Panic and terror became etched on the new couple's face. It was very clear that neither of them, nor Jackie, expected or had anticipated such a deceitful move from Captain Black! He was like Valmont, a man of his word…except the good guy. On his face was something of a twisted grin of victory.

Determination overtook Jade and she felt like her old self again. "I won't let you take Valmont in! Now after I just figured out he likes me!" She grabbed Valmont's wrist and turned away, leading him towards the door.

Sadly, as soon as they got a few feet within the door, agents came out like bees protecting their hives. They hesitated in their step, unsure of where to go now. Black shouted as another agent tried to unchain Jackie, "Give it up; you're surrounded!"

Jade smiled sweetly, "Captain Black, you make it sound like we have no other choice…"

As soon as she finished that, the man understood silently. He opened his mouth and pointed his finger to the edge of the roof, "Men, catch them before they escape!" The sound of his command was booming and loud, echoed even as the two ran. It felt like slow motion, like every agonizing second became an hour of suspense.

Jade turned when they finally reached the ledge. She saw Valmont's eyes and hesitated at the breath taking sight. The wind whipped his hair around despite it being in a ponytail. His eyes, those baby blue iced over eyes, held traces of lust in them. Had all this turned him on? "You go down first! Break in through the first window and go down from there! It'll be a close call!"

Valmont looked at her for a moment and frowned. His British accent was obvious, "Jade, you will go down first; I don't want to risk losing…"

She snapped back because of lack of time, "If they capture you, you'll be locked up! If they capture me, they can't do anything! Now go!" She shouted finally.

Reluctantly, he complied and started to climb down the bricks carefully. Luckily the first widow was close by, for Jade heard an unmistakable shatter covered by the roaring helicopters. She looked behind her as the agents advanced. With one last painful look at her uncle Jackie…she slid down the building and into it.


Was she a criminal? She hadn't stolen anything or killed anyone, so no. However, she did assist…psh, assist? She did help and lead a major criminal get away. She let the man who had kidnapped her, tormented her, scared her, and harmed her uncle by kidnapping and beating him up get away.

Then again, she was going with him so perhaps she wasn't a criminal. She could always say she wanted to follow him, deceiving him, until they reached the hide out. Then she could get the other talismans and come back to Section 13. But something inside her told her that she really did love this man, that she wasn't ready to betray him.

They had managed to escape after all. They took the stairs and sometimes had to trail down the side of the building, but now they were in a car, driving. They were safe…in a sense. Fin and Ratso thankfully had followed Hak Foo out, who beat his way through the agents. Jade couldn't help but grin.

Valmont was driving for the first time…ever! Although Jade felt a little uneasy about that, and she had voiced her worries several times, she had to admit that in the heat of the moment to get away, he drove…great! He didn't crash into anything and yet he didn't obey the laws in other words.

Jade took this moment, as she sat in the front seat, to study the man. Determination and focus had made him look so…poised and handsome. His silver hair was still messy from the roof and yet it suited him, giving him that wild look that made Jade shiver. His eyes were glazed over with some sort of emotion that Jade just couldn't capture. His back was straight.

Several minutes had passed before he glanced at his mirrors for the fifth time. "I think…I think we're safe." His voice was full of astonishment. Although he didn't obey the traffic laws, he slowed down to 90 MPH.

Jade bit her lip, glancing outside for a second. The scenery was like a blur. Finally, just as she was about to speak up, Valmont beat her to the punch, "Did you…did you just…leave your family to come back with me? And did you just…help me escape?"

The young woman hesitated, obviously shocked as she thought about the last few hours. She replied, "…No. I helped us escape."


Next chapter: Jade and Valmont talk, so does Jackie. Review please