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The man followed behind Cassie waiting for her to turn the corner before striking, he watched her turn and stretched out his hand to attack.

Suddenly, a large hand from behind reached out and grabbed the knife, twisting the man’s hand behind him and dislocating it effortlessly. The pain was instant and man opened his mouth to scream in pain but a piece of cloth was stuffed in his mouth instead muffling his shouts. 

He looked up with fear at the middle aged man in a flower printed shirt that stepped out of the darkness. He looked harmless but the grim expression and a ruthless look in his eyes would make anyone know he was a dangerous man that shouldn’t be messed with.

Before the man in black could do anything or think of how to escape he was ruthlessly knocked unconscious. The middle aged man stared at the unconscious person with cold eyes as he mumbled. “A coincidence?”

The middle aged man effortlessly dragged the man in black further into the darkness and tied him up. He stood up and set his sight on the figure the man had been aiming at, the coldness still lingering in his eyes. 

He cracked his knuckles and headed towards her with large strides.

Sweat filled Cassie’s palms as she tried to calm her rising panic, she held the pepper spray tighter as she heard footsteps closing in from behind her. 

When the large hand rested on her shoulder, Cassie shivered and a scream rolled in her throat. However, before she could let it out, a large hand covered her mouth.

Cassie raised her arm and turned around ready to use the spray when she saw the face of the person behind her.

“Uncle Alex, it’s you. You scared me.” Cassie let out a sigh of relief then joked as she waved the pepper spray in her hand. “I almost pepper sprayed you.”

The middle aged man in the flower print shirt, Alex smiled softly at Cassie. “I guess I just dodged a bullet.”

Cassie laughed and took his arm as they walked. “Why are you out here anyway?”

Alex reached out and took her bag. “You hadn't come back yet, so I decided to take a walk while I wait for you.” He turned to look at Cassie. “How’s work? You seem to be coming home later these days.”

Cassie gave him an easygoing smile. “Work’s the same. Nothing new.” She didn’t tell him what was really happening or why she was still staying. Alex didn’t want her to have anything to do with the past but that job was the closest she’s had to it in years.

They reached the door of their little apartment after a few minutes. Cassie unlocked the door and stepped in. “Aren’t you coming in?” She asked when she saw Alex was still standing outside the door.

He smiled and shook his head. “I’ll walk a little longer. I left dinner for you, it should still be warm. Eat and go to bed.”

“Okay. Goodnight, Uncle Alex. Don’t stay out too late.”

“Goodnight.” Alex watched her close the door before he turned around, his expression turning cold.

Cassie went to her room to drop off her things, it was bare with hardly anything in it. It had no personal touch because they had to be prepared to move anytime and putting effort into decorating would just be a waste of time.

Cassie walked into the bathroom and removed the black wig on her head letting a mass of blonde hair fall down her back. She hopped into the shower and felt herself relax underneath the flow of warm water. 

Cassie looked at herself in the mirror, at the different person staring at her, much different from the girl with ugly black hair as they called her at work. 

This was the real her with the blonde hair and the name Cassie. The real her who had to be hidden from who or what she didn’t know.

It was among the many things she had to do ever since she woke up that let her know that Uncle Alex wasn’t telling her the entire truth. 

She walked out of the bathroom, ate the dinner Uncle Alex left for her and went to bed. Staring at the ceiling of her room, she couldn’t help remembering the dream she had at work. 

Her desire to know the past only grew stronger and Luke was her only breakthrough. Cassie looked at the time and felt that Luke might probably be awake before she grabbed her phone and sent him a text. 

She stared at her phone waiting for a reply but it was still the same until the exhaustion of the day caught up and sleep claimed her.

                                           ***

“I-I don’t know anything! Please, spare me!” A middle aged man knelt begging with tears streaming down his bruised, blood stained face.

The masked man he knelt in front of sat lazily on a chair staring down at him indifferently. He raised his hand and a gunshot rang in the air accompanied with the kneeling man’s scream as a bullet pierced his leg.

The kneeling man clutched his bleeding leg and trembled from the pain and fear gripped his heart as he glanced at his fellow gang members sprawled out on the floor unconscious with bruised faces and different limbs broken. “I really don’t know anything. Please.” He begged.

Seeing he still didn’t say anything, handed the gun to one of the men beside him. “Take care of them. Don’t leave a trace.” The masked man said as he stood up and started walking out the door. 

“Please! Spare me—!” The kneeling man begged, crawling towards the masked man before his shouts were muffled as a cloth covered his mouth and he was dragged away.

The masked man walked out from the room indifferently ignoring the shouts behind him as he adjsuted the cuffs of his shirt. The two men from the airport stood waiting for him at the door.

“Caleb, you stay behind and deal with the rest. Get as much information as you can from them and use any means.” He said to the man with the brown curls.

“Yes, boss.” Caleb smiled and turned to enter the room cracking his neck.

“Don’t kill them.” The masked man added as he walked away.

“Tsk! You’re no fun, Helix.” Caleb clicked his tongue.

Helix paid him no mind and walked out with the man in the crew cut. They walked out of a small building that looked abandoned from the outside and blended into the dark alley.

“Take some men and search the area. I want this completely dealt with tonight, Trent.” Helix stopped walking as they reached the end of the alley. “I want the entire gang wiped out and the mastermind found.”

Trent nodded and accepted the order. “I’ll escort you to the car first.”

“No need.” Helix took off the mask and handed it to Trent. Exposing the handsome face underneath. His chiselled features and smooth bronze skin glowed underneath the neon lights from other buildings.

Trent frowned, “Helix, it’s not safe for...”

“That’s an order, Trent.” Helix said as he took off his suit jacket and tie and handed it to Trent.

“Yes, boss.” Trent sighed.

“You and Caleb finish this up tonight. I’ll meet you guys back at the hotel. From tomorrow, we’ll focus on the company.” Helix put on a black face mask he took out from his back pocket which muffled his voice but Trent still heard his last words clearly, “and on finding her.”

Her. 

The primary reason they were here. Everything else came after. After years of searching, they finally got a clue that was more authentic than the fake ones in the past. Trent understood Helix’s urgency and all the emotions fuelling it.

“I’ll have everything taken care of. I’ll make sure Caleb doesn’t go wild as well.” Trent said this and began walking away. 

“Thanks.” Helix said watched his leaving back. 

Trent waved his hand without turning back. He just hoped they finally found her otherwise he didn’t know what Helix would do. Thinking of this, Trent quickened his steps and disappeared into the night.

Helix unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt and rolled up his sleeves making him look more casual. He ruffled up his gelled hair which fell on his forehead softening his cold features. Finally, he adjusted the facemask till only his eyes were visible before walking into the night.

If no one noticed his million dollar watch and shoes he could pass as a regular guy or perhaps a rich one.

No one would realise who he really was or what he was capable of, except those who knew him…like the bald man watching him in the dark with hatred in his eyes.

Helix listened to the footsteps following behind him and smiled coldly underneath the mask.