What actually happened...

Yes, we did end up finding Iwan but it was dark when we got there. I was first to go inside (with a slight push from Libby - I warned her that if she were to touch me again, *bitterly laughs*, I'll-I'll ...yeah, I got nothing). I knew something was up as I heard whimpering in the distance, I crouched low pointing my laser gun in dark corners: behind me, in front of me, I beckoned for the others to follow; as I turned around again, a familiar voice startled me, "Well, well, well. Look who we have here." A spotlight shone in the centre revealing Mr President's son who was strapped to a chair and gagged. Iwan came into view pointing a gun at the boy's head, "Aria Fortescue, the second descendant of the infamous owners of the T.O.S. The only one who has ever gotten a clear conscience. I must say, I'm very surprised." said Iwan with amusement in his eyes.

I must note everyone else in the basement were looking at me silently. I never knew my background was this bad, I thought as I stood there in utter shock. Then I felt this cold feeling within and something just... "clicked". Now, this is hard to explain, but I would say that you are about to see interrogative side.

"Enough with your trashy talk." I say bitterly, my hand hovering over the leg strap containing a laser gun, "we're here to get The President's son in exchange for proof of resignation from him. Correct?"

"Correct."

"And I can see bombs attached to the legs of the chair," I pointed out.

"Quite right." Iwan replied as he checked his watch, "Oh! Time flies. You have 30 minutes left. Or, we all die."

"As for you, your death is none of my concern and now you're just speeding up the time," I glowered at him.

"Elmer's coming with the resignation don't worry, you'll get what you've always wanted." Said Libby who stood with her arms folded in the background.

"I hope I will, my dear Libby." He smirked.

"Now, can you explain what this is?" I asked pulling out the locket from the pocket which I took from the mansion (last minute).

"Why it's yours."

"What is your definition of 'yours'?"

"It's not my secret to tell."

Instantly, both guns were in each hand, something snalled within me and all I saw was red from rage.

I asked slowly and coldly, "you knew my mum. Where is she? How am I related to the T.O.S? I need to know why."

"Aria, think through carefully." I heard Valerio's voice which contained a trace of panic.

"Yes, you should my dear. Listen to your protector, your guide, you-"

"Yes, I get it!" I cut in an irritable tone, "You know more about myself than even I don't know. You don't understand Iwan, either of you. Ever since I joined the organisation, I feel like I'm finding my own feet again. Being locked away in a rotting house for a good six years since my mum vanished from the face of the Earth is not easy. Going to Atlanta, I realised that the T.O.S had something to do with my mother's disappearance. Why am I so shielded from the rest of the world?"

Iwan cooed, "Oh, Aria. You'll find out soon enough...."

"How soon?" I demanded.

"I'm not repeating myself. Has this," he spat his name, "Elmer arrived yet?"

"Actually, I have." Said Elmer whose voice drifted from the entrance of the basement.

******

"Hello, my old friend, how are you doing?" Asked Iwan.

"I'm doing way better than you old friend."

"I actually don't care. I want what is mine and I'll give what you want as well, the country in return. The country itself is falling apart, thanks to us, and I'm going to finish it."

"We won't allow that to happen." Valerio chimed in. I was about to pull the trigger.

"Lower your gun Aria." Ordered Elmer which I reluctantly did, "I'll take it from here." He said to Valerio. I then took a step closer ready to receive the boy.

"Move, and the boy dies," Iwan said in an almost hysterical voice.

"She won't move any closer, I assure you." Elmer eyed me carefully. He then returned his attention to Iwan, "I see you haven't given Aria any answers... good-"

"What?!" I exclaimed.

Elmer ignored me and continued, "- she's not ready yet, that's what her mother told us. Anyway, we have gotten what you've asked for," he took out a brown envelope which most likely contained the resignation letter ready to be scanned and posted on every floating signboard in the whole country, "You must untie the boy."

Iwan took his time: starting by untying the boy's legs then moving onto his arms and finally removing the gag from his mouth.

Elmer gave the envelope in such a composed way, I started to doubt I came to the wrong organisation.

Iwan signalled to the boy that was he free which he ran and came towards us. He ran into Armani's arms which were outstretched. As she consoled him, a robotic voice from somewhere in the room said, "2 minutes until detonation."

"Well, that's my cue," Iwan laughed, ran out the basement pushing past and locked the door.

"Now we're stuck," Libby said nonchalantly.

"How long do we have?" Asked Armani.

"1 minute 48 seconds and counting," replied Valerio.

Elmer said to us, "This door is made of acacia and it has a cylinder lock. The only way to set us free is the technique: lock snapping. Watch and learn."

He took out the screwdriver and removed two screws from below the lock and below the handle. He then took out a large pair of maul grips, with it he grabbed and pushed the cylinder snapping it in half. The door was opened and we were on our way out of the building.

As we were running, I checked my watch looking at the signal coming from the tracker in the form of a blue dot on the plan. It was not far from us: just around the corner where the plans of the building were held in paper form. We were heading in that direction anyway.

In the distance, I could see the back of Iwan's frame looking for the plan in a cabinet.

"There's Iwan," Armani pointed out.

I just shot him with a regular gun and he slumped down with the plan in his hand.

I went ahead and dragged him. As I did, I asked, "How long until we're out of the building?"

"A minute and twenty seconds," replied Libby this time, "Dump him in a closet or something, he's slowing us down."

Elmer said, "But put him in the place where the door is metallic so he won't die."

To our right, Armani called, "There's one here, Aria quickly!"

She gave the boy over to Valerio who, with the others went ahead and helped me dump Iwan into the closest closet to us secured with a metallic door. Safe and sound, I thought, you never should have messed with my feelings and now you're gonna pay. This is just the beginning.

"Chances are he'll survive," Armani told me as we left the closet, securing
it and went quickly to catch up with the others.

"Well, I hope he doesn't, but then again, we need him. We did put him in there as he'll slow us down."

"Plus according to Elmer, the owner of this place said there are plenty of closets like this that are bulletproof, fireproof and laserproof. He won't escape even if he tried."

"He won't be able to," I say smirking, "I shot him in the spine, which means he is paralysed."

"That's smart and a bit harsh. We must hurry, though. I see the rest of the team ahead and we've got 30 seconds until detonation."

"And we've got 26 seconds until we're out of the building."

"Let's go!"

We have just left the staircase leading to the basement and was on the ground floor. By the time we had caught up with the rest of the team, we had 8 seconds before detonation and was a few meters into the great hall away from the exit.

All five of us panting, with Mr President's son, made it out of the building just in the nick of time before the ground floor was engulfed in flames and yes, I did wonder if Iwan did make it out alive.

We stared at the building grateful our lives were spared and I barely noticed that fire engines surrounding the building as well as the S.W.A.T team poised and ready to go in to fetch Iwan. Elmer was, as usual, ordering around and feeding them information.

This time, Mr President's son came over to me and caught my attention by yanking my coat. I looked down at him and said, "Do you need help, Carl?" Yes, I did forget to mention his name was Carl.

In a small voice, he asked, "Can you take me home?"

"We will, quite soon. Do you mean me?" I answered him pointing to myself.

"Yes." He replied.

As I looked up, I could see Valerio looking at me with a ghost of a smile.

I was then snapped out of my gaze when Armani came up to me to tell me that Elmer wants us to go back to the LGA airport so that we could take a jet, that is waiting for us, back to Washington's branch of the organisation.

I gently grabbed hold of Carl's hand and we waited for our mode of transport to take us to the airport.

******

One by one, we climbed into one of the most expensive hybrid cars that can only be afforded by one of the richest celebrities. I was gawping at the plush interior, I was considering whether I should live there; it was pretty fast too.

As I sat closest to the window, I stared out of the window watching 1000s of people walking with their phones or using their hoverboard or advanced segways which may be considered replacing cars.

Long story short, we eventually did get to Washington from a 1 hour and 16 minutes flight from NY and met up with the President where he and Carl got reunited - it was so beautiful - the way Carl ran into his father's arms who was overjoyed to have him back. I wish it were like my case, not knowing whether my mother was dead or alive, finding her again and having her back would be the best thing in the world.

The only problem is, I am the one who needs to find her - if she's not dead - that's my goal. No one's helping me and the locket, as well as the mansion, are the only clues.