We didn't move an inch. Even I held my breath to let them know I'm too shocked to do anything but the truth was, we had thought of this situation —not deeply—but we did.

And now that we've found ourselves in it, it seemed impossible to run away or do anything. Guards have caught us too and so did Ashley.

'You kids have done far more than I will ever allow.' Charlotte stared daggers at us.

'We never asked your permission.' Ryan commented and Charlotte's neck spun to him.

'Don't you dare.' She pointed her finger at him. 'I can't believe that you can betray me.'

'Well, you did the same.' Ryan retorted and looked at me, then down on the floor. There was a hair accessory that must've fell when she made a run to her room. It was a u-shaped clip with fairly sharp edges and a beautiful flower stocked to its middle. It laid right next to Ryan's foot.

'I offered you.' Charlotte said angrily. 'I told you to leave this girl and you'll have the world on your palm.' Her cheeks flushed from anger as her finger shook. She did not look pretty at all.

'This girl,' his eyes flickered to mine and for a moment, my heart stopped beating. 'Already have given me the world you have to offer. I don't need your shitty world. Hers more beautiful.' Ryan said and if I could blush, I would've tomato red but I don't, but my stomach and my heart reacted so powerfully to his speech. I tried not to smile my face off.

'And,' Yang looked at me and nodded. I held my breath and nodded back. The guard holding my hands had lost his hold due to the scene Charlotte had presented my getting extremely furious that I could practically see her body trembling. 'She's better than you.'

Then began the guys' compliment battle.

'Yeah, her face is er ... more oval than you.' Noah added.

'And she doesn't need makeup.' Ryan said. 'But you need some, oh no, not some. You need a gallon.'

Charlotte's eyes widened.

'And her voice is a loooooott better than you.' Yang said. 'I mean like, as a suggestion, don't get too near to the mic. Actually, you should never get near the mic. No one will be able to use it again, you know, germs.'

'You know you're saying these things to the world-wide celebrity Yeah? I could get you arrested and have you spend the rest of your life in jail.' Charlotte tried to control her nerves.

'Yeah, we don't care.' Mia added. 'And when we're gone, wash your feet. It looks like they belong to a rhino.'

'Shut up!' Yelled Charlotte.

'And we didn't know you until we saw you on the show.' Surprisingly, some confidence burst up in me and I said too . 'And might I say, it was a bad experience.'

Ryan gave me a arch eyebrow looking utterly impressed. I somehow felt proud on myself.

'What the hell?' Charlotte's eyes widened the side of watermelons. It seemed she was scared more than angry or maybe both because she seemed paralysed at her spot due to anger but her knees, they were shaky. 'Guards!' She couldn't take anymore. 'Guards!'

'Take theses kids of bitches!' Roared Rodger but apparently no one listened to him.

'Take them!' Charlotte said and then her guards moved.

The rest of the two guards tried to come forth to shut us up by doing GOD know what but before they could reach us, Ryan kicked the clip on the floor and I bent down and fortunately, caught it with my knees.

Then Yang, being powerful he is, bent forth and bent back so furiously that he succeeded freeing himself but then it was a chaos that my guard almost forgot I was there so he ran for Yang to hold him meanwhile, me, being free, grabbed the clip and ran to the guard holding Yang and with all my force, shoved the clip in his back.

The guard yelped and fell on the floor but he was not too weak to not come for me. I knew it. I saw it in his eyes. I swept my eyes to look around to help anyone but then my eyes landed on Charlotte who was walking towards me with a gun in her hand.

'JANE RUN!' I didn't need to be told twice as I ran. I had the USB so I needed to save it. I turned around the corner having no idea where I was going. I looked over my shoulder and saw Charlotte coming for me, her eyes red and her hair in a good nest over her head looking really horrible.

I turned around one more corner and pulled a box of wood placed in the corridor for the sake of decoration. It fell on the floor with a loud thud and probably cracked. I just needed Charlotte to slow down a little and used it a hurdle and it seemed to work as when it cracked, small balls were out and I heard a shriek from behind me.

Charlotte has fallen.

I skidded to a halt as I saw two passages going somewhere. I ducked down as Charlotte shot but she missed so I turned left and continued running.

'Shit!' I skidded to a halt as a guard ran for me from the front side and Charlotte from behind.

I turned left and another guard was coming from that way too. I had only one way left and it was my right so I made a run for it. I had no idea how, but they knew I had the USB and if I won't run fast enough, they'll get me in a matter of seconds.

I looked at the corner and was to turn about it when a hand instantly came around my wrist and pulled me in a room and against the wall so quickly that for a second, I had no idea what happened. I was to shriek but Ryan placed his index finger over his lips and his hand on my mouth. He leant in closer to listen to the sounds outside. We were in the lingerie room.

The footsteps were not sounding anymore and then there was a loud burst that even I jumped.

We waited for a few more seconds before Ryan removed his hand from my mouth. 'What happened?' I tried to sound okay but he was incredibly close to me and butterflies were roaming in my stomach.

He looked down and smiled. 'Noah happened.'

'Did he really?'

'Yup.' Ryan still didn't move away from me and I heard his heavy breaths mingled with mine. Few more seconds and I'd have fallen but gladly, Ryan had his hand on my waist as I watched his intense brown eyes.

Someone knocked on our door and then did Ryan consider moving back a little. 'Come on!' Noah said when I opened the door. 'We need to pass few corridors and we'll be out and,' he stopped us just as I was to step out. 'Cover your noses.'

I placed my hand on my nose and followed Noah suit. Apparently, Noah had releases a smelly gas that also caused tears even if you keep your eyes close all the time and Charlotte and the guards were trying to recover themselves before we broke in a good run. I felt the USB in my pocket and took a sighed once we were out of the smelly area.

Some more guards came from around along with Rodger and Noah instantly turned the course towards Rodger and hit him hard on the nose.

'You son of a bitch.' He growled.

'Where's my phone?' Noah checked Rodger's front pocket and found it.

Rodger tried to punch Noah but he missed. Noah grinned and give him a good punch punch before he caught up with us. I was to let out a curse word when someone yelled from behind. 'Coming through!'

We three ducked immediately and instantly, splashes of water balloons and paint balls came from behind. They hit me in the back and I groaned as along with coloured water, the paint of the balls burned on my skin.

'Go go go.' I yelled to Noah and Ryan and looked back at Yang and Mia who had paint ball guns hung around their necks they must've gotten from the Spa Room where Mia hid them days ago along with the keys. They were running away as they fired.

'Woohoo!' Yang and Mia joined us too. Noah cheered as we saw the kitchen door , a door to our escape. We entered the kitchen and before anyone could make a move, Ryan and Yang showed them their guns so every chef who was to make a move, retreated. 'Don't even think about it.' I warned a chef who held a knife in his hand.

'We won't hurt you. We're just leaving.' Mia added.

She was about to open the door when someone fired at her hand and she shrieked and immediately let go of the door. 'Mia!' I yelled and held her. Her one finger was cut and bled badly. We instantly turned around and saw Charlotte standing there with a gun in her hand.

'Give me back the USB and I'll let you go.' She said dangerously low. 'I won't do anything,' her mascara was melted now and her face was turned different shades as some burnt area showed off on her arm. 'Just give it back.'

'No.' Yang said and she shot again on his foot but he was fast as he jumped back.

'I don't take no for an answer. Just give me the USB. I promise I won't do anything. Just, I need the USB. Please. I won't beg again.' She requested again and then did I get how helpless she looked. It was her whole career in that USB. Maybe it was just a recording but once it will be handed over to Harrison, it won't be just a recording anymore.

'We won—' Noah didn't even get to finish his sentence when Charlotte fired again, this time on his leg and Noah couldn't back away quickly as Yang and yelped in pain when it actually hit him but gladly, it just scratched.

Further guards entered and caught us again.

'Give me back the USB.' She demanded again.

'We lost it.' Yang said and she fired again. The chefs standing there covered themselves with pans and pots.

'YOU. ARE. LYING!' she was beyond furious now and then did I get how mental person she was. 'Give it to me.'

She fired more like a maniac. Her target was poor so we were safe but not for long as it hit one of the chefs. 'Charlotte, Listen!' I yelled over her fires. 'I'll give you back the USB!'

She stopped abruptly and looked at me. Her eyes empty. 'Give me then.'

'But you'll have to let my friends go.' I said as I carefully, slowly spoke to her.

'No.' Ryan argued. 'Jane, don't do this.'

'Let me.' I twisted my neck to look at him and gave an assuring look. He still didn't seem satisfied.

'No.' She sternly said.

'Then I won't give you the USB.' I said. 'And don't even try to force it out of me. I have it hid it at a really private place. Your guards won't find it.'

She glared at me as she gritted her teeth. Her fierce eyes gazed holes in each of my friends until she gave up. She looked back at me and said through gritted teeth. 'Okay. I'll let them go.' Then she gestured the guards who released them all except me and practically threw them out. 'Take them away from here.' Meanwhile I tried to ignore the wailing of Ryan and others as they were thrown.

'Now,' she extended her hand. 'Give it to me.'

I waited until the guard released me and dug my hand in my pocket and fished the lipstick/USB out. She deadpanned as she realised she's been tricked but she still stretched the hand. 'Give it to me.'

With slow steps, casting looks around the terrified chefs instead of a lady who watched me with somewhat different look. Not pity. Not surety. Something else.

It took me millions of years to reach her. She wiggled her fingers patiently waiting for me. Her guard was down. She wasn't alert anymore. Just as I was to place the lipstick on her palm, a thud made me turn around and I saw the guard who was holding me before was on the floor and beside him was a chef who had slashed the guard's chest with his knife.

I ducked down as Charlotte shot again but before she could fire the gun anymore, it ran out of bullets. She was to yell for the guards but she couldn't as she fell on the floor, her eyes going in her head.

Behind her, stood the chef who looked at me differently with a fry pan in her hand. Her aim was good.

I casted her a surprised look but she just shrugged. 'Didn't like her anyway.'

The kitchen door burst opened and came Rodger in with a gun in his hand and fear clawed my neck again. Now, he won't let go. 'Where the hell the kids of the bitc—'

'Oh shut up!' Ashley entered the kitchen and the first thing she did was to grab the fry pan and hit him hard on his head. Relief was sent down my spine as Rodger too was helpless to do anything. Ashley tilted her neck. 'You are going to run away or wait until more guards come?'

'Thank you!' I yelled at all of them as the kitchen door was bursted with further guards but I was already out of that house.

I could hear screams and yells from the kitchen but nothing seemed more serious as police never get to make to her house. Harrison made sure of that.

I wanted to stop. My legs seemed to be given up.

Now that I was out, I felt the stabbing pain in my thighs, my calves that seemed to be out of place. Now I felt the slash I had no idea when-- I received on my elbow and most importantly, the pounding headache.

but I kept on going. Maybe it was the adrenaline or maybe, I was deadly scared of what would've happened to Ryan and others. I couldn't trust Charlotte specially not after when I found out she was partly mad.

The wind screamed on my face as I ran, I turned the corner and yelled. 'Ryan!' I looked up at the moon. It was bright. But I wanted to make myself more brighter by seeing his face.

I tuned around one more corner all the way yelling everyone's names. I was so tired at this point that I just stopped running in the middle of the road. I bent forth to catch my breath. Where are you guys? I asked to no one. Come out now.

I stood up, took a deeper breath and began walking again. 'Ryan!' I howled his name out loud so did everyone's else.

Tears now came on the brim of my eyes. Where are they? maybe I was too tired from running that I couldn't see them or from all the fun we just had, or maybe, I was generally tired.

'Jane!' Someone yelled my name back and I immediately recognised Ryan voice but it didn't seem to be jolly as it should be.

'Ryan!' I called out. 'Where are you?' I began running now. Ryan was here, maybe, everyone else was safe.

I ran to the end of the street and crashed into someone.

'Jane!' He hugged me tightly. 'You're Okay Yeah? I've been looking for you for so long. I thought they—' he ran his ran through his hair.

'I'm fine.' I hugged him again.

I nodded in yes. 'So are you?'

He lips drew in a tight line as he held my hand and guided me to another street.

I was to smile and yell I still have the USB when I saw Mia but they she moved away and I gasped.

On the floor, was Noah, lying on the floor. His head rested on Mia's thigh and Yang was doing something to him. He had his face to em so I couldn't really see.

When I reached further, I squeezed Ryan's hand. 'Oh my.' My breathe got caught. Noah's hand rested on his stomach as Yang just finished wrapping his shirt around Noah's stomach that got red spots quickly as Noah was shot.

Ryan crouched down and worked on Noah's leg where he was shot in the kitchen. 'Jenny,' Noah said and I didn't even notice until now how tears had filled my eyes. 'You're OK?'

I simply nodded. I couldn't say anything. Seeing the blood on Noah and Yang' hands reminded me when I saw my Dad's blood pooled around his head when we found him dead in Henry's house. It was just like that, just it was Noah here and he cannot die.

'We've called the ambulance. They'll be here soon.' Yang sat back on his butt on the floor and I kneed down to Noah.

'Noah, how ... ?' My words were lost.

'One of the guards, while we tried to escape, shot him,' Ryan looked at Noah. 'We took them down but he ...' Ryan didn't need to say anything.

'You're gonna be fine.'

'If I die, delete my internet history. ' Noah made an attempt to lighten the mood.

'Will do bud.' Ryan suppressed a hard smile.

'And Yang, you can have my pen you liked.' Noah was breathing shallow. 'Let's hope,' He coughed. 'Let's hope it's still there.'

Yang didn't even tried to smile. He seemed so angry than sorry. 'And Ryan,'

'Yeah.' Ryan said so slowly that I barely heard him. He seemed so broken as if someone had shot him instead.

'You can have my new underwear.' Noah declared. 'It's been used but I think It'll look good on you.' If Noah wouldn't be dying, I would've laughed the hardest but the situation was reversed.

Ryan laughed humourlessly and tears sparkled in his eyes. 'Thanks man.'

'Jenny, Mia.' I just wanted to run away from here. I was getting sick of it and Noah's melodramatic sickness was making me to puke. 'I don't have ... ' Noah's eyes closed for a brief moment and all of our hearts fell in the pits of our stomachs. Then he opened his eyes, 'I don't have anything—'

'Stop this shit man,' Yang yelled. His eyes hard. He was trying so hard not to cry. 'You're not doing. Get it?'

Noah laughed. 'Oh I wish.' He said before he closed his eyes for the longest.

oOo

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Love 💕, huz