I felt like a spider, crawling forward as I made my way to my M4. Grabbing it with trembling fingers, I pulled it close to me, curling my body around it as I lay on the ground. That gorilla of a man had left as well, so I was able to gather myself with as much dignity as I could. If I could manage it, I'd shoot him first, and then the blonde. The fireplace in the room crackled ominously as I pushed myself to a sitting position. My arms were still tingling painfully but I could ignore it now. Standing, I tripped just a bit as I walked unsteadily to the doorway. Leaning on the door frame, I looked out into the hallway. As I made my way back to the top landing, I saw guards posted at the front door. Crouching down, I crawled forward so I could twist my body to keep them in my sights. Both holding assault rifles and clad in expensive suits, they looked every part the muscle they were. I shuffled awkwardly in this crouched position down the stairs, hidden by the thick railing. My M4 across my back, I pulled the .32 pistol from my belt and aimed for the closest one's head. Then that gorilla man walked into the room. I held my breath as he turned and looked directly at me. I pressed myself up against the railing, trying to quell my beating heart. “Come this way,” his booming voice said, traveling straight to my ears. I found myself obeying his commands, even though I had no intention of listening. I stood and walked after him, following him down a long corridor lined with giant paintings in gilded frames of stern looking men and women, with high frilled collars and flowing robes. At last I was led out into an open atrium, with exotic looking leafy plants and ferns growing high above my head. Vibrantly colored flowers lined the pathways through this oasis, and everything was so grand I couldn't believe I was still in a house. Sitting at a grand circular white table in the midst of this jungle was the blonde man from before. He was smiling at me, with his hands wrapped around a cup of steaming dark liquid I only assumed was the tea he spoke of earlier. He motioned for the gorilla man to leave, and I narrowed my eyes at his blind trust. Did he not see that I had my gun? “Sit,” the man said, standing and pulling out the second chair. Feeling embarrassed, I sat, surprised at myself for doing so. The man scooted my chair in and sat as well, still smiling at me. His lips were perfectly pink as he sipped his drink, those eyes like ice chips watching my awkwardness. “Would you care to tell me why you're here?” I stared at him, in disbelief. This man was my target. If I hadn't been interrupted in my task, he would be dead now. I would have had the files Null had wanted, and would have been long gone, no one the wiser. The mere thought that any of my team mates would be put in this position made me blush. Was this a sign of my weakness that he had been able to take me so off guard? “I didn't think so,” the man continued, noting my silence. “Well, look at me being so rude to my guest. My name is Luaafe, and you are?” My mouth opened a bit in shock. His jest about me being a guest was somewhat irritating. Luaafe's brow furrowed in the tiniest bit of frustration. I suppose my lack of answers was getting him ruffled. His intense concentration on my face was setting me on edge, and I felt my fingers reaching for my gun. “Don't bother shooting me,” Luaafe said, his eyes suddenly taking on a dangerous glint. “My guards are not for show. It won't hurt you to talk to me, as you have nothing to lose by trusting me. I said I will let you take what you want and leave, but first...” His hands reached across the table and on reflex I pulled my hands away. Luaafe stood suddenly, knocking his chair over with a clatter. His lips descended on mine and I fell backwards, knocking my own chair over. Landing with a grunt, I rolled to the side as he was awkwardly strung up on the table between us. My hands reached for my pistol and as I pulled it up I aimed immediately for his head. A loud bang echoed in the atrium and I felt a stinging in my hands as the gun was shot clean from them. I could see guards rushing towards me and reached for my M4, convinced that if I was going down, I'd take some of them with me. Luaafe put his hands up and the guards slowed their pace. “Don't shoot,” he said. “I'm all right.” Straightening, he patted his robes down and shook his head back, the perfect mop of hair on his head falling into place. “As I said, we were having a discussion.” Yetmisiki, the gorilla man, was behind me suddenly and had my arms behind my back. I struggled in vain, glaring daggers at my captor. “What discussion involves this kind of tactic?” I shouted, kicking as hard as I could at the man behind me. He didn't even flinch. Luaafe seemed mildly embarrassed by the pink tinge on his pale skin, but he approached me nonetheless with all the confidence from before. “There's only one thing you could possibly want from me,” he said, his eyes holding no warmth this time. “Whoever sent you, I can't imagine. But I will not give away anything for free.” He smirked, mirthless. “I was not lying before when I said I wanted time with you.” As he approached me, I felt my heart seize up in panic. Although this man looked nice I couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension when he was near. He looked angelic but I had no doubt that he was a devil. Those perfect pink lips were approaching mine again, so close now I could feel his breath mingling with mine. His eyelids were shut, long dark eyelashes printing patterns over his white cheeks. My body moved on its own. Yetmisiki didn't expect the quick jab of my elbow into his gut as I stepped backwards. With surprising force I sent my weight into the soft spot of his stomach between the false ribs. As he released my other arm, I reached down my leg, grabbing the knife tucked under the ankle pocket in my boot. With a swift sidestep I was behind Luaafe, the knife at his neck. “Tell them not to shoot!” I shouted in his ear, my voice sounding foreign to me. Everything had seemed like it was going in slow motion and now it all sped up, back to real time. I stood trembling, the hand on my knife almost shaking enough to cut his throat. “Take me to your office, now!”