Chapter 8: Why?

Next morning, Sophie's house, Venice

Lok

"I'll go search through Organization documents again, maybe they have more files about her, next to her personal one." Michael said.

After a good night of sleep we decided that we first had to gain as much information about Zhalia as possible. With more information it would be easier to think up a plan to find her and Dante, was our reasoning.
Well, it actually wasn't as much reasoning as well desperation. We just couldn't think up anything better to do.

Michael locked himself up in his room with his laptop, while Sophie and me… ehm… had a 'nice conversation' in her room. If you know what I mean.

We were lying on her bed (a white four poster bed with silk purple sheets, and dozens of little bright- colored cushions and stuffed animals, which were now all over the floor), when somebody knocked on the door.
"Lok? Sophie? Are you there? I've got news!" Michael said.

In world record- time we put our clothes back on, and walked outside with a straight face, like nothing special had happened.

"So, what have you found out?" Sophie asked.

"Well, I've found out that in reports of her missions, the name Klaus is often called. That name sounded a bit familiar to me, so I searched for his personal file, which was even better protected than Zhalia's, though not well enough of course, and it turns out he is a very high agent, a scientist."

Sophie gasped. "He must be that crazy scientist I've heard about!"

I gave her a questioning glance, I had never heard of him before.

"Lok, the two foundation agents who went missing in the Czech Republic last year? The mutated organization agents the Foundation had problems with a few months ago? Rumor says that's all his work."

Michael nodded. "And hold on, according to his file, Zhalia is his daughter."

"What?" Sophie and I yelled in disbelief.

"It's true, though I really can't understand how a man as ugly as he can have such a good- looking daughter." Michael minded Klaus' picture, and shivered. "He must have a beautiful wife, though his file says he's not married."

Sophie snorted. "I can imagine that, what woman would marry such an evil creep?"

24 hours earlier, Zhalia's house

Zhalia

"No." I had said the words with confidence. I knew I was making the right decision, though a part of me was still a bit uncertain… but I never was fully certain of anything.

"No? Really… you don't want your brother back?"

"Of course I want him back, but not this way…. Besides, you can't guaranty me that he's alive, nor that you'll leave me alone afterwards."
I wasn't planning on telling him the full reason.

"I knew it… I knew you'd be too weak to sacrifice an innocent man for your own purpose."

"Yes, I guess I am."

"I hope you realize I won't stop until I have Vale to finish my biggest experiment, and you my dear…"

A cold shiver ran down my spine, but wasn't going to let him intimidate me.
"Well than you should hurry up, because I'm going to set Dante free."

"Dante? Are we calling front names?"

I ignored that remark, and wanted to hang up to end this conversation once and for all.

"Actually it is you who should hurry up."

I hesitated a second, maybe it was better if I would just hang up, but I wanted to know what he had to say.
"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"I'm talking about the fact I'll be right there with you within… two or three minutes."

My hart stood still. He was bluffing…. Or wasn't he?
"How?" I asked, but moment the words had left my mouth I knew the answer.

"The chip I've implanted in you when you were eight."

I remembered that morning. I woke up, and noticed a tiny scar on my wrist, a little line of barely five millimeter. I asked Klaus if he knew how it happened, and he told me he had chipped me. He said it was for safety, in case he ever lost me. I was eight and I couldn't really care, so I just shrugged, and returned to my room….

"But… then why all of this? Why have you negotiated with me?" I asked with a slightly trembling voice.

"Because I like to play games."

I pushed on the red button of my phone. My hart pounded like crazy and my head swam.

God how could I forget that chip?
I cursed myself for being so stupid, and stared to my wrist. The scar had faded a bit but you could still see it.
Maybe I can cut that damn chip out with a knife…
But I rejected that idea immediately. The chip was very tiny, and even if I would find it before Klaus was here, I would probably bleed to death.
There's only one thing I can do now…I thought, and I quickly ran downstairs.

24 hours later, Sophie's house, Venice

Lok

"Maybe she's with him!" I said.

"With who?" Sophie asked.

"With Klaus! Maybe he helped Zhalia kidnapping Dante, and hide for the Organization ."

"But he's a high Organization agent himself…"

"Yeah but he is her father right? He would help her!"

"But she has left the Organization, if I was her father I wouldn't be very happy with that. " Michael said. "And besides, what are they doing with Dante then? Zhalia hasn't kidnapped him for any Organization purpose, otherwise she wouldn't have sabotaged DeFoe."

"I don't know…." I said desperately. "It's all so weird, I don't understand why de Organization wanted Dante in the first place, nor why Zhalia wanted him, and not at all what they're doing with him."

"More foundation agents have been kidnapped by the organization the past ten years…" Sophie said in a low voice.

"And how many of them we ever find back?" Michael asked bitter.

Nobody answered. I didn't even want to think about the possibility we'd never see Dante again.

I sighted of frustration. "Doesn't the foundation has some kind of machine or spell with which we can find Dante?"

Michael snorted. "I don't think so, the Foundation isn't the FBI. And such a spell doesn't exist. "

"Well actually it does." LeBlanche said. He and Sophie's bodyguard Santiago had just entered the hallway.

Sophie gave him a questioning glance. "What are you talking about LeBlanche?"

"Please follow me Miss. Sophie." He said. "I think I have the solution for your problem."

Michael and I wanted to follow him to, but Santiago stopped us.
"Only Miss. Sophie."

We wanted to protest, but realized that arguing with Santiago would be useless. He was inexorable.

So LeBlanche and Sophie (who looked slightly nervous) went upstairs, leaving me and Michael behind.

"Wow that was weird…." Michael said, and he shook his head.
Suddenly he stared at me with an amused glance, and snickered.
"You've got some pink lipstick on your neck, tiger."

24 hours earlier, Zhalia's house

Dante

I heard quick footsteps running of the stairs, and Zhalia came in. She had forgotten to put her shirt back on when she left me a few minutes ago, but it was especially her face that drew my attention. She looked… I don't know… confused, maybe even Scared, but definitely stressed, though with a fierce determination in her brown eyes. I had never seen her as upset like this before.

I asked her what the hell was going on, but she ignored me, put her shirt back on, and took a little key out of her pocket.
Is she going to-

"I'm going to set you free."

I knew should be happy, but I wasn't. All I felt was confusion and suspicion.
"Why?" I asked.

"Why? Why? Why there always have to be a why?" She said, and opened the handcuffs with the key. With a clinging sound they fell on the ground. I was free, and I stood up, but didn't left the room.

"Go! Hurry!" She almost yelled.

"I'm not going until you tell me what's going on…. Who called?"

I sighted deeply. "My boss called. He can be here any minute, that's why I've set you free, I … don't want him to get you."

I looked into her eyes. Was this an implicit way of telling me that she cares for me?

"Then come with me." I said.

"What?"

"Come with me, you can become a Foundation agent. The foundation will protect you against your boss and the Organization."

"Dante I can't."

"Sure you can. Look, I don't know why you've kidnapped me, but I know you're a good person. I'm sure they'll forgive you if you explain everything. Because… I do so."

This was my very implicit way of telling her I care for her, and I was sure she had understood it, because she looked away and bit on her lower lip. I was almost certain I saw tears in her eyes.

"Thank you, though I don't understand how you can forgive me while I haven't even told you the whole story…. And I- I want to come with you, I really do, but I can't." She said, and she showed me her wrist. First I saw nothing special, but then I noticed a tiny little scar. I wanted to ask her what it was, but she already answered before I could propose my question.

"My boss has chipped me, he can find me anywhere, so if I come with you, I'll endanger you."

I was shocked. "What kind of boss chips his employees?"

She smiled, though without any joy. "A really crazy insane boss."
Suddenly she seemed to realize something.
"Dante, you should really go now before-"

The sound of breaking glass interrupted her. She quickly turned around and ran upstairs. I followed her to the living room, where the sound had came from. There, a man with long grey hair and seven really big suits, wearing dark sunglasses, were waiting for us.

"Klaus." Zhalia said recalcitrant.

"Zhalia." Klaus said. "It has been some time ago hasn't it?"
He smiled, like he had said something really funny, and cold shivers ran down my spine. I knew who this man was.

-

Cliffhanger! Mwuhahaha!

Sorry it I hadn't updated this story in such a long time, but exams are really mind- killing, and my inspiration- level had reached the zero- level.
Still I've managed to write this new chap, so hope you liked it! (and again I hope it wasn't confusing… for me it all makes sense 'cause I wrote it, but I can image you getting a bit diffused of all this vague dialogs and thoughts)

Review if you want to make me haaaaapppyyyyy! =D