I put down my phone and stared at the wall. Even though I assured everyone I was fine and they shouldn't worry too much, my heart was quietly pounding.

I can't believe there's a bomb in here. Why am I even here? If I can plan a party from my phone, why am I stuck in Rika's apartment? I suppose V and Seven would say it's for my safety—with Unkown bringing me here. But isn't it also a safety concern that I'm living with a bomb?!

I took a deep breath in hopes of calming my mind and heart.

If I think about it from their point of view, Seven was sure no one can get into the system. He is one of the best, if not the best hacker in the world, according to what Zen told me. On top of that, V was fine with the love of his life living here—that's how confident they were. But it seems Seven has found his match…

I needed something to drink. It was a chilly day so I went to the kitchen and put some water to boil. Some tea should help me relax. I looked out the kitchen window, which offered a good view of the city. Following the movement of late afternoon traffic, my thoughts wandered to Zen. To what he said in the chat this morning, and his panicked call last night… it's been freaking me out. I'm usually a skeptic, but when it's coming from someone you love, and who loves you and would have no reason to lie—it's quite scary. I wonder where he disappeared off to after leaving the chat room.

My phone buzzed, and I went back to the desk to get it. It might be Zen or Seven with some news. I opened it—an email. I sighed and tossed it down on the chair. Of course it's an email.

It was in that exact moment everything went to hell.

Shattered glass flew into the room. Arms shielding my face and eyes screwed shut, I heard boots crunching toward me. "You're busy with the party?" A male's soft voice asked casually, as if he hadn't just broken in through the window. I uncovered my face and looked at him, my heart hammering.

White hair, just like Zen had seen in his dream. White, but the ends had a pinkish hue. Piercing blue eyes of an almost unnatural color, surrounded by black eyeliner. A black mask covered his face, and there was a large tattoo of an eye on his right shoulder.

"You want to scream?" He asked in an unnervingly serene voice. "Shh. I'll just force you to shut up so you'd better be quiet."

With my heart in my throat I had no inclination to scream in the first place. In a quiet, wavering voice I asked him the first thing one should as an uninvited guest that breaks in through your window. "Who are you?"

"Oh...I get that you want to see my face, but if you come closer, you'll step on glass."

I looked down at my feet. Inches separated my socks from the glass. "How did you…"

"Get in here? This was the only way to avoid the thermal sensors and the security cameras."

Looking at him, I realized I was in a corner. Curse this place. I moved forward a bit, the feeling of being trapped sending alarms off in my head. My legs would barely move, even though I was all adrenaline. Dammit.

"Wait let me come to you." He crossed over the rest of the glass easily, and was now merely a foot away. Slightly taller than me and much better built, there was no way I could physically fight him and win.

"What do you want?" I inched away, until I felt the first glass shard at my feet. He looked at me like a cat looked at its prey: intently, curiously, but also with laziness, knowing that I'm powerless.

"I'm from paradise. You don't know this, but you were invited too. From the moment you installed that mysterious app." Even from under his mask I could see him smile. Never have I seen something more more terrifying. He continued in his lilting voice, "I know it took some time for me to come to you. Now let's go to Magenta!"He grabbed my arm, but I kept my feet planted. I looked into his eyes, as if they'd tell me something. This guy was definitely off, insane even.

"You look scared," he crooned, "But don't worry too much. I won't hurt you. I was ordered to bring you alive. So...don't fight back." He squeezed my arm as if to prove I couldn't fight back, even if I wanted to.

"Why should I go with you?" I needed time, maybe help was on the way. I hoped he didn't realize I was stalling.

He shifted his weight and took a deep breath. Was he annoyed? My heart skipped a beat. The last thing I wanted to do was to annoy a potentially insane kidnapper, especially since the only thing stopping him from hurting me are his orders.

"Because I'm a generous person who will take you to paradise. I'll need days to explain the all the good things about paradise. Endless parties, overflowing love, joy without pain."

Not surprisingly, I doubted him, but of course I kept my mouth shut.

"Reality is ugly," he continued, "There is nothing good about this world. I'll save you. You won't get hurt if you listen to me." He put his other hand on my head and I fought the urge to flinch at his touch. "I'm sure you must have heard strange things ever since you entered the RFA. What a pity..."

He tilted my head examining me, grabbing my chin and keeping me from moving. I didn't look away from his gaze, trying to fight the terror coursing through my veins. If this was going to be my end, I didn't want to be a coward.

He chuckled. "You know, you're kinda cute when you're scared." He laughed louder. "I think I'm going to like having you with us."

Before I could think of the implications of what he'd said, the doorbell rang. My eyes widened in surprise.

"Huh? You invited someone? I wonder who it is. Maybe Luciel Choi? Since he's the only one who knows this place." Eyes fixed on the door, his demeanor had changed into a deadly calm. He didn't move or try to escape as the door began shaking.

"How do you know Seven?" He seemed to have some strong hatred for him. Just what exactly was the relationship between Seven and him?

He tore his gaze from the door and looked at me. "Of course I know him. Since…" Beeping sounds came from the door. "Oh no, someone seems to know the door password." With the kidnapper's hand still holding my face, I tried my best to look toward the door as it burst open. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of white hair and a black shirt. Zen!

The teapot let out a shrill whistle.

"Shush are you hurt?" He was catching his breath, almost as if he had run up all fourteen flights of stairs. I tried to fully turn my head toward him, but couldn't. "I'm fine." I forced out the words quietly. I looked at the intruder again, his eyes were set on Zen and I could see his hidden smile. "My, my, what a surprise."

Zen glared daggers at the intruder from where he stood on the other side of the glass. "I...I don't know who you are, but let go of her."

The kidnapper cackled, his head back, Zen's demand apparently being the funniest thing in the world. His laugh cut short and I was whirled around hard. My back hitting his chest, I barely took a breath before his arm cradled my neck in a chokehold. I looked at Zen, my eyes wide. His brows furrowed, his angry red eyes darting between me and the kidnapper.

The kidnapper pulled down his mask. "No."