Chapter 1

February 20, 2015

Breathing deeply, her eyes briefly blinked closed before she inhaled nature's clean air. Feeling the heat of the sun's streaks as they attempted to escape the entangles of tree's solid branches and shine upon the vibrant colored flora scattered across the floor, the blooms appeared to twinkle as they awoke to a new morning.

Exhaling, her eyes focused on the secret escape hidden within the passageways of a maze of a mini-forest, tucked away from prying eyes. Flicking her lids upwards towards the mirage as orange, yellows, and red colors span across the sky, Pansy slowly spun around to learn against the black, iron gates before holding the cigar to her ruby red lips to inhale.

Slowly releasing the smoke, her thoughts began to trail as she reflected on her life.

December 10, 2004

Shivering in the deep cold snow of New York City, Pansy questioned her decision in choosing to become an investigative reporter. You wanted this assignment. Why?

For the past six months, Pansy has been investigating the Carrows and their possible connection to the kidnapping of Laoise (lee-sha) Nasrin ("wild rose") and the murder of her guardian, Hugh Nasrin.

Huffing as she steadily trudged through the snow to the bus stop, her heart skipped a beat as she scanned the street in front of her as time slowly ticked by before the bus door opened.

Finding an empty seat in the back and resting her head, Pansy reflected on her notes as she questioned the direction of her investigation. Feeling unease crept across her skin, Pansy lurched up, and her eyes skittered across the passengers on the bus, hoping that the bus would move faster to get the safety of her home.

"It looks like there's been a roadblock, and we'll be here for a while," exclaimed the bus driver, spiking Pansy's fears as she gazed at the busy street in the night.

"It's either live or die," Pansy internally rationalized as she rushed from the bus. Cautiously running through the streets, Pansy groaned, hoping that her fears were hers alone and not the result of being too nosy. Feeling the strings of eyes on her back, Pansy tucked herself further in her heavy coat as she continued to move, failing to take in her surroundings.

"Mmm," she yelled, muffled by a large, gloved hand clapped against her lips. A large arm wrapped across her torso to begin pulling her close to the attacker's body into the dark alley behind the green dumpster.

The rough bricks scraped her skin as she was shoved against the walls. Blinking, Pansy quickly turned, anticipating her attacker's next move and hoping to make it out alive.

"My employer gave you a warning, Ms. Parkinson. One warning too many," interrupted the attacker, clad in black and flashing a hunting knife that gleamed as the moon's light lightly shined in the distance.

Dryly swallowing, Pansy's mind briefly flashed to her destroyed home and the eery message left for her to read two months ago.

Swiping the knife against Pansy's chin, the attacker's head tilted before murmuring, "But, I'm not the boss. You have a final notice, Ms. Parkinson. Would you like to hear it?"

Hearing the tease in the voice, Pansy's eyes began to blaze as she recognized that her attacker was playing a game of cat and mouse with her. However, feeling the cold knife against her skin harshly reminded her of the reality of the scene.

Eyebrows raised, the attacker leaned in close and whispered in Pansy's ear, "Do you want to know what message I have for you?"

Knowing that there was only one correct answer, Pansy gingerly opened her lips to reply "Yes" before her intruder gripped her mouth. Inhaling sharply, the attacker tsked and growled, "You see. My boss is unhappy. You have been poking yourself in affairs that do not concern yourself. But my boss is patient. He is kind. And generous."

Attempting to move her head, the attacker continued uninterrupted, "However, there must be a message to be made. An example. You," with the eyes focused intensely on Pansy.

"You have one choice. One decision to make. Either you join my boss, or you die," the attacker added as the knife tapped against Pansy's cheek.

Like that's a choice.

Glaring at the intruder, Pansy growled, "Let's go" before pushing the attacker away and dusting the snow off her coat. "Hurry up!"