Ming-Ming slowly opened a wooden door which led to a ledge that over looked the church. There were more chairs to be seen. "Tell me first how you got here?" Ming-Ming questioned, clasping her hands together in front of her. She walked further into the room as Kai followed behind her.
"Honestly I don't know how I got here. I've lost my little boy and all I know is that I'm suppose to be in this church." Kai replied. Mariam was close behind Kai, while two figures stood behind her. The officer had quickly learnt that their names were Crusher and Mystel. Ming-Ming smiled a little.
"Are you a person of faith?" she questioned, turning round to face Kai. The russian narrowed his eyes. Now was not the time to be playing games.
"I love my son." he countered. Ming-Ming rested against a wooden table and snorted a little to herself.
"That's not what I asked." she pointed out. Kai's hands balled into fists.
"Who are you to judge?" he shot back. He didn't like the game that Ming-Ming was playing. He had to find his son and figure out what had happened in the town. It was clear that Ming-Ming didn't really want to help. Once again Ming-Ming clasped her hands together.
"We judge because the souls of history hang in the balance." The tanned woman answered. "Because our faith has never failed us. Because our faith keeps the darkness of Zeus at bay." Ming-Ming added, almost glaring at the russian. Kai's eyes turned cold and hard.
"Then use your faith to find my little boy." he hissed, trying to keep his temper in check. Ming-Ming glanced at Crusher and Mystel before looking back at Kai and Mariam.
"Only the demon knows where your boy is." Ming-Ming stated. Kai cursed to himself. More clues, more riddles. When was it ever going to end.
"And where do I find this demon?" The russian demanded. Ming-Ming smirked again.
"No-one has ever returned from the core of darkness where the demon lies." Mariam growled loudly, earning glares from both Mystel and Crusher.
"She's not going to help us. Let's just go." she stated, turning away from Ming-Ming. There was something about the blue haired woman that made Mariam shiver. Ming-Ming piercing stare was set upon Mariam who turned back round and countered with a glare.
"If you wish to face the demon to find your son, I won't stop you." Mystel shook his head.
"Ming-Ming, they can't..." Ming-Ming rose, shooting him a deadly glare. Mystel fell quiet. Ming-Ming walked closer to Kai as the russian held his ground.
"Perhaps your faith will protect you. Perhaps not." She stated, smiling curtly.
--------
Large ash grey miner suits were hoisted down from the ceiling. Crusher, Mystel and another man named Garland shrugged the heavy suits on as Kai and Mariam stood by the open church door. Kai glanced over to Mariam. "If you don't want to do this...I understand." he mumbled. Mariam returned the glance before smiling. She had come to respect Kai and his urge to find the little boy. "Nickolia is adopted, but I'm his father. As sappy as it sounds, I knew that the moment I first laid eyes on him." Kai added.
"He's very lucky to have you. There is a saying, Mother is god in the eyes of a child. Although you're the wrong gender, I think it suits your quest to find him." Mariam replied. Kai chuckled a little and returned her smile. Ming-Ming walked up slowly behind the pair before spying Kai's wallet. She said nothing as she picked it up and placed it in the pocket of her dress. Nodding to the trio behind her, the large group set out. They covered a good deal of ground before stopping at another looming building. This, Kai gathered, had to be a hospital.
Mystel and Crusher entered first, metal pipe aimed for anything that dared spring out at them. Ming-Ming followed, her head held high. They group walked silently up a set of stairs before coming to a large open area. "Quietly." Ming-Ming ordered. "We're in his domain now." The tanned woman led Kai to a large drawing on the wall. "Look at this map. Memories it. Your memory may save your life." Ming-Ming ordered.
Kai closed his eyes briefly, remembering the training program that forced him to memories danger passways merely to get a scrap of food. Ming-Ming pointed to a block. Kai staredat the writing. B151. "Do you see this room?" Ming-Ming asked. Kai nodded his head. "That is where the darkness lies. The demon is in the bowels of this building. Hidding behind the face of an innocent." Ming-Ming whispered. Mariam raised an eyebrow.
"You mean like a child?" she asked. Ming-Ming's eyes snap to look at her.
"Don't believe your eyes. They will lie to you. Faith is the only truth." Ming-Ming paused and placed a hand on Kai's shoulder. "I will pray for you Kai, but I won't expect you or your friend to return." Ming-Ming gave a curt smile before wazlting off to the others. "Mystel!" she called. Mariam watched the group as Kai began to memories a route to the room. He whispered under his breath as Mariam began to panic slightly. The group were talking in hushed tones and kept glancing over to the pair.
"Kai, she's killing you." The russian ignored Mariam, forcing her to shake him hard. "Kai!" she hissed. Kai pushed her hand on his shoulder.
"Let me do this. Please." he replied before returning to what he was doing before hand. Mariam gritted her teeth and sighed.
---------
Crusher and Mystel pulled hard on a pair of lift doors. The metal squeaked and groaned as rust fell to the floor like snow. Kai and Mariam looked on as Crusher shone his torch down the lift shaft. When everything was fine, Mystel jammed a pole between the doors to keep them open. Mariam walked forward as Crusher handed something large and bulky to Kai."Take this. They'll be drawn to the light, but you won't be able to see without it." he pointed out. Kai nodded his thanks.
The russian walked forward, staring at the lift before looking at Ming-Ming. "So this thing actually works?" he questioned. Ming-Ming nodded her head.
"It will. If the demon wants you it will." she replied. Kai barely took a step forward before Ming-Ming began to speak again. "Forgive me." she paused and reached into her pocket. "We've lived too long as scavengers. I believe this is yours." She held the wallet out, to which it flipped opened. Ming-Ming could sense the horror on the other's faces and turned the wallet to face her. Ming-Ming's eyes fell on the small picture of Nickolai. She gasped loudly before pointing at Kai. "Demon! His child is the likeness of Kolya!" Ming-Ming screamed.
Kai stumbled back as Mariam pushed him towards the lift. The russian stumbled in, smacking into the back of the lift. Pulling out her tonfa she swung at Crusher, clocking him in the face. "Stop them! Don't let the demon get away!" Ming-Ming yelled. Mariam swung at Mystel. The officer ran back to the lift, pulling her gun out. She grabbed hold of the pipe and glanced at Kai.
"Find him." she ordered before yanking the pipe out from the door.
"No! Mariam, wait!" Kai yelled but the doors had closed. Kai pounded on the door. "Mariam! Open this door right now! You hear me!" he yelled. Suddenly the lift lights flicked on as the lift itself gave out a loud creak. Then the lift began to descend down, pushing Kai to the floor. Up above, Mariam pointed the gun at Ming-Ming before pulling the trigger. Ming-Ming screamed but the gun clicked.
Mariam had no more bullets.
She grinned at Ming-Ming as the three males ganged up on her. Mariam only hoped she had given Kai enough time to find his son.
No! Not Mariam! Kai: At least it wasn't me. I'm stuck in a rusty old lift.
You don't die, do you! (begins to mourn Mariam even though she's standing right behind her.)
Jemma:MHR would like to thank IqVaDa, SuicudalBeyblader, Akiluna & SchoolBoredom for their reviews.