I bring out the business card that was given to me by Dennis the other day and scan through it.

I decide to take a cab to the address. While in the cab, I clutch the black chain Alan gave to me and shut my eyes.

Be strong, coz all you're to do is to kill and not get killed coz what doesn't kill you makes you stronger but what kills you leaves you dead forever.

"We have arrived Madame! ", the cab driver says in a deep Latin accent. I check the cab mirror and scatter my hair, I tear my shorts with my hair pin.

Boy are those things dangerous!

"What are you staring at? ", I ask the odd looking man. He doesn't reply and just turns his head away.

Weird!

I pay him and tell him to keep the change. As I walk out of the cab, I force myself not to gawk too much at the gigantic building or should I say office?

I enter the building and walk straight to the receptionist, trying hard to avoid the stares. I glance at my reflection on the window and try not to rush back out.

Apart from the fact that I don't look like Jem but look like Amber, I'm horrible looking.

I have to go through this humiliation and embarrassment just for Alan and Jon. But that's the problem, when it comes to those two, I don't mind. Heck I'll climb on mount Everest just to see them smile.

"Um, excuse me the zoo is still a long way from here"

The shrill voice of the receptionist brings put of my thoughts.

"Uh! ", I say not getting the gist until few seconds later and I began scowling.

Act cool, you have got to act like an Orphan.

"Please I'm here to see Dennis Saunders", I state through clenched teeth and balled fist.

"He doesn't have business with Animals", the receptionist says so coolly my fist tightened the more.

I've had it!

"Um... No offence intended but I'm looking for Shrek", I say through forced cool act.

"He's in the movies silly and why do you need to see that ugly thing! Wanna trade faces with him?"

She says this while snorting in the name of laughing. I just smile before answering;

"Actually no, he only sent me to collect his face back from you! "

"Burn!!", one of the workers said and others began laughing.

I managed a small smirk at the receptionist's red face.

"What on mother earth is going in here? ", the deep voice of Dennis echoes through the hall as all the other standby workers hurried to their posts.

"It's no issue sir, I'm only telling this animal that...."

Wham.

Everywhere becomes quiet that I could literally hear the heart beat of every single fucking body.

"Never in your dreams or reality talk to my guest in that manner if not you'll go hungry for life"

Dennis shouts at the receptionist holding her cheeks from the obviously hot slap.

He turns to me and holds my hand...

"Are you okay? ", he asks looking at my eyes.

"Yes, I don't know what I did to Shrek face to get so much insult ", I say so innocently while pointing at the receptionist and everyone bursts into laughter, including Dennis.

"Oh Amber.! Let's go talk business "

He says leading the way as I throw up my middle finger at Shrek face.

Once inside I pretend to gawk too much. Though, I gawked at first but I over gawked just for emphasis sake. I also pretend to shiver from cold as a result of the cold atmosphere.

Damn is this office huge. It looks just like a room. There's a freezer and a fridge, a TV, a cabinet and even a mini mattress. Perhaps, there's something behind the door over there.

"Here, have this", he says while handing me his coat, obviously noting my shivering.

"Thank you! ", I say timidly not looking up at him.

"Oh Amber, don't be shy! I don't bite. I just want to know you more".

The nerve of this mother fucker! Just keep it cool Jem. You are doing this for Alan and Jon and nothing more and besides once you're done here, you can go and avenge yourself. Wait, did that make sense? Hmm, who cares?

"Did anyone ever tell you that you're so cute when you are lost in thoughts?", he says bringing me out of my reverie.

I actually blush at the compliment and he uses his fore finger to lift up my face to meet his eye.

"Tell me about yourself Amber or should I say Silent Killer", he says with a venomous tone as his hand reach to drag the mask off my face.

"No!", I shriek. How did he find out?

I'm so shocked that I'm unable to move. Did I flaunt my own plan? I didn't reveal myself did I? As these thoughts kept playing in my mind, I unconsciously move my hand to clutch the black chain Alan gave me.

My head begins throbbing and so is my ribs. Foolish me! I put myself in harms way. I'm so deep in thought I didn't see Dennis get up to lock the room.

"I'm sure you must be wondering how I got to know the real you?", he says smirking.

I look at him and wish that daggers would shoot right at him. Ah shit! I left my weapons in my bag and it's not even here.

"Now now dear, don't go shooting daggers at me with your eyes, I'll tell you all you want to hear and don't think of escaping",  he says noticing my frantic search for an exit. I still keep mute and wait for him to talk. Let him stall himself while I think of what to do.

"One of my goons saw you on the plane you know"...

"But how'd he recognize me, nobody knows the face of silent killer".  I say getting agitated.

"Ah yes but the few people who were able to take pictures of you got your hair color, jet black and I know you might be one in a trillion girls to have jet black hair but your certainly the only one in a trillion girls that has a half shaped heart on her left wrist". He pauses to pour himself a glass of champagne.

I look down at the birth mark and internally curse Him for coming into my life.

"Well you see, you were too stupid to leave that drawing beside your signature mark. I myself thought it was cool at first until I later realized that this could be my call card", he pauses to take a sip of his champagne again and roll up his sleeves.

What do I do? I think to myself.

"When I realized you we're coming to Rome, I thought how brilliant but I later asked myself 'why' and I said it could either be for Jay or for me. I mean we are the only two famous people here except for his cousin and his fiancee though".

"But I later found out you'll stay at Jay's house so you were coming for me. So I decided why not let you come. And that night I hit you, I didn't know it was you until you bent down and flashed your ass in my face. It was then I saw the birth mark. I went home and called my boys to change plans".

"I told them to hit you anywhere that is visible just so I'm not mistaken and they hit you right in the head", he says pointing at my bandaged head.

"When he hit you, he informed the third guy that was supposed to shoot Anita but shot the dog instead. The third guy ran and came to tell me. So I said to myself if you're truly Amber, you'll have no mark on your head and if you weren't, you'll have a bruised head. I also figured out you might have been putting on a human mask so I decided to take the risk and try my luck and boom! You're silent killer! "

"But the question is, who sent you to kill me and why? "

Immediately he says this, my eyes shot up at him in realization that he doesn't know who sent me. Well good for me!

"So are you going to speak or are we gonna do it the hard way? ", he asks with a cocky grin on his face.

I just smirk and throw him my middle finger.

"Well the hard way it is then, Bobby!  Robby! ", he says and two huge twin giants come in. He motions for them to take me away.

I slowly get up and follow them without putting up a fight. I might as well get done with this.

I pass the desk of Shrek face and give her the finger as she scowls at me and others jeer at her.

Once outside, I pretend as if I want to enter the car but I double over in immense pain. I see their confused faces and use the opportunity to hit them below the belt. They double over and I take that as my chance to run.

As I run, I think of what to do next. They're very huge but they'll probably gain on me. All my equipments including my phone is in my luggage and I left it at the office.

I soon see a fast moving truck and decide that this is my own call card. I'm gonna create some chaff  for these guys.

I jump onto the back of the truck and this impact causes a sharp pain in both my head and ribs. I ignore the pain and slowly climb inside the truck.

If anything, Dennis will probably be on my tail now. That's if he hasn't put up my pictures on the news and declare me wanted. Foolish me for leaving my weapons and my phone in my bag.

All these thoughts have me feeling sleepy and I soon drift off into space.

Third Person Narrative

"What was that noise?", the truck driver asked himself when he felt something hit the back of the truck.

He looks for a decent spot to park his truck and comes down to check it. He checks inside and sees a pretty damsel. The girl reminds him of his daughter who died of cancer last year.

He's about to ignore the girl and keep driving but the headline news pops up on the big TV on the main road and this old chap is not one to miss the headline news.

Breaking news! The almighty silent killer is now on the loose and is very dangerous. Anyone who sees her should please hand her over to the Dennis Company and that person will be duly awarded with $100.

As the newscaster gives her speech, the picture of Jemima pops up on the screen and this has the old man gasping and nearly doubling over in shock.

He looks at the girl. He wishes it doesn't have to be this way but an old man with no wife or kids and is struggling to survive has gotta do what he's gotta do to survive.

He immediately goes back into the old truck and drives straight to the nearest phone booth.

He places a call straight to Dennis and tells Dennis everything. He also tells Dennis where to meet him.

*****************************************

After Jem left Jay's room, Jay sat there and his admiration for her increased. He is so stunned by her confession that he sits there for fuck knows how long.

Dimitri regains consciousness and realized that Jemima lied. He vows to kill her and Anita knows that, that is exactly his train of thought. She somehow manages to convince him to forgive her and she moves to tell Jay that Dimitri is up.

Jay hesitates a bit before going boldly to Dimitri's room.

"I'm sorry bro, I didn't mean to hit you. Please don't hate me", were Jay's first words as he enters the room.

"No no no, it's my bad! I should have never believed any thing that girl said. I'm never going to forgive her! "

"No man! It's not her fault please don't hold a grudge against her for now let's go to her room and find out why she did that"

"Good idea but I'm gonna play the pissed act and she definitely owes me a cake", Dimitri replies smiling.

"You kids! I wonder what I'll do with you?"

They both laugh but is stopped by a teary eyed Anita who just barges in the room.

"Babe what's wrong, why are you crying? ", Dimitri asks worriedly scooting closer to her. It's very rare for Anita to cry so to see her in tears means something really awful has happened.

"It's Jem, she's gone! ", she says wailing loudly.

Jay's ear shoot up at the mention of Jem being gone.

"Gone? To where? Why? Are you for real? ", he asks in a rush as he pushes Anita aside to go check Jem's room and true to her words, Jem is gone! The wardrobe is empty and the room is literally lifeless.

"We have got to find her! ", Jay says exclaiming and just then Alan calls.

"What the fuck have you done to my sister?", Alan yells immediately Jay picks up the phone.

"How'd you find out so quick? "

"It's on the damn news moron!"

Jay immediately puts on the TV and the newscaster's words leave him and the two others dumbfounded.

Breaking news! The almighty silent killer is now on the loose and is very dangerous. Anyone who sees her should please hand her over to the Dennis Company and that person will be duly awarded with $100.

"Look Alan, you need to calm down! We'll do our best to find her just... "

"Shut the fuck up! You are the one person I trusted my baby with and yet you let me down? It's not your fault Jay, it's mine! I should have listened to her when she told me she didn't want to stay with you, I said no and now, my angel is gone! You better find her Mr Jason McIntyre Black or I'm gonna head on there and kill you for her", Alan shouts and hangs up immediately.

Jon got a heart attack from the news and Alan is contemplating whether to stay with his dad or go find the woman he loves but is to afraid to admit it because he thinks she'll just laugh it off and consider it brotherly love.

As for Jay, Dimitri and Anita, they blame themselves for the disappearance of Jem. Jay also wonders how Dennis found out all about Jem's plan.

*****************************************

As Dennis arrives the place the truck driver instructed for him, the truck driver motions for Dennis to be quiet that the girl is behind the crates in the truck.

"Miss Silent Killer, you're advised to come on out right now or we will be forced to shoot", one of Dennis's men said as he truly aims a gun for the crate.

The old man shrieks in fear and regrets ever calling these people.

"ONE! TWO! ".

Still no sign of Jem. The gunman looks at Dennis for approval and Dennis nods his head at the same time the old man shouts
"NO!".

"THREE!", the gunman shouts and he fires the gun several times.

Dennis motions for the old truck driver to open up the crates.

The next sight has the old man stunned.

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Ooooooohhhhhhh laaaaa laaaaaaaaa! 😯 😯 😯. Is it possible? Did Jemima really die?

Hold up! Did Alan just say he loves Jem? Love ❤️  as in love ❤️ love ❤️ Jem? And not just the brotherly love ❤️? This is going to be intense.

What will he do? Take care of his dad or go after his love?
And what is Dennis up to?

I know, I know! I hate the suspense! But you don't have to wait that long coz the next chapter is coming right up.

And while you're at it don't forget to vote, share and comment. They will all be attended to. I promise.

And remember Anita loves you
Xoxo (whatever that means)

Bye for now my little wolves 🐺 🐺
Hugs 🤗 🤗 🤗   and kisses 💋 💋 💋  filled with colors 🎨 🎨 🎨.