Usual warning: use of swear words, I'm sorry, Nolan's character is supposed to swear a lot, so. Read at your own risk :D

Miki's PoV

"Just remember, if there's anything at all that's troubling you, abort mission right away. Understood?"

Nolan must've said that to me at least two hundred times that evening.

I'm dressed in all black; my hair was clipped back with pins, I wore a leather jacket over a shirt, finger-cut gloves, black leggings, and long boots.

"Yup." I say dismissively as I did the past two hundred times.

I refused to let him go with me. I clenched my fists when I thought about the culprit. They were disgusting scumbags who not only stole from anyone, but also kidnapped children. No one ever knew what happened to those children.

I didn't think I should be wrapped up in their business until now.

"...their location is impossible to find!" I heard a voice from around the corner, it sounded familiar enough for me to recognize it right away.

"I did all the research I could, but there's nothing on them... believe me, I really do want to rescue those children, too."

I peeked around the corner to see Ayase on the phone. After a while of listening in, I know we both have the same target.

"Aya!" I called out to him as if an old friend soon as he hung up.

"Who-M-Miki?!" he blinked numerous times before fumbling around his belt, probably trying to fish out his hand cuffs.

"I have a good deal for you." I held up a finger to him, and I know he could tell I was serious since I wasn't smiling, "We both are looking for the group of scums who're stealing and kidnapping children, correct?"

He looked mildly shocked, but he nodded.

"I know their location, I can help the police force this time since I wanna get rid of them as well. In exchange, don't attempt to arrest me until we get there."

Police forces have more people and they're better armed. After I get the necklace they can bust their entire hideout. It's a win-win.

He thought for a long while. Then finally said, "Hmm... fine. You got yourself a deal!"

He held out a hand. I walked over. He's too much of an honest person to go back on a single word. Gotta give him credit for that personality.

"So, Aya, how's your love life coming along?" I skip along the road while asking him. I've known him for years, we're not strangers. Of course, that means he ceased to capture me for those many years as well.

He scratched his head bashfully, "I...I'm getting married."

"Whoa, congrats!" I clapped my hands together. In my heart I felt a twinge, I hope his child won't grow up like me, not knowing who my father was until it suddenly struck upon me with no warning.

I shook my head. This is no time or place to think about those affairs, I've got a mission on my hands.

"This is it." I pointed up to an old abandoned factory. It was so old any modern records wouldn't even have any recordings of it. I only found this place through hundred-year-old library books.

"So, what's your plan?" he took out some things that I couldn't identify.

"I need to retrieve something. You go on and do whatever it is you gotta do." I pull up my gloves again and made sure my hair pins were in place, "oh, and by the way, feel free to arrest me now..."

He didn't snap for two whole seconds. By that time I was long gone.

"...if you can catch me." I murmured under my breath with an amused smile when I saw his expression turn into one of realization and shock.

Using the vines and crusty stick-outs of the factory wall, I climbed up to the highest window.

As quietly as I could, I crept around the pitch-dark room. The floorboard creaked violently either way and I felt like it could break down any second.

Now... how should I find it without getting caught?

After being sure this room was empty, I turned the door knob and walked out. There were only three rooms on the balcony-like second floor. There was a giant picnic table set in the middle of the first ground. Two metal stair steps connected the balcony around the entire factory with the ground floor. The ceiling rounds up into a sharp tip. It looked so thin as if made of one layer of tin.

Several men lied every which way on or around the picnic table. Beer bottles were scattered everywhere. Unfinished sandwiches and bread were on the table. In the center of the table, I see pieces of diamond shining.

Bingo.

Down the steps at almost snail speed since I didn't want to make a sound, I crept closer and closer to the drunken men.

I snuck around and tried not to step on any of them. I reached out my right arm to the necklace that's resting really near a man's arm. My fingertip already touched the jewel when I felt something on my leg.

A shrill chill ran down my spine in slight panic. I could feel my face getting pale. Fearfully, I glanced back my shoulder.

Someone was hugging my leg as if a teddy bear. He was clearly asleep, though.

Mentally sighing in relief, I take a nearby large sandwich, and put it in place of my leg.

I successfully tucked the necklace carefully in my inner pocket. It was really hard to find, I designed this jacket.

I'm a safe distance away from the group of vandals. I examined the front door. Surely a metal door that size is going to make a lot of noise while opening, not to mention its definite weight. I must escape silently if I don't want to get caught.

Which means I'll need to get out from where I came from.

I went through the torture of going up the small metal steps again. Just as I'm about to make my grand escape from that same room, a faint whimper was heard from the other side of the old factory.

Right.... I turned back. That might be the kidnapped children. I glanced at the window again.

Just out of there and then mission accomplished, the rest I can leave to the police. After all, I already guided them here.

Or... should I at least try to help them? What if the police made too much of a ruckus and alarmed the vandals to escape before they can be captured...?

Oh, screw that. Before I knew it, I opened the door from where I heard the whimper from.

And boy how I wish I hadn't. The sight was horrifying. It seems that the children were also highly mistreated. I gulped harshly trying to un-see what I saw. The sickening smell of blood filled my nose.

Puffing up my guts, I walked in. There was a notebook, I think recording down their plans. They only sell the children who are worth enough money. I don't know what they judge them by, but half of the children they kidnapped are crossed off the list, which I assume meant sold. The price was labeled after each number.

They are strangely organized. Though the writing is messy, it means they're keeping track of their money. As I flipped the page, the contents of the next almost made me throw up:

'Number B-6 Liver ￥800,000

Number B-13 Kidney ￥700,000'

I chucked the notebook at the wall without another glance at it. They even went as far as to sell organs of these innocent children, not to mention how many were probably trafficked as child laborers or soldiers.

Okay is the police force now full of Mamoru Kishi? Why're they so slow?!

In the back of the dim room, there were several children, still alive, bind and gagged. Their eyes were full of fear and tear stains were evident on their faces.

[This just got so dark]

I can't possibly rescue them out of here like this.... What should I do...?

I was so distracted with the children I didn't hear anything until the door slammed open.

"Hey, you!" A guy at least six foot tall barged in the room. Another two entered after him. They glanced at the open window in the room and then at me. They obviously thought a meek girl like me wasn't capable of thievery.

"Must've escaped and forgot 'er here." I heard them whisper amongst themselves, "so then we should just lock her up until ey comes back?"

They had a heavy accent that I can't quite put my finger on. And anyways, I ain't getting locked up.

Taking advantage of my agility, I pushed off and sped to the window. But they were closer. With one powerful block, the dude slammed me right down as if hitting a badminton birdie with a racquet.

Shit. The thought flashed my mind when it came to me that I might not be able to get away this time.

In previous missions, I always fled right away after obtaining my target. The one time I stayed a bit longer I got caught.

"Just lock 'er up in boss' room."

Soon enough, I was forcefully dragged to the third room in the factory, which was actually nice. There was a laid-out king-sized mattress in the middle of the large room, and red curtains framed the window.

The door shut behind me and the door clicked locked from the outside. Immediately, I went over to the window, but it was solid, it doesn't open. The glass was three layers thick, it was impossible to break with bare hands.

I took one of my hair pins and was prepared to pick the lock. When I realized it's a lock connecting the door to the wall on the surface, not normal door locks.

My knuckles knocked on every inch of the walls in the room, hoping to find any thin spots. But they were all solid brick walls. I plopped down onto the mattress when I knew it was impossible now, it was rather comfortable.

Now I have all the time in the world to think about life and my mixed feelings about everything.

My hand patted my pocket. Did I seriously forget my phone?

Nolan's PoV

I hit my hand on the counter.

After two hundred times of warnings, Miki forgot her motherfucking phone.

"Do you actually think nothing'll happen to her?" Asher asks while throwing a grape into his open mouth. Yes, sometimes he just comes over for no reason. Since he doesn't really need to study to get good grades.

"...I trust her skills." I manage to say.

"This isn't about trust." It was hard to take him seriously when he had a mouth full of grapes, "Accidents happen no matter what. And now you can't even contact her. It's only reasonable if you're worried sick."

I caught myself pacing around the room in a rapid speed. I growled in slight frustration. It's extremely irritating that he can read anybody like an open book.

I shook my head. Then sat down and tried to calm myself. It was starting to work.

Until a thump flashed in my head, as if alarming me. From that point on, I knew--just knew--that Miki was in trouble.

Asher just chuckled as I flung on my jacket. I turned to him and gave him a deadpan face, "You coming or not, twat?"

That was enough for him pick up his jacket as well.

He drove since I would probably get ten tickets for speeding if I did. Time slowed to a nauseating crawl no matter how I rushed it. The sudden fear of losing someone dear to me again struck me like a bullet. The emotions of despair the night mother passed away came flooding back. I felt my hands go cold.

I never should've agreed to let her go alone. I never should've--!

"Man, calm down." Asher's voice brought me back to reality, where the red signal was flashing at us. His grip on the steering wheel was tight, for once in his life he sounded like the oldest, "Even for Miki's sake, you definitely need to remain rational."

My hair shadowed my eyes as I took a deep breath. When I sat up right again, I took out my phone and called my chauffeur. Then I phoned Baba to inform him.

Seeing my business-like attire back, Asher smiled again, "That's the Nolan O'Bryan I know."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Drag me Down has gotta be my favorite 1D song now. Before I was obsessed with Best Song Ever for days I kept it playing non-stop. XD

November 20, 2015

VOTE PEOPLE PLEASE

Instagram - seika_akashi

Thanks for reading ^_^

--Lily

Edited: July 17, 2016