I woke up early the next morning, with a pounding head. Why in the world would I have a pounding head? I haven't even done anything yet. Actually, I just woke up. Maybe it is due to the lack of sleep I have been having for these few weeks. That is very likely. And to top that up, I feel so tired. But how is that possible? I just woke up!

My pounding head is killing me.

I feel like taking some painkillers right now, but sadly, I don't have any. It never occurred to me that I would need to use painkillers as many have said that they are not good for one's health. But honestly, I think the pain is worst.

Pound, pound, pound. Oh my goodness gracious me! This is so painful. I can barely concentrate on my surroundings. My eyesight is getting a little blurry. Argh! I tried to check the time, which I successfully did. Yay. Note the dull tone of that yay.

So... It's only three in the morning. Makes sense as to why I feel so tired even though I just woke up. I rested my head back onto my pillow and closed my eyes. I can still feel my head pounding, but I tried my best to ignore the pain, though I am quite sure that it's going to be a futile attempt.

Which proved to be a not so vain attempt after all. Because I managed to drift off to dreamland, and my headache was soon forgotten as the dream swallowed up all of its pain.

The next time I woke up, it wasn't so very early, and I felt a lot better, especially my headache. It's gone! Whoop! Insert smiley face here. I got up and rubbed my eye sleepily.

I had a feeling that I was supposed to do something now... But I just can't place my finger on it...

Wait! I know what it is! The information... The one that Desmond gave me.

"Yeah? What about it?" a small voice replied.

I ignored it and retrieved it from under my pillow. Now, before doing anything else, I decided to read it all at one go. Hopefully, I will learn everything I want to... Or maybe even try to 'read between the lines' as my Lit teacher always says.

And so, that is what I'll try doing!

Try what will I do?

Read between the lines, that's what! And try will I!

Gosh, now I sound like Yoda. Ah well!

I unfolded the paper and started reading it slowly and carefully, to make sure that my brain absorbs every single word of it.

"There was once a girl who goes by the name of Geraldine, or rather, Dina. She went to Paris in the year 2007, when she was nineteen, to further her studies in culinary arts. Or at least, that was what her parents thought.

But, before she left, she met someone in her senior year back when she was still in high school, Desmond. She did end up going to Paris, but not all alone. Desmond had followed, her, for they were already going out.

And she did go to Paris to further her studies. But that was not her one sole purpose of choosing Paris to further her studies.

When she found out about something in her freshmen year in college, that was when she contacted them. To do a job for her... Which she knew had it coming all along anyway..."

And that was when I remembered the letter that Gray had found from the office. Could this Dina be the same person who wrote that letter five years ago? Could this Geraldine – or rather, Dina – be the same Geraldine that I know? As in, Gray's sister...

Hmm... There's that possibility there... And it's lot larger than most 'slim chances'.

Back to the topic. Who is she contacting? And what did she know had what coming for who all along? I don't get that part either... Maybe reading on will ultimately bring me to the answer of all these questions swimming around in my head.

"She contacted someone... Someone her family would never approve of if they knew. Someone who would make her disowned by her parent's if they found out that they ever had contact with each other before.

And this 'someone' could get her in deep trouble. Especially since she's in alliance with them. Someone who will not only get her in trouble with her own parents, but with the authority as well."

Who is this 'someone' they are referring to? Why is this 'someone' so dangerous that she could get in trouble with the authority as well if they ever found out that she contacted them? Someone on the 'wanted' list?

But still... Who could be so dangerous? I mean, it's not like someone will ever have a talent in 'killing' people. No one in their right mind will have this talent. Even if they are super good at killing people, it means that they sharpen their skills or learn from someone else.

I read on. Maybe... One of the next few parts might be able to answer my questions... Because the last one certainly did not! If anything, it only gave me even more questions!

"The 'someone' she contacted is very dangerous as it is an illegal organisation who has been working very actively in the black market – they must be one of the most active ones – for as long as anyone can remember. Perhaps even longer."

So... How is working in the black market dangerous? I mean, sure it is risky but dangerous? I still don't get it. Now I understand the 'get in deep trouble' part, but not the 'dangerous' part.

Urgh! I hate all these questions that are swimming around in my head! Furthermore, there won't be anyone there to answer my questions. Maybe that is the effect Desmond wanted to have on me. Well, if he did, congratulations!

Let's just hope that this letter can read my mind, though I know perfectly well that it is a non-living thing that can't think or breathe or grow or do anything for that matter. Except for the task that they were created for.

So... Let's just hope that there's some 'miracle' or something that this letter can answer all my questions... Which must be like, what, the third time I'm hoping? And all it's doing is keep throwing questions back at me, in a larger scale.

"This... Organisation... Has one main purpose. They kill. It's something like an assassination company with a twist. They kill people for money based on the 'orders' from their clients, and each 'job' has a very high price for the client to pay.

A very high price that not everyone can afford.

Most of the time they would ask for money. But not always. And the client has to be ready to pay whatever price they ask, otherwise, they would be killed as well."

Ooh! Burn! That's freaky. But, who in the right mind would want to kill other people? I'm referring to the clients here. Why would they want to kill others? It's not like they can benefit from anything right? If anything, they are wasting their time and effort and money just to get the job done.

And this organisation is a very money faced organisation. Killing for money. Insert snort here. Only the desperate do that. But then again, maybe they are desperate people. Maybe they have some huge debt somewhere that they can't settle.

But if they ask for a large price each time, won't they have collected enough money already? Just after a few jobs, I mean. Why continue the 'business'? Isn't that just digging an even larger grave for yourself? With the authorities, I mean.

Some people just won't learn, will they?

"Geraldine knew that she didn't have enough cash to pay the price. But lucky for her, she knows the head of the organisation personally. So, she contacted him.

He accepted the job immediately, without second thoughts. The price she had to pay was a lot smaller compared to the ones most clients have to pay. But she still had to pay the price nevertheless.

However, unlike most clients, this price is not very easy to obtain. If anything, it is a very risky price to fulfil. The price wasn't just as simple as handing a huge, thick wad of money across the table. In other to pay the price, Geraldine had to do some hands on work."

Hands on work? How many different types of hands on work are there to do for an organisation that – from what I've read – pretty much has everything already? It all does not make sense. Once again, the puzzle pieces do not fit.

Or maybe... Maybe the 'hands on' work was for Geraldine to kill them herself, and they would give her a cover story or cover her up or something. But, that doesn't make sense anymore. If she were to do the 'job' herself, why would she bother to contact them in the first place?

Argh! Stupid brain! Why oh why must you be so full of questions? Can't you just accept information quietly, with no questions asked? But no! You just have to ask too many questions that make it even worse than it already is.

Why oh why does the human brain have to ask so many questions? Why oh why must we, as humans, be so curious?

"No, she did not do the whole job by herself of course. If she did, then what would be the point of contacting the organisation anyway? She would've done the job by herself – she's a very initiative person who likes to do things by herself to make sure that the job is done properly and she also does not trust others to do things for her – but she lacked resources this time.

Resources that would be very risky to find alone.

She needed manual labour. Well, not exactly labour, but she needed the man power that she didn't have. She clearly lacked contacts. And it would be risky to just ask anyone at random."

You know, reading this makes it seem like I am talking to a real person who can read my thoughts and has to jot down all his or her reply on a piece of paper. Why do I say this? Well, it's because every time I ask myself a question, the answer will pop up on the next part that I read.

Well, not all the questions, but at least one. And let me test that concept once again. What does she do next? What is it she needs to do for the organisation? What is the price she has to pay? After all, they did say that all the jobs have a price. So, naturally, I am sure that this has one too.

"And the price for all these? Well, it's quite easy. Or rather, it depends on one's level of ability. Geraldine wanted to do it all alone, but she wasn't allowed. So, she did the one thing she was able to do. And that became the price of the job.

And it was...

Information."

Information?

Wait a second! My concept was just proven right! I asked myself for the price of the job and it is stated in this part! I feel like a genius now! Just kidding. After all, which genius has so many unanswered questions swimming around in their mind?

Now, back to the topic.

Information?

As in... Find out information about her victim? That's probably the case. But... Who is this 'victim' of hers? Who is this referring to? But... I don't get any of these... Information? So, the organisation does not have to gather for information by themselves as they always do?

But why in the world would they need information for? To threaten them? Or maybe, they wanted to make these 'killings' seem like accidents so that no one will be suspicious of anything. So, they need to monitor their schedule and whatnot.

And maybe, becoming friends with them.

But... All these? They all seem so ironic to me... They seem to be jumping out of my mind and forming the solid versions of my thoughts and staring me right in the face.

I wonder why?

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Sorry, but I can't update anytime soon! I have a camp coming up and I need to start packing soon or I won't finish it at all! >.< ANyways, if you guys are lucky, I might just post the next chapter tonight (GMT+8.00)! XD