I saw the Jach I knew well, writing something on his desk. I didn't know him at all, actually. I never would've thought that Jach would be writing. I put my hand on the doorknob slowly. My fingers coiled around the metal. I pressed on it, as slowly as I could, making barely a noise. If I was lucky, Jach would be daydreaming again, and I wouldn't have to scare my guts out for the noise. I pushed on the door silently. Jach didn't notice. He had his pencil in his mouth, and his head on his two hands. He was daydreaming, all right. I entered the room quietly, and I stepped in. Without taking my look off of my former friend, I pushed the door back closed. I reached for the gun at the back of my trousers. I took it firmly in my hand, and I walked over to Jach. He didn't notice one thing. I crept up silently behind him. My heart was thudding against my rib cage. Sweat drops formed on my forehead. I then grasped his mouth very tightly in one hand, and I pulled him backwards. He muffled something, but it was inaudible. It was also too late for him. I kept the chair from falling down, and I pinned Jach down onto the ground. I pointed my gun at his head.
“Surprised to see me, eh, Jach?” I said. He muffled something behind my hand. “Don't even try to yell, or I'll paint your floor in brain gray,” I warned him. He nodded slowly. I cautiously took my hand off of his mouth. I hoped he wasn't a fast morpher.
“Leorn!” He said.
“Himself,” I muttered quietly under gritted teeth. I pressed my weapon against his cheek, but he seemed unaffected.
“I was so worried about you, buddy!” He exclaimed.
“I wouldn't of thought that you would dare say that to me, traitor,” I barked at him.
“Huh?” He asked.
“Tell me, idiot,” I said, severely, “Why did you have to announce that I was a kuijin?”
“It wasn't my fault!” Jach said, defending himself. I shoved my weapon on the side of his head.
“Yet, it seems that the odds are against you. Coincidence, I don't think so,” I muttered.
“Okay, I admit it,” he began, “I was the one that saw you and your brother and sister.”
I slammed my hand down onto his neck, as I sat up on his body. I put one finger to the trigger.
“Then I guess it will only please me that I blow your head to pieces,” I said.
“No!” He exclaimed. I almost pulled the trigger at the time he said that word. “I only talked about it to my parents! I thought we could help out each other!” I lifted one eyebrow. My grip tightened on the weapon.
“I don't ally with traitors,” I murmured.
“That's not what I mean!” He exclaimed, “My parents were the ones that said you were a kuijin! I tried to stop them, I swear!” I looked at him suspiciously.
“Why would they want to blab about it?” I asked.
“They said that if they told the police that your family and you were kuijins, our family would be seen with a better eye, thus lowering the odds of us getting chased away!” Jach explained. I wanted to shoot his head at that time, but I refrained from doing so. But what made half my point of not shooting him at the precise moment, was that I heard the door open. It opened slowly, and a slim man came out. He had a small beard, and his hair stuck out at his forehead. He was wearing a tight shirt, and some ample pants.
“Are you doing all tat noise, Ja-” He began. He looked at me with wide eyes, then at Jach, who had my gun at his face. I turned silently to the man. The man stared back at me, his mouth opened wide, stuck.
“So you're the little idiot who said it,” I murmured, grinning, “You're going to really get it now.” I stood up slowly off of Jach, using my fist to push myself off the ground. I looked at the man, who seemed scared of me. I understood him. I was the one armed here. I lifted my gun to aim it at the man. He jumped, and dashed out the door. I shot after him, but Jach pushed on my arm, and made me miss.
“No!” He shouted. I pointed my gun at him.
“You better not do that again, unless you want a memory hole,” I warned. He backed away, holding his hands in front of him.
“Calm down, Leorn,” he whispered. I lifted my gun, and shot right next to his head. The bullet marked the wall. A black hole appeared, right next to Jach's ear. He looked at it, then looked back at me, breathing heavily.
“Don't tempt me,” I mumbled. I went out of the room, locking my gun again, and loading it. I would shoot at sight now. I dashed after the father. But then I stopped. I remembered my goal. I needed to bring Jach back to the building. But now that I knew that it wasn't him, I didn't feel like killing him. I got lost in my thoughts again, which I thought was weird, in the middle of a very active scene. I shook my thoughts off, and I faced reality. As I did, I saw the Jach's father leaped at me. I aimed and I shot. Jach's father fell to the ground aside of me, his hand coiling around the wound on his shoulder. He moaned in pain. I lifted my gun at his head.
“I'm not here to kill you, sorry,” I murmured. I walked into Jach's room. I looked around. He wasn't there. I turned around, and a hawk flew right next to my eyes. I stepped backwards, frightened. Jach had morphed into his kuijin form. The hawk screeched, and dove for me again. I rolled sideways, and pointed my gun. I shot three times, but I missed. It was hard to hit a moving target. Jach flew in circles, then dashed out the open window. I ran to it, and I broke it. I jumped out the window, and it was only then that I noticed that the window was high above the ground. I fell heavily on the floor. I heard a distant shrieking, and then it disappeared. I got up to my knees, and I cramped my head.

I could hear the sound that made my heart sink. Police sirens. I couldn't let them find me. I quickly got up, wobbling on my feet, and dashed away.
While I was running, I put the radio up to my ear and mouth. I opened the communication.
“James,” I said, panting, “Mission failed. Jach escaped.” At first, I thought that the radio broke, because I heard no answer. I tapped on it twice, and I heard a crackling.
“We're coming to get you,” James said. His voice was cold, and it didn't seem happy. I understood that. When he wanted something, I was sure that he got it, some way or the other.
“Arch street, twelfth building, get here quick,” I mumbled through the intercom. I heard the motor roar through the radio, and the communication broke. Damn! I repeated in my mind. Now he's really going to turn me over... I felt my heart beat faster, and I stopped, to take a breath. I looked back down the hill, and then I dashed to get to the road I indicated. I passed many trees on the way, as well as many buildings. I hid myself with the vegetation, hoping no one would see me.
I arrived at the road a moment later. I curled up, and put my hands against my knees to keep myself up. I breathed heavily. I heard a motor rumble somewhere in the distance. I looked at it, and I saw the black Porsche. I waved, and the vehicle stopped next to me. I opened the door, and I went inside. I gave out a great sigh. James held out his hand, I and handed the gun back to him. He opened the suitcase, and clipped the gun back in. I also passed him the radio, and he folded it back inside the briefcase. He clipped it closed again.
“Sorry,” I muttered. He remained silent for a while. The motor roared again, and we departed back to the building where I would get to my room again, and get some rest.
“I am very disappointed,” James mumbled. I remained silent. “And if there's one thing I don't like in my life,” he continued, “It's being disappointed.” I didn't answer, because I know he would just get even more furious. “You said you were up to these missions. You accepted to bring back every kuijin you found,” James insisted. I turned around to look at him.
“You said that Jach said that I was a kuijin,” I replied.
“You'll soon see that I am not talking about that,” James answered coldly. I felt uneasy for a moment. What was he talking about? I thought. We both remained silent during the whole of the path back. I turned to look out the window while we remained without a word.
When we arrived at our destination, Weston and James got out first. I came out, and James was waiting for me at the entrance of the building. He put the silver suitcase just behind the entrance. I followed James inside the building, and Weston stayed in the halls. James lead me down many corridors. I noticed after a while that we weren't going to the room I previously was in. James opened a locked door, and held out a hand so that I would go in. I went in as ordered. James turned on the light, and closed the door behind him.
As the light flashed on, all I could see was a chair in the middle of the room. I frowned. I was going to get lectured.
“Sit down, Leorn,” James said. I looked up at him cautiously, and I slowly sat onto the chair. James pressed on a button next to the entrance. Straps shot out of the chair, and locked me onto it. I struggled, but the straps were made out of strong metal. I scowled at James.
“What are you going to do?!” I asked. Even though I didn't hear the answer, I knew it was nothing good. James took the lights out, and a camera behind me went out of the ceiling. I struggled, but the chair wouldn't budge, and nor would I. The camera projected an animated image that I recognized. It was the scene between my siblings and me.
“How did you?!” I asked.
“My men are everywhere, Leorn, spying every single one of your simple gestures,” James explained. I watched the film closely. As it stopped, the light went back on, and the image faded away. James walked over to me. “I would like you to explain this,” he muttered, through gritted teeth.
“Why should I?!” I retorted. James lifted his hand, and gave me a direct slap on the cheek. My cheek reddened.
“I'm not going to repeat, Leorn,” James replied, looking downwards, “Explain.” I turned my head quickly to the man.
“Because you think slapping me will make me spill out the beans?” I answered. James turned his head up to me.
“No, in fact, I did that for the joy of hitting you,” he explained, “It's been a long time since I wanted to do that.” I growled at him, and he just sneered at me. “This is what I can do to you,” he said, “I can torture your parents right in front of your eyes, until you come begging for me to stop, but I won't” He sounded like he was going to do it. I glared at the man.
“You won't be able to,” I replied. James crouched to be at my height.
“Look, Leorn,” he said, calmly, “Here, I'm just trying to help you. You explain this, and we can just continue the way we were before.”
“Why do you want me to explain?” I asked.
“Because you'll truthfully regret if you don't,” James answered. I knew that when James said something he was serious about it. I gulped.
“I was talking to my brother and sister,” I replied.
“Where are they now?” James asked.
“I don't know,” I replied.
“Don't try to fool me,” James retorted, standing up.
“I'm not,” I replied, “I told them to go the hell away.”
“I don't think you would've done that to your brother and sister,” James replied, “Instead, weren't you plotting something against me?”

“No, I wasn't!” I replied, shouting. James stared at me for a long time, and I glared back. He seemed as if he wanted to open his mouth, but he didn't. He frowned, and turned around, reaching in his suit, to take out a small, white pill from it. Quickly, he put it into his mouth, and gulped it down. He let out a slow sigh, and he looked back at me.
“Weren't you the one who said that you were going to kill me, Leorn?” James asked sarcastically, looking down at me. I frowned at the floor. I did say multiple times that I would kill the man. And now he was manipulating me into saying I was plotting against him.
“Yes, I was,” I replied honestly, “But I didn't plot with my sister and brother.”
“How can I believe you, Leorn?” James asked.
“You can't, in any way,” I replied, “But what I'm saying is the complete and utter truth.” I was surprised to see that sweat appeared on my forehead and temples. I couldn't wipe the drops off, and they flowed into my eyes. I closed them tight, stinging.
“Then you have no proof that you weren't, Leorn,” James answered coldly, “But unless I have proof that you have, I cannot punish you.” My thoughts brightened. But James continued speaking. “But, I am still very disappointed in you. You failed the mission, and you will be punished for it.”
“Jach flew away!” I yelled, “I couldn't do anything!”
“You had many chances to kill him,” James retorted, his eyes glistening with rage. “You shall be starved.” I looked up at him, frowning. Starving wasn't so bad. I thought it would've been worse. But, deep down, I knew that the longest tortures were the worst. The straps immediately slid back into the chair as James pushed a button again. He grabbed me by the collar of my shirt, and he pulled me out of the room. I staggered to keep up with him. After a few moments, we were both in front of my cell. The door opened, and James pulled me inside. He pinned me down by the neck, and attached my metal collar onto my neck. He threw me against the wall. I slammed heavily against it, my neck arching backwards because of the impact. I fell to the ground, my arms sprawled in front of me. James exited the room, and he closed the door behind him. A cold, sinister click was heard, echoing through the room, sign that the lock was turned once more.
I shakily got to my feet, cramping the back of my head. I look up at the camera, and cursed it within my mind. I knew that men were looking at me at that time. I lowered my head. I pulled on the chain again. It stretched, but kept its grip against the wall. I let it go, and it dangled, with a metal shriek, to the ground. I then frowned, and I checked the length of the chain. It was long, but only long enough to barely reach the door. Which was longer than I needed. I smirked to myself, chuckling. I put a hand up to my face, noticing that I was laughing. I couldn't stop laughing. I didn't know why I was laughing like that. I just felt like it. I slammed myself against the ground, and I stopped laughing. My face turned emotionless. I breathed slowly, calmly. I thought of a way to get out of this situation. This place. This building. And I was sure not to be the only one to get out.
As I walked in endless circles in the white room, my shadows crept along the floor, dancing a morbid wave. My chain slithered on the floor, following my every movement. I pulled on it again, making sure of the length. I then started walking in circles again, and hand up to my face, the other behind my back. I thought of Jach. Where was he now? Not in the city, of course, I thought. He fled after I wanted to kill him, and the police came in. That must be half the point. I wonder what he is doing now... I tried thinking of possible theories, but most of them went down. I needed to keep the idea that Jach was a hawk kuijin. It was true that I found it hard to believe that he was a kuijin, but now that I thought of it, why not? I stopped walking, and I closed my eyes.
I jerked my head to the side, as I heard the locks twist in the door. It opened slowly, and I saw James enter the room, with a piece of bread in his hand. He threw it to me. It landed on the floor, and skidded to my feet.
“Your weekly meal,” he said, simply. I frowned at the piece of bread. Weekly? I thought. Now I know why he said he would starve me. I looked back at him, and he looked back at me. He closed the door behind him, approaching me. “Leorn,” he began.
“Hm?” I answered briefly, not looking up at him. I took the piece of bread and I sat on my bed. I started nibbling the edge of the food. James followed me to my resting place, and he crouched to me.
“You're making a mountain out of a molehill, Leorn,” James said. Hypocrite, I thought aggressively. “If you had answered me honestly, you wouldn't have to endure this sufferance,” he continued.
“I did answer you honestly,” I announced.
“You probably did, in fact,” James muttered under his breath, “But do you suspect that your brother and sister come after you?” He asked. I looked at James.
“I told them to get the hell away from the city, to live somewhere else, and to forget me,” I answered honestly, “Because I was in a very bad situation, and I still am, to be honest.” I thought for a bit. “But knowing them, they probably won't listen to me. They'll come here and try to get me.”
“Just tell them that I have ways to counterattack if they do,” James answered calmly. He stood up. “I shall kill your parents first, if they even try, leaving you alone.” I gulped. “Second, I shall kill the girl.”
“It won't change anything,” I retorted. James seemed surprised. “Haylyn's announced dead. And I am as well.”
“Where did you learn that?” James asked.

“Newspaper,” I replied, biting into the bread, “Easy.” I turned to James. “Why am I declared dead?” I asked. James smiled at me.
“To make your work even more discreet,” he answered quickly.
“Then why is Haylyn known as dead, also?” I asked.
“I needed something more than your parents to manipulate you,” he replied.
“Why do you think that using Haylyn would make you able to manipulate me?” I asked. James looked at me with his piercing eyes.
“I know what's happening between you and Haylyn,” he replied.
“Are you insinuating something?” I retorted.
“Of course I am,” James answered coldly, “Love is a terrible thing, Leorn.”
“You're saying that I'm in love with Haylyn?” I replied, standing up angrily.
“Of course,” James answered, “It's utterly obvious, Leorn. No one would never let someone as close as you did, especially as you are a 'human' not like the others.”
“What do you mean?” I replied.
“You're in love, Leorn, but you may not think of it,” James answered.
“And why would I be?!” I retorted. I was getting pissed off. James was no one to say that I was in love, or anything. I choose the ways I want to take. It's my life, after all. I knew that I wasn't in love with Haylyn. She just helped me, that's all.
“There's no reason for love, is there?” James commented back at me, “In one way, I mean.” I couldn't stand this idiot talking to me like that anymore. I stepped towards him, and he didn't move. I scowled at the man, and then I smirked. He frowned at me. I quickly turned behind James, and I pushed him down to the ground, by jumping on his back. I swiftly took my chain, and wrapped it twice around his neck, and I pulled. He started choking.
“Ain't gonna repeat that now, eh, idiot?” I said sarcastically. He tried to breathe, but it only came up as many gasps for air. I pulled harder, pushing on his back with on leg. “Listen to me very carefully,” I warned, “I am not in love with Haylyn, do you understand?” James gasped as an answer. “Second,” I continued, “If that camera really works, your men should be in this room any second now, so don't be scared of death, all right?”
The door slammed open, as I thought it would. Five men scattered in the room, all aiming their guns at me. They were heavily covered, and their weapons also seemed heavy.
“Let him go, or we'll take you down!” One shouted.
“Try me!” I yelled back. Just as one lifted their weapon, I yanked my head sideways. As I thought would happen, the bullet was shot, and it broke my chain. I let go of James, and I dashed out the door. Luckily for me, these bodyguards weren't the best I saw. They shot as well as the police. I went out of the room, and I closed the door behind me. I turned the key inside, and I broke it. They were locked inside. If my expectations were correct, this was a reinforced door, and bullets would do nothing against it. As soon as I broke the key, a red light filled the whole area. A blaring sound was heard everywhere, and I glanced around, thinking of a solution. A voice came out of nowhere, repeating the same thing over and over again.
Red Alert! Red Alert! Sector four, second floor! Red Alert!
I only have a very short time to get out of here, I thought. I looked at the wall, and saw a map of the sector. I ripped it off, and looked at it quickly. I saw what I wanted to see. Camera Control Room. It wasn't that far away from where I was. I looked sideways, noticing a metal plate, where the ventilation was. I gripped it, and ripped it off. I threw it away, and I went inside, the map still in my hand. I'll have to go through the first right, I thought. As I got further away from where I entered, I heard steps entering the room where I was previously.
“Where is he?!” One shouted.
“He went by the ventilation!” One replied. I cursed at myself, and I forced myself to go faster. I turned right. I was making a lot of noise, and I hoped that the ventilation wasn't anywhere near alarmed men. I was wrong.
“He's there!” A man yelled. I heard many clicks, and then many shots. I saw holes appear behind me, and I fastened my pace. The holes stopped at one point. I must be going into a wall, I thought. I continued, and I looked at the map. I was near the Camera Room. I looked around, and I saw another ventilation plate. I peered through the small holes. I saw the Camera Control Room. There was one man, sitting on a chair, checking all cameras. He was looking for me. He was probably armed as well. My supposition was answered, when I saw the glint of a gun appear next to his leg. He was armed, but not as well as the other men. I had to try my luck, and risk it. I turned around, and I slammed the ventilation pad with my foot. The plate shot out, falling on the floor. I slithered out, and the man immediately turned at me, pointing his gun at me. He shot, and I tried to dodge, but the bullet landed in my left arm. I yelled out, and I put a hand to my arm. Now I knew what Jach's father felt when I shot him. I fell to the ground. The man approached me, and I saw that he was in a prime position. I twisted sideways, catching his feet, and slamming into him. He fell over, shooting with his gun, but missing. The bullets bounced off the walls, with sparks shooting out where they did. I heard a silent thud, as the man's head hit the back of the chair. He fell to the ground, unconscious. I took his gun, and checked for the ammo. I put it back in. I only had several shots. I had to use them widely. I kept a hand on my arm, the pain swelling up inside. I knew that I would lose too much blood if I kept it like that. I looked at the man, and then I looked at the cameras. I needed to know where my father and mother were, as well as were Haylyn was. I checked the cameras. I then saw a screen where I recognized a girl.

The female was panicking because of the alert. She was looking everywhere, and then she glanced at the camera. It was a pity that she couldn't see me. I checked at the top right of the screen. Sector four, second floor. She was on the same floor as where I was before. I then checked for my father and mother. I saw a man, glancing desperately around, checking the walls. He was trying to find a way out. I recognized his physical features, and I knew it was my father. I checked the sector and floor. Sector two, fifth floor. I then looked at the screen just next to it, and I saw my mother. It was also sector two, fifth floor. I looked at the other screens, feeling sorry for the others. I didn't have time to turn around, when the man that I knocked out earlier grabbed me from behind, trying to strangle me with his tough arms. I fought back, but he didn't let go. He picked me up, and lifted me. I couldn't breathe. I dropped my gun, and grabbed at the man's arms. Even if I transformed into a coyote, it wouldn't get me out of the situation. I then thought of self defense. When somebody grabbed you from the back like that, and he was taller than you, you had to...
I smirked to myself, even though no one could see it, as I was choking, trying to get my breath back. I then heaved myself forwards, hoping that the man wouldn't fall. He didn't. He kept a firm grip on my neck. I then heaved myself backwards, my foot kicking the man in the crotch. He let me fall onto the ground, and he grabbed at his part. I got up to my feet, and I sneered at the man, who was doubled over, trying to get his breath.
“Sorry for your kids,” I said. I leaned over and grabbed the gun again. I looked down at him. “Just be thankful I'm not killing you right now.” I looked over at the exit, and I dashed over to it. I opened the door, and I slammed it shut behind me. I walked over to the intersection with a hall. I heard many heavy footsteps in the hall, and I pressed myself against the wall. Many men passed me, sprinting down the corridor. They didn't notice me. When I thought all the men passed, I peered out the side of the hall. There was nobody. I dived down the corridor, front flipping to another intersection, checking if men were coming. I then checked for cameras, but I didn't really care, because the guy at the cameras earlier probably didn't already get up on his feet yet. I ran passed the cameras, not caring. I checked the map again. Sector four, second floor was just on my left. I looked sideways. I saw nobody in sector. I ran to the different rooms. I saw mine. I sneered, thinking that James and the other people were still inside. I then quickly walked to the next door, and I opened it. I saw Haylyn inside, doing what she was doing before, when I was looking at the screen. She noticed me, and ran towards me.
“Leorn!” She yelled, throwing herself onto me to hug me. I was surprised to see myself hug her back. Love her... I thought. I quickly shook off the idea, and then I concentrated on the present.
“Haylyn, we need to get out of here,” I said, quickly, looking around.
“Right,” she replied, getting out of the room.
“After we get my parents, of course,” I continued. She looked at me.
“But...” She began.
“Haylyn,” I retorted, “I'm not leaving them here.” Haylyn looked at me, then nodded slowly. I was comforted to see that she knew how I felt for this. I quickly got out of the room, along with Haylyn, and I closed and locked the door behind me. I ran down the hall, and then I looked through the corridor. Multiple men were running down it, and they saw me.
“There he is!” One shouted. They aimed their guns, and shot. I quickly took my head back, and I dodged the bullets. I glanced at Haylyn, who was breathing heavily. I looked at a table. I pointed there, and Haylyn went under. I looked above the entrance to this hall. I saw a small platform, used to put cameras on. I heaved myself up, with a lot of difficulty, since I only had one arm in good shape, and I laid myself on the platform. I ripped off the two cameras, and I grabbed them in one hand, and I took the gun in another. The man poured inside the hall, looking for me.
“Where is he?!” One yelled. Another man noticed Haylyn.
“The girl!” He shouted. I then threw a camera at one of the men, as well as the other. I both hit them in the head, and they were knocked out. They seemed stunned for a moment, and then they looked up. I waved at them. They aimed their guns at me, and I slid sideways off the small platform, dangling from my legs, shooting them with my gun. Their shots missed, and I shot them either in the body, the chest or in the arm. I then sideflipped to my feet, seeing as I shot them all, and they were all on the ground. I put a hand up to my bleeding arm, growling. I fell to my arms.
“Agh!” I yelled. Haylyn got up, and crouched near me.
“Leorn, you're hurt!” She said.
“No, ahem..., Sherlock,” I retorted. I pointed to the table. “Get me a piece of cloth, to stop the bleeding, will ya?” Haylyn got up, and quickly scampered over to the table, taking the whole roll of cloth. She ripped off a long piece, and she started tightening it around my wound. She added a final knot, and I thanked her, getting to my feet, keeping a grip on my gun. I stood up straight, one hand still on my wound. The pain was propagating all over in my chest, and it hurt a lot. I could barely move the arm. I stepped to the intersection, and I looked out by the side. There was no one. I beckoned Haylyn to stay close, and I went out by the corridor. I tried finding my way through the large building, with the map in my hand. I had to go down a staircase, that was just next to me. Skipping down the steps two by two, I arrived, falling onto the ground with a slight thud, using my hand to slow down the fall. I jumped to my feet, and Haylyn pressed against me. My grip on the gun tightened. I padded down the halls I recognized, keeping my wounded arm close to me, not moving. I hoped that I would get the bullet out of the wound soon enough, because I was scared of it getting infected, then losing my arm because of that. Haylyn skipped alongside me. I then looked at the map again, and I saw a staircase located not far from where we were, to go up. We would have to get up that staircase, and then go to the next one, and to the next one, until we reached the fifth floor.

Then, we would have to go down a bit to join the sector two. I saw the staircase, and I ran up to the last step, followed closely by Haylyn. I stopped at the last step, looking out to see if there were any men. Not noticing any, I got up, and went to the second staircase. I quickened my pace, as I heard yells behind me.
“There he is!” A man yelled. I then heard a few gunshots, and bullets whizzed past my head. Haylyn crouched in her pace, to try and dodge. We turned to the second staircase, and started running up. Our footsteps were accompanied by the loud thudding of heavy boots, worn by the other men. We scampered up the staircase, to reach the second floor. I hoped that the man I 'dazzled' earlier still wasn't in good shape enough to get up and look at the cameras to pass the alert.
Haylyn and I reached the last step of the third staircase, showing us that we were on the second floor of the building. We glanced around, but we chose not to falter here, because we heard the loud tramples made by the men behind us. We kept on going up the fourth staircase. We tried not to stop in our sprint. After I had arrived at the top of the fourth staircase, I noticed that I was breathing heavily, and that Haylyn was almost dead tired. She wouldn't be able to keep up for long, and neither would I. I looked back at her. She seemed determined. We heard the steps on the floor below us. I grasped her hand tightly in mine, and I ran, pulling her with me.
“C'mon!” I yelled. I began going up the fifth staircase of the building. There was a lift we could've used, but it was probably too slow for it to be any use to us. We continued sprinting up, breathing heavily to catch our breath. My grip on the weapon I held tightened, and my whole arm tensed, as I ran up the stairs. My wounded arm was kept on my body, and I hoped it wouldn't move, to limit the bleeding. We halted at the end of the fifth floor.
“One more!” I yelled at Haylyn. She was panting. Her grip tightened on my hand.
“I don't know...” She began, faltering her breath, “If I can make it...” Haylyn fell to the ground on her knees, pushing on one hand to keep up, her hand still attached to mine. I heard the footsteps below us.
“They're coming!” I warned. Haylyn nodded slowly, pushing on one of her knees to get up to her feet. Sweat drops stained the white floor below her, and sweat soaked my clothing. I pulled Haylyn towards me, and I put an arm around her back. I then ran with her. We both sprinted up the sixth staircase, until the fifth floor. The red lights were blaring giant sounds, and my eyes and ears hurt. But I kept on moving. As we appeared on the top of the sixth staircase, we looked down the aisle, to go to sector two. I saw men at the bottom of the aisle. They lifted their guns at me. I pressed against a wall, along with Haylyn. They shot, and missed. They were making us lose time. I heard the footsteps below just get closer and closer to us. Sector two was only next to us, but there was no way to get there without being shot. The shots then stopped.
“Cease fire!” One man shouted at the others. I took the chance. I jumped from my hiding place, and I somersaulted into the second sector, along with Haylyn. I quickly turned around, and closed the emergency doors by strength, with one arm. They clicked open, and then closed in the entrance. I hoped they were solid doors, able to block bullets. I padded down the hall where all the rooms were, panting. I looked desperately at the numbers on the door, checking each one. I didn't know where my father or mother were. I had to open them randomly. But there were so many. It would just waste my time.
“Haylyn,” I said, turning to her. She listened. “Open the doors, one by one. Now!” I went to one door, and opened it. There was a man I couldn't recognize that was trapped inside, with a collar and a chain, just like I did. I don't know if we can get all of them... I thought. I need to. They'll be able to help us to get out of here. I went into the room, running. I didn't have any key to open the collar, and I most certainly didn't have the force to break it.
“Stand aside!” I warned. The man crouched. I aimed my gun, and shot at his chain. The chain snapped, and he was free. He lifted himself, but didn't say anything. “Get out into the hall, now, with the others!” I said to the man. He nodded, and went out of the room. I closed the room behind me. I heard a yell.
“Leorn!” It was Haylyn. “I found your mother!” I padded over to the room from where I heard the yell. I quickly went in. I looked at the female, and I recognized her. She was my mother.
“Leorn!” She yelled, euphoric to see me.
“Don't move,” I warned. She froze, and I aimed the gun at the chain. I pulled the trigger, and a loud bang was heard. The chain broke, and my mother stood up. She went over to me and hugged me tightly.
“Leorn!” She repeated. I pushed her off gently.
“Mother,” I answered, “We have other people to get. Like father, for example.” My mother nodded weakly. “Where is he?” I asked quickly. My mother pointed sideways. I nodded, and I handed mother over to Haylyn. She gripped on mother tightly, and I dashed out of the door. As I went out of the room, I saw that the emergency doors were being smashed in. I heard very loud, incessant bangs on the door. They were like battering rams. I quickly dashed to the next door, and I opened it with the key. I saw a man, lying down on the ground, head lowered.
“Father!” I yelled. He looked up. He seemed very surprised to see me. I couldn't blame him.
“Leorn!” He said, standing up. I ran to him, and I hugged him tightly. I noticed tears drop out of my eyes. I couldn't believe that it was really him. I tightened my hug, as he did. I shifted my gun to get in a better position. I then pushed away from him.
“I'm going to get you out of here, father,” I said, wiping the tears out of my eyes.
“What? How-” He began.
“Don't move,” I warned once again, aiming the gun at the chain. My hands were shaking. I then held the gun firmly, and I pressed the trigger.

Click.
The cold sound repeated itself in my mind for moments, that seemed like minutes. I widened my eyes. I felt the tears rise in my eyes again. My stomach twisted into a tight knot, pressing out every ounce of will in my mind. My heart sank, splashing into the faint puddle of will that was left. There weren't any more bullets.
“No bullets,” my father and I chorused. I dropped the gun, and came to him. I tried pulling the chain out of the wall.
“Help me!” I yelled. He pulled on the chain as well, but nothing did. It was too strong. And I couldn't do much with my wounded arm. I let go, and I fell on the ground. My father went up to me.
“Oh no...” I muttered. My father stood silent, putting one hand through my hair.
“It's okay,” he tried to comfort me. His voice seemed like oil, coming out of his teeth. It was gentle, and slick, but there wasn't much of a use to it.
“No, it's not,” I moaned back, the tears escaping from my eyes, “I can't leave you here.”
“Did you get your mother?” He asked. I nodded faintly. “Good.” He then picked me up, and hugged me tightly against his chest. I wrapped my arms around him. “You're going to be brave, Leorn,” he muttered through almost closed lips, “You're going to get out of here with your mother.”
“No!” I yelled out, “I can't leave you here, damn it!”
“You have to,” he insisted, “Or else we'll all go down.”
“I can't!” I retorted.
“You can!” My father shouted back at me. I remained silent after that. Haylyn skipped into the room, with my mother's arm around her neck.
“Quick!” She said, “The guards are going to break the door!” Haylyn noticed that my father's chain wasn't broken. My mother also noticed that.
“No...” My mother muttered. “No!” Mother scampered over to the chain, and began pulling on it.
“Instead of staring, try to break the chain!” She shouted.
“No!” Father shouted back, “It'll only waste time. You need to get out of here.”
“I can't without you!” My mother cried. I stood still, as Haylyn did. We didn't know what to say. My mother went over to my father, and wrapped her arms around his neck, and my father embraced her as well. We all saw the tears come out of her eyes. I wiped mine away with my dirty sleeve. Even Haylyn seemed that she was about to cry. But she didn't. She kept the tears back.
“I'm sorry,” my father muttered. His hand raised to the back of my mother's head, and he kissed her. She kissed him back tenderly. I lowered my head, as did Haylyn. My father then pushed mother away.
“Now, go,” he said quickly.
“No!” Mother shouted.
“Leorn,” father began, “Take your mother.” I went up to her, and I grabbed her. I pulled her out of the room. She tried to resist.
“No!” She yelled, the tears escaping her eyes. My father lowered his head, and sat back onto the floor. Haylyn went out of the room first. I then came out with mother. I closed the door, and locked it with the key. My mother squirmed out of my grasp, and then turned the key again. I dashed for the door, and I quickly turned the key, and broke it into the lock.
“What did you just do?!” She yelled at me. I didn't like when she yelled at me.
“Mother!” I cried out, “This is as hard as it is for you as it is for me! Now, if you don't move this instant, we'll all die here! C'mon!” Mother remained silent. She wept quietly against the wall. She cleaned her tears, by wiping them with her forearm. She nodded quickly.
“Let's go,” she whispered. I nodded. I looked at Haylyn. She nodded as well, and picked up mother. The door started cracking at the joints.
“Quick!” I said, walking away, with mother. “We need to get out of here!”
A man came out of nowhere. I remembered him. It was the man that I had saved. I cursed myself within. If I hadn't saved him, I could've saved father.
“You bastard!” I shouted at him. He stepped back once.
“I have to say that I don't understand,” he said, quite simply. Haylyn gave me mother, and turned to him.
“They had to leave a member of their family, because Leorn saved you first,” Haylyn explained sternly. The man looked down.
“I'm... I'm sorry,” he muttered. I scowled at the ground.
“You couldn't of known,” I retorted, “Anyways, give us a hand, will ya?” I asked. He nodded quickly, and stepped over to handle mother. I didn't like him touching mother at the moment. Father was overprotective of her, and I was also. But for now, nothing else could be done. We treaded down the hall, further away from the doors, as fast as we could manage with mother. The alarm was still on, and the sound was blaring into my ears. I looked at the man.
“What are you?” I asked.
“Kuijin,” he muttered back, “From Germany. Got me hostage back there, killed my mother, my father is still of an unknown whereabout, as are my two sisters. I've been held captive here ever since 1981,” he explained.

“Then you must know this place damn well,” I concluded, “Do you know anywhere to go?” The man looked around.
“To the next right,” he said, “If we go down that hall, not only may we escape the security cameras, but we'll also get to the exit faster.”
“There's nothing to worry about for the security cameras,” I announced.
“Why so?” He asked, still padding down the hall.
“Let's just say that the camera guy won't be having kids for a while,” I said.
“Ouch,” the man answered. We continued treading down the hall. We turned right, as the man said, instead of left, as I would've done.
“Soul Animal?” I asked.
“Armadillo,” he answered. I looked at him. He must've been a pretty good morpher, since he barely showed any of the armadillo features. He only had a slightly arched back, and a short muzzle.
“Name?” I asked.
“Ulser,” he answered quickly. We went through a hall that I never passed before. “The sectors are based on the captives' ages. You're from what sector?” He asked.
“Fourth,” I answered.
“That's normal,” Ulser explained, “It goes from sector six to one. Sector six are for the newborn. Most female kuijin that give birth here have their infant transferred to the sector six. Nurses take care of the infant, and, normally, they aren't very good morphers, because they didn't have the training of a parent.” Ulser continued, “Sector five is for the kids. Ages three to twelve. Sector four, the one you were in, are for teens. Ages thirteen through twenty. Sector three are for young adults. Ages twenty-one through thirty. Sector two, where your parents were, are for adults. Ages thirty-one to anything below sixty. Then, sector one is for the kuijins above sixty years.”
“Any particular orders for the floors?” I asked.
“Not to my knowledge,” Ulser indicated.
After the short discussion, we were at the head of some stairs. They looked long, but there weren't any security guards.
“What are these stairs?” I asked.
“The door that we went through at the right only opens in emergency. People are probably following us behind, so we must advance in pace. These stairs lead to the emergency exit, and we'll be free from there,” Ulser explained. I nodded, and I started going down the stairs, followed by Haylyn, who was shortly followed by Ulser and my mother. We skipped stairs two by two. At the middle of the stairs, we heard shouts from above.
“They went down here!” A man shouted.
“We better hurry,” Ulser warned, “We need to get out of this place ASAP.” I quickly nodded, and I helped Ulser help mother. Haylyn joined us, and we began skipping down the stairs three by three. We quickly arrived at the bottom, but we were closed in by security guards. Ulser pointed forwards.
“Quick!” He yelled, “The emergency door! You need to burst it open!” I nodded, and I dashed to the door as fast as I could. I shot out one leg, and the door swung open very quickly, slamming the walls behind them. I leapt out into the outside. Night was falling, and the moon was high in the dark sky. The first stars twinkled in the darkness. Faint blows of wind brushed my clothing and hair. I turned around quickly, facing the others.
“C'mon!” I yelled, “We need to get out of here!” Ulser and Haylyn nodded once, and went out the door. We started running again. The darkness was shattered as flashlights pierced it, and dropped onto our group.
“There they are!” One man shouted. I quickly sped up my pace. I turned around, looking at the men. I don't know why, but I stopped, just to look at them. I didn't want to leave my father in there. Not with these cruel antagonists. Haylyn and Ulser passed me. Haylyn turned around, seeing that I was not moving.
“C'mon, Leorn!” She shouted. Her voice echoed in my mind. I was trying to move my limbs, but I couldn't do anything. I heard a gunshot. Haylyn gasped. I kept looking at the men. I felt something hit my chest abruptly. I slowly took a shaking hand up to my chest, putting my hand where I felt numb. I heard Ulser yell.
“Keep on running!”
“Leorn!” Haylyn yelled. Her voice faded away. I saw a man, aiming a gun at me. A faint line of smoke lagged in front of the gun's cannon. The mere sight of the men made a shiver run up my spine. He was dressed in brown, and his white hair shined in the few spectres of light that flowed in the darkness. James. I fell backwards, falling onto the ground with a loud thud. My vision got blurry, and it got all mixed up, with the lights and stars. I felt my heartbeat get slower. I gazed up at the sky, while I heard light footsteps get away, and heavy footsteps approach. I closed my eyes tiredly. I heard a yell once again, that echoed many times in my mind. The voice was so faded and distorted, it was impossible to recognize it. As it went away, I stumbled into darkness.
“Leorn!”
I felt a jolt of pain surge into my body. I sat upright, tensed. I put a hand to my chest, where it hurt. The pain was as regular as my heartbeat. I strained against it, and I doubled over. The pain welled up inside my whole body. I closed my eyes tightly, and I tried to breathe. I couldn't. I stood there, curled up upon myself, one hand to my heart, the other pressing off from the bed. A shot of pain in my left shoulder bolted me down to the bed I was on. I looked at it, lifting it above the surface slightly.

I saw a big, red spot on my shoulder. It had darkened, but I recognized the smell immediately. It was blood. I lifted my other hand to try and pull up the sleeve to have a further inspection of the wound, but, quickly, out of nowhere, a hand came out and stopped me from doing my action. I tried to pull, but the other hand kept a firm grip on my available one. A shot of pain made me stop struggling, and I moaned quietly, hurt. I opened one eye to look up at the person who was holding me.
My vision was blurry. It twisted in all directions, and I couldn't recognize anything. I only knew that I was in a white room, with a black spot up in a corner. I blinked multiple times, readjusting my eyesight. I soon saw a person that made my heart jump. He wore his brown suit, as always, and he had his glinting white hair. I growled at the man, of who I knew the identity as James. He glared back at me, and I was taken aback. His look was fierce, as I've ever seen it before.
His hand tightened on my wrist, but he soon took it off, sliding it off my wrist. He put it on his lap. He was sitting on a white chair, that matched the whole of the room. I saw the camera put up in one of the corners of the room. It was black, contradictory to anything else in the room, as always.
“I am...” James began, calmly, “Annoyed, Leorn, by your actions.” There was a small pause, as a small smirk crept along my lips. “And if there's one thing I don't like,” James continued, “it is being annoyed.”
“Well, I got you good back there, didn't I?” I teased.
“You won't do it again,” James warned.
“Ah, but I will,” I insisted, my sneer getting bigger, “you just watch me.”
“We've taken some more precautions,” James replied coldly.
“Like what?” I snapped, turning my head completely to him, “More guards? I'll pass 'em.”
“That would just be a waste of men,” James truthfully answered, “if we were to take precautions such as that, why not kill you now?”
“That's true,” I replied, “why not kill me now?”
“Because we think you ought to cooperate now,” James answered.
“Oh really?” I hissed, “Haylyn, mother and Ulser have fled, and you know that well. I shall do the same.”
“Yes, maybe Ulser, Haylyn and your mother have exited this area,” James admitted, “but aren't you forgetting someone?”
“You mean...” I muttered, “what did you do with father?”
“We killed him,” he answered darkly. I took a quick breath, my eyes widening. I had thought this would happen, but I hadn't thought that when it would come, it would make such a hole in my heart, and such a knot in my stomach.
“Y... You...” I stuttered, “You bastard!”
I lunged for the man, but his hand swept back swiftly behind him, pulling out a revolver. He shoved it on my wound, and I yelled out of pain, falling onto my bed again. I whined, putting a hand up to the bleeding hole. James stood up, and pushed the hand away, and pushed the gun further into the wound. I yelled again. Tears started leaking out of my tightly closed eyes.
“Leorn, I won't hesitate to-” James began.
“I'm going to kill you all, you hear me?!” I yelled, “All of you crummy idiots!”
A loud gunshot was heard. My back arched, and I stood on my head and feet, unable to breath. I then crippled into a tight ball, pain swelling up inside my body, slowly advancing. I saw blood stain the white blankets of the bed I was on. The chain around my neck tingled as it hit the wall. The tears also spilled onto the blankets, and it mixed with the blood. I whimpered quietly under my breath. James put his gun to my leg. I twitched violently.
“You are going to listen to me, Leorn,” James snarled, “if you disobey any of my orders from now on, or if you even attempt anything against me, you shall have to face the death of the people close to you.”
I don't know how or why, but I managed to twist myself around, casting a scowl at the man I loathed. I small, line of saliva leaked from my mouth, to drip onto the cloths. I pushed myself off my legs, to haul myself, out of fury, onto James. But he was in better shape than I was, and thus had better reflex. He shoved his gun into my right leg, and another gunshot was heard. I fell down onto the hard ground, hitting my head on the side of the chair James was previously sitting on. Pain doubled inside my body, and I wanted to yell, but only a quiet squeak escaped my wide open mouth. I felt the darkness rush up into my mind, and I looked up weakly. I saw the dark figure loom over me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the gun glint in James' hands. I whimpered silently, closing my eyes tight, tears running from my eyes, creating a small puddle on the floor. I bit my lip tightly. I heard my heart thud against my chest, echoing in my ears. James turned his head.
“Medics!” he yelled. The sound resonated in my head, and my eyes turned up. I succumbed to the obscurity that surrounded my whole body. I fell into a deep, never ending hole.

My eyes shot opened as I heard a bang next to me. A bang, as in a metal object hitting the floor heavily. I sat up as fast as possible. A sharp pain came from my body, and it pinned me down. I whimpered quietly, as the pain focused on certain points of my body. I slowly lifted my head, to look at where I was, squinting because of the pain. The light from above blinded me. I blinked multiple times, the lamp above hurting my eyes. I tried to think about what had happened. I remembered, as I felt a jolt of pain surge through my arm and leg. I remembered everything. A wave of rage and fury swelled up inside me, but quickly died down as another jolt of pain escaped my body, and I whined again, leaving tears draw from my wet eyes.
I slowly opened my eyes again, and I gazed over at the blanket that covered my body. I opened my mouth, and bit onto the blanket, the cloth getting wet from my saliva. I pulled the blanket away by jerking my head with one great movement. It fell onto the floor in a heap, and I noticed the bandages on my arm and leg. I cursed James within my mind. The bandages were dark red, color of dried blood. I coughed, and I laid my head back.
I saw that my other arm had a bandage on it, too, but I didn't remember it being damaged. It connected to a plastic tube, with red liquid pouring down. I followed the tube with my eyes, and I saw it connected to a bag, full of red liquid. I knew that it was blood. I had lost so much, that I needed this to keep alive. I sighed a sigh full of regret, but also full of determination. I saw a woman, picking up the big metal bowl she had dropped to put it back on a rolling table.
I took a great breath, and I laid my head back on the comfortable cushion. I was in the medical sector of the building. I knew that I was with other kuijin. I wondered if I could speak to them, but a nurse would notice. And, anyways, how could they help me? They were either wounded or sick. And I couldn't blame them.
I heard footsteps come towards me. They echoed dimly around the whole room, but I recognized the manner how they landed onto the ground, and I heard the faint squeak of the shoes as they flexed with the movements of the man I longed to kill one day. James. I kept my eyes closed, trying to seem like I was sleeping. I heard James pull a chair out of under the mattress I was on. I heard the feet of the chair squeal against the floor, like a bike when it wasn't oiled enough. I breathed calmly, and steadily.
“Don't pretend you're sleeping, Leorn,” James murmured, “If you were, the blankets wouldn't be on the floor right now.”
I smirked, and opened my eyes, to look up at the man with hair that shined with the light. He seemed like the sun itself, but not at all as the image humans gave it. James seemed as gentle as usual, like when I first met him. But under that fake smile, I knew that he was willing to kill every last one of my race. I thought of something. “Leorn,” he began.
“James,” I interrupted, “Why are you doing this?”
“Why am I doing what?” James asked quietly.
“All this,” I replied casually, rolling my eyes, “You say you want kuijin to find more kuijin, to experiment on them.”
“Exactly.”
“But to who's benefit are the experiments?” I asked.
“You don't need to know that, now do you, Leorn?” James replied, lifting his eyebrows at me. “Anyways, I'm not here to answer these futile questions, Leorn,” he continued, “I'm here to propose a deal.”
“Another one?” I replied, with a mocking laugh. James paid no attention.
“Bring Jach back to me, and I will liberate you, and forget anything about you, your family and your friends.” I lifted one eyebrow.
“Why is Jach suddenly so important to let you say that?” I asked.
“I don't need to answer that either,” James answered.
“If you're not going to answer any of my questions, I might as well wait until I have the perfect time to kill you and get out of here myself,” I replied coldly.
“My men will find you sooner or later, and annihilate you, as well as your family, and your dear Haylyn,” James retorted, as coldly as ever.
“She's not really my dear, but I'll let that pass,” I answered, not troubled by the aggressive tone in his reply, “Just answer my last question, and I might accept.”
James sighed. He frowned, and he let a while pass. He then coughed, and turned a gentle gaze back to me. “Leorn,” he began, “We have some suppositions that your friend Jach is different than the other kuijin.”
“Why?” I asked.
“My men and I went back to Jach's residential area. Of course, there was nobody, as they all fled,” he explained.
“And?”
“We analyzed the dried blood that had spilled out of the arm of Jach's father when you shot him, and we found an... Ingredient in his blood that did not match any other blood sample I saw I any other kuijins' body,” he continued.
“You mean there was something unique in this guy's blood?” I asked.
“In other words, yes.”
“But then why try to find Jach?” I asked.
“Because we think that his father's blood was passed onto him,” James answered calmly.
“But then why not use the sample you already have? And why not try to find Jach's father instead of Jach himself?” I asked. It was getting pretty fishy, and I sensed it in my mind. I needed to know.
“First, because we don't have enough blood to make a radical effect on the bodies we shall experiment on, and, secondly, because we have last sighted Jach's father were you last saw him, and we last saw Jach himself yesterday, in Marseille, France,” he explained.
“Then why can't your men get him?” I asked.
“Most of my men are concentrated around this area of France, Leorn, and sadly, only very few around the world. We won't be able to track Jach down. But, you, Leorn, you are his friend. You can convince him to 'stay' with you.”

“James,” I retorted, “I had the chance to kill Jach, I shot his father, and I shot at Jach but missed, you really think I'm his friend?!”
“Just tell that a society hired you to take him to them, but they had lied about bringing him back to his family.”
"He'll think it's suspicious," I replied.
“Just try your best. You'll be armed, so you'll have a way to 'keep' him with you,” James answered.
“But who says you're not like that society and you're also lying about bringing me back to my family?” I asked, sceptically.
“There's no deal, then?” James asked.
I knew that if I didn't accept, I might get killed. And, anyways, I might get killed after. But what if he was really meaning it? I could finally see my family again, and finally get a new, start-from-zero life. Everything here would be forgotten past. Mother, I thought, Serella... Jakalt...
“I'll do it,” I mumbled, “But who says Jach is not going to move while I regenerate from the wounds you did to me?” I asked.
“Ah, those,” James replied softly, “Don't worry about that. We are almost sure he's going to Spain.”
“How are you so sure?” I asked.
“Because we traced one of his telephonic conversations,” James replied calmly. I frowned, and I sighed.
“Fine,” I muttered.
“Good,” James answered, standing up, and pushing the chair under the mattress again, looking down at me with gentle eyes, “You've made a good choice, Leorn.”
Yeah, yeah, shut up, I thought. James turned around, mentioning something to the nurse, and then walked away, his footsteps echoing around the room once again. The sound stayed in my mind for a long time, and I shook them away, closing my eyes. I breathed calmly, trying to think of good thoughts. I hoped that mother, Ulser and Haylyn were okay. I wondered what they did after they escaped. And I wondered what was so important in this blood to make James change decisions like this. It must be a great discovery. I frowned, trying to solve what was strange in this blood, different from the others. Was the change physical? Was it visible?
I sighed, and I leaned my head to the side. I thought about getting better faster. Because the faster I recover, the quicker I can find Jach, and the sooner I can find my family. I tried not to move, and I attempted to sleep. The nurse walked over to me, and readjusted some things with the machines that were constantly bleeping aside of me. I understood nothing of those pieces of metal. I didn't even want to know. The nurse walked away to the other wounded and ill, and did the same changes.
My stomach grumbled loudly. I frowned, and I wondered in how much time I didn't take a bite out of something. It seemed pretty bad, and I must've stayed unconscious for more than a day, at least. Meaning no food for, well, a day, or more. I couldn't remember what I last ate, and when I last ate. I tried to figure out when would be the next time I eat. I knew that I was probably still being tortured on the long term. I moaned as my stomach gargled again. The nurse took no notice, and continued walking along the beds to get to the next ill or wounded. I tried to calm myself down, and not think of food at the moment. I didn't feel like sleeping, especially that I woke up not so long ago, from a certain long time. I looked at the bandages on my wounds again, and I cursed myself in my mind that I couldn't look at them. That thought repeated itself in my mind for a moment.
Who says I can't? I thought, looking at the only nurse in the room, who was going out at the exact time I glanced at her. She turned out of the entrance, closing the door. I looked around, and I reached for the blankets, so that no one could notice. My arm ached as I even moved it. I whined, and I forced myself to pull down, and grip the blanket tightly. As I pulled it up, it felt heavy, and it felt like if I was heaving something. I flopped it on the bed, and I relaxed my hurting arm. I whimpered quietly. I used my mouth again to pull the white cloth over my body. I looked down at the bandage on my arm.
I softly reached for it with my other hand, and I gripped onto the white cloth. My arm tensed as more pain flowed within it. I clenched my teeth, and I slowly started unwrapping the bandage. Time was faster then I thought. Soon enough, the whole bandage was off. I took some time looking at the crimson stain betraying the white surrounding. I looked at the wound. It was already healing, but it was still very vulnerable. It must be healing fast with all the things that the nurses injected into my body. I took the bandage again, squeezing it with my arm against my body, starting to wrap it again around the wound, leaving the red spot where the wound laid.
I continued by slowly reaching down my body to my leg. I felt the cloth, with eyes tightly closed. I pressed a sensitive area of the wound and I twitched violently, but I grabbed the cloth tightly, beginning to unwrap it.
The alarming sound of the entrance doors opening made my ear prick, and I stopped my action. I knew that I couldn't reach down to wrap the cloth again. I lied down, and I prayed that no one would notice. I tried to breathe calmly, and I closed my eyes, pretending to be sleeping.
I heard the heavy footsteps advance to me. I couldn't look at who came, and I didn't recognize who was walking. I wanted to know, but I restrained myself from moving a centimeter. The person stopped right next to me, and I heard two other lighter people advance and stop on the opposite side of the bed.
“You think he's sleeping?” one asked.
“Either sleeping or dead,” a male voice replied heavily, “And he's breathing, so he's not dead. Come on, let's get it over with. Bring the table.”

I heard light footsteps go away, and come back with the slight squeaking of badly oiled wheels. It stopped near me, and I felt hands grasp under my shoulders, my legs, and my body. They were trying to keep me straight so that I wouldn't 'wake up' because of the pain. I flinched as they picked me up, and lied me gently on the table, but none of them noticed my gesture. After lying me down completely, there was a small silence.
“Why is his bandage slightly unwrapped?” the male voice asked.
I furtively gulped and tensed, hoping that nothing bad would happen.
“It must've slipped off,” a gentle voice answered quietly. I relaxed, as they tightened the bandage again cautiously.
“Get him to sector two,” the booming voice ordered. I felt the table move, and I heard the wheels squeak. The table bumped as we passed the entrance of the medical sector, but I tried my best to pretend to be asleep. I remembered that my room was in sector two before. They were taking me back to my room, meaning I was healed enough to stand alone.
Under my eyelids, I could see the lights pass as I went under them. It felt like a long moment until we arrived to the room. I eard the door open, and the clinging of a pair of keys. I was rolled inside, and then deposed on my bed. I heard the wheels rolling away, and the gentle footsteps fading. The door slammed shut, and I noticed the usual click that resonated in the room as I instantly knew that the door was locked. I opened my eyes.
My arm and leg ached, because the medics weren't careful enough. I squinted with pain as I tried sitting up. I recognized that this was my room, and there was even the very fade blood stain on the floor. I looked up, and saw the camera. I sighed, and lied down on the bed, the white sheets flattening against the mattress. I looked at the white clothes that the people gave me, after my other clothes were dirty with blood. I still felt as if the camera was the only thing to look at, as it was the only black thing in the surrounding boring white color. My stomach grumbled, and I laid a gentle hand on my stomach as I moaned quietly, closing my eyes.
I heard the door unlock, and open. I sat up, but a bolt of pain coming from my chest quickly put me back down on my back. I whimpered silently under my breath, keeping the tears from coming out of my eyes. I opened them, to see a bodyguard entering, with a plate, with only one piece of bread on it.
“Hey, kid,” he growled, “meal of the week.” He held out the plate, and dropped it gently on the ground, crouching to do so. The gun on his back hit his head as he did so, and he stood up again. I looked at the plate, with a wanting gaze. “Well?” he said, “I thought you were starved.”
I whimpered out of pain, closing my eyes tightly. “I can't get it,” I moaned.
“Why not?” the man asked, lifting one eyebrow to look at me questioningly. I heard the other bodyguard behind him.
“Hey, Max,” he said, “we aren't supposed to talk to the captives.”
“I'm wounded to my arm and my leg,” I explained, “and it hurts like hell if I even twitch.”
“He's wounded, Fred, not like he would be able to do anything,” Max replied from inside the room, turning his head to his comrade, then turning his head back to me.
“You didn't know?” I asked, leaning my head very slowly and tiredly.
“Well, spots change every two days, and we all kinda look the same with this trimmed hair,” Max explained. I tried lifting my head, but I whimpered in pain, and a tear leaked from my eye, staining the covers under me.
“Max,” I moaned, “Please move the plate closer so that I can at least reach it...” I was helpless. I had to ask the people who had imprisoned me here to help me. It was humiliating. But, at the time, I didn't care.
“Max,” the other one called from outside the room, “you aren't supposed to approach him more than two meters fifty!”
“Dude, relax,” Max replied, “he ain't gonna move.” Max pushed the plate closer with his hand, in my reach. I nodded thankfully, and I let one arm drop to grab the bread. He stood up.
“Maxime Ferrond,” a man said from outside. I knew that voice. It was James. I opened my eyes wide to send him a hostile scowl, but he just looked at me, and turned his head to Max. “Don't you know the rules?”
Max straightened turning to James, giving him the salute. “Sir the kid can't move. He asked me to push the food closer,” he explained.
“But the rules are the rules, Maxime,” James continued, “You know very well that this child is known as dangerous, and not to approach him more than two meters fifty.”
“But he was starving, sir!” the bodyguard replied.
“You aren't in rank to decide of such choices, Maxime!” James retorted.
“Yes, sir.”
“You might as well thank your dear God that Leorn didn't do anything!”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now get back to your position!”
“Yes, sir.”
“And when I say that, I mean immediately!” James shouted. Maxime stepped out of the room, and straightened in front of the entrance. James casted one last look at me, and walked away. “And close the damn door!” he exclaimed.

Maxime took a pair of keys, fiddled with them for a moment, closed the door to my cell, and locked it. A small click resonated from the doors' interiors.
I sighed, closing my eyes. I tightly grabbed the piece of bread with my wounded arm, to pull it up on my body. My arm ached with the effort. I managed to take it up to my mouth, and use my other arm to grab the bread. I took a small bite from the bread, knowing that it was my meal of the week. I wondered if James knew that starving me so might have some consequences on what happens when I will try to recover Jake. He probably did. James wasn't a mastermind, but he knew how to control things, and well.
I dropped the piece of bread onto the plate, resisting the urge to take another bite out of the food. It bounced off the plate, and landed on it again, turning on itself for a while, then stopping silently. I breathed calmly, trying to go to sleep. I couldn't check what was under my bandage, as I knew that the camera was always watching.
I hoped that Haylyn, mother and Ulser were fine. But I also hoped for them that they wouldn't try to come back. They would just get killed, and I know it. James was taking extra precautions, in case that happened. I hope that they were waiting. Waiting for my arrival. Then everything would be fine again. Haylyn and I would just have to get new identities, and everything would be fine.
Everything would be back to normal.
Everything...
I fell asleep.

I woke up late after. My eyes opened tiredly. I tried to lift both my arms to rub my eyes, but I soon remembered by the jolt of pain that my arm was wounded, so I used the other one instead to rub both of my eyes. I looked at my wounded limbs, hoping they had healed since the last time I saw them. It hurt less. Way less than last time. I was able to move my arm almost easily around, suffering only a little ache. I sat up, making my leg twitch from sudden pain. I turned around on my bed. I rested both my feet on the floor, as I shakily stood up, making my wounded leg wobble with destabilization.
I tried to walk around the room, but I could only manage it slowly. I slowly walked in circles, trying to get used to the constant pain in my leg and arm as I pressed on my leg and I waved my arm forwards and backwards. I stopped, and casted a glance at the piece of bread. I grabbed it firmly in my hand, and pulled the food to my mouth. I bit on it, and I chewed slowly. I dropped the bread on the plate. A loud clank was heard as it made impact with the plate.
I looked at the large stain of blood on the floor, which had marked the time when I almost went mad. I thought of what happened, and concluded that it was psychological. After a small time of being imprisoned, people can do very awkward things. I couldn't recognize myself once I thought about it again. I started walking around the stain, but I soon felt tired, and I sat on my bed again. I wondered how much time I slept, and I wondered if I slept frequently, time would pass faster, and thus I would be healed faster. I thought it was a good idea to force myself to sleep again. I lied on my bed, and I closed my eyes. The light shined one last time in my eyes, before I closed them completely.
Four days passed like that. I woke up systematically, every five hours or so, not knowing what part of the day it was. My coyote part must've whacked up, because I sleep whenever I can. Night or day doesn't matter to me anymore. I didn't go to the vacancies, except for one time. It was normal, since I didn't eat, but we let me drink water every day, at least once, twice if they were in a good mood. By the end of the third day, I had finished my piece of bread, and I was dreading for the end of the week to get a new one. On the fourth day, I couldn't sleep, because my stomach was aching so much. I felt weak and tired, but my arm and leg barely hurt any more. I was sitting on my bed, when I heard the door unlock, and open once more, so that I could see the man I despised. James entered the room, clothed with his brown suit, and his white hair shined with the light that came from the ceiling. He walked up to me, smiling.
“How are you feeling, Leorn?” he asked.
“Pitiful, thanks to you,” I answered.
“Don't be so pessimist,” James replied calmly, closing his eyes and standing up completely, “I meant about the arm and leg.”
“They're fine, all right, but if I don't get some grub quick I might die of hunger, you see,” I replied. He laughed quietly.
“I knew you would ask for food,” he said calmly, reaching behind him, and taking out a large piece of bread. I lifted one eyebrow, and I snatched it out of his grasp, taking out my hunger on the poor food. I didn't really care if I ate messily, I just wanted my stomach to stop hurting. I quickly finished the large piece of bread, not feeling satisfied, but good enough. I picked the crumbs off the blanket, and I lifted my head to James.
“You know where we're going today,” James said quietly.
“Spain,” I replied, “The country where I'm born.”
“Oh, really?” James replied, “What a coincidence! In Madrid, to be exact.”
“Doesn't surprise me,” I answered calmly, “Madrid is a populated place... You can find money there quite easily.”
“Exactly, Leorn,” James replied, crouching to be at my height, “And you know what's at the end of this mission, don't you?”
I stood silent for a moment. “Liberty,” I replied.
“You remember,” James replied, “Let's go.”

I stood up easily on my legs, and I headed for the entrance, following James. He closed the door of my cell after me, and he locked it. We continued our way down the hall, where James entered a room. He didn't let me go in. I sat against the wall, waiting. He came back with some new clothes for me, to 'blend in' better. A pair of black pants, along with a marine blue shirt. He then guided me to a changing room, where I put on the new clothes. It felt good to have some colored clothing again. I came out, and James was waiting for me, with a silver suitcase. He smiled at me, tilting his head, starting to head away. I closed the door, and it clacked as it closed completely. My footsteps echoed dimly in the corridors of the building.
We reached the exit of the building. The darkness that surrounded me once I went out surprised me. I thought it would be day once I would get out. But I was wrong.
“Why are we departing in the night?” I asked.
“To have more chance of catching him while he sleeps,” James answered, treading over to the black Porsche, with the driver already in it. He opened the door, and beckoned me in. I followed him, and I entered the car cautiously, sitting next to the opposite door I thought James would sit near. But this time, he went up front, with the driver. He handled to silver briefcase delicately, tapping his fingers on the rim as we slowly departed, passing the grid, and rolling onto the road. I looked out the window, hoping everything would go right.
After many hours of traveling inside this car, stopping four times, three times for gas, one time for James and the driver to eat. I was kept inside the car when they ate. James had the 'loyalty' to bring me a small piece of bread. I nibbled it all along the way that was left.
We stopped near a very tall building, with a concrete sidewalk just next to it. James turned himself to me, opening the suitcase. He held out a gun to me, along with five chargers.
“Five magazines?” I asked.
“You'll have three days to find Jach,” James explained.
“Where will I sleep?” I demanded.
“Don't worry, we ave everything done,” James comforted me, “There's a hotel not far away, in 'camino de oro' street.”
“What the heck does 'camino de oro' mean?” I asked.
“'Path of Gold', don't ask, it isn't made out of gold,” James replied, “The hotel is called Wellun, and you are listed under the name of 'Harvin Delis'.”
“But I don't know how to speak Spanish!” I answered quickly.
“Don't worry, most people talk English. Here's your identity card,” James said, passing a card to me. I looked at it, seeing my photo. I didn't ask how they got it. I flipped the card in my hands, and I shoved it in my pocket, along with the magazines. I shoved the gun in the back of my pants, and I pulled my shirt over it to hide it.
“Will I have communication?” I asked.
“Not this time, Leorn,” James answered, “Once you get Jach, just call the phone number on the table at the entrance of your room.”
“Got it.”
“Good luck, Leorn.”
I hopped out of the car. I flexed my legs to land softly on the ground. My dark blue shirt flapped as I stood up again. I didn't have time to turn around, that the Porsche was already heading away. I looked at the car for the last time before three days hopefully. When it was out of sight, I turned around, and saw that 'camino de oro' street was right in front of me. I followed it, and went downwards. It was easy to spot the hotel, because it ad the biggest sign. I walked towards it. It was huge. I smirked. Three stars... Not bad, I thought. I pushed the glass door in, and I closed it behind me. It was comfortably warm in the hotel, and there was ventilation. The red rug that I stepped on seemed of the finest quality. I looked around quickly, and saw the man that took care of the people who entered and left. I walked towards him, and I could discern even the smallest details of his face as he lifted it from what he was reading on his lap. He wasn't old, but he wasn't young either. Only fade cavings appeared near the sides of his mouth, and he had a trimmed beard, along with long, combed blond hair, that he pushed out of the way to look at me. His blue eyes scanned me up and down, and he eyed me warily.
“Yes?” he said, quickly.
“I'm, uh, Harvin Delis. I reserved a room here, I think,” I answered, as casually as I could manage.
“Ah, si, come with me, señor,” he answered, getting out from behind the shelf, and beginning to go up the stairs. I wondered how a man like him could be fooled so easily. I didn't want to ask him. I followed him up the stairs.
Once I arrived at the second floor, he waited for me there. He held out a hand to my room.
“Room numero 120, señor,” he said, calmly. I nodded quickly, and I went to the door. The keys were already inside the lock. I took them, and turned them inside. I heard a click that resembled the one I heard frequently, back at the building. The door opened slowly as I pushed on it. I peered inside, hesitantly.
I saw a big room, with a bed for two people. There were dark red sheets on the bed, neatly put. There was a table with a lamp next to the bed. I saw the small paper James had mentioned back in the car. The carpet was of a gentle beige color, and the drapes were of the same color as the sheets on the bed. There were three closets, and one bathroom.

There was a small television, put up near a corner of the large room. I took the fake identity card, and I threw it onto the table next to the bed. I sat on the bed, contemplating the room. And say I would have this for three days, if I'm slow enough.
But I needed to be fast. I needed to get back to my family. And after that, I would avenge father, by some way, or another. But for now, my goal was to get to Jach. I recognized that he wasn't the true reason why I was in the deepest ahem... of my life at the moment. If I wanted to get Jach, I needed to do fast. But Madrid was a huge city. I wondered how I was going to get him. I don't even know where he is in this place! I thought.
I tried to calm down. I had three days. I checked the clock on the table, next to the lamp that was neatly put on it. It was 6:20 AM. Normally, Jach wouldn't be awake. But this isn't a normal condition. I reached in my pocket, checking for the magazines. They were there. I pulled the shirt further downwards to hide the gun. I looked at the windows of the room, and I closed every shutter, every drape. I took the keys to the room, and I stepped out of it. I locked it behind me, and I put the keys in one of the inferior pockets of my black pants, as I started to go down the stairs. My footsteps resonated around the building as I went down quickly. I arrived at the bottom, and I headed for the exit.
“Good day, señor,” the man behind the shelf called. I gave a thankful nod, and I darted out of the building to get onto the gray sidewalks, with cars passing on the road further up ahead. I joined this road, and I looked around. If I was Jach, I wondered what I would do. If he wasn't as stupid as I thought, he would've found a way to get money, and to find a place for shelter. That was, at least, if he wasn't as stupid as I thought. Normally, these days, my thoughts tended to be wrong.
I began walking down the street I was on, hoping for the best. I was also planning for the worst. I still didn't know how I would find out where Jach was. Since he was a kuijin, he would've made himself little, so I took it that he would refrain from talking to many people and to discover himself in the streets. Maybe at night I would have more luck to find him.
I looked up in the sky. Would Jach take the risk of morphing into a hawk to travel in the city? I thought. It would be a possibility. That's what I would do, if I were a bird kuijin. But are hawks recognized in the surroundings of Madrid? I didn't think so. I was so lost in my thoughts, that I bumped into a person, wearing a neat melon hat.
“Excuse me,” I muttered. He passed me without saying anything. I stopped, and I thought a moment. I needed to use my chances while I had some. I quickly turned around. “Um, sir?” I asked. He turned around, and looked at me through his reflecting glasses.
“Yes?”
“Do you know a bird watcher around here?” I asked, trying to sound as casual as I could. I could sound very suspicious by asking this question.
“A bird watcher, boy?” he repeated, “Nope, sorry.”
“Ah... Sorry for disturbing you, sir,” I replied, turning around slowly and walking away. He did the same. I didn't expect any more to come from one ordinary person. Anyways, bird watchers lived mostly in the mountains. I would have to do my own bird watching, if I wanted to see Jach soaring. I continued my way, trying to think of where he could be. Where would a hawk kuijin go, to be in the best place possible? An aviary is too idiotic...
I lowered my head in concentration, thinking. I only knew that he was here somewhere, and that maybe I wouldn't find him in the three days I had. Jach could've been anywhere, as far as I knew, and I knew that I didn't ave enough time to go through the whole city in three days.
I sighed heavily, trying to concentrate. But with the constant, loud noise that big cities always had, it was hard to do so. Jach also probably already changed his look. It would be hard to recognize him. But, knowing him, he didn't.
I turned at a road cross, not really paying attention to what way I went, even though I memorized where I went. Jach could be as well on the outer part of the city as he could be inside. But where to look first? The sky was my only option. It would be impossible to look through the whole city. I needed to have a good overview. I turned around, and headed to the hotel.
After a few minutes, I arrived, and I went up the stairs, thinking of something far away. I quickly arrived in front of my room, and I took the key from my pocket, and I slid it into the keyhole. I opened the door, and I pushed on it. I went in, and closed it delicately behind me, quietly. I looked around in the room. What could help me, I thought.
I looked in the closets, but there was nothing inside. I took a glance at the table, and I opened the small drawers. I wasn't surprised to find a small pile of money. I gripped it with one hand, and counted it carefully. The small pack counted up to four hundred euros. It must be James that left it there for me. If I was going to go scan the skies, I needed binoculars. I stuffed the pack of money in one of my pant pockets, along with the keys. I went out of the room again, closing it with the key. I padded down the stairs again.
“Señor seems to be hasty,” the man behind the shelf mentioned, as I appeared at the bottom floor, “Anything wrong?”
“No, everything is all right, thank you,” I answered quickly, turning my head to look at him, before turning my head as I saw his blue gaze sweep over me, as I pushed the door to get out of the building.
There was a tourist shop not very far away. I doubted it had any binoculars, but I had to test my luck, so I went there anyways. I looked both sides as I crossed the road cautiously, trying to be as 'normal' as possible, but that was hard when you were 'different' in the first place. I opened the door to the shop, and I saw I was the only one in it. I looked around, but since this part of Madrid wasn't really a place to look out at beautiful sunsets, not much could help me.