Hey lovelies, its a pretty long chapter just for you.
So enjoy.

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A/N :Azi is spelled as:-
Aa ( 'A' as in 'Art') -- zee

Aa-zee.
Azi is singular
Azis is plural

___♡___

    The moment he opened the door to the café, the waft of coffee and bread invaded his nostrils.
It was his favourite café.

His eyes scanned all the tables. He knew Jacob would not be late. He was a man of principles.

His eyes were finding some characters which he thought would still be there on him.

Jet black hair, brown eyes just like her sister's, muscles... considering his job, he must have grown up so he may be a foot taller and--

His search was suddenly interrupted when somebody tapped on his shoulder.

A man in his early twenties, half a head taller than Martin, having an aura of authority around him, clad in a denim jacket and jeans was standing.

He had a smile plastered on his face, a different kind of glimmer in his eyes. He had his jet black hair all messy and spiky as if he had no time to get them set and last but not the least, he had chocolaty brown eyes-- just like that of Suzanne's.

He was no doubt, Jacob Raymond.

As soon as Martin's eyes fell on him, in just mere minutes he knew that it was Jacob and no one else. He engulfed him into a hug, making up for the missed assurance they always felt in each others arms.

After a while they were walking shoulder to shoulder towards a table.

"You have turned up to become quite handsome. Considering how you looked earlier, all thin and petite, I never thought you could ever turn up like this." Jacob spoke first and then winked at Martin.

He rolled his eyes and spoke "Believe me brother, you have turned into the total opposite of what you were when young. Earlier girls would drool over you and now I think barely any girl  would have even glanced in your direction."

Jacob narrowed his eyes "Oh look who's talking. I was just encouraging you as a friend but no- great grand Martin will always be the arrogant dumbass. Shoo away I'll show who the girls drool on."

"Are you serious about provoking the girls? And besides every word I said was true. And every word you said in my description was the ultimate truth."

"Oh is that so? By the way no, I was not serious. I am already good looking I don't need to show that."

Martin rolled his eyes. It felt better to pull the leg of one's friend after a long time. Besides they had a rapport of insulting each other excessively but-- with love.

Suddenly Jacob engulfed Martin into a hug and he gave it back.

"It really feels a lot better after talking to you again. I still wish that day wouldn't have happened. Life would have been so different."

It was a hurtful day. Merely thinking about that day bought the grief and pain back with it.
Martin patted his back and led him to a table.

"So, how does it feel to be the Vice Executive Director? Enjoying it?"

An unreadable expression crosses his face and then he gives a sad smile.

"Its going good. Ofcourse it comes with its own set of hurdles and responsibilities, but I manage well."

At a very young age he had to cope with it. And even after being his best friend, Martin could not be with him at that time.

"I know it was really wrong at my part to not be with you. I should have fought my fath--"

"Hey calm down okay? What was supposed to happen has happened. We can't really do anything about it. You had your own reasons and I had mine. Thinking about what will happen next should be our concern now."

He was right. His prime concern right now should be her well being.

"So what about your dream job. Any progress?

"Yep. I am yet to get admission in it but there are plenty of colleges I have applied for. And besides I am positive that I will get admission because... well you know."

Martin did not want to talk about his father. It always reminded them of the terrible events five years ago.

The death of William Raymond.

"Its alright Marty, its a fact and it won't change. Your father was probably the best weapon designer we ever had but we are expecting you to take that title."

Martin rolled his eyes. He could flatter anybody and that too so flatteringly. If this makes any sense.

"I am not my father and I really don't think I could work at that position. And besides I have just done a few online courses and she doesn't-- uh..I mean my umm... my parents are not yet aware of my peculiar interest in weapons."

Just when Martin thought he covered the 'she' very well-- Jacob chuckled.

Oh God. Here goes nothing.

"I know you thought you concealed it but no, you didn't. First is that your father himself was someone with immense interest in weapons and from a very young age you showed that interest too.
     "And secondly my dear bro-- you of all people never fluster or stammer. This was enough hint for me. Now reveal it to me like a good friend, who is she?"

It was her.

The reason for making two long lost friends meet.

She was his Claire.

"Its--its Claire-- I mean its Clarissa. Clarissa Brown."

The silence that followed was agonising. Both of them very well knew that where this topic will lead them to.

"I am sorry." It was Jacob who broke the silence first.

Jacob was really sorry.

He did not know that one of the nominated person will turn out to be someone dear to his best friend.

It was a long time after they had met. He thought she was just some passerby or a classmate but not someone he liked.

"There is no need to apologise. If I would have been in your shoes, I would have done the same. Somethings are supposed to be done."

He was always the kind hearted. The one to forgive first. The one to be calm and composed when Jacob would be the total opposite of it.

It was time.

Time to tell him what all this is about.

"We had a list of people with us who had this special ability in their own self. But the problem was that they we--"

Martin interrupted,
"That they were not young. These complications had arised before. I remember." He sighed.

"Yes that's right. And most of them are unaware. Infact almost everybody. The thing is that we cannot know about a person's speciality until we get his or her medical reports."

"And because Clarissa went through an accident, you could get hold of her medical reports. Well nonetheless I must say that the connections you have established in the past five years are pretty impressive."

A sort of confusion clouded Jacob's mind. How did they even accomplish so much in five years? It took them atleast 10 years to accomplish a position which could be in compition with Plazma, the association of the Deamonnes. Then how--

His thought was cut off when Martin spoke.

"Well I highly doubt that it was only Clarissa who was of the appropriate age. There would definitely be some other people eligible. So why so adamant in getting Clarissa into this?"

He asked while looking around at the café, and sipping his cappuccino. 

"That's because we suspect that she has the ability to become the Key Player."

Martin's head snapped in his direction. Earlier when he told they suspected it he thought that she was nominated for the cause.

Not that she was chosen in the lead of it.

"Ar-are you s-sure? I mean she doesn't visibly have that much of impact. And she is too young! She cannot be the prime target of the Azis!--"

"Calm down Martin! I know its very difficult to digest this. I know believe me. But that is what she is. She is the chosen one. And if we ignore it the Azis will know it very soon. You know what had happened five years ago."

The usual cool and calm composure Martin possessed snapped.
He was no longer thinking right. It was too much information to digest at a time.

"Yeah. Yeah I know what had happened. We lost Benjie . We f***king lost him Jacob!--"

Jacob interrupted  "And that was solely because we were ignorant. We thought that we shouldn't involve him and the people of Plazma took the chance. It will be exactly the same with Clarissa if we don't bind her with the contract now. And its not that she is the prime preference. We have Kenny who is elected for the next Key Player."

Martin rubbed his face with both hands and ran his fingers through his hair. He finally gave an exasperated sigh and nodded.

"I am sorry." Said Martin.

Jacob kept a hand on his and gave a squeeze to it.

"Look she is equally my responsibility now that I know she is your friend. I had not looked into the matter personally. It was in the hands of Antonio. I assure you we will try our best to keep her safe. Okay?"

Martin just nodded again. How he simply wished for her to have the life she always loved, back.

But as Jacob said, if they don't save her now it will be the Azis--the personnels of Plazma association-- who will have her.

They probably already know about her.

Just as in the case of Benjamin.

He still couldn't get the image of Benjamin's lifeless--no--bloodless--body out of his mind.

The thought of Azis having her sent a shiver through his body.

Vexx Deamonne-- the head of Plazma had a very bad reputation when it came to women.

Oh god. Why she?

"Martin."

He snapped back out of his reverie. His hair was a mess now after running his hands through his hair multiple times. He looked at Jacob.

"Martin, I had already expected this but not so early. The Plazma had sent one of his informants towards her. They know she is capable. Maybe if you cou--"

"No! No not me! I had lied to her that we shifted here just because my mom didn't like the buzz of the city. She doesn't know a thing about my past. And if you think businesslike, breaking her trust in me at this crucial time will be a big mistake."

Jacob nodded in understanding. Martin was just like his father, Logan.
Thinking the right thing at such a haywire situation. Or maybe he really valued the girl's friendship.

Before he could say anything else, Martin's phone rang.

"Hi mom. Is everything alright?"

There was a pause and then Martin looked at Jacob with questioning eyes.

"I am with..."

Jacob shook his head. This was the least of all situation in which his parents start doubting that there is something not right.

"Yeah. Yeah I am with... Henry. We just met up today. Oh okay...... no we are finished.... Yup am coming."

"There are some relatives at home who wanna meet me. Well is there anything else?"

"No its not. And please,stay in contact. For old time's sake and....for her."

The both hugged each other once again and left from the café.

_____
Clarissa.

My knees were shaking even after having the crutches tightly in my grip.

Why shouldn't I be afraid?

This is not something that commonly happens with a 17 year old girl in the middle of a crowded market.

Would it be those people who kidnapped me?
They were talking about some kind of contract, right?

Oh god why is this supposed to happen to me?

I still did not have the guts to open that small packet.
What if it had a bomb?

No, I don't think a bomb that is light weighted and small is invented till this date.

I hope they are not.

I opened my door and mumbled a loud 'I am home' and directly ran into my room.
Mom would certainly know that something was wrong and I don't want her to worry about me again.

I sprint to my room and lock the doors and windows. In case there was something toxic or harmful, only I will be the victim.

I put the packet delicately and cautiously down on the table and paced my room occasionally glancing towards the packet.

Should I open it?
No, no. What if... what if it had some creepy camera which could spy on me?

A smoke bomb?
So that they can come in in kidnap me from my own room.

Or a bomb?
A nuclear one at that.

Suddenly my phone started ringing.
Who would it be?

It must be those terroristical people. If a word like that even exists.

I took two steps away from the cell phone on my bed.

You know those bombs in movies which activate when you pick up a call?

Yeah, I pretty much am imagining  worse scenarios in my head right now.

I asked God for his support and took tiny little steps nearing the parcel.

The phone rings stopped.
This kind of gave me a boost to go and inquire.

I slowly went towards it and touched it with one finger.

It was solid, but the texture was powdery. May be gun powder?
I gulped.

I finally recited a prayer and took it carefully in both of my shivering hands and opened it.

I was dumbstruck at what I saw.
It was utterly unexpected to have this view in front of my eyes.

Inside the packet was a whole lot of white powder.

Why white powder?

What white powder?

I really was hesitant in touching it so I grabbed a toothpick from my drawer and dug it inside the bag.

Two to three times it just passed through but when I tried again for the forth time, it hit something.

Something hard.

I gulped in fear once again but nonetheless decided to have a look at what it was.

I angled the toothpick in an attempt to get the thing out of the bag and and when it surfaced I could see a faint gold colour on it.

It dropped and I tried again and again until I got it out of it.

Atlast I managed to pull it out and then there was yet another shock of my life.

It was a ring.

A ring which I had never seen in real but very well knew who it belonged to.

It was golden and tattered, not in proper shape but it was undeniably a ring.

A replica of it was wore by my mother, which was given by my grandfather.

He had the wish of giving his sons wife the same ring he gave to his wife.

This is my grandmother's ring.

If people as dangerous as these could fire a gun in the market and kidnap me, have this ring, it only directs to one thing.

There is more than it meets the eye.

First they kidnap me, and then when I refuse to sign whatever form they were talking about, they tell me they have a connection with my grandmother.

How will this force me to sign the form?

I was just not able to connect the dots.

I revised everything that happened to me today. Only if I could find someth--

The name.

Mr. Demenstor.....or something with D. Oh god what was it?!
I scan my mind as hard as possible. It was there on the tip of my tongue...

Then it clicked to me.

Mr. Deamonne.

I sat on my computer screen and typed the only clue I had in the search box.

I got many searched with different first names and different fields they work in.

Cotton plant industry, a hydro power plant owner, just a mere Facebook profile, some random professor, the father of a diseased kid, a genetic analysis and engineering plant, an automobile rep--

Something catches my eye and I scroll back up, and indeed it was something worth the scroll.

A genetic analysis and engineering plant.

Didn't they tell something was different with my bones? Something about having abnormal genes?

I click on the link and find the name of the owner.

'Earlier known as Mr. Victor Deamonne, and now famous for establishing a major revolution in genetic engineering, Mr. Vexx Deamonne has established the institution of Plazma. He changed his name after being a successful entrepreneur in the field of genetics.'

How can someone have a business in genes?

But kidnapping me and giving me a brief explanation on what the hell is going on and firing a gun in the middle of a market are two totally different things.

I don't mean that kidnapping is a better option but if we compare them there is a vast difference.

May be I should just focus on what's in my hand rather than thinking without any clue.

I will have to find about grandmother, soon.
__________

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Sorry for the delay. I was on vacation and it really is a task to write this book. Phew.

Hello people once again. I may have  republished the first three chapters combined into two chapters because they were not satisfying to me.
Hence please check it out and let me know.

Thank you for reading.