AN: Enjoy the chapter. I'll try to be updating more regularly. Depending on where I take this, there will be a couple of chapters left. Oh and another thing, I'm always more tempted to update when there have been reviews. ;)
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Chapter 10
Vaughn's POV
We walked into the small inn. For the most part, it was deserted. It was a rather old place that looked like it had seen better days. Dust enveloped the clerk's desk and a broken chandelier hung above the small hallway leading to the rooms. You would think for being Irina Derevko, she could have picked a better place. Just then the desk clerk decided to wake up from his nap and peered curiously at us.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes, we're looking for Katherine Hardenne? Is she here?"
"I'm sorry, but that information that confidential." I almost laughed. It was small old inn and he couldn't tell me some simple information? I didn't believe that. Grabbing his shirt collar, I pointed my gun at him.
"That isn't necessary, Agent Vaughn." I turned at the sound of her voice. How she had come so close to me without me hearing her footsteps was beyond me. Then again, it was Irina Derevko. I released the frightened clerk and stared at the woman who had made my life hell for so long.
"Where's Sydney?"
"I don't have her if that's what you mean."
"You wanted to kidnap her! We have proof! I don't have time for your games." Just then, Jack stepped in.
"Irina, please, just let her be. She's suffered enough."
"I know she has, Jack. You don't have to tell me that. I only wanted kidnapped her so I could talk to her about something. You see there was someone after her and I wanted to help her out."
"And you could have asked to talk to her like a normal person?"
"The girl's stubborn, Jack, although god knows where she got that from. Do you really think she would have agreed to meet me of her own free will? Besides, she thought I was dead. What was I supposed to do? Call her up and go 'Oh hi Sydney. This is your mother. I'm not really dead and I need to speak to you.'? I'm sure that would have gone very well."
"Still there were other ways. Why did you have to kidnap her?"
"Well I never actually got around to kidnapping her. Sark somehow managed to shoot her as you both of course know. I'm also guessing you're here because he couldn't keep his mouth shut. Look, I didn't kidnap her, but I know who did. He's been after her for years."
"Sloane's gone." She laughed which only got me more frustrated. What was this woman talking about?
"You're so naive at times, Agent Vaughn. Sydney has more enemies that just him."
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Sydney's POV
I was alert once again when I heard the gunshot. Where had it come from and who had been shot? I prayed that it wasn't Vaughn or my father coming to rescue me. Within seconds, I heard footsteps coming towards the room again and feigned sleep once again.
"Did you hear that Sydney? the sound of death? This will not be the first time you hear it. I'll make sure that by the end, it will be embedded in your brain. You will suffer for your betrayal. No one you know is safe anymore." His voice was low and foreboding. I struggled to keep myself from shuddering. What did he mean by no one I knew was safe? Then it occurred to me. He planned on killing them. He planned on taking all I treasured away from me. Who was this man? What had I ever done to him to deserve this?
Just then, I heard another voice in the room. It was the woman who had been in here before.
"Should I get rid of the mess, Mr. Sloane?"
"Yes, make sure there is no trace of evidence left." Mr. Sloane? It couldn't be. Not only didn't it sound like him, but he was dead. I suddenly felt dizzy from all news and confusion I had endured in such a short amount of time. I wanted to run and get away from it all. Words and memories flooded my head. The two people were still speaking, but I couldn't listen any longer. I felt the darkness pull at me, tempting me to escape, if only for a little while. Finally, I could not stand it any longer and gave in.
