached out a hand as he pulled her into his chest. She cried even harder. Brad blinked the tears back as he forced himself to continue watching the video. Doug sat there silently while the tears began to roll down his cheek.

Mia giggled forcefully “I miss you guys … so much…” she sobbed before continuing “I miss Eric’s one man talk show…I miss teasing Brad until he turns red…I miss joking with Doug and ganging up on everyone, we’ll always have high school …I miss Ted’s sweet smile…and can’t forget Matt’s wit and wannabe authority voice. … I miss the conversation with my bestest girlfriend in the whole wide world…Erin…I don’t blame you for anything and you shouldn’t beat yourself down for that either. You didn’t do anything wrong!” she nodded firmly “And Darren…I don’t know what else to say… but you know I love you more than life itself. Don’t you dare do anything drastic!” she smiled into the camera “Having you love me, it’s this indescribable feeling that I get… seeing your smile, it makes my life worthwhile…knowing that I was the cause of it. Don’t ever stop smiling…”

The camera zoomed out and showed Chris sniffing back the fake tears as he wiped his eyes delicately “That…was so…sweet.” He spat and then laughed hysterically “Well, that comes as a conclusion to our show…until next time. Look in the mail, Erin. Our offer still stands.” He gave a wink of the eye and the picture returned to black and white lines.

“BASTARD!!!!” Darren hailed the control in his hands at the television, it bounced to the ground and broke in pieces. He got up suddenly and paced the floor “I’m gonna kill him…” he muttered like a mad man over and over.

Erin looked up sadly, she turned to the other teammates who too were crying “What are we going to do?” she said weakly. It was the first time in her life, she felt absolutely useless “Maybe I should take that offer…” she began.

Ted shook his head while he wiped the tears with the back of his hand “No! That’s exactly what they want.”

Doug nodded, his tear stained face was drying up “Ted’s right…they’ll win this game if you sacrifice yourself, Erin.”

Brad wiped the tears for Erin as he whispered “We’ll find a way.”

“Find a way?!” Darren asked “What way?? He’s fucking got her in some damn cave! How the hell are we suppose to find her?” Darren looked crazier than before as he reached down to Doug and lifted him with his shirt “What if he really kills her? I can’t… I can’t live without her.” He eyes widened fearfully “I can’t…” he muttered.

Doug pulled Darren’s hand off of his shirt “Calm down…just calm down, Darren. They won’t kill her until they get us.”

Eric nodded “I think so too. He just wants the P.R.A. burned down, he wants us dead and Mia is the only one that can get them into headquarters.”

He seemed to be the only one thinking logically while Ted and Doug looked up “You’re right, why didn’t we think of that?” Doug asked.

“We have to go talk to Matt.” Ted suggested.

“So what are we waiting for? Come on!!” Darren cried as he rushed out of the house.

Brad looked down at Erin, who was had the hiccups from all the crying “Why don’t you go home and rest.”

She shook her head “No…I want…to help…” she touched her neck when a pain shot through her stomach to her throat.

“Erin.” Brad took a hold of her shoulders “You need to rest…come on.”

She continued to shake her head “No…I can’t…I have to…Mia…would want…me to help.” She said through hiccups.

Ted nodded at Brad “Just let her go…at least we’ll keep an eye on her just in case she decides to do something crazy.”

Erin smiled sadly at Ted “You read my mind.”

“Are you crazy?” Brad asked her with his hand on her tiny shoulders “Promise me you won’t do something drastic. Please…I…I can’t lose you.” He said with earnest eyes.

She could feel the blood rushing to her head as the tears began to fill her eyes again “I promise.” She whispered with her head nodding.

Ted smiled at the two and joined the rest out in the van. They reached the headquarters and received a welcome from an unexpected visitor. Brad slowly smiled “Dennis…” he reached out and hugged the old lieutenant.

Matt smiled “Looks like in with the old and out with the new.” He was joking.

Dennis laughed as he patted Matt on the shoulder “No…this is your team. I’m just visiting. Joe asked me to drop by and see the gang.” He turned to the solemn group. His eyes landed on Erin, who had on a forced smile “Erin…come here.” He waved her over.

She fell into his warm hug “It’s nice to see a familiar face.” She said with happy tears.

“Matt told me everything. If I know Mia, she isn’t the least bit mad at you. You were just going with your gut.” He pulled her away and smiled gently.

Erin nodded “I know.”

“How?” Dennis asked curiously.

“That freak sent us a tape.” Eric said as he held up the tape in his hand.

“What is it about?” Matt nodded for him to hand over the tape.

“Get some tissues ready…” Doug snorted sarcastically.

Once again, everyone watched the tape together. Tears continued to fall but this time it was easier on Erin as she promised herself to stay calm. Maybe Mia left a clue in the tape. Even if she did, no one was able to catch it as they were all emotional about the events that’s happened. They didn’t know where to begin searching. It was right back to the drawing board.

Chapter 30

That night, Erin wasn’t able to sleep, she dreamt Mia was trying to tell her something. But each time Erin tried to get closer, her friend would drift further away. She grew more frustrated with each step and unanswered question. Eventually, Erin was startled awake. She sat upright and felt the cold sweat coming from her forehead. It didn’t take her long to decide to head down to headquarters. When she got there, she expected no one to be there, instead there was an unexpected visitor.

Her eyes focused slowly as she realized who it was, a comforting smile appeared on her face when he turned to greet her “I thought I was the only weirdo here in the middle of the night.” She smiled.

Joe was looking over Mia’s tape when he heard someone coming in. He got up and greeted Erin with a hug “I know this is very hard for you.”

She shook her head against his shoulder “Not like Darren.” She moved away and noticed his eyes were red “You couldn’t get past it without tearing up too huh?”

Joe rubbed his eyes tiredly “That girl really gets to you.”

“Tell me about it.” Erin chuckled as she nodded to the screen recapturing the moment of Mia’s farewell words “Did you find out anything?”

He shook his head “When Matt informed me, I was in Beijing and I came back with the earliest flight. Unfortunately for me, it was at 2 in the morning.” Joe turned to the screen “She’s one of the originals, of course I will be concerned. It became personal the minute I met you guys.”

Erin nodded understandingly “I know what you mean. She’s a part of us, if anything happens to her…” she let her words fade. Her eyes easily welled up with tears and she had to take in a deep breath “If only I-”

Joe put up a hand to halt her “It’s not your fault Erin.” He said firmly “Mia said it herself. If they were planning this for a long time, how were you to know when it would actually happen. Stop beating yourself down and use your logic to help Mia. I know she is not dead.”

She smiled despite the tears that trailed down her cheek to her chin “I’m glad you’re here. It’s been a mess the past week.”

He nodded with a hand on her shoulder “Let’s look at the tape one more time. You were the last person to be with her. Mia’s a very smart girl, I’m sure she left a trail for us.”

Erin nodded “I’m just afraid I will break down again.” She wiped the tears from her eyes and took a deep breath “Okay…for Mia. I will be strong.” She smiled firmly.

Joe nodded and rewound the tape. They thought there would not be another distraction, but Darren had come stumbling in. He looked completely pitiful, his beard was getting thicker and his hair looked like a bird’s nest. He placed his hand in his jacket as he nodded to Joe, not the least surprised to see him there “I wanted to see the tape again.” He explained shortly.

Joe waved for him to join himself and Erin “How are you holding up?” but the answer was obvious, he was a mess without Mia.

Darren shrugged without feeling, as if half of him disappeared without Mia’s presence “I feel like…dying. It’s a slow and agonizing death.” He wrinkled his brows at Joe “It’s a very strange feeling, you know? To be alive yet you are literally dying.”

Joe and Erin exchanged glances, they didn’t expect Darren out of all people to give up on Mia. But it was easy to see that she was the reason why he smiled. He was colder to everyone and it seemed he was back to his old attitude. The anger, the snappy comments, not to mention the threats and fights he constantly got into.

“I don’t know what to say to bring your mood up…” Joe began “But I know if Mia was here, she would not want to see you like this.”

“But she’s not here.” Darren said bluntly.

Erin nodded to Joe to start the tape. Listening to Mia’s voice only brought back more tears and heartache to Darren as he sniffed away the tears, his hand pressing on his temple. Erin too could not control her emotions, at one moment she had to look away and then it occurred to her. There was a line from Mia’s words that caught her attention. She snapped her head up “Joe…rewind it a bit!”

Joe nodded and then replayed it. Erin closed her eyes as she listened to the words, it was easier not to look at the screen. She looked up with a smile “What is it?” Joe asked.

Erin turned to Darren “That part where she said ‘we’ll see each other at the grave, you’ll visit me won’t you?’ That’s it!”

Darren looked at her strangely “I don’t get it.”

“The grave! The cemetery that Mia and I went to…the one that Reina was supposedly buried in. The caretaker, he said he heard cries every so often but he just ignored it.” Erin explained.

“The perfect place to hideout since no one would be suspicious of a cemetery.” Brad finished for her. He stood by the doorway. The three looked up to him and he entered the room “I got a little nervous when I didn’t see you in your room.” He said to Erin.

“You couldn’t sleep either?” Erin asked.

He shook his head and then looked over to Joe with a smile “Welcome back.”

“Looks like we’ve got a lead.” Joe nodded to the three with a smile.

The small group turned bigger when Doug dropped by, then Ted, Matt, Eric and eventually Dennis who thought he was early showing up at 7am in the morning. The seats barely fit everyone with Joe at the head “Are we going to go to cemetery?” Darren asked eagerly, he was ready to leave at that moment.

Joe shook his head “They’ll be ready for us.”

“They don’t know we know.” Brad pointed out.

“But they will assume that we know.” Dennis said wisely “We’re dealing with an ex-agent here. She knows our operations.”

Ted nodded with a thoughtful expression “That’s very true. We have to have a plan of attack, where they cannot guess what we’re doing.”

“By the time that happens, Mia would be dead!!” Darren blew up suddenly.

Doug let out a sigh “Darren, calm down. It’s not-”

“I’m sick and tired of you guys telling me to calm down!! How am I suppose to be calm if she’s out there…God knows how she’s doing. We know where she is, why don’t we just run down that damn cemetery with a tank and find them?” Darren looked mad with his eyes bulging out and his arms flaring in every direction. No one knew what to say as he got up to leave. Erin was about to stand up when Dennis shook his head at her “I’m tired of hanging around trying to come up with a plan…I’m gonna go and find her myself.”

“DARREN!!” Joe roared as he stood up with a finger pointing at him “If you are stupid enough to do a one man show, go ahead! Not only will you kill yourself, you won’t be able to see Mia once WE save her. Mark my words. No one is to lay a hand on a P.R.A. agent and gets away with it. She’s not dead. Until you believe it, I want you to stay in the headquarters. If you fight it, I will use restraint.” He threatened.

Joe nodded to Brad and Doug who was closest to Darren. The two got up and walked over to Darren as they each got his hand “Sorry, man…” Brad apologized.

Darren knew he could not go anywhere as he took his seat. Joe sat down calmly as he turned to the team “Currently, they have contacted us twice. I’m sure it will happen again. Until then, I want no one to go anywhere. You will stay here until this mission is accomplished. There are more than enough rooms and food to last us for months. No one and I mean NO one is to step foot out of this room unless ordered by myself, Dennis or Matt.”

“Yes, sir.” The team replied with respect.

“Now go home and pick up enough clothes to last you for a month.” Joe advised.

The team split up and returned home to pick up their belongings. Erin and Brad came home to find Shelly shivering with fear in the corner of the living room. She looked completely petrified, Erin’s worried expression quickly came on as she rushed to her sister “Shelly, what’s wrong?!”

Brad looked around the apartment “Everything’s in place.” He returned next to Erin “Shelly, did someone come in here? Were you attacked?”

She reached out suddenly and hugged Erin “They…the…blood…hand…” she stuttered. Her eyes landed on a box by the door but she quickly squeezed them tightly shut.

Brad followed her gaze to the box as he got up gingerly, his steps were cautious as he approached the box. He looked inside and his eyes widened while his heart began to beat fast. He turned to Erin “You better take a look at this.” His voice told her it was not good.

Erin began to let go of Shelly, who gripped her neck even tighter “It’s okay…” she coaxed and pulled her arms back. Shelly curled herself into a ball again. Erin felt the chills running up and down her spine when she saw the bloody human hand inside the box. The blood looked fresh as it was still seeping from the veins of the hand, which was brutally cut off.

She bent down on her knees to give a closer look and so did Brad. Her eyes caught on the diamond ring on the hand’s fourth finger “Mia’s…” Brad whispered, not trying to scare Shelly even more.

Erin felt sick to her stomach as she felt her legs weakening. Her eyes rolled back as it closed and her head slowly tilted back. She fell into Brad’s ready arms “Ga Jei!!” Shelly cried but still refused to get near the box.

“Erin!!” Brad cried over and over, but she was not responding. He picked her up with his arms and placed her gently on the couch “Erin!” he shook her violently and she eventually fluttered her eyes open.

She sat up “Mia….it’s her hand!” she shook her head vehemently “No…it can’t be…no.” she was talking more to herself. Her eyes glued to the box.

Brad placed his arms around her “Erin…calm down.” He hushed as he reached around her waist and hugged her “It’s okay…we’ll get it researched. It might not be Mia’s hand.”

She was trembling from head to toe “Those psychos…they’ll pay for this!” she vowed.

*********

Shelly came along with Erin and Brad as they took the hand to the hospital. Brad had called Joe to tell him what they discovered but advised that Darren should not know until they get the report of the blood test. The blood had soaked through the box by the time they reached the hospital.

The three were taken to a special room to wait for the research. Erin was pacing the floor as her fingers wrung together “Ga Jei…was that hand really Mia’s?” Shelly asked feebly.

Erin turned to her sister “I don’t know Shelly, they’re going to find out.”

Brad patted the girl on the back, she looked better than when they first found her but she was still shaking from the ordeal “Do you want to stay with us?”

Shelly frowned “I thought I was?”

He smiled “We have orders from our head that we are to stay at the headquarters. I’m sure Joe will not mind that you stay with us too.” She nodded slowly and returned to staring at the floor.

The research took about 1 hour but to the three waiting it seemed like days. Erin was laying on Brad’s shoulder when the doors opened up. She quickly snapped up to greet the technician “What did you find out? Does it belong to Mia Lam?”

The man adjusted his glassed as he shook his head “The fingerprints were burned off by acid, we could not identify the person. The blood is type AB, is your friend AB?” he asked.

Erin turned to Brad “I’m not sure. I think Darren would have her records.”

Brad nodded in agreement “There goes hiding it from Darren.”

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