"They're also looking for you."

Darling's warning echoed in Amelia's mind, and she sat momentarily stunned. The more she thought about the situation, the more she found it ironic. She let out a chuckle of disbelief.

"What's so funny?" Elise eyed Amelia suspiciously.

"I'll be working on the same side as people who want to incarcerate me." Amelia shook her head.

"It's a fair price to pay when someone's done something much worse than you have." Darling attempted to ease Amelia's concern.

"That isn't really a fair comparison," Amelia scoffed. "The Bauhinias have at least three generations of criminals under their belts."

"Remind me why we agreed to let her help us with this," Elise frowned at Darling.

"We have to uphold our end of the deal." Darling patted Elise's shoulder. "Besides, it wouldn't do any harm to let her know about the search your dad instigated."

"A search?" Amelia's eyes widened, and she looked at the pair incredulously.

Darling nodded. "One of the agents alerted Governor Lau of a 'Missing' poster with your name on it, stating that if you were found, you would be sent to the Lucky Alleyway—wherever that is. Apparently, it was posted on a site specifically designed for elusive criminals—because of that poster, the police rounded up a few wrongdoers. Now, government agents are out in the city looking for you."

Amelia could only think of two people who would actively try and find her—one was Aunt Yan, who genuinely cared about her (and her affection was reciprocated), and Ah Ba because she would be needed. There was probably another assignment waiting for her if she returned.

"Thanks for the heads-up," Amelia chose to respond. "Now, let's see about moving forward with the plan."

Elise smirked. "Here's the fun part—let's bring you to the armory."

***

"Stay here." Darling put a hand on Amelia's shoulder, but she swatted it away.

Amelia heard Elise type in a code (which consisted of not four, not eight, but twenty-two digits), and a door subsequently slid open.

"Can I take off my blindfold now?" Amelia questioned.

Darling nudged her, and she took a few steps forward. The door closed behind the trio.

"Now you can," Elise responded.

There were some benefits to being a lawmaker in Cantonesia, Amelia mused as she looked around the room. For one, they got to keep weapons in their households, unlike the rest of the general public. This new law was only passed five years ago, but Governor Lau had quite the collection. Amelia had already seen some in the training area, but at least two of each were in this armory.

Of course, she'd seen most of these weapons before. Ah Kan had shown her almost all of the ones he knew, and she'd also done some research on her own. Ah Ba had told her never to question how he'd attained so many firearms, but Amelia had some of her suspicions.

Artillery lined the left side of the wall—pistols, guns, snipers...you name it, they had it. Amelia reached out a hand to touch a Sig Sauer Cross Bolt-Action Rifle, one weapon that Ah Ba claimed to be for hunting use only. Another Sig Sauer P320 sat on a shelf above the rifle—Amelia remembered Ah Kan keeping that in his belt. A Glock 17 was farther along on the left: the all-black weapon almost blended with the dark metal walls.

Grenades, handheld explosive devices, and other unique weapons lined the right wall. Amelia saw the crossbow Ah Kan had designed for her in a glass safe, and sighed longingly.

"I need this back." Amelia pointed to the weapon from Ah Kan.

"We'll see about that later." Elise brushed her off with a wave of her hand.

In response, Amelia rolled her eyes begrudgingly. "What's the point of showing me all these weapons if you won't let me use them?"

"You will get to use the weapons, but they're reserved for use during a stakeout or an invasion to protect ourselves," Darling interjected.

"I'm sure that you both only need a few more training sessions to take down your pathetic guards with bare hands—"

"Don't underestimate my father's security." Elise frowned. "They've been trained for at least ten years. I've seen one decapitate a chicken with a swift punch...."

Amelia scoffed. "I've had at least fifteen years of experience doing assignments for my father. I can handle a couple brutes."

"True," Darling agreed, albeit a bit reluctantly. "We can't always rely on these guards to save us. I know I'll be able to handle myself without them monitoring my every move."

Amelia and Elise watched as Darling scanned the walls for a weapon. Her gaze rested on a comb.

The comb's dark green jade reflected the arsenal's pale overhead lights. Two teeth on either side of the comb curved inwards, creating a semi-circle frame. Some of the fine teeth in the middle were snapped, and the jade had a few cracks in it. These flaws accentuated its value and antiquity.

The icing on the cake was most definitely the bauhinia on the top. The glossy magenta petals enveloped the jade comb and seemed to radiate pure magic.

"Are you sure this is a real weapon, Darling?" Elise laughed in disbelief.

"Wait a second," Amelia's eyes widened. "That comb—it isn't misplaced. You were wearing it at the event where you captured me! That thing can shoot darts."

Darling sighed and brushed back a strand of ebony hair. "There are ups and downs to using this comb in public—such as when your hostage, who just so happens to be adept in weaponry, will notice its special function easily."

"I've never seen it before." Elise raised her bushy eyebrow, and Darling's equally bushy eyebrow did so as well.

"You two aren't the only people with secrets. Let me show you how this works."

Darling twisted the bauhinia clockwise, once, twice, three times. A small cylindrical tube rose from the center of the vibrant flower and extended a circular tool to help the user take aim. Amelia peered into the box and saw the sharp tip of a dart. She drew back in alarm.

"I've never seen anything like that before," Amelia nodded in admiration. "I'd buy it in a heartbeat."

"Unfortunately," Darling chuckled, "it's not up for sale. This has been in my family for longer than I can remember, and it changed my entire life."

***

"Take care of this for me, Darling," Grandmother whispered. "Your mother will teach you how to use it."

Before disappearing into the dead of night, Darling's grandmother placed a comb into her outstretched hands. "Now," Grandmother's voice became more urgent. "I have to leave—they're on my trail. I must travel back home, understand?"

"Who—what—" Darling hugged her grandmother tight, afraid of losing another family member at the mere age of eight. She'd watched her grandfather die from a gunshot a few years ago, and nobody knew where her father was. Growing up in the shady parts of Cantonesia did nothing to help her live an easy life.

"You know too much already, Darling. Keep your mother safe and be strong—that's all I ask," Grandmother replied and pried the child's hands from her waist. "My good girl."

The old woman gave Darling a final wave and slunk away into the pitch-black canopy of the night sky. Malfunctioning street lamps flickered overhead, making Grandmother seem to weave in and out of the shadows.

Darling closed the shabby wooden door with a soft creak. She peered out the broken window, watching the elderly woman's back disappear around a corner. A lone tear slid down her right cheek.

Keep her mother safe and be strong, Grandmother had asked. That was easier said than done.

Darling looked at the comb in her hands. The cool green jade and the bauhinia that seemed to sparkle did nothing to cheer her up. Yes, it was beautiful, but what good did a comb do? Could she sell it to get by?

Grandmother had told her to keep the comb safe, so maybe selling it wasn't an option. The best thing to do was probably take it to her mother.

But what could she do? Frail, weak, and sickly, Darling's mother had been bedridden for as long as she could remember. There wasn't much she could do to ensure the comb was safe.

With a resolute nod and not much of a choice, Darling ascended the creaking stairs to her mother's room.

She shook her mother awake from her slumber. "Grandmother left. She told me to keep this comb safe."

Darling's mother's eyes widened in recognition. She coughed and spoke with a quiet whisper, "This comb has been passed down by women in our family for generations. We usually inherit this from our mothers—" She let out a huge gasp.

"Did your grandmother leave the house?" Her voice was shaky now.

"Yes," Darling was almost afraid to reply.

Darling's mother gasped and stared at her with widened, frightened eyes. "The older generation only gives the comb to the next when they're about to die. I'm so sorry, Darling. Your grandmother's gone."

"How...is she gone forever?" Darling's voice was barely a whisper.

Darling's mother could only nod.

The child instantaneously collapsed into her feeble mother's arms, sobbing painfully. "I don't understand!"

"The world is callous and cruel. Your grandmother made a choice to leave us to keep us safe—you'll understand in the future." Darling's mother patted her head.

*

The next day, Darling's mother called her to her room. "It's high time I taught you how to use this, just in case."

Darling watched intently as her mother picked the comb up from the nightstand. "This flower on the top is a bauhinia," she explained. "It blooms during the coldest season here, so it signifies our ability to adapt to whatever challenges are thrown our way. This flower was Hong Kong's city flower before Cantonesia was formed. This is why it represents a will to keep moving forward.

"And like the bauhinia," Darling's mother looked at her daughter, "you must stand strong in the face of adversity and challenge all odds. You must do this even when you feel nobody can help you. Trust me when I say this comb will always protect you."

Darling nodded determinedly. Another thing easier said than done, but this time around, she was confident she could heed her mother's words.

"Let me show you how to use it." Darling's mother extended her hand to give her child a better view.

"I know how to use a comb," Darling scoffed.

"But do you know how to use this one?" Darling's mother twisted the petals of the bauhinia clockwise—once, twice, three times. A cylindrical tube appeared from the center of the flower.

"Press this button behind the chamber—" Her mother pointed to a tiny red button, "Take aim using the peephole, and fire."

A dart shot from the cylindrical chamber at lightning speed and stuck to the derelict wooden wall.

Needless to say, Darling was dumbfounded.

"When can I start using this?" she excitedly reached for the comb.

"Darling, this is not a plaything—it's a lethal weapon that could injure and possibly kill someone. Only use it in the direst circumstances, like when your life is in danger."

"Understood," Darling looked at the comb longingly.

"You'll receive it once you're of age," Darling's mother patted her shoulder, "and after I go."

Upon realizing the stark truth, the child resolved never to inherit the comb. Unfortunately, life never turns out the way it is expected to.

Darling's mother left her with the comb one year later. She had lost her battle against leukemia.

Darling couldn't even cry this time—she didn't know why. Maybe she'd mentally prepared herself for the worst to come. Perhaps it was because she'd lost too much already.

Nevertheless, she kept the comb with her, resolving to never use it. She and Elise met at a government-subsidized school and became fast friends at the age of twelve, but she never told her why the shining bauhinia was constantly concealed in her hair. As the two grew closer (and too many people mistook them for twins), Darling held fast to the comb throughout her teenage years.

Darling had thought she was surrounded by too many unresolved questions. After her mother passed, she could only constantly rely on the comb and its latent powers. But when she moved in with Elise for college, the comb found its resting place in the Lau residence's arsenal in case of emergency, as was the house rule to keep all weapons in the training room and artillery.

The comb slowly faded out of Darling's life as she became familiar with the upper class in society, until one night when Elise told her she had a plan.

"Rumor has it that the Bauhinias' heiress, Amelia Yeung, will be at the social event I'm hosting. Can you cover for me in the ballroom while I stay in the shadows to look out for her?"

Darling nodded. She could finally use that bauhinia comb for good.

***

"How long has this comb been in your family?" Elise brought Darling away from her trance.

"I...I suppose more than three generations, at least," Darling mumbled. "I'm not sure. Apparently, there's a lot of history behind it."

Amelia nodded, acknowledging Darling's statement. "That comb must be essential to you. Now, onto more pressing matters—choosing our weapons."

She picked up the Glock 17. "Not the best model, but it's handy and will suffice."

"Wait...what about this one for me?" Elise snatched up a Sig Sauer rifle.

"Remember, we want to travel lightly and be able to slink around in the shadows effortlessly." Amelia put the rifle down. "Carrying a large rifle while on a mission is not the best idea."

Elise nodded. "Not ideal for sneaking it past the council members either."

"What we need are some helpful gadgets." Amelia walked over to the right side of the armory. "We could use some lasers if we're infiltrating a space to get the antiquities back."

Amelia picked up a few and handed them to Darling and Elise. "And I'd like my crossbow bottle back, please."

Elise sighed, and Amelia watched with delight as the woman used touch identification and face recognition softwares to unlock the bulletproof glass safe. She pulled out the coveted bow and arrow from the safe and reluctantly placed it in Amelia's outstretched arms.

"Please use the crossbow with care," Darling added. "If we've got the weapons settled, our next step is to create a plan of action. I'll start brainstorming while you all look for more firearms—I know I'll be using my comb." She took out several blank sheets of paper and pencils from a drawer.

"Now, how will we go about exposing governor Richard Lau?"

Word Count: 2466 

(A/N: I'll probably come back and edit this chapter. It feels a little rushed-tell me what you guys thing; I'd appreciate the advice!) 

(PS: We're getting closer to the climax now, so sit tight and we'll get to the action very soon.)