I walked on the sidewalk, heading to Chang. Changson restaurant was the biggest Chinese restaurant in Litsen. I loved it for their fancy services-their noodles I loved to eat.

My hands were tucked in my trouser pockets, my face cap slammed on my head as I walked in, signalling to the waiter. "One chicken noodles, please," I sat down and waited for it to be brought, my phone out on the table, itchy fingers making to swipe as my mind prevented me.

"Here's your chicken noodles, ma'am,"

I raised my head and nodded slightly at him. "Thank you," I said and went to eat. Digging my fork graciously into the side of the tasty fried chicken, I thought with a smirk-hello there, I cut out some parts with the knife I had raised and brought my mouth closer to savour the taste.

___Jong ☆

"Kendra Umaro, daughter of the vice president of the United States, seated in Changson restaurant with no bodyguard-how strange. She was our main target. Taking her down was the only way to get to her family. Wait. Why is she looking towards this side? Bulging eyes moved in my direction. "Oh!" it sounded as if she said, then her head came down.

•~~~

Kendra Umaro walked out of the restaurant after footing the bill. She maintained the position she did while walking into the restaurant, hands tucked, cap on. She walked until she got to a lonely part of the street. There she found a child weeping on the ground. "Oh, there, there. Where are your parents?" she asked. "Why are you out here alone? It's not safe." She crouched to help the weeping child up-the child's ponytails sticking out behind. "I want my mommy," whimpered the girl. "Where is my mommy?" the little girl sobbed.

A man stood at a distance watching them with his gun out. Ready to aim, he raised his gun to a level that'd eliminate his victim. No, stop! Something in him made him lower his gun.

"Your mommy?"

He observed from where he stood.

"Yes,"

Kendra took pity on the child and lifted her so she could stand. The child's legs wobbled and she held her still. "It's okay," she clasped her hand, assuring her. "Everything's going to be okay-"

The child nodded and followed her.

Kendra and the girl walked the lonely roads at that time. A jolting ring came from her pants pockets and she realized it was her phone, making to pull it out, as she mistakenly swiped the answer sign. "Kenny, where are you?" it was her Mom. "I'm at your house. Come home... now!"

Kendra hesitated to put the phone to her ear. Scoffs-she hung up on her. The young lady had gotten her apartment when she was 21, with the plan of living a normal life and not having her mother's status disrupt her everyday life. Her mother had prevented her from doing as she wished, but Kendra being Kendra knew just how to get her way and go doing however she wished.

This is the one reason I wanted to leave home. Mom-a motorcycle sped past and stopped in front of them.

Pua!

Kendra clung to the little girl at the sound of the gun. "Please... don't harm us!" the mouth of the gun stood in the air; their attacker was masked and clad in a black overall.

Pua-another gunshot came and the motorcyclist shot at them. He missed and was left with no option but to flee. "Are you okay?"

Kendra raised her head at the voice. The man from Chang, she recognised. "I-I'm okay," she stammered as she stared into deep brown eyes.

Jong helped Kendra to her feet. "That guy... who is he?" Kendra asked. She didn't expect something like that to happen at that time. "Some street loser, I guess?" Jong replied as Kendra looked down at the child and back at him. "Is she yours?"

Kendra nodded affirmatively. "Yes," she caressed the child's hair.

Jong pretended not to know that she was telling a lie. He smiled graciously at the child and shrugged partly, accepting it.

"We'll take it from here," said Kendra as they reached Hilbreeze. "Thanks for walking us halfway." She carried the child and turned into the street

Kendra~

He looked strange, no doubt. What was he doing on 44 Avenue, with a gun and at the same time with the attacker?

Goddamn you, Kendra! Something grasped my mind, halting me to a stop. I didn't ask for his name, the thought of it corroded me from the inside. I looked back to see if he was still there but found an empty street instead.

Jong~

Ring-ring! The sound of my phone jolted me. "Did you find her?" A voice came in at my thumb's command.

"No," I chose not to admit.

"You know, Hakeem's told us everything,"

I gulped at the sound.

"I got my eyes on you, Jong. The whole Pisces does." The call ended as I threw my phone on the ground and stepped on it. "**** you, Gabriel!" I spat. I was going to do this my way and not even The Pisces could stop me.

The Pisces were known to work for a special organization. It comprised 10 able men, all out to do dirty jobs. Jong had come in contact with them at the ring. There they introduced themselves and invited him-then he became a member of the gang.

• * *

Location: The Pisces Hideout

Time: 10:15 pm

The front door opened to reveal a sweaty man with heavy pants. "What happened?" asked five of the team as they drew closer. "What's with the sweat?"

The clad overall man burst into laughter. "I got you, guys!"

One slapped his head. "You're an idiot,"

The clad overall man laughed and said, "Ain't seen nothing. Did boss get my message?"

Another of The Pisces replied. "Gabriel already sent it."

Gabriel emerged as though hearing his name. "Ruuah!" he kicked the wooden chair close to the door to their surprise.

"Gabriel, what's wrong?" asked the guy who went by the name Louis.

"One simple task..."

"I almost had her, Gabe..."

Gabriel didn't let the clad overall guy finish before he took him by the collar. "One simple task, Hakeem! How could you let her get away?"

"Taiyong was also there!" Hakeem shot back with two angry eyes.

"Rah!" Gabriel let go of him. He kicked the chair angrily again and rubbed his jaw as the tip of his tongue rubbed the inside of his mouth. "That Jong is a fool,"

The whole gang admitted. "He is."

Gabriel moved back into the room and Hakeem cursed under his breath.

Kendra got to her apartment and met the States officials who worked for her mother, outside. Her mother's PA was out on the lawn, with a file stuck in her pit. "The vice president would like to speak with you..."

"You can just say my mother," Kendra cut her short.

Her mother's PA motioned to the door. "Thank you," Kendra bit her bottom lip and went to answer.

She found her Mom already seated on the sofa, with a look she understood imprinted on her face. "Kendra, where have you been?"

She let out a heavy sigh. "Outside," she brought her arms together.

"By this time of the night?"

She protested. "I'm a grown woman now. You need not worry..."

"Oh, hell, I would!"

Kendra scoffed and slumped on the sofa not far from the lampstand.

"Who's the child with you?" Her mother's eyes went to the girl she had with her.

"No one you should be concerned about,"

The vice president's eyes widened. "Kenny, I'm still your mother..."

"A mother that doesn't understand when her daughter needs to be left alone?"

Kamila stared agape. "You know, you've been naughty these days..."

"One reason you shouldn't be here," Kendra shrugged and got up from the chair. She ignored her mother's call and went upstairs where she had the girl fed to a plate of cereal she left in her room and had her shower, ready for nighttime.

"Now, why don't you tell me your name?" Kendra urged as she got her new friend in bed.

"Penny," the child's eyes glistened. "Please take me to my mommy. I want my mommy," the little girl began sobbing again as Kendra pulled her into her arms.

Kamila listened to the sobs as she made to knock on Kendra's door. She knew how passionate her daughter could be. Kendra hasn't changed a bit, a smile eluded her lips as she worked on the doorknob. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything?"

Kendra looked up to see her mother standing at the door. "You can come in," Kendra said and looked down at the child. Penny was still sobbing, and Kendra scared she was going to develop a fever.

"Here. Let me help," Kamila volunteered as Kendra stood up and she replaced her.

Penny soon fell asleep in Kamila's arms and Kendra wondered how she had done it so easily. "How did you...?"

"Mothers know how to make a child drift right off to sleep,"

Kendra smiled. She missed her mother so. Their mother-daughter bond she wanted to have again. Her mother noticed this, the smile on her face, and she, too, smiled, looking down at the sleeping child as the image of little Kendra possessed her mind.

Kendra thought about the man that had saved them from the guy in the mask. If he hadn't shot that gun maybe they'd have been dead. Those deep brown eyes she couldn't get off her mind. The way they clashed with hers and how he had helped her up. "Are you okay?" his voice rang again as she shut her eyes and tried not to think much about it. It was so hard to sleep with the image of him plastered in her mind like chewing gum gummed on a wooden desk.

Kendra rolled and placed her hand on the girl beside her. Penelope, she thought about the name the girl had given. That should be the full inscription, she smiled. There was something about her that kept her glued and wanted her to help her. She thought about the girl's mother and wondered how she could be so cruel to leave her daughter out alone, by that time of the night, to the mercy of predators that walked the night. Poor soul, she thought with a brief smile before she sniffed. Helping her was all she thought until the image of the fine young man came in again.

Pisces Hideout

12:17

"Garr! Seems like he isn't coming today. Machete, have you called him?" A husky red-haired fella asked impatiently as a dazed skinny boy replied, "Huh?"

"Argh! You're always confused!" the red-haired man felt like punching him. "I'm talking about Jong. Listen here," he drew closer to say. "If you're going to give me a hard time while training you, you might as well scurry off."

The lad trembled. "I-I'm sorry,"

The red-haired fella slapped him slightly. "C'mon, act tough!"

"Y-yes, Sir,"

Major?"

Major turned at the call.

"What's it now?"

"The boss would like to have a word,"

Major looked at the boy and spat on the floor. "Clean that up!"

"Y-yes, Sir,"

"B-O-S-S, you idiot," he corrected.

Major!" a sturdy man appeared in a huff.

"Spikes-" Major looked down.

"You know how impatient the boss is yet you let him wait,"

"Will go answer him now," he left at the halt.

Spikes was the third member of The Pisces and the most feared of them all. He was deadly, and could gut anyone who dared challenge him-this gave him the name Spikes, for he was terrifying.

"Boss, you called," The hidden room mapped out especially for His Royal Evilness lit up at the sound of the voice.

"How's the recruit?"

Major answered with his head bowed. "He's doing well, boss," he bit his underlip at the sound of the reply he had given.

"Doing well?"

"Y-yes,"

The black office chair turned to reveal a masked clad leather-padded man. "Doing well... you say?" angry head turned to the side and moving fingers grabbed a knife. "He should be better!" the metal blade aimed at the wall behind. "Well, what about Taiyong?"

Major dreaded making eye contact. "Jong-su? N-no word yet." He stammered with one hand clasping the other.

"Call Hakeem!" the black chair rotated again. "Tell him we have a rat we must get rid of-"

The morning rays settled on an elongated body in the sheets as a soft moan enveloped the room. Its owner stirred as dazzling ebony eyes danced in their sockets; the alarm clock rang, the third it had done. Grin! Came the ring. Grinnn! Came another ring. Kendra slid out from under the sheets and gave a stretch, then a soft sigh. She looked to the side, catching no sight of Penny. “Penelope?” she called, panic-stricken. The child couldn’t have known her way around the house so soon, could she? She jerked up fast and ran out the door.

Penelope sat on the vice president’s lap downstairs as Kendra hurried down to know if she was there. The child giggled at everything the vice president said, making Kendra aware that she was there.

“Penny?”

“Oh, you’re up,” said Kamila at her daughter’s voice.

“Gosh, you scared me!” Kendra breathed a sigh and walked to them. She heaved again seeing how pleased the child was…

“Did you sleep well?” asked her mother before she could ask.

“Not quite,” Kendra gulped. “Thought you should have left for work, though,” she said. She looked down at the child and gave a slight rub on her cheek. “Hey, little one,” she smiled.

“Hey,” greeted Penelope, shy.

“Would you like to get off Big Mama’s lap?” Kendra motioned for her to come to her.

“Oh, she’s comfortable,” Kamila replied in her place. “You seem stressed, my dear,” she took notice. “Really stressed.”

Kendra sighed. “Oh, it’s nothing…”

“Nonsense! Do tell,” Kamila pleaded with all ears.

“I’m just not feeling well, that’s all,” Kendra said with a shrug.

Kamila eyed her thoroughly before asking what she had in mind. “Would you like Michelle to get you some meds, or call Dr Rover instead?”

Kendra rejected. “I’ll be fine,” calling their family doctor wasn’t her problem. She had a whole lot going on in her mind. “Trust me, I’ll be.” She needed her mother to.

Her mother’s P. A appeared with a file that almost looked like the one from yesterday. She had a tablet in her right while her other hand lapped the document close to her leg. “An urgent call from the minister…” she didn’t complete.

Mom responded by quickly letting Penny down and rising to her feet. “Duty calls…”

“…as always,” I sighed and slumped on the sofa beside me.

•**

__Jong

I blended in with the many people at the park as I sat on the pavement close to the fountain. “How’s my daughter?” my guest had arrived. “Hope she’s doing well?” I turned my head at the call.

Tapping the space beside me, I asked her to sit. “A nice job you did there,” I started. “A really nice job,” I complimented, as the Swiss woman grinned.

“Am I getting her back anytime?” she crossed over to sit.

“Our work isn’t done,” I said without a smile.

Marie was her name—a 63 inches tall chubby woman, with a white oval face.

“There’s more?”

“Yes.” I gave a straight answer. I wasn’t one to talk much, that part of me I adored.

“Alright,” she got up and looked at me. “My money?”

“To be transferred to you when all work is done,”

She huffed and left unhesitatingly.

I sat alone once again, admiring the kids on the slide, my fingers clasping the surface of the pavement. “I saw what you did there,” a familiar voice froze my spine.

“Emily?” I called.

“I see you still got your bad boy moves, uh-huh?”

Five Years Back…♥︎♥︎♥︎

“Whoo! Yeah! Come on, man. You can do it! Ye-ah!”

White Buck and Eagle’s Eyes were at it again. It was the final tournament. The spectators adhered and cheered at whoever they thought would emerge the victor.

The ring tumbled and heated with the referee’s yell engulfing the air. “1, 2…”

“Yah!” Hot grunts accompanied the grasp, showing Eagle’s Eyes was winning.

“Yeah! Whoo-hoo!” cried the people, their cheers representing their desire was about to be granted.

An unexpected turn of events sent those who whooed and booed off their feet as Eagle’s Eyes fell to his feet. “Rah!” His outraged opponent came on top of him, while those in favour of the champ-to-be cheered and screamed in delight. “Yeah, White Buck!” their man was declared—the winner he emerged.

“You were good out there, handsome,” a black brunette congratulated the champ. Her name was Emily, White Buck’s first love.

•**

“Ha-oh. So you still remember?” Emily had already gotten seated beside Jong-su. Her teeth shone as she laughed in her usual way. “Oh, how I’ve missed you…”

“For five years you didn’t bother to text,” the atmosphere changed to a quiet one. “Why didn’t you text, Emily? Or even returned my calls?” Jong-su asked. “You left the States for Bulgaria, and completely forgot about me.”

Emily stiffened, her voice lost. Her family had moved to Bulgaria, leaving her with no choice but to follow. All those years she spent without Jong-su, she sniffed. “I-I was going to call-“she made to say.

“Five years, Emily,” Jong-su pointed out. “Five good years!” he showed his five fingers and Emily held him.

“Jong…”

“Don’t touch me!” Jong-su removed his hand. “Why are you here, anyway? To know how I’ve been fairing all these years?”

Emily was broken. She knew how Jong could be when it was something that had to do with love. She messed up, this she knew; never would have moved on the moment she got on that plane.

Flight 127, she replayed, as she gritted halfway. She was to stay if not her Dad had insisted. Those long years, she recalled, the way she met other boys, including Sean.

Sean and Emily had begun dating in the later year. He was the cranky, sand hair man who Emily loved after Jong.

Jong, on his side, had long forgotten Emily. All that they shared and the memories-all he cast in the barn. “Why are you here, Emily?” Jong asked, not hiding his displeasure.

“I came back for you,” Emily held him again.

“Well, you’re late!” Jong gave her a stern look.

“I know you’re angry with me…”

“Emily, nothing you say will make me forgive you…”

“I still love you, believe me,”

Jong stood up, already fed up. “Goodbye, Emily.” He bid her and left.

The guy who kept his gun aimed at him from the 12-storey building withdrew. He gnashed and stamped, removing his cap. “That bastard!” he cursed.

The angry man took his phone out of his pocket, dialled a certain number and got the receiver talking in seconds. “Target eliminated?”

“Not quite.”

“Goddamn, Hakeem. You’re fucking slow!” a sudden cheesed-off voice rang.

The line went dead and Hakeem got ready to leave. He put his phone back into his pocket, and his gun back in his bag. Hurrying out, he went down the stairs, outside, ready to hunt-but also on the lookout.

Kendra and Penelope went shopping that day; the little girl smiled as her new friend bought her the things she pointed at. “Ice cream!” she pointed at the ice cream cart outside. She tugged at Kendra’s sleeves and dragged the jolly young woman with her. They went outside and bought a cone in time, as Penelope cried. “Mommy!”

  Kendra was forced to turn. “Mommy?”

  The woman in a fine leather jacket hastened her steps. Penelope followed her, quickening hers; Kendra followed and called her back several times but she didn’t hear. “Penelope!” the child was about to cross the road. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her, an incoming vehicle almost hitting her. A man appeared out of nowhere and pulled her out of the road. Kendra cried as she watched with a heavy heart. The girl she had taken in, would have died if not for him.

  “Oh, Penny! Penny—Penny,” Kendra kept breathing. She took her from the man, overjoyed, and not wanting to wonder what would have happened if he hadn’t come. “Thank you. Thank you,” she said with a sigh. She hadn’t taken notice of him, until she looked at his face, their eyes meeting at the spot. “Chang—” she remembered, “the man from Chang.” She completed.

  “Um, hi?” greeted Jong.

  Penny’s eyes wandered as Kendra kept staring at Jong. She didn’t expect to see him there—their meeting must have been a coincidental one. “Hi-hi…”

  “Kids, am I right?”

  Kendra looked stupid. “Yup,” she said.

  Jong averted his gaze and let go of Penny. He introduced himself as Psi, a fake name he had given intentionally, and Kendra’s lips curved in the cutest way. “Psi?”

  “Yes.” Jong tried not to laugh.

  “Well, I’m Kendra,”

  Jong clasped his hands in a bid to avoid a handshake. “Kendra. That’s nice.”

   Kendra’s heart raced. She gulped, feeling a whole new feeling. This man must have had something on her to make her attracted to him. “Yeah, I’m Kendra,” she said again. Quickly chiding herself, she relaxed her mind, wiped the sweat off her forehead, and said appreciatively, “I appreciate what you did there,” she had her thumb pointed backwards. “Thank you,”

  Jong nodded and they talked for a while. He let the black woman leave while he tarried, lost in thoughts. Ironical how the one woman he was out to eliminate, turned out to reach the bottommost part of his heart.

  Meanwhile, the Pisces were still on a hunt; instructed by the boss to catch the betrayer and ‘the girl’, they stayed on the lookout and infested every place.

  “We had better find Jong-su before sunset!”

  “And the girl, too, Emil!” Gabriel spoke.

  Emil was the 10th member of the gang—the last. He had a spiky personality, two glaring almond eyes, and a thin, square-jawed face. “Yes, the girl.”

  “44 Avenue should be where she stays,” implied Spikes. “Hakeem mentioned, remember?”

  The gang looked at him. “44 Avenue?”

  Hakeem chimed in. “That’s where we should be looking…”

♥︎♥︎__♥︎♥︎✦•

___Jong ✦♥︎

  My mind wasn’t at ease as I watched them leave. The time was slowly ticking. The Pisces were out there, so I had to do something. “Kendra Umaro, now’s not your time,” I flagged down a cab and hurried into it. “44 Avenue,” I said, and the driver sped off.

   A call came in not long after; the caller’s name was on my screen. I wondered who’d be calling with an unknown number, as I hesitated to pick. It couldn’t be Hakeem, could it? I gave it a thought. Swiping my thumb on the screen, clearing my throat. “Hello,” I said.

  “I know where you are. Can see everything…” the voice came in.

  It sounded familiar but I bet it wasn’t Hakeem.

  “Who is this?”

  “44 Avenue, 3 O’clock,”

  I swallowed hard. “Who are you?” I tapped the driver on his back so he’d stop, as the voice came in again.

  “Do you want your precious Kendra?”

  Hot sweat flooded my skin. I looked out the window, confused a bit, and then I relaxed and asked who Kendra was.

  “Oh, don’t play games with me. I know you’ve been keeping an eye on her…”

  “I haven’t!” I shot back. ”I have no idea who this Kendra is…”

  “But you lie,”

  I kept shut.

  Neither of us spoke, until I decided to speak, “What games are you playing here?” I got pissed. “Who are you anyway?” I asked in a deep voice.

  The line went dead, and I asked the driver to drive to Kendra’s house. “Just stop there. Yes, there.” I directed. Why do I care so much?” I asked myself.

KENDRA •••

  I was in the living room when a man barged in. He had company—ten of them—all masked.

  I reached for my phone to call 911, but then I was instructed to stop. The man that was the first to come in, their leader I assumed, wore a different mask. His was red, with a hood atop his head, while his men wore black. Danger read that hot afternoon, as Penelope lay sleeping on the couch.

  “What do you want from me?” The dining chair squeaked as I fought to stand.

  “There, there little one. Don’t wrestle now.”

  “Do you have any idea who I am?”

  “Oh, yes,” the man chuckled. “You have your mother’s eyes,” he came closer to me. “Kendra Umaro, daughter of the vice president.” He said.

  I was shocked to hear him say my name. “Who are you?”

  “You don’t know?” he cackled. He pulled out his phone from his sleeves and instructed the men to take me to the car.

  “Wait. Where are you taking me? Where are you taking me, you bastards?” A hot slap landed on my cheek.

  I was quickly untied, a𝓼 I made to run, 𝑤һ𝖊𝖓 a bullet shot through my shoulder.

***★★★***

  The Pisces had taken Kendra away by the time Jong arrived. The living room was upside down. He saw a letter on the table, with a red stain atop it. Kendra’s blood, he thought. His heart raced as he picked it up, You know where to find us, he read in his mind.

Kendra and Penelope were in the hideout, bound to a wall. The Pisces were in a different room. Penelope sobbed, asking Kendra where they were. The latter had lost a lot of blood and was on the brink of death.

“Kendra. Kendra.” The voice of Penelope called her back. “Kendra, when are we going home? I don’t like this place.” She said in a sad tone.

  Kendra looked weakly at the child, as a tear ran down her face. She groaned as the pain in her shoulder worsened. It wasn’t doing her any good. Just hang in there, Kendra, she said to herself. “Penelope, we’ll be fine,” she passed out, not saying anything again.

  Meanwhile, Jong sketched on a paper he had seen on the floor of Kendra’s living room. He drew the Pisces’ hideout on it. Being a storey, heavily guarded by armed men, he plotted out how he was going to enter the building without being seen. Anyone who went into the Pisces’ hideout ended up dead. But the very few who were let to live got to last only for some days.

  Are you sure you want to do this? Remember they are your men—Jong’s mind roared to life.

  Jong ignored it and took the sketch up from the table. A close look at it showed an X-marked area; an underground layout where Jong thought Kendra would be.

THE PISCES HIDEOUT

5:47 †°°°

Kon—the prison door pulled open. “You may go,” it shut back.

  Skeletons of previous prisoners were scattered on the floor, and the place stenched. It had all sorts of creeping things crawling on the floor. The rats were its special guests, and the prison cell was their abode. The boss sniffed, taking a look at them, then at the prisoners, noticing the child was asleep and the girl was dead. “No, it can’t be,” he said realizing. “It can’t be—“

  The bullet wound must have gotten infected, he rushed to check at the thought. He cringed at the sight of the blood. “Dry blood,” he gulped. Then, he hardened his heart and carried the girl. “Open the door!” he ordered his men.

KENDRA

  I opened my eyes to see the man that had invaded my home. He was clad in a red suit and had a serious look on his face. “You’re up,”

  I panicked at his voice. “Where am I? Where is Penelope?”

  “Are you hungry?” he replied none of my questions but asked his.

  I’m not hungry, you bastard! I stopped myself from saying, watching him stand.

  “You should eat,” his voice grew soft. He wasn’t wearing his mask, and I could see his face perfectly.

  “I’m not going to eat until you tell me who you are!” I said stubbornly.