text: Nick Venom Accomplice: Season One 
   
   
   Episode One "What is Murder?" 
   What is murder? Can it really be defined? Murder in self-defense isn’t considered murder, but accidental murder is? Jax asked me this question every day. He believed that the government murdered their rivals and criminals through the death sentence and the public deemed it legal. Jax has many beliefs about the government---some that seemed crazy while others made sense. This all made Jax the psycho he is. 
   I became friends with Jax during third grade for a school project. Ever since then, we would hang out everywhere and eventually he showed me his after school projects. His after school projects consist of me deceiving friends and taking them to an abandoned cabin by a large river while he takes good “care” of them inside of the cabin. He would force me to convince anybody to follow me, no matter the gender, race, or appearance. He has no identifiable pattern for his choice of victims aside from that he killed anybody who attacked Jax or I. Jax took care of them and discarded them into the river while I lured them in. Jax and I. Murderer & Accomplice. 
   We went to the same elementary and high school. Torn Isaac High School. The high school poses numerous threats to my safety, but none to Jax. Bullies would often bully me for my lonely tendencies which Jax never approved of. Two days later, the bullies would go missing and Jax would claim that he had no connection to them, but I found the bodies. I even peeked inside of the cabin and saw the gallons of blood and body parts littering the inside. I, simply, throw up whenever that sight peeks into my mind. This is why I vowed to never allow Jax to see my world; To never let him interfere with my world. Years and years of blindly following his every order racked up regrets and sorrows. Potential friends, lovers, bullies all thrown into the river, drifting off into the ocean. 
   He controls nearly every movement I make, even recording every phone call I have to deter me from calling the police. Doing that will earn me a spot on the river; Something I cannot allow as I could be the only one who knows about who “he” really is. His recordings have gone from school to home as my parents died young, leaving me alone and giving Jax’s parents the chance to adopt me, sealing my fate. A measly accomplice like me doesn’t have the chance to live a normal life with the things I’ve seen. That is something that will remain the same for eternity, past heaven or hell. What am I saying? I won’t be able to get into heaven, leaving hell as my only option. 
   I woke up due to my alarm clock. It read “7:20 AM” and served as my reminder that the first day of school was upon me. I got up and got dressed, heading off to school without seeing Jax, but feeling his presence 
   
   
   
   Episode Two "Prey" 
   The first day saw no negative results for August as he didn’t talk to many people. He found himself slowly transforming into the class outcast, which he didn’t mind. What he did mind was Jax, who wasn’t in the same class as him, constantly glancing at August whenever he had a chance to. 
   Even so, August got through the day without worry until he reached after-school time. He escaped his final class, leaving the building and on his way back before bumping into a classmate of his; Rick. Rick, a spitting image of the high school bully trope, began harassing him for simply bumping into him. He ordered his goonies to begin bashing on August with their baseball bats, bruising his tanned skin.  
   He allowed it to happen, taking the beating as quickly as he could. The more time he spent being beaten, the more time Jax had to see the event unfold. 
   After Rick and his goonies left, August bolted home to begin masking the bruises and cleaning any cuts with water and soup. He wore a long-sleeved tee-shirt instead of the school’s usual white polo and blue trousers to cover the bruises and prevent Jax from learning of them. If he knew, Rick and his goonies would depart the earth forever. They would be at the bottom of the river, their bodies never found. August couldn’t allow that. 
   A few hours after returning home, Jax’s mother, Wendy, arrived and began making dinner. August and the other members of the family---Jax, his brother and sister named Henry and Hailey, and Jax’s father, John---arrived at the dinner table and began chomping down on their platters of steak. 
   As everybody devoured the thin strips of steaks, Wendy glanced at August, proud of her fourth child. Her eyes went down to her left arm where his sleeve had been rolled down enough to show the bruises. Something shot through her to ask about it.  
   “What happened to you?” Jax’s eyes snapped to August, inspecting the bruise before August could roll the sleeve up and feign ignorance. He made up a lie about tripping on stairs being the cause of the bruises. Wendy opened her mouth to ask more questions but a glare from Jax stopped her. She dropped the subject and they continued to eat but now sat in dreary silence. Even at home, Jax was a horrifying beast that nobody wanted to provoke. 
   After eating, August headed to his room, hoping to hide out as long as he could. Unfortunately for him, Jax entered his room without knocking, staring at him. “Who attacked you?” 
   “I didn’t see their faces,” August told him. He didn’t try to lie to Jax as he already knew something went down. Excuses wouldn’t work in front of Jax, only the truth would. 
   “Who attacked you?” He repeated. August shook his head and repeated his answer, receiving an irritated expression from Jax. Jax balled up his fists, his eyebrows furrowing, before walking off. He didn’t hit the wall or the door, simply walking off before anything began. 
   August, however, knew something would happen. He decided to visit Rick the next day and warn him of Jax. Even if Rick didn’t trust him, as long as he could be warned of Jax and his behavior. That’s what August believed, going through another day of school thinking about what he would say. He visualized the situation and chose his words carefully.  
   He met with Rick after-school across from the school, sparking a conversation with him. He warned him that he will “befall a terrible fate from Jax” but Rick laughed it off before threatening August with another beatdown. He walked off while laughing, his goonies following after him and participating in the fake laughter. 
   August let out a sigh, disappointed that Rick was headstrong in not listening to him. He turned around, scanning his surroundings for someone he didn’t want to see. Unfortunately, the person was there. 
   Jax stood in the parking lot across from the school with his new friend group, his eyes staring intensely at Rick as he walked towards the main entrance of the school. August’s heart sank as he realized what was going to happen.  Rick’s dead. Jax is going to kill him! 
   August turned around, deciding to sprint home and not watch the murder occur. He didn’t want to be branded an accomplice more than he already was. He sprinted right into a girl, throwing both of them to the ground. 
   “Sorry about that,” He said, my voice timid and weak. 
   “No worries, I wasn’t looking where I was going either.” The girl responded. August took a good look at her and realized that she was beautiful; flowing brown hair, a pink and blue sundress, and silky tan skin.  
   “Wait. You’re the guy who sits in the back during class!” She said, recognizing him. August jerked my head back as he never noticed her in his class before. 
   “U-Uh, yeah, I’m August,” He said, extending my hand out. She shook his hand before inspecting him up and down.  
   “You’re not half bad.” She said in a quiet voice, obviously shy and embarrassed. 
   “Well, u-uh, thanks,” He said while blushing.  
   She gave him a big smile. “I’m Bailey, nice to meet you, August.” She said before hearing her phone vibrate. She took out her phone and checked a message, now looking up at August. “I’ll see you around,” She said before walking off. 
   August nodded, obviously gawking at her. He began drooling for her, clearing it with his sleeve after snapping back into reality.  No, I don’t want to include her in this chaos. I have to remember that anybody around me could be killed in an instant. I need to be careful of who I include on this battlefield. Jax will kill everybody. I have to be prepared to stop him then. 
     
   TBC… 
   
   
   
   Episode Three "Warning" 
   August went to school the next day, contemplating whether or not his choice of visiting Rick was right. Jax had his eyes on him now.  
   “Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything, but… what if someone saw Rick and his goons beating me up? They could’ve told Jax or maybe he found out about it through word of mouth.” He thought out loud.  
   August was beating himself up. He felt guilty as Rick would soon be dead if Jax worked quickly. Maybe he had a day or two, but soon he would be dead. August knew that. 
   He crossed the street, beginning to walk further down and go through the main gate; the entire school was fenced off by black metal fences. However, before he could go any further, Bailey appeared seemingly from out of nowhere. August recognized how weird it was to see her since he didn’t see her during the first few days, but he ignored that thought.  It’s probably a coincidence. Nothing else, just a simple coincidence. 
   “Oh, hello August.” She said cheerfully, staring at him. 
   “U-Uh… hello,” He whispered, his voice weak. He wasn’t expecting her to speak to him. Most girls talked to August once, finding out that he was very timid, before never speaking to him again.  
   “Did you hear about the death?” She asked. August shook his head.  Please don’t be Rick who was killed!  He screamed internally. 
   She pointed at the main entrance, the yellow police tape peeking through the fence at August. He gulped hard, his mind confirming it was Rick who was killed. 
   He heard a police cruiser’s sirens blaring, whizzing past him and pulling up to the school’s entrance. Two officers stepped outside, pushing students and staff away from the entrance. The officers helped with securing the main gate and back gate. 
   Rick recently died.  August concluded in his mind.  There’s no way the officers would be securing the school if it happened this late or… did Jax get to him after school. 
   “N-No, what happened?” He asked, his breathing becoming erratic. 
   “A student was killed in one of the classrooms. I think the student’s name is… was Rick or something.” She nonchalantly said. August nodded, his breathing unstabilizing. His mind was everywhere, not noticing that the news of Rick’s death wasn’t posted until later and that she had just arrived. She didn’t have enough time to peek in the murder classroom at the scene or to confirm it was Rick.  
   "D-Do… Do they know who did it?” 
   “Apparently, he was tortured in a classroom to the point of insanity. The kids that found his body said that there was writing covering the walls, but they couldn’t make most of it out. Only a couple of fragments.” She said. August nodded, a single bead of sweat rolling down his forehead. He didn’t pick up on her wrong intel---as later reports would confirm---that a staff member found the bodies and not students. 
   “Those were?” He asked, his heart pumping more blood than it ever had. 
   “Twisted grin, one eye, and malicious laughing,” Bailey said. August nodded his head softly, turning away from her. 
   “Thanks,” He said, walking away from her. He now had a few days to think about what happened, since the murder closed the school for a few days. 
   Bailey, meanwhile, watched him leave, not paying a shred of attention at the crime scene. Her eyes were focused on August. 
   He didn’t notice her lingering stare, talking to himself as he returned home.  Twisted grin, one eye, malicious laughing? It has to be Jax, I’ve heard him laughing like they described when he was killing that guy. He has also told me that he likes to watch them, peeing on them with one eye. The “twisted grin” part? He makes that type of grin a lot, especially when he’s delighted with a kill or when he crushes somebody’s spirit. Jax, why did you do it? Why? 
     
   
   
     
   
   
   *** 
     
     
   “I did as you ordered. I made contact with him.” Bailey told a figure masked by the darkness. “I told him about the murder and he looked to have recognized the clues. There’s no way he didn’t. He was breathing heavily and he began to panic as I told him more about it.” 
   “Perfect,” the figure said. “Keep in contact with him. Don’t let him out of your sight” 
   “If you don’t mind me asking… Why am I investigating him instead of Jax? If August is the accomplice and Jax is the murderer, then getting evidence on Jax would be better.” Bailey asked. 
   “No!” The figure shouted. “Jax is dangerous, a real criminal. August, on the other hand, is safer to deal with. We could get pieces of evidence from August and use them against Jax. However, do not make any contact with Jax, and don’t drink anything he gives you or follow him anywhere, even if he says it’s just to the park or to a gas station.” 
   “Okay,” Bailey whispered, bowing her head. 
   “Continue with your orders, but remember to never let them corner you. If they do, then, inform me and I’ll send all the dirt I have to the FBI and get them the death penalty.” The figure spat. Bailey nodded. “They’re both dangerous. Even August. He may be the accomplice, but he has seen more than any normal person has.” 
   “I understand,” Bailey said. 
   “Don’t forget to heed this warning. Your entire life and future are resting on your actions for this case. Don’t betray my trust.” Bailey nodded. 
   “I won’t forget your warning… mother.” 
     
   TBC… 
   
   
   
   Episode Four "Confrontation" 
   August walked home, not meeting with anybody. He headed straight home, arriving faster than usual. He grabbed ahold of the door handle, heaving the door open.  
   He walked inside, looking around the living room. To his surprise, there was nobody in the house. He was the first one home. Jax’s parents were still at work and Jax’s siblings were at their middle school. Only the high school was affected by Rick’s murder. 
   However, one thing irked August. Why wasn’t Jax home? He had left before August, so he expected him to arrive before him.  
   
   Something’s wrong… Where did Jax go? Maybe he decided to go and have fun with his new friends or…? That makes the most sense. He would have fun with his friends and not return home. Wait, if he isn’t here then… 
   
   August’s gaze lingered on Jax’s bedroom door. The door was always restricted from being entered, even though Jax entered every other room without worry. It was something unfair that his parents allowed. They seemed partially afraid of him at times. 
   August staggered towards the door, feeling somebody staring at him. He turned his head to look at the door, seeing if Jax or somebody else had arrived. However, the door remained closed and there was nobody in sight. 
   He looked around the room again but didn’t see Jax lurking in any corner masked by darkness. There was nobody, except for him, inside the house. He was alone. And he was getting curious. 
   He approached the door, his hand hovering over the doorknob.  What is he hiding behind the door? It wouldn’t be a victim that he hasn’t killed yet, right? No, I'm overthinking it. Why would he have a victim here and not in the cabin, right? Right? Right? I don’t know anymore! 
   He heard the doorknob of the front door turn. Somebody was opening the door, someone with a key. August jumped, darting to his room. He stopped at his door, peering through the living room at the front door. It was Jax, wearing a black tank-top. He had a towel draped over one shoulder. 
   “What’s wrong with you, August?” Jax asked, noticing him instantly. His vision was instantly snapped to him.  
   “U-Uh… nothing Jax. I was about-” Jax cut him off. 
   “It was Rick right?” 
   “W-What?” August blurted out. 
   “He was the one who was bothering you, right?” He asked. August shook his head, opening his mouth to spit out an excuse. However, Jax stopped him. “You’re lying to me. I saw you with Rick yesterday and many people saw him beating you up!” He shouted. He quickly closed the distance between them, now in August’s face.  
   “You do remember that I was the one who taught you how to lie right?” Jax asked, playing the past card. August bit his lip, knowing that Jax had him where he wanted. No matter what he said, he would see through him. 
   Jax walked past him and towards his room, grabbing the doorknob but not turning it. He glanced over his shoulder at August. “They’re all gone, even the goons. You won’t have to worry about them anymore. But why didn’t you tell me about them? I could’ve helped you. I am your  best friend, right ?” He asked, his words filled with malicious intent. He was smiling at August, a non-verbal,  try this again and see what happens. 
   August nodded his head. “I’m sorry,” 
   “No worries,” Jax said, his smile disappearing. “Don’t worry, I won’t try to influence your life, but I would be careful of  her . She’ll bring you to your demise.” He said with a wink. He opened the door and headed inside, locking it after he entered. August thought he heard another voice inside his room, but he couldn’t tell. The voice disappeared as quickly as it appeared. 
   Although something seemed sketchy about Jax’s room, August ignored it. He turned around and headed into his room, locking it.  Her? I don’t know any other females except for Alice or Hailey. What other females have I met?  As he thought about the short list of females he had encountered, from the cashier at the nearby gas station to the middle-aged woman who lived down the block, something hit him.  Is he talking about… Bailey? She’ll bring my demise? How and why? Isn’t she a normal girl… she isn’t connected to anything dangerous, right? She’s just a normal girl, nothing else? Or does she know something that she isn’t telling me…?  
     
   Several minutes before Jax arrived at his home, he received a notification from his phone. He took out his phone and unlocked it, going to his messages. An unread message was waiting for him. He read the messages in his mind, not speaking them out loud, but not before glancing around his immediate surroundings. He was some distance away from his front door.  
   He’s inside. I think he’s headed my way!  The message read.  
   He frowned upon the message, looking up at his house. He typed in his response, reading it over in his head.  Has he found you? 
   The response came immediately.  “He hasn’t yet, but… it does sound like he knows I’m here. He’s creeping up to the door. 
   He typed in an  I’m right outside, don’t dare make a peep  into his phone. A few seconds after sending it, he got the response. 
   
   Okay… I will. Get inside fast. 
   
   Jax nodded to himself, looking around. He moved forward, headed for the front door. He typed his response while walking.  I’m at the door, do NOT move!  He put a large emphasis on the word “not”.  
   The response was,  I know. 
   Jax finished the conversation by typing in,  Good. Now stay put and shut up. 
     
   TBC… 
   
   
   
   Episode Five "The Mystery of Her" 
   August headed to school three days later, the sun’s warmth conflicting with his feelings. It was warm and bright outside, but he felt heavy and cold. He felt like something was going to happen to Bailey. Ever since Jax mentioned a “her”, August had been thinking about Bailey. He hoped that nothing happened to her like what happened to Rick. He didn’t want a repeat of that incident, especially so soon. 
   He reached the entrance, the police tape gone and the cruisers non-existent. The case was wrapped up quickly as if the police wanted to cover up the incident. School was reopened faster than anybody expected. Even the teachers were bewildered at how quickly had been case ended.  
   Even so, nobody could challenge the decision. Teachers returned to work while students were forced to head back into the building that held a person who had died recently. It wasn’t the best situation for most. 
   As August made it to the gate, he noticed a familiar face. It was Bailey, dressed in her uniform, waiting for him. He didn’t expect to run into her this quickly, a little weirded out by it. She was waiting by the gate, looking at him. “Uh… Good morning.” August said. 
   “Morning August, how are you?” She asked.  
   “Uh… Good?” He didn’t feel comfortable around her. 
   Bailey nodded. “Have you heard there was another murder?” 
   “Another murder?” August nearly jumped at her, surprised about another murder. “In the building?” 
   Bailey shook her head.  He does know something, Mom was right.  “The murder was some blocks away from the school, but the body was a student from here. Same way of death as well.” She told him.  
   “Oh,” August muttered, looking away from her.  Did Jax kill another student? Why? He didn’t go after Rick’s goons, right? Oh, please God, don’t let it be Rick’s goons! 
   “Thanks for the information.” He said, turning towards the main door. However, something entered his mind and he spun around to face her. “Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask you a question. Have you, by any chance-” He was interrupted before he could finish his words. It was the school bell ringing, alerting him that he would be late to class. “I’ll… ask you later.” He said before turning around. He headed into the building, leaving Bailey behind. She watched as he walked away, her eyes lingering on him until he escaped her sight. 
   
   What was he going to ask me? Was he about to confess something important? I need to talk to him soon before Mom contacts me. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   *** 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   A girl dressed in a white polo with wrinkles and creases. She wore a blue skirt that went down past her knees but stayed clear of her ankles. She wore her coal-black hair in a bun and under a sports cap. She looked at August as he went into school. She carried a gun in her backpack and a knife in a skimpy sweater that she had on.  
   She took out her phone and dialed numbers into the call pad. The person she dialed picked up.  
   “Are you sure?” She asked the person on the other side of the phone. “He doesn’t seem to have done anything wrong.” She listened to the voice and nodded. “Don’t worry. I will complete my mission. Bailey and August will be dead by the end of the week.” 
       
     
   *** 
     
     
   August’s mind couldn’t pay any attention to the lessons. He watched the teacher’s mouth move, but he couldn’t tell what she was saying. Everything that she was saying went through one ear and out the other. 
   Suddenly, the intercom roared alive. A slight buzzing sound echoed before it disappeared. “August! Please come to the dean’s office. Again, August. Please come to the dean’s office.” It shouted. August sprang up from his chair, which screeched as it scraped against the floor. 
   The class stared at August with blatant curiosity in their eyes. They were all curious as to why he was being called to the dean’s office.  
   Bailey stared at August, tilting her head.  Why did the dean call him? Is he being connected to the murder? 
   August left the classroom as quickly as he could to avoid the painful stares, heading towards the dean’s office. Once at the office, he knocked on the door. He received no immediate response, knocking again. 
   The dean called him into his office. August opened the door, entering the small office. Waiting for him was the dean, an elderly African American man dressed in a luxurious suit. He had his fingers intertwined on his desk, staring at August. The dean looked younger than he actually was, being in his seventies but looking like he was in his forties. 
   The dean motioned for August to sit down, which he did quickly. He was confused at the situation, unsure if the murders were being traced back to Jax or him. 
   “I wanted to talk to you about your friend Jax. Has he been acting… questionable recently?” The dean asked. 
   “Questionable? What do you mean?” August asked, playing dumb. He knew what the dean was talking about. 
   “As in… Has he ever asked you any concerning questions or told you to help with some ‘secret’?” The dean leaned in closer. 
   “No, he hasn’t.” August lied. 
   “Nothing out of the ordinary? Anything about… murder or death?” The dean questioned. 
   “No,” August responded. He knew that, somehow, the murders were being traced back to Jax and him. The dean was trying to pry information out of him to use against Jax. He wouldn’t dare betray Jax. He knew the consequences for it.  
   The dean sat back, nodding his head. “Okay, thanks. You can return to class. If anything pops up then you can always come and talk to me about it.” The dean said. 
   August nodded, getting out of the chair and leaving the dean’s office. He got to the other side of the door, slumping against a row of lockers next to it. He sat on the ground, staring at the lockers across from him. 
   Thoughts invaded his mind.  They know about Jax. I need to tell him… or do I? Should I say anything about it? Can I say anything about it? I shouldn’t say anything about it. Wouldn’t he be mad if I didn't tell him? I won’t tell him.  “Something’s wrong with him.” He accidentally said out loud. His thoughts were leaking out. 
   “What’s wrong with who?” asked Jax. He appeared from out of nowhere, staring at August emotionless. August’s body tensed up and his eyes widened. His lungs didn’t dare to breathe and his heart refused to beat. August made a mistake and he knew it. 
     
   TBC… 
   
   
   
   Episode Six "Mystery Girl" 
   “What’s wrong with who?” Jax asked, staring at him with his cold eyes. 
   “Uh… uh… uh… “ August stammered, his eyes darting around for a way out.  
   “What’s wrong?” He asked. He walked up to August, crouching down to meet his eyes. He smiled, creepily whispering, “Cat got your tongue” in his left ear. His whisper brought more fear into August’s system. 
   August shook his head repeatedly. “Oh, then what’s wrong with  him ?” Jax repeated, glaring at him. 
   “I… was… talking about Rick. H-H-His mind was… was twisted.” August stammered again, his hands trembling. 
   “Oh, Rick huh?” He said, standing up. “Yeah, Rick is… was a nutcase. Unfortunately, it seems like God has chosen to take him even with his mental state being ‘like that.’” Jax abruptly entered a laughing fit.  
   August let out a small uneasy laugh as Jax stood up, backing away from him. “Well I gotta go, so I’ll see you at home,” Jax said with an uneasy and charmful tone. A mix of good and evil.  
   Jax walked to the end of the hallway but turned around right before he disappeared from August’s sight. “Oh, I’ll need your help later.” He shouted before disappearing around the corner on the left side of the hallway. 
   With him out of sight, August let out a sigh of relief, his heart and lungs functioning as they should. He looked around, making sure that nobody noticed their conversation, before walking off. “He pushes me around like I’m worthless,” August muttered under his breath as he went to the end of the hallway and ventured down the opposite direction of Jax.  
     “Why is he like that?” 
     
     
   *** 
     
     
   Bailey watched Jax and August’s encounter outside of the dean’s office from behind a corner until it had concluded and both parties disappeared. She noticed the hierarchy in the relationship between the two with Jax being the dominant while August was the submissive one.  
   “Something seems off,” Bailey whispered. “August is supposed to be helping Jax with his… plans, but he still has this innocent aura about him. It’s almost like he’s doing it against his will… or he could be acting innocent to lure in prey. Maybe Mom was right about him, he’s even more dangerous than Jax.” 
   “I see that my first target is a stalker of sorts.” An unfamiliar voice whispered into Bailey’s ear. Bailey jerked her body away from the voice and into the same hallway where August and Jax once stood in. Bailey turned to face the person, who wore the same uniform as her. A sports cap hid her hair while a face mask covered the bottom portion of her face, allowing her eyes to be seen.  
   “Who are you?” Bailey asked. 
   “My name isn’t important.” The girl whispered. 
   “What is your intention then?” Bailey asked, her breathing heightening as the moments grew on. The girl brandishing a knife from behind her back didn’t help either.  
   “Does this answer your question?” The girl asked, waving the knife around. 
   “Uh… kinda,” Bailey said, reaching for something hidden in her right shoe. The girl noticed her movement and let out a small chuckle. 
   “I don’t believe you want to die yet. I know it’ll be a disappointment to your mother if the connection to her is revealed.” The girl taunted her. 
   “You don’t know me,” Bailey said, raising her voice.  
   “Oh, I know what your mission is. Investigate Jax and August to figure out-” Her taunts were interrupted by the Dean, poking his head out from his room.  
   “Are you girls okay?” He asked. Both girls nodded. “If you guys are fighting, then knock it off before you have to deal with me.” The girls nodded, going in opposite directions from each other. The Dean shook his head disapprovingly, whispering “why can’t girls get together nicely”, before retracting his head into his room. He didn’t realize that he both stopped and caused a murder. 
   The girl, meanwhile, still held onto her knife without anybody noticing it, except for one unfortunate kid. He was later found dead, stuffed in a dumpster behind the school. This prompted the administration to finally react after three students were killed over a span of a few days. They closed the school down for two weeks to strengthen their security and clean the school. 
   August was forced to help Jax with disposing of another body before they parted ways for the two-week break. Jax disappeared into thin air without letting any of his family know where he was, leading to fights between his family and him. August remained out of the battles and focused on training himself. The lack of confidence that was apparent during the conversation at school plagued his thoughts. The only way of building his confidence was to run his thoughts away. Talking to normal people would have been a better choice. 
     
     
   *** 
     
     
   Bailey reported to her mother about the girl she encountered. Her mother sat silent as she listened to Bailey’s report. “A mysterious girl wielding a knife made contact with you?” 
   “Yes,” 
   “Interesting. I will look into this mystery girl. Until then, observe Jax and August if you can. If you can’t, then return home and continue your self-defense training. If that mystery girl intends on hurting you, then you must be able to hurt her first!” Bailey’s mother shouted, throwing her fist onto the armrest of her chair. “Now!” She ordered. Bailey nodded, bowing her head. 
   “Yes, mother. I’ll do what I can.” She left her mother behind, going out to find August and Jax. Her mother remained masked in darkness, seething with anger. 
   “I want that girl dead. Kill her.” She ordered somebody dressed in the darkness. “Do what you have to.” 
     
   TBC… 
   
   
   
   Episode Seven "Chess Piece" 
   Bailey returned to the school during the two-week break and found herself standing in the same hallway where she first made contact with the mysterious girl. A small drop of a red substance was scattered on the floor, blatant among the white floor. Bailey squatted down and wiped a small portion of the floor with her thumb, bringing it up to her face to investigate it. “Blood?” She whispered as she stood up before looking around. “She really did kill that kid, then she…” She said before her voice trailed off. 
   “I did,” A voice behind Bailey muttered. Bailey spun around to face the mystery girl. 
   “Why?”  She asked, staring at the girl. 
   The girl cracked a smile while slowly tilting her head like a dog. “He saw my knife, so… he had to die.” Bailey shook her head as she took a step back. “Are you scared?” The girl whispered.  
   Bailey looked at her and nodded. “You’re crazy. Who wouldn’t be scared of you?” 
   The girl’s smile disappeared, turning into a frown and a raised eyebrow. “He doesn’t like that word,” she whispered. 
   “Who doesn’t?” Bailey asked. 
   The girl opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by a gunshot. Bailey watched in shock as the girl clenched a bullet wound on her stomach before collapsing to the ground. Two men in black military gear walked past Bailey and picked up the girl’s unconscious body.  
   Another man in black military gear tapped on Bailey’s shoulder. Bailey turned around, with her jaw open and followed the man to the parking lot. In the parking lot was a white van that opened its door as they approached it. Bailey’s mother, shrouded in the shadows inside of the van, motions for the girl’s body to be dumped inside. The two men swung the girl’s body into the van before sealing it up.  
   “You’re free today, Bailey. Enjoy your time.” Bailey’s mother shouted from within the van. The van stormed out of the parking lot and onto the nearby highway. The three men then ran from the parking lot and into a nearby truck. The truck roared alive as it lunged into motion. Bailey remained in the parking lot and watched as the van and truck disappeared from her sights. 
   “She… used me again… “ She whispered. “She used me… “ 
     
     
   *** 
     
     
   A man dressed in black military gear stood in front of the mystery girl, wielding a sledgehammer. The mystery girl was being restricted by handcuffs, locked onto a chair. 
   The man wore a stern look as he glared at the emotionless girl. “What shall I do with her?” He asked. 
   “Torture her until she gives up the name of her employer.” Bailey’s mother muttered from one corner of the room that was shrouded in darkness. The man nodded before raising the sledgehammer. He looked down at the girl and noticed a black stare. Irritated at her lack of emotions, the man dropped the sledgehammer on her left arm. Her left arm cracked open with bones splitting in half and blood gushing out.  
   Even with the severe injury, the girl lacked any emotions or the ability to scream as she shrugged at the sight of her broken arm. “Miss… it doesn’t look like it’ll work.” The man said. 
   “Lev!” Bailey’s mother shouted. “Don’t make me repeat myself.” Lev nodded and raised the sledgehammer into the air. He bit his lip before letting the sledgehammer fall with its momentum upon her right arm. 
     
     
   *** 
     
     
   August wiped his brow, which was drenched in sweat, before taking a swig from his water bottle. He looked to his right at the statue in the middle of the rectangular pond. The statue was a bronze sculpture of a Civil War officer riding a horse. The horse was on its hind legs while the officer shouted orders from atop of it - holding his saber high into the air.  
   August ripped his eyes off the statue and continued to run another lap around the pond. August wasn’t overweight in the slightest and was able to keep a thin figure. However, he lacked stamina and strength, which were two things that Jax excelled in. 
   August finished the lap but decided to do another before calling it a day. He wiped his brow again before taking another swig from his bottle. He picked up his pace as he went from jogging to running and finished the lap a couple of minutes faster than his previous laps.  
   Once finished with the lap, August sat down at a nearby bench and took a few sips from his bottle. “I wonder if this will be enough,” he muttered to himself before taking another sip. 
   “I think it may be enough.” remarked an unfamiliar voice. August snapped his head to his side to see a girl standing next to him. She has light brown hair that was long enough to cover her left eye, but not long enough to go down to her chest. Her hair darkened towards the hair’s tips, but only the last inch.  
   She had on big lens glasses that highlighted her big light blue eyes. She wore her school uniform of a white polo with a thin black sweater over it as well. She wore a mixed red and white striped skirt instead of August’s school’s blue skirt. Her tanned skin brightened up her eyes and hair. She had a round face with large eyes and a small pointed nose. “I’m sorry if I scared you.” She said, smiling softly. 
   “No, you didn’t scare me.” He said, shaking his head. He stood up from the bench. “I’m August.” He said before extending his hand out to her. She took it and smiled at him. 
   “I’m Sarah, nice to meet you.” 
   “Likewise.” 
   “Sorry about disrupting you. I kinda wanted to talk to you, even for a short while.” She said with a shy smile. August’s heart skipped a beat. 
   “U-U-Uh, no worries.” He stammered. 
   “Well, I have to leave soon, but… “ She said while taking her phone out of her pocket. “Can I get your… n-number?” She asked, blushing hard.  
   August, at a loss of words, nodded before digging out his phone. He unlocked his phone and revealed his phone number, handing the phone to her. She grabbed it and typed in August’s number into her phone while adding her number onto his. After she finished, she handed his phone back to him. “M-Maybe, I’ll see you later.” She whispered before turning around and running away towards her friends. August stared at her as she ran from him, with his jaw slightly unhinged. 
   “Was I just hit on? And a girl wanted my number?” He said. He looked down at his body. “Maybe I should be training more often.” 
     
   TBC… 
   
   
   
   Episode Eight "Murder Threat 
   Angelica Flower, a petite dark-skinned brunette, is the owner of a small business known as Heights Insurance. Heights Insurance appears like a “clean” and safe business on the outside but holds a creepy and disturbing secret - hidden within the company. Heights Insurance was a fake business created to cover the information trafficking and murder that Angelica’s Private Eye team did. They absorbed every piece of information and used it to figure out the threats of the city.  
   Irongate was a rather large city that housed many threats from common muggers to murderers and rapists.  Angelica’s Private Eye was scattered all over the city and dealt with these threats to ensure Angelica’s spot on top, hovering over everybody else, continued to exist and thrive. She was the Queen of Irongate.  
   Angelica sat in her office, staring at her computer. Displayed was a new page of targets. The targets included a variety of threats, but two of them stood out. Pictures of Jax and August were on the list, marking them as dangerous and near-harmless. Jax’s picture’s outline was red while August’s was gray; the colors confirming the threat rate they had. Next to each photo were a series of notes, detailing much of what had been observed.  
   Bailey’s notes about August were next to his photo, marking him as a low threat. However, Angelica, Bailey’s mother, wasn’t sure if her daughter was telling the truth. It seemed like Bailey wanted to leave the underground world and live a normal life, but Angelica wasn’t going to let that happen. 
   She rose from her seat and left the room, entering the biggest room on the second floor; filled with cubicles. Filling the cubicles were fake employees only hired to deceive the government. The real employees were in the offices against the outside wall and below in the basement. The others were pawns in the game of dominance.  
   She left the second floor and descended into the basement, the walls going from a mix of yellow and orange to bare concrete. The farther she descended, the more differences you could spot. It began resembling a medieval dungeon.  
   After descending for what felt like hours, Angelica reached the basement. Her high heels chipped the concrete as she walked towards a closed-off room. She passed the boiler and electrical panel, reaching a locked room. She knocked on the door five times before taking a step back.  
   “Password,” A familiar voice muttered. 
   “It’s me, Lev,” Angelica responded.  
   The door instantly opened, revealing a worn-out Lev. He motioned for her to enter before shutting the door behind her. Once inside, she was hit with the sight of the mystery girl with her legs and arms broken. She sat emotionless in a puddle of old blood. Her clothes were drenched in her blood, which stuck to her after drying. She looked awful - her hair dirty, her face ghostly pale, and her body stained with blood. She wasn’t a pleasant sight to see.   
   “She revealed something?” Angelica asked. 
   “Nothing, she’s been airtight about her employer. I’ve gotten more emotion out of her than words,” Angelica looked at the girl who looked as if she didn’t mind not having her arms and legs anymore. She was eerily emotionless. “And she shows no emotions,” Lev added. 
   “Um, do you mind If I leave?” Lev asked, his body slightly trembling. “My mind is getting closer and closer to insanity every moment I’m here.” 
   “Grab Gem and assign him to look over her.” She ordered. Lev nodded before opening the door enough to poke his head out. He noticed somebody else. It was Gem, a frail and young-looking guy. He was in his twenties but looked eleven. He wore the same black-plated military-grade armor that Lev had.  
   “Found him, Miss. Gem, I need you to guard MG-1.” Lev ordered before leaving the basement in a hurry. He raced up the stairs as quickly as he could before the noise of him hurling floated back down into the basement. Angelica shrugged the sounds off before closing the door.  
   “Gem, you want to try?” 
   “No, thanks.” He said, looking away from the girl. He looked too young to be working, more so with the violent sights in front of him. “I’m here to give you a message.” He handed her a letter. 
   “Does it relate to her?” She asked. Gem nodded. “Read it aloud.” 
   He cleared his throat before reading the contents of the letter. “Good morning, Ms. Flower. I am Stephen Wright of Cali Organization. We’ve talked before. However, today isn’t related to our past conversations. Instead, I wish to talk about Minny. It seems like you’ve been taking care of her. As her father, I would like to relinquish your visiting rights to Minny, so please return her to my home asap. If you don’t, I will have to take this to court.” Angelica’s smug smile went upside down. She understood that Stephen wrote the letter cautiously to avoid detection from the mail system, but she also understood the threat thrown towards her. The “court” would be a reward for her head. She had now awakened a beast.  
   “What should I do?” Gem asked.  
   “... let’s respond with what we do best. Gem, stay here and guard her. Nobody is allowed to take over or leave with her without my direct permission. The guards I tasked with guarding her will come down here with the password of-” She glanced at the girl. “Wright.” She whispered. Gem nodded and took his pose, standing firmly over the girl. Angelica nodded before leaving the basement.  
   As she climbed the stairs to her office, she stepped over a puddle of vomit and mumbled to herself. “He dares threaten me? I need every piece of information about his family. I’ll kill them all and we’ll see who’ll threaten me after that.” She had a deranged smile on. She, herself, was turning into a beast. A beast that was fuelled by a murder threat. The beast was on the verge of being freed. 
     
   TBC… 
   
   
   
   Episode Nine "Love Sparks" 
   August had gotten a girl’s number, something that he never expected. He had an interest in girls his age, but they never reciprocated the same interest back. They often ignored him for Jax, the more popular and “handsome” of the pair.  
   This plagued his mind.  If Jax was with me, would she have gone for him instead? Was it because the park was empty? Maybe all of the handsome boys left and all the ugly ones came in! That could be why - I was the best of the worst.  August felt inferior to Jax. However, he was doing his best to escape that feeling - training his stamina and body at the park.  
   August returned home, laying on his bed and staring at his phone. He watched his phone as if a message from Sarah would pop out of nowhere.  
   
   Should I ask her why she asked for my number? On the other hand, maybe I shouldn’t. Or maybe I should…? Why does this have to be so confusing! It’s like trying to figure out a thousand-piece puzzle. 
   
   A loud beep told August of a text message he received. He quickly unlocked his phone and dove towards his messages, finding one by Sarah. He read her message out loud. “If you have time, do you want to have a coffee? I know of a spot not far from the park. We can go whenever you want to. I’m free after 3 this entire week..”  
   August’s eyes widened.  She’s inviting me to a cafe? Is this a… d-date?  He thought to himself nervously. He had never been on a date before and having a girlfriend was something he couldn’t fathom.  Okay, I need to calm down. It’s a simple date… Yeah, a normal, not-stressful simple date… I need Wendy’s help.  He jumped off his bed and rushed to meet Wendy and ask her for help. She quickly accepted after seeing how excited he was. She dressed him to the best of her abilities, putting him in an ironed tee shirt with a thin black sweater over it, black jeans, and a pair of clean black sneakers.  
   “When are you meeting this ‘certain person’.” She teased. 
   August looked at her blankly. “I forgot to tell her.” He turned around and ran to his bed where he left his phone. He typed in, “We can go tomorrow”, before erasing it. He undid the erasing before redoing it. He rephrased it before removing it.  
   Eventually, he stopped erasing his message. “I’ll be up to go tomorrow.” He read it out loud. He pressed sent, waiting for a reply. He waited for a minute, Wendy standing in the door frame watching him before a response came in. 
   “I can do tomorrow. Let’s meet up at Cafe Erica.” She responded. 
   August quickly typed out his response, reading it out loud to an audience of one, who he didn’t realize was watching him. “Okay, see you there.” His response was read immediately but got no response. The conversation ended 
   August turned around, his eyes widening in horror as he noticed Wendy staring at him. “Wow!” She exclaimed. “My boy is surely growing up. Good luck with the date.” She turned around and left the room heading to her own. August turned back to face his phone.  Is this a date? Or am I overthinking it? I guess I’ll find out tomorrow. 
     
     
   *** 
     
     
   August’s hair was combed and gelled to part to the right. His dark gray hair shined a brighter shade of gray, getting closer to snow white and farther away from Jax’s coal-black.   
   He approached Cafe Erica, noticing Sarah lingering by the front door with a few of her friends, the same ones from the park; A dim fire-engine redhead and two light-shaded brunettes. 
   Sarah noticed him, waving him over. He walked up to her. “M-Morning, S-Sarah.” He said. 
   “M-Morning,” She said, blushing. August took in the sight of her, dressed in her school outfit. Unlike August’s school, her school hadn’t been closed, especially for a string of murders of their students. 
   “Woah, look at the lovebirds.” The redhead remarked, dressed in the same outfit as Sarah. “I’m sure you’re disappointed it wasn’t just Sarah, right? ” She teased. 
   August shook his head. “I don’t mind.” He said. Deep down, he didn’t like that it wasn’t only Sarah.  
   “Well, too bad!” One of the brunettes remarked. “We can’t let her meet some stranger---that she met at the park---and let her get kidnapped so easily.” 
   “Yeah, we need to be paid before that can happen.” The other brunette joked, taller than all of the girls.  
   “Girls!” Sarah exclaimed, blushing heavily. “Stop messing around!” 
   The redhead grinned. “Let’s go inside already.” She opened the door, motioning for them to enter. Sarah and the brunettes entered first, but the redhead barred August from entering. “I’m sure you can easily tell, but she has an interest in you. If you dare to break her heart, I will kill you.” Her smile disappeared, replaced with a serious expression. It was then quickly replaced by a smile. “After you.” 
   August nodded, walking into the building. The redhead followed behind him, both sitting down at a table in the cafe. Sarah sat across from August with the brunettes sitting down next to her. The redhead sat next to him at the six-chair table.  
   “Sorry about them, they insisted on coming. I couldn’t shake them off.” She whispered to August. 
   He shook her head. “It’s alright. Their worry makes sense.”  
   Sarah nodded. “Thanks.” She shot him a small smile. “Elize, the redhead, can be feisty, so be careful of her.” August nodded his head. 
   “Are you ready to order?” The waiter asked, approaching their table. Elize nodded, placing her order. The brunettes and Sarah ordered after her. August was the last to place his order, ordering a black coffee.  
   With their orders placed, Elize turned her attention to August. “What school do you go to?” 
   “Torn High School.” He responded. Sarah looked at him strangely as if he shouldn’t have said that. 
   “Woah.” The shorter brunette said. “Isn’t that school plagued with murders? How are you still alive?” 
   “Mandy!” The tall brunette---Victoria---exclaimed. “Don’t be rude.” 
   “It’s alright. She isn’t wrong that Torn isn’t a good high school, even though it’s in a decent neighborhood.” August said. 
   “Has the murderer been caught?” Victoria asked.  
   August shook his head. “Nope. They haven’t told us… if they found the murderer or anything. They closed the school down for a couple of weeks while they investigated and cleaned up the school.” 
   “Let’s get off this topic,” Sarah said. “How about we talk about movies or something.” 
   Elize nodded. “Have you guys seen the most recent movie? The New Guard?” She asked, changing subjects.  
   “I’ve seen it. It was a lot better than I expected. It’s about-” Mandy started before Victoria stopped her.  
   “Don’t you dare spoil another movie! I wanted to watch Legend last time and you ruined it for me!” She exclaimed. 
   Mandy grinned. “Well, you should’ve done my homework for time. We wouldn’t have a problem.” Victoria shook her head before playfully punching her in the shoulder, sparking a verbal fight between the two. The others watched with smiles as the two duked it out. 
   Sarah shook her head as she watched them babble. “Quit it you two.”  
   The waiter suddenly appeared, ending the fight as he handed them their drinks. “Anything else?” He asked. Everybody shook their heads. The waiter nodded and walked off to deal with another customer. 
   While they drank their coffees and ate their small pieces of bread, Sarah glanced up at August. “What kind of stuff do you like?” She bluntly asked. The other girls glanced at each other, raising their eyebrows. 
   August nearly choked on his coffee. “W-Well… I like…” He closed his mouth, frowning. “I’m not sure what I like. 
   “How do you not know what you like?” Elize asked. “Everybody knows what stuff they like. Do you play games, watch movies or shows, or something like that?” 
   August shook his head. “I don’t watch movies or shows a lot. My parents couldn't afford games or toys.” He said. Sarah stared at him with a sympathetic look. Elize and the others shared a confused look. However, Elize’s confused look quickly changed to a large grin. 
   “Then… what about we all go out and see a movie? Maybe go to the nearby arcade? It would be fun, no?” 
   August nodded. “It… That would be fun.” 
   Sarah blushed heavily, understanding Elize’s plan in a heartbeat. The others laughed at her reddened face. August stared at her, not understanding Elize’s intentions. Even so, he continued with the flow of the conversation, finding himself having fun with them. They talked about past memories, the differences between Torn and their school, and other topics before they had to leave at 5.  
   August waved at them as they walked away from him, headed home. They lived in the opposite direction of August, but not too far from him, less than fifteen minutes away. 
   He stared at them, watching as they disappeared from his line of sight.  Today was… fun. Really fun. I didn’t know I could have fun like this.  August thought to himself. Whenever he thought he was by himself or close to having true fun, Jax would appear. However, today was different. Jax never appeared. 
   “I had fun,” August said out loud. He never knew it was possible. 
     
   TBC… 
     
   Author’s Note: The New Guard is a series I’ve written. The first and, currently, one season contains six episodes and follows a trio of teens joining the Royal Guard of Great Wolfstein. The New Guard is part of the Historia Universe [some series are Legend (which is also mentioned in this episode), Troy: The Demon Knight, Demon Hunter, and Black Hood]. The inclusion of a title I’ve written is to serve as an easter egg, nothing more than that. A similar easter egg was used in Troy: The Demon Knight - Season One. 
   
   
   
   Episode Ten "War" 
   The last day of August’s break was a Sunday, the same day the movie trip was scheduled. Elize, who thought of the idea, planned it out. August dressed up in a white tee instead of a black one with the same sneakers and jeans. He didn’t wear a sweater, his tanned skin exposed by the short-sleeve tee. All of his clothes were washed thoroughly the night before by Wendy, who was ecstatic to see him venture on his own. She didn’t like that Jax would make his own friend circle while August struggled to do the same. 
   August arrived at the movie theatre, a small building housing a few rooms named Brickhaven Theatre. The building was a two-story building that was one football field in length and half of one in width. The outside walls were an ugly shade of blue, the paint visibly fading. 
   “I hope we didn’t make you wait too long,” Sarah remarked behind August. He turned around to face her. She was dressed in a pair of light blue jeans, black boots, and a pink tee shirt. She was followed by Elize, Mandy, and Victoria. 
   “No, I just got here. Nothing to worry about.” He reassured her. 
   She nodded, smiling at him. “Okay,” She stared at him, taking his appearance in. August looked away, blushing. He was embarrassed. 
   Elize rolled her eyes, walking past Sarah and August, heading towards the entrance. “Come on lovebirds, let’s go in before we miss the movie.” She said, opening the door. The inside of the building was well-furnished with several comfy red and gold-colored chairs lining the first corridor of the building. At the end of the corridor was the ticket booth and snack bar, combined into one large table. The cashier and snack bar worker picked their heads up at the sound of the door opening - a chime of a bell. 
   Mandy and Victoria pushed into the building first, headed towards the ticket booth. Sarah and August followed behind them with Elize after them. They reached the ticket booth, purchasing five tickets for the movie ‘The New Guard’. After that, they moved to the snack bar, purchasing as much as twenty dollars could allow them to - and it wasn’t much thanks to the somewhat weak economy. 
   They raced to the room showing the movie, down a long corridor on the right of the ticket booth/snack bar. They went through the only door to the room, entering the dimly lit room. They found their seats quickly, squishing in between two other groups. They were positioned in the middle of the row.  
   August tried to sit down at the farthest left seat, sitting next to one of the other groups, but Elize grabbed his arm and positioned him into the fourth of the five seats. Sarah sat in the middle while Elize sat in the fifth seat. Victoria and Mandy sat next to each other in the last two seats. 
   August stared at the screen as the movie played out. The movie was about to start, hence the dim lighting. The beginning scene showed the main characters---a trio of friends---standing under a lone tree. The dialogue quickly followed the initial seconds, seeing the friends arguing about their futures. 
   August glanced at Sara, noticing how intrigued she was by the movie. He smiled, watching her expressions as the movie switched from the lone tree to a large four-story building.  
   “You sure look like a creep.” He heard Elize say. He turned his head to face her.  
   “W-What?” he whispered. 
   Elize had on a grin. “You do realize that you’re gawking at her. I’m surprised that you aren’t drooling gallons by now.” 
   August grew red, looking away from her. “S-Sorry.” 
   Elize shook her head. “Strange lovebirds, for sure.” 
   
   
     
   
   
   The movie ended and all of the watchers were pushed out of the room. Sarah left the room first, her eyes tearing up. “That was so sad!”  
   Elize nodded, walking behind her. “I can’t believe that’s how it ended.” She said, glancing behind her at August. “How was it?” 
   “A lot better than I expected. I am confused why there were open spots in the Royal Guard? And why are teens with little experience allowed to join?” He asked. 
   “Yeah, that’s strange for sure. However, they did explain why they didn’t take people from the armies.” Elize said.  
   Sarah nodded. “I loved the ending, it was so full of emotion. I almost cried.” She wiped the bubbling tears in the corner of her eyes away, trying to hide them. 
   Elize raised an eyebrow. “Almost? Why are your eyes red and why is your shirt wet?” She asked. 
   Sarah shook her head, looking away from them. “I’m not crying!” She took a few steps away, being joined by Mandy and Victoria. 
   Elize smiled, glancing at August. He was watching her walk away, his head tilted. “As you can see, she’s a very strange person.” 
   August nodded without thinking. His head snapped to Elize, who raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you really agreeing with me?” She asked. “That means you think she’s weird, right?” 
   August shook her head. “That’s not what I meant. It’s…” 
   Elize shook her head playfully. “I’m kidding. Sarah is a very emotional person, so don’t be surprised that she cries as something we see as simple. She’s a good person though.” Elize looked away from him, staring at somebody behind her. She turned back to face him. “Anyway, remember what I told you last time at the cafe?” 
   He nodded his head. “You’ll kill me if I break her heart. Don’t worry, I remember.” 
   Elize nodded, smiling. “Good. Also, by chance, do you know-” She was interrupted by a person grabbing August’s shoulder, applying strength. The person forcefully turned August around. 
   August reacted by trying to elbow the person but stopped halfway. The person he now faced was Jax, who had a large grin on. A girl he had never seen before stood next to him. She looked away from August sheepishly. She had dark-gray hair, darker than August’s hair.  
   “Hey August, it’s been a while.” 
   “J-J-Jax…?” He muttered, his eyes widened and his mouth wide open. “W-Why are you here?” 
   “I got to talk to you. You see… I’ve been given a mission. I need your help, follow me.” Jax said. August glanced at Elize, telling her that he’ll catch up. He followed Jax out of the building, passing by Sarah, Mandy, and Victoria who shot him surprised and confused looks. He looked away from them sheepishly.  
   “I’m sorry,” he muttered. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   *** 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   “Nice to meet you face-to-face, Ms. Flower.” Stephen Wright remarked, sitting at his desk. Behind him were large panes of glass - his office was on the twenty-seventh floor of his headquarters. “Do you have Minny?” 
   Angelica glared at him. “I wouldn’t say the same.” She answered, ignoring his question. By her side was Gem, the young guard looking around the lavish office nervously. 
   Stephen, a pale-skinned man dressed in a fitted suit, grinned. “I would say it is… as long as Minny is returned to me - in one piece of course.” 
   Angelica smiled. “I tried my best.” 
   Stephen’s smile disappeared, glaring at her. He shot up from his desk. “You? You tried your best? So help me God if I find a single hair torn off her pretty hair, I will kill you and your entire bloodline. Don’t you play with me! I’m good at snipping flowers.” 
   Angelica stared at him, shifting her weight from one leg to the other. “Lev! Bring her in!” She ordered. Lev entered the building with Minny, carting her in a wheelchair. Her body was nowhere near being healthy or in one functional piece - bandaged and strapped to the wheelchair. 
   Stephen’s eyes widened. “Why is she like that!” He screamed.  
   Angelica grinned from eye to eye. “You said one piece, there she is. You never said if she had to be in one functional piece.”  
   Stephen walked around his desk and towards Angelica, being intercepted by Gem who stood in his way. Gem trembled slightly under Stephen’s glare, but he didn’t buckle under it. 
   “I returned your daughter as ordered. I believe this is where our cooperation ends, doesn’t it?” She mocked him. 
   Stephen gritted his teeth. He glanced at the CTV implanted in a corner of his office. “Fine,” He barked, glancing at Gem and Lev, both armed. In a fight, he would have to defeat both guards before reaching the boss. He was armed, but his weapon was under his desk. In his fit of anger, he forgot to grab it. “Get out! Don’t come back.”  
   Angelica nodded, motioning for Gem and Lev to follow her. Once they were out of the room, he dove towards Minny, undoing her restraints. He picked her broken body up in his arms, embracing her. “I’m sorry, honey. I should never have let you go out on your own. I shouldn’t have sent you to take on the targets.” He cried into her shoulder. “I’m sorry.” 
   Minny remained emotionless, staring at the glass and the reflection of her. She took in her broken appearance and her crying father, looking around her reflection. She squinted her eyes slightly, staring at a red light. For the first time, she had an expression, that of confusion and curiosity.  
   The light turned on then turned off. It continued this process, flashing the red light like a police car.  
   “Red light.” She muttered. 
   Stephen held her at arm's length, staring at her with his head tilted. “Red light? What do you mean…?” His eyes widened as he realized what she meant. He threw her to the side before turning the wheelchair on its head. Strapped to the belly of the wheelchair was a C-4, primed and ready. 
   “God damned Flower!” He threw the wheelchair at the window, but it bounced off and landed near him. He scooted away, but Minny got closer to it. “No, Minny! Don’t get close to it, it’s gonna explode!” His words fell on deaf ears as she was attracted to the red light. She got closer to it as the C-4 went off. Her body was too close to the blast to remain in one piece. Stephen, on the other hand, was far enough that he suffered only superficial wounds and a ringing in his ear. 
   He stared at the body of Minny on the other side of his office. The upper part of her body was gone while the lower part was charred. She was killed in the explosion. The window that the explosion collided with, shattered like Minny’s soul.  
   
    His mouth was open, taking in the horrific sights. “Flower… Damn you Flower! I’ll kill you and everybody in your bloodline. Everybody that knows you or is even slightly acquainted will be dead. Flower! THIS IS  WAR! ” 
   
   
   
   Publication Date: October 15th 2021 https://www.bookrix.com/-na50a1c958baf75