22nd October, 2013 - Chloe's POV

Most of the day was spent in Kate's apartment, nervously waiting for anything to happen. The closer the time drew to 10:40, the more nervous I became. I'd taken a siesta next to Kate on her sofa in order to have as much energy when I went out, in case something went down.

It was as if my body knew that I had to go out. My eyes opened on their own, and I saw Kate sitting next to me, watching some late night TV while eating a bowl of noodles. She wore a large t-shirt and pajama bottoms. However, there was a rifle leaning next to the sofa.

'Packing heat?' I asked her drowsily.

'Ah!' She jumped slightly. 'Oh, you're awake. You startled me. Wait, what?'

'The gun,' I said. 'Since when were you pro-gun?'

She shrugged. 'Never really had an opinion. Just thought someone should be able to defend themselves. Lucky we've got it now though, right?' She reasoned.

Fair enough. It made me feel a lot safer knowing that Kate would be protected. Would Kate be able to bring herself to shoot someone? Oh well, she'd cross that bridge when she came to it. If she came to it. According to Max, I'd shot Frank and Pompidou in an alternate timeline, one she'd deleted - thank God for that.

'Is it even legal?' I wondered.

Kate shrugged again. 'No point wondering that now. Um... I don't think it's full auto? It might be. Oh dear.' She put her head in her hands.

'It'll be alright,' I comforted her.

'Yeah, yeah,' she replied. 'I'm still a little shaken. I'm already worried about Max, I don't want to worry about you as well.'

'Don't worry about me,' I told her.

I stayed with Kate, watching TV with her. We were both still very tense, just waiting for the door to be kicked in or something like that. Of course, that wouldn't happen, but the paranoia still played with our senses. Every dog bark, loud engine or door slam was a foot stomp, a gunshot or the shouts of mercenaries coming to hunt us.

Eventually, the time drew close to twenty to eleven.

'I'm going now,' I announced. 'You should blockade the door or something while I'm gone.'

She nodded. 'Will do.'

'Hey,' I said, taking her hand and looking her straight in the eyes. 'I'll be fine. So will you. We'll find out what happened to Max.'

She smiled and nodded. 'See you later, Chloe.'

Without another word, I was out the door, making sure to take whatever I had left from the 'handicap fund.' I walked briskly, wanting to get this over with as quick as possible. Why did Frank rescue Max? Was Warren with him? Hopefully, he would be able to shed some light on the situation.

It was fairly dark when I stepped out into the night. The streetlamps were all on, and the streets weren't as busy as they were during the day, but there was still a steady stream of cars coming to and from their destinations. I began walking along the pavement towards a destination of my own.

I arrived just short of Eleven. The night's chill had gotten under my skin, freezing me to the bone. Noticing Warren's car, I walked towards it. He motioned for me to get in, opening the passenger door. I did so, and he drove off.

'Hey, Warren.'

'Evening, Chloe.' His brow was furrowed, his expression morbid and stressed. His face barely moved; it was as if he had become set in stone. 'Check the bag under your seat.'

'Channeling Oprah, are we?' I gave a light chuckle while following his instructions. Warren didn't reply.

Inside the opaque plastic bag was a shoulder holster, some bullets and the gun.

'That's a snub nosed .357 magnum. Not a cap gun. You get some bullets free, because we're friends. Put it in the holster and you'll be good to go. Now, any cop worth his salt is gonna notice that bulge and see that you're packing heat, so stay away from the police. And for the love of God, stay in Washington. Laws are pretty lax round here so long as you don't go guns blazing in the middle of Seattle.'

'Warren... thank you. How much you want?'

'Four hundred up front. You got twelve bullets there as well.'

I handed over the cash without second thought. He checked it before nodding. 'Alright. Should I drop you off somewhere, or-'

'Warren,' I interrupted, 'I hate to interrupt, but can I ask you a question?'

'Well that depends on the question,' he replied.

'Have you heard from Frank lately?' I asked tentatively.

'No,' he answered. 'Why, you wanna talk to him?'

I nodded. 'Please. Could you also drop me a couple of blocks from Kate's?'

'Sure. Lemme just get my phone...' he said, fishing in his pocket for a smartphone. He tapped the screen a few times, holding it to his ear while driving. 'Frank? Yeah, not right now. I got someone that wants to speak to you.'

He passed over the phone.

'Hey, it's me.'

'Hey, kiddo,' Frank replied. 'Long time no speak, huh?'

'Frank... I gotta thank you. For the rescue.'

'What are you talking-'

'Don't bullshit, Frank. That was your RV.' I breathed deep. Warren eyed me suspiciously from his side of the car. 'I don't know what you were doing there, and I don't want to know. What I do wanna know, is whether or not Max is okay.'

Frank remained silent. I tried to hold back the nerves.

'Kid... I... we did everything we could. I had a partner, we were working on a way to take down Sean Prescott.'

'Shit, you too?'

'Yeah. We worked with him briefly, now we're cutting ties. Don't ask.

'After we rescued Max, we got a new RV and torched the old one. After that, my partner and Max went to talk to an informant, or something.' Frank paused. I knew this wasn't good. 'I haven't heard from my partner since they went in. The last I saw of Max, she was... she was tased amd then bundled into the back of a van, and it drove off,' Frank said shakily, with the hint of a slur. 'Fuck, I need another drink.'

My blood boiled. I was on the verge of crying. I wanted to storm right into wherever the fuck they had taken my girlfriend and shoot every single criminal bastard there.

'Where. Are. They,' I growled through barred teeth. Warren sensed the change in atmosphere - his suspicious gaze shifted to pity and curiosity. I didn't care much for it.

'Huh?'

'You said you worked with them. Where the fuck are they, Frank?'

'Don't go doing anything-'

'Where the fuck are they!?' I raised my voice.

'Alright, alright, shut the fuck up. I'll text Warren the address. You gonna bargain or something? Good luck with that.' I hung up, too angry to carry on talking.

'Change of plan, take me a couple of blocks from that address.'

'That does not sound good,' Warren warned.

'Warren, do this for me. You've been so helpful, to me, to Max... please,' I begged. I'd already made my mind up. I was going in there.

'Whatever you say... I guess I'll call Kate, tell her there's been a change of plan.'

Bullet by bullet, I loaded the gun. The rest of the bullets went in a zip-up pocket. Maybe not the most 'operator' thing to do, but I was too angry to think tactically. As soon as Warren stopped the car, I stormed out onto a deserted street amidst a cluster of high-rises.

'Don't tell anyone where I am.' I turned on my heel, and examined my purchase more closely. My hand pounded like crazy, and my throat felt dry as I turned the weapon over in my hands, the light from the street lamp reflecting on both the black finish of the gun and my blue nails. I stuck my tongue out to catch the newly forming raindrops.

Stop this. Head in the game, Chloe.

I had to head a couple of blocks north and I would be there. It would all be over soon. Angrily, I marched towards the address, gun inside my coat pocket.

It seemed like I was stood outside an office block. The main door was closed, likely locked too, with no sign of the building being inhabited, bar one floor, which had its lights switched on. I counted up, seeing which floor it was.

Thirteenth floor. I'm coming, Max!

There must have been a back door somewhere. As if on cue, I noticed an adjacent alleyway, and proceeded to investigate. A black van with tinted windows was parked there - she had to be here!

There was also a blue door in the alleyway, leading into the building. The men who abducted Max had probably forgotten to lock it - the door opened when I turned the handle. I made sure to be as quiet as possible. Oh fuck - how was I going to do this? Did I even have enough bullets for every person on that floor?

Despite my worrying, I carried on, entering a lift that would take me to the thirteenth floor. The lift carried me upwards as I leaned against the back wall, drawing the revolver, feeling its weight in my hand. I cocked the gun, ready for anything. The blood coursed through my veins, delivering adrenaline to my muscles. My anger was absolute.

The hallway was lit, and free of people and cameras. All I had to do was figure out which room Max was being held in. They had to be keeping her here temporarily, there was no way this could be permanent.

I opened the first door I came to. Empty. The next room I checked was empty as well. Before opening the door to the third room I came across, I paused, hearing a voice.

'Yeah. We'll do it in the morning, easier to blend in then. Why? Because a black van with tinted windows, at night, is fucking suspicious. Plus we have things we need to take care of here. Your imbecile dealer friend really screwed up things on our end.'

The phone conversation seemed to end then. No time like the present, Chloe, I encouraged, calming swinging open the door and aiming the gun.

The man was bald, with a black beard and glasses. He wore a black suit. I motioned for him to be quiet.

'Where. Is. Max?' I growled.

'Turn left at the end of the hall. Fifth door on your right,' he said calmly, hands in the air.

'Give me your phone and the key to the door.'

He complied, handing the items over. I crushed the phone under my boot. He had a mug of coffee sitting next to his computer, which I knocked into it. The computer immediately shut down.

I then left the room, locking it behind me so he couldn't get out. I didn't want to be too loud, but if bullets did start flying... I wouldn't be afraid. I couldn't be.

Following the suit's instructions, I lightly jogged towards the end of the corridor and turned left. It was also clear. I ran to the fifth door on the right, throwing caution to the wind. I was about to open the door before I was interrupted.

'FREEZE!'

I barged through the door, slamming it behind me. I felt projectiles impact the wooden door.

And there she was. Max, tied to a wooden chair, passed out on whatever the fuck they'd put in her. Probably dosed her after tasing her.

'YOU FUCKERS!' I screamed. 'YOU'RE ALL GONNA FUCKING PAY! I'LL RIP OUT YOUR EYEBALLS AND FEED THEM TO YOUR CHILDREN!'

I opened the door slightly, firing a couple of bullets. A man screamed, prompting another hail of projectiles to hit the door as I shut it.

Shit. I might have bitten off more than I can chew.

'You're surrounded! Just put the gun down, it's over!'

'FUCK YOU!'

Max remained still and silent. I'm not giving up yet.

I opened the door again. This time, it was ripped open, and I fell forward. Hands grabbed me, but they couldn't get a grip on my right hand - I unloaded the rest of the revolver into the person trying to grab me. He screamed, and fell onto the floor. I then felt a sharp pain in my arm, and the world faded to black.