Thrust Into His Arms

But looking at it in another way, it is the best cover. Someone who seems the most unlikely to do something. Difficult to get caught. "Welcome, it seems to be your first time here." The woman cheerfully states. How could she straight up tell?

I smile, "Yeah it is. I heard that this place has the best dumplings. So I came to try it." I respond, trying to match her cheerful energy.

"Okay, go sit at that table over there. I will come take your order shortly." I didn’t even look to where she points at because that is not what I came for. I need to know quickly if they sell arms or not. So I throw out the code question that only close customers of the item know, "Does it snow in Macau?"

I caught the way her expression shifts before she starts playing dumb and puzzled. She knows what I’m talking about. She had already given it away in her expression just now.

"No, it doesn’t snow in Macau. Why are you—"

"Qiãng." I went straight to the point having no time to beat around the bush with this woman. She can’t say she doesn’t understand now. That former expression returned and stays. "Do you have it?"

A barely there smile plays on her face. "Yes it does snow in Macau." She finally answers in the way that she is supposed to. "There are too many eyes." She whispers, "Go seat over there first. Follow me when I give you the signal." I did as she said, inconspicuously keeping my eyes trained on her movements from there. Just then a loud crashing sound erupted,

a young boy who seems to be working here judging from the red apron he has on that is also worn by the lady I had spoken with was bowing and pleading with a customer. There is a tray of food turned over on the ground right next to them. I look over at the counter section to see her beckoning me over.

That was the signal.

So to get the attention of the other customers diverted for a little bit. She leads me underground, the place is dark but largely occupied with twice the amount of customers on the top floor. A whole other operation was being run down here. Gambling, loan sharking and arms dealing.

They’ve expanded their operation, wow. "We could not get in touch with all of our clients after we moved here. Glad that you have found us again. We had to move because we were almost cracked down by the damn feds. Were you a regular at the old place?"

She asked. I replied yes, not telling that I have only been there once and this is my second time because it would arouse serious doubts in their minds, they would immediately start thinking that I’m an undercover cop as they aren’t too trusting to new clients.

How the hell did K even discover this place? He had been the one who directed me here the first time and had told me the "passcode" when I was here about three years ago for my first travel killing mission.

We arrive there, and I rented two hand guns and a silencer. I plan to attack and end the target at close range with a knife, but it would not hurt to have a gun too. I would be returning them as soon as I complete the mission because I wouldn’t be able to take them with me without them getting detected at the airport. I entered a cab to return to the hotel that I’m staying at. My phone rings shortly after I came down, I was just getting close to the entrance when I abruptly pause because of what I just heard Curtis say on the line.

I’m trying to wrap my head around it.

"What?"

"Gweneth, she jumped off a roof in an attempt to commit suicide." He repeats. The information hits with an intensity this time. The organ in my chest skips a beat, "Are you being serious right now?" I ask,

"Do I fucking sound like I’m joking?"

I can tell that he is not kidding around, but I’m still unable to believe it. "Why? What the hell happened?"

"Because of what you did to her!

The video came out and she might be expelled because of it. You need to hurry and come fix this." He hangs up leaving me confused with so many unanswered questions. His line didn’t go through, so I called Lucas who gave me the whole information.

I somehow wish I hadn’t. I checked out of the hotel and booked the quickest flight back to Florida. I sat down waiting for the flight which was in two hours, mired in warring emotions. I have a feeling that this would be the longest two hours ever. If only I could teleport back there right this instant. I have never wished to be a superhuman before now. I’m the reason she tried to kill herself?

No I don’t believe that. It can’t be.

She is safe and guarded. But then why is my heart still hammering? The ups and downs make me feel like I’m in an aged theme park on a never-ending roller coaster with rickety tracks. But what if she had succeeded? What if she had really died?

And what do they mean the video came out? I really need to get there now and see for myself if it’s really that video. I know that it must be it as there is no other video but I’m just unwilling to accept it. The wait is killing me.

GWENETH

I have long been awake. My eyes drift open and closed as mayhem of discussions surrounds me. Disorientation leaves me confused. I’m not sure what is up or down. I force my eyes open once more, even though I’m tempted to keep them shut. Everything starts spinning, a ringing sound filling my ears. I groaned out, forcing myself to try and sit up only to meet many pairs of eyes boring into me.

"She is awake!" A woman—one of the disciplinary committee members whose words had burned me the most exclaimed. I cringe back as she and the others circle around me asking how I was. The nurse soon drove them all out, saying I needed rest. I was in my own blank little world trying to remember how I’m still feeling alive even though I am supposed to be dead. I remember falling and thinking that the ground wasn’t as hard as I expected before everything went black.

"The fall was minimized because some students had broken your fall with their bodies. You only ended up with a mild concussion, so you are still alive." The nurse told me.

She was also the same one I met here yesterday. Silence hung in the air for a few minutes before she speaks again, "Was that the reason you had been so distraught yesterday? That video?"