THE SYNDICATE'S SHADOW AGENT

Chapter Seven (The Unexpected)

Raymond's heart missed a beat. He took a step back, his gun still pointing to Kira. He huffed when he caught sight of the intruder.

"Thanks for the drink" the guy said, cackling scornfully.

"You're welcome" Raymond grinned and the smile faded immediately "But stay out of this. Get the fuck out of here?" He cocked his gun and pointed it to the intruder.

"Let the bitch go, you bastard" the guy said, taking a step closer to Raymond - still pointing his gun to Raymond.

"You'll die in a second, stay away" Raymond yelled. He fired a shot - into the air.

The guy got confused and Raymond jabbed his face with the base of his gun. Raymond picked his gun as the intruder fell on the floor, wincing in pain - still trying to recollect what happened two seconds ago. And when he finally did, Raymond was pointing two guns at his face.

"Who are you? And why did you follow me out here?" Raymond yelled - his fingers itched to pull the trigger.

The intruder winced in pain again, he hunkered his head. He slowly placed his hands on the floor so he could rise on his feet.

"Stay the fuck down" Raymond shouted. The anger in his tone made the guy startle and the barrels of the two guns in Raymond's hands made him so scared to lose his life. "What do you want?" Raymond said.

Raymond looked around as he was beginning to hear footsteps and the aura was getting suspicious and alarming. "I don't have all the time. Speak before I blow your brains off" Raymond screamed, tightening his grip on the guns.

The guy laughed hysterically when he looked behind Raymond. He nodded his head twice, but Raymond didn't get the message. "She's gone" the guy sitting on the floor said.

Raymond creased his eyebrows and looked back swiftly. Kira had vanished.

"You motherfucker" Raymond groaned. He slammed the barrel of his gun over the guy's face and he passed out, with his head oozing with blood.

The footsteps Raymond heard earlier got closer and he fled the scene. He ran down the alley - his instincts telling him Kira took the same route. He ran past a few blocks and he stopped beside a car. He led out gasps as his heart pulsed like it'll fall of his chest. He stepped to the other side of the car - close to the sidewalk. He gazed down the street where he just ran out from. Despite the dusk, there was an unknown source of light, and the cacophonies of insects lilting at his ears.

He pulled out his phone and stumped its screen.

"Hey, Tyler" he whispered.

"Yo, where you at? Do you have the girl already" Tyler's voice echoed from the other end.

"Not really. She escaped. But I placed a chip on her - one of the chips you gave me. Hack it, and send me the coordinates - right now"

"Sure, give me a moment. I'll hit you up" Tyler said and ended the call.

Raymond heaved a sigh and he got off the sidewalk, striding down the streets his eyes scanning every part he passed. His phone beeped a few minutes later. He giggled when he stared at the notification and it was a message from Tyler.

Its time to give Kira another visit. But this time, in her home, or wherever she is hiding. 002, never loses a target.

***

Raymond knocked the door. The house appeared like a deserted bungalow, but the light glistening from inside of the house bashed his thoughts. After all, this is where the coordinates that Tyler sent led him.

He knocked the door for the umpteenth time. Slow footsteps echoed from the house and he moved to the side. The door creaked. "Who is that?" Kira said, but there was no response. She opened the door completely and stepped outside, a part of her wanting to discard the thoughts that she didn't hear those incessant knocks on her door.

Just in, she felt a strong hand engulf her mouth. She tried to struggle, but he was too strong. Her voice was stifled beneath his hands.

Raymond pulled her back into the house. He pushed her to the floor. And before she could get a hold of herself and process what just happened - Raymond was already pointing a gun at her face.

"Who're you?" she asked, her voice lost somewhere between fear and horror. Yet, she couldn't get a clear view of who just rough handled her.

Raymond hit the switch on the wall and the white bulb illuminated the dark room. Kira squinted her eyes when she caught sight of Raymond. She crawled backwards in outright fright. Horror enclosed her as she stepped back, her eyes fluttering from Raymond's face to the gun in his hand.

"What do you want from me?" Kira stuttered, and she stood on her feet.

Raymond didn't say a word. He took a step closer to her. Kira's heart skipped a beat when Raymond's shadow got close to her. She tumbled into the couch.

Raymond quickened his steps - before Kira raised her head, his barrel was touching the strands of her braids.

"I don't want to hurt you. You have to cooperate with me, If you don't want me to do what you won't be alive to explain" Raymond said.

Kira gasped for breath and shook her head.

Raymond took his gun off her head - she sat properly on the couch. He stood behind the couch - backing the entrance.

"What do you want from me?" Kira said. The muscular silhouette of Raymond standing above her sent shrills of fear down to her spine.

"Where is he?" Raymond asked.

"Who?"

"JM" Raymond roared. "John Marvin" he added biting the corner of his lips. "... Don't think of lying to me, because you're the only who knows where he is"

Kira remained silent.

The still silence made a ball of fury clench Raymond's throat. "Speak! Where the fuck is he?" Pointing his gun to her face - finger on the trigger.

Suddenly, a huge object hit his head from behind in a split second and he fell to the floor and passed out.