Disclaimer: I don't own anything except this laptop which is technically not mine because my parents paid for it. So in summary, I own nothing *insert pout*.

A/N: My last re-post for this story. Emm... for the confusion this story has brought upon y'all. FYI: This is set in AUxOOC like the rest of my stories. I tried re-reading this story myself and find the ranting flow of the story a bit taxing to my eyes hahaha so most of the time I'm surprised I managed to write them down as I don't normally think like that...okay, maybe sometimes. Lol. The next chapter is stagnant as ever at 2k words. I already posted a sneak peek of it on my fb like...2 weeks ago? Busy. Yadda. Yadda. Duh.

Anyway, I still appreciate every cent you leave in regards to this story. So keep them up if you will. Thanks :)

Sweet Escape

Okay, it is official. I'm officially screwed. I was all tough and muscle before in saying I could get out of here alive and unscathed, but right now I have no idea where to run. They've basically barricaded the exit I've been eyeing for around five minutes.

Now before you get on my ass and say I'm so stuck up and laugh at me relentlessly, let me just say this: I still have a plan. You read that right. I still have a plan. Everyone has kind of backup plan in incidents like these, right?

Don't you?

Anyway, so I retrieved my other mobile phone. The one I occasionally use when I'm in a pitch. This little gadget right here is like the fire alarm, you only break this when there's a real disaster. Fire drills are for pussies. Real heroes who get all the credits do the bravest stuff at the most insane time. So insane that the bystanders would go, 'No, don't!' in such a dramatic way like they do in movies. Shame, that there are no audience for my little stunt.

See, I've gone in cinemas...for a job. Killed a few while I kept an eye on my mark and another eye on the screen. It was a bit sappy at first but it got my attention a bit, so did a couple of teenagers making out in the far-end where I'm sitting. Nobody seems to be bothered except for me so I did a sensible thing and shut them up for good.

What? There are gazibillion people in the world, more than half are not registered so I think a few malicious youth won't be noticed. And partially, I think, I'm doing mankind a favor. Doesn't it warm your gushy little hearts?

Anyway.

I dialled the only number registered to this piece of metal. Before I could say my dilemma a woman with a ratty voice shrilled, "Crimson! My lovely Crimson, do what do I owe this pleasure? You haven't called for like...two days! How I miss your voice—"

Remind me why I have to call again...Right, I need an escape route.

"Tomoe, shut up. Do you know what I'm calling you with?"

Silence.

"Omg! Crimson! I didn't notice you were using the—"

"Shut up, and just get me the satellite feeds and guide me to the safest route."

"Got it. Sorry again Crimson, it's just that—"

"Tomoe..." A fair warning. The thing is I know what Tomoe has for me is more than a childish infatuation. I was her kidnapper then suddenly the employer said the deal was off. Irritating clients are common. Those indecisive bastards who back out at the last minute are worse than those who tattle tale your work with their golf buddies even when you explicitly tell them not to. I'll be more than happy to do this world a big favor and get rid of these modern age plagues, but as I said previously these men are also my clients, clients who provide for my hobbies and what nots. I can probably live without them, but I'm certainly won't enjoy my life without their cash.

Get it?

So back to Tomoe. She was a notorious underground hacker back then and a lot of creepy old businessmen wanted her dead, then there are some who wanted her to be traded off with something more valuable like drugs and weapons. My client wanted the former, but as mentioned earlier he chickened out.

Bastard.

Anyway, so when we—Tomoe and I—are already in the exchange point. My helpless victim was blindfolded and sedated inside my car while I wait outside—the outside which I secured beforehand. A five-minute delay and I usually get edgy because it says that either I'm in some kind of set up or the client won't make the deal. My latter theory was proven to be true when I received an e-mail from the client.

Cannot do the deal. Sorry. Mr. X.

Naturally, I added Mr. X to my to-kill-list after I received the invalidation of our deal. Seriously, these people need to be properly educated when it comes to dealing with people like us. Sure, they have deposited a down payment for my services, but that doesn't give them the prerogative to just close off the deal whenever they want. What is this? A restaurant?

No, no, no. When I start a deal, I fully intend to finish. That or finish whoever the foolish man or woman who started it. And so I do just that. With pleasure of course.

What? You're looking rather pale now. I just did what it is sensible to do. This is sort of like me dealing with karma. You know, what goes around comes around. But instead of just waiting for some damn crap fate to occur and take its course, I have an initiative. I am a girls scout…not.

Who am I kidding? It's simply my retaliation or more like my compensation for my job. Either give me the credit of an accomplished job or give me your head.

Whichever is more convenient for the client, I don't care.

So that's what happened with Tomoe, the deal was off and naturally I went about and was about to attach a 50kg ball and chain to her feet and I don't know, push her off a cliff or something. I guess wherever is the nearest body of water is she'll have to go. Even a canal or dam would do. I'm not the choosy. And oh, after I cut off her tongue of course.

Now you look a tad green. Are you sick or something? Please. Give me a break. Just doing my job, remember?

Anyway, so usually I cut the tongue because, well, sensibly if the target cannot talk then if there's a slightest chance that he or she would survive my creative way of killing them, which I doubt they will survive by the way, then they cannot report to whoever what have transpired.

What about in writing you ask. Well, years ago I would usually ask them, my targets, which hand do they wish be invalidated for life and when they say right I cut off the left, and when they say left I cut off the right. Why? I say it's human nature to preserve their lives or part for this matter. Even at times of trouble wherein their judgements can be clouded, instinct usually kicks in and that instinct mainly points out to survival.

Oh I just love it when people do that. You know, be fidgety and asking for a second chance. Hah. As if I'm forgiving in the first place. But I have to say there are psychopaths whom I've crossed paths with before and it would be hard to read them or ascertain if they're telling the truth. Somehow in their fucked up brains, their instinct is vaguely different from the norm so instead of like saying they want for their right to be cut off instead of the left because they're right-handed, then it's safe to assume you have to cut their left. Because people like them are tricky even in the verge of death. They'll most likely do whatever they can do manipulate your thinking. Even in death, all they think about is screwing everybody's head.

Normally they would have succeeded, but I have nothing to do with normal. I can detect a psychopath from a mile away; three miles even when completely sober. These psychopaths aren't that hard to read when you've dealt with them enough.

What? You don't believe me? Suit yourself.

And what's with that look? That look. No, not that are-you-for-real-look but that look that spoke of-course-you-do-know-you-psychopath.

Okay, let me be clear. I'm no psychopath. Please don't disgrace me by classifying me with those amateurs. Those freaks. I am simply…special. Yes, that's what Sakura told me. I am very special.

Enough of your petty protest. I'll continue with my narration.

Then of course there are circumstances to be considered. Like for example when the target is ambidextrous, what do I do? I am not that thorough to know if they can write on their both hands. I don't have the luxury of time to do that. You understand right? I'm busy doing other jobs or drinking my afternoon tea.

What's with that look again? Stop that I'm telling you.

Anyway, Sakura mentioned that my methods are bothersome and I should just let them be fed to a den of crocodiles or something. She has a thing for wild animals. That's one of the things I like about her. She's concern with nature. So unnaturally natural for her to care about these…creatures. Well, in my defence I only do the cutting off bit when I have a few minutes to spare, but if I don't then there's another option of cremation. Then I'd send their ashes to their respective families. It's sweet of me to do that right?

Right.

What if they still survive after throwing them off with restraints and managed to out me to the authorities? Truthfully, I find it annoying when they do that. You know, survive. Usually I don't have to worry about that because it's more common that they bleed out to death when I sever their tongues. That's why I cut off their dominant hand to be certain. And to be extra sure and just because it is fun, I break the other into pieces that healing would be impossible. That's pretty effective for the ambidextrous I've told you before.

Go on tell me. You're impressed with me now.

Even though it's not pretty, it's highly effective. There hasn't been one instance that a previous target lived to retell the events. Nobody knows what I look like except that I have a pair of red eyes.

It's quite handy having these eyes. People tend to forget everything else and their attention are automatically drawn into them. And before they got the chance to breathe for another second, their bodies are already cold on the ground. Although don't get too excited because there are only a handful whom I've done this act. Only when I'm bored and had little spare time, but other than that, I stick with the 'shoot to kill at once' motto. I'm sure there are others who have that particular motto.

Right?

So let's go back to Tomoe. Well, she's incredibly crafty—that I can say with conviction. It took me a very thorough strategy to lure her in. She's amazingly prepared with any untoward actions aimed at her. It's like she's used to this kind of treatment for years. Considering she's a world class hacker and a genius at that, then I guess it's a no brainer why she's the way she is. Although she still has another think coming if she thinks I'm going to fail.

For one her hiding spot was a local bar, she's way obvious at the far corner of the room with her laptops and several gadgets I'm not even sure exist. She's a world class hacker and she flaunts it. Clearly she's not one of the typical hackers you see in the movies who live under a manhole or some dungeon.

The girl whose visages are similarly close to my age holds a pair of stormy gray eyes. That's what I first noticed about her when I made my preliminary scouting of her place. Those eyes are incredibly…spooky. Its hue is mysterious, but not the nice and aloof mysterious kind, more of if-you-do-something-bad-to-me-I-will-sauté-your-brains kind of way. It gives you this strong menacing aura that you normally get from wild animals. These creatures are not rational and you can't merely snap your fingers and tame them. No, they're wild for a reason. They simply live according to their necessity and see fit. They are the way they are because they don't follow anyone but themselves.

Normally one cannot tame them but I'm not normal as you all know by now.

What were my methods? Well, that is something I shouldn't just divulge to anyone right? I know you're already picking up notes from everything I've said, but I won't indulge you more for today. I think you're all a bit being spoiled.

Great. I'm talking to a crowd in my head.

"Crimson? Are you still there, love?"

Before you see my eyes rolling I'd say it explicitly: Tomoe and I are not like that. What like that you ask? You know what like that.

"Yes. So what about my exit?"

"Can I get a kiss for this job?"

"Tomoe…" I said with a warning. She knew I don't kiss around.

"Let me fondle your boobs?"

"Now you sound like an old pervert, still no." I rolled my eyes and thought twice about her age. Her real age.

"Just kidding, Crimson. Of course I'd do anything for you."

Oh, I bet you do.

Though I didn't bother saying that as another bullet somehow penetrated my current refuge, and any minute now it'll be destroyed. So I said in a hurry, "Tomoe, enough of the games I know you have my exit since I said hello so just tell me. I have a fucking tea party to attend to."

What? It's true.

"Hold on, Crimson. I'm having an emergency distress call."

I snarled at her. "Fuck off, Tomoe! I'm in a bind here and you're going to hang up on me?"

"Sorry, darling. This is one of those life and death moments. Just hold on. I will—"

I interrupted harshly, "The fuck? Send me the route will you? Or I'll be the one who'll end whoever sent that distress call."

"Sorry, Crimson. I have to."

*Beep*

Fuck!

Now what?

I am not one to worry about my security because I'm overly confident with my skills—with due grounds, of course. Although having innumerable unseen enemies in every direction can be quite intimidating. Then again, this is not a first for me. I've been in situations much more delicate than this. That is another story for the future as I'm busy conducting a brief survey of my area.

Right now I'm behind a thick wall which had been receiving bullets for more than half an hour, and I'm guessing it will collapse any minute now. Preferably I hope it'll fall down to the other side, but seeing it now, I'm highly positive that it is leaning towards me. That means I have to move out of here.

Where?

Fuck that Tomoe!

A little to my left there are several wooden barrels which can hide me from the enemies. Then again, they are wooden and if they decided to go 'Rambo' on me again, those will be pulverized in nanoseconds. Second, I'm not certain of their contents, for all I know they can be explosives. But covered by those wooden barrels is a manhole. It was hidden quite cleverly if not only for my sharp eye sight, I wouldn't have noticed it. I'm not sure why there's one here inside and even before you ask—No, I don't know whether they can be opened or not. My eyesight might be 20/20 but they're not see through. How would you know whether a compartment, door, window, or a container is open? You try to open it, yes? And how would I open it? By going to those barrel.

To those freaking wooden, vulnerable barrels with unknown contents.

Can I really risk my safety to that possibility?

Yes.

Nonetheless, I am a woman who does not rely solely on fate and luck. Quite the opposite, in fact. I'm sort of a girl's scout remember? I take the first step, I take the initiative. I fucking do the walk and not just talk. I'm Crimson for crying out loud.

So what do I do?

Simple. I look to my right.

No, there's no insert joke in here kind of comment. I really turned to my right to inspect any possible exits. Well from what I can see, there are these gigantic windows a few steps on my right. I can probably roll over to get there. I can see the ocean through it, and any open water is the safest detour in my opinion. Plus, the enemies are not exactly coming in that direction unlike from the left wherein I can sense they're marching from. I can be relatively safe there. Appears to be a winner but that just leaves me with another question, what if they're locked?

Yes, I know. What's with all these locks! It's like mockery for Crimson—me—all over again.

You say I should smash through it and dive onto the ocean? What do you think I am? A freaking action star? I may be athletic for a criminal but I'm in no way agreeing to barge onto unidentified windows. It's a bit far for my liking and even with my 20/20 vision I can't see clearly what kind of material were they made of. For all I know they might have been fibreglass and I'll just humiliate myself by smacking head first.

No, thank you very much.

I could probably test it by shooting at it. Again, there's a problem. If I fire a gun, then they'll know what I'm up to, they'll direct their bullets to that direction and there's no way I can jump onto that window without getting hit even if I was a gold medallist for gymnastic or what.

Sigh.

Okay, there's the last option. The back.

I slowly turned my head and saw…

A wall.

Yes, a wall.

No, scratch that. It used to be a wall. A wall which was blown up just recently. Remember that wall wherein Charlie appeared? Yeah, that one. Now it only leaves me with a pile of rubbles. Debris. Ruins.

I'm ruined.

Damn.

It's a dead end.

Great.

So weighing my options between left and right, because obviously I cannot even consider the front, I chose left. Why? Because I'm left handed.

Yeah right. As if.

The manhole may be the most dangerous of the two but it is the least most disgraceful if I fail. Just imagine, if I smack onto that window I will die first of humiliation before dying because of those infinite bullets that I'm sure will come my way. The manhole beneath those wooden barrels may not open and those said barrels might explode but I'll be safely hidden and I'll blow up in an instant. It will be quicker and I like anything fast.

That's right, like when you…

Shut it!

Back to my plan. So I settled with left. The next step is knowing when to execute my escape. I just can't jump onto my left and hope that my enemies dozed off or decided to scratch their heads at the very moment I wander off towards those barrels.

As if I'm that lucky.

While I was off to my contingency plan, for some unknown reason or luck, they managed to get near me. Not near as in right behind me for that matter. More like a couple of steps and we'll bump into each other kind of near. A couple of guys, in fact, are situated in those barrels I'm going to sneak into. Another pair of muscular guys, I caught a glimpse of their fitted black suits, are just around the corner and eventually I run into them when I traverse those few steps towards my sweet escape.

That's when I heard it.

~Wohooo…Yehooo...

Fuck me once.

~Wohooo…Yehoooo...

Fuck me twice.

~Wohooo…Yehooo...

No make that fucking thrice. Shit. Am I in some fuck up world?

~Wohooo…Yehooo...

Before I could answer the mobile phone I heard footsteps coming around my place.

Shit. No time for any distraction. Or any fucking ring tone for that matter. I seriously need to look up the person who invented the crappy technology.

With much hesitation I let the mobile ring to its hearts—doubt it has one, who cares though—content.

~If I could escape, I would but first just let me say I must apologize for acting, stinking, treating you this way...

No way am I going to apologize to anyone. Fuck this song…though it's regrettably catchy.

As I mused about these shallow thoughts one of the pair on my right decided to make his presence known by grabbing me from behind… Let me just say, it's not the brightest idea.

~Cause I've been acting like sour milk fell on the floor...

The man in black fell on the floor with a couple of forbidding sounds of cracked bones as I easily threw him even before he could touch my shoulders.

The hell they think they can touch me with their filthy hands?

~It's your fault you didn't shut the refrigerator...

Your fault for attempting to sneak behind my back…or even daring to be my opponent, I say.

I easily crushed his windpipe in one manoeuvre after smirking in satisfaction.

~Maybe that's the reason I've been acting so cold...

My smirk was wiped off just as easy as I recall the freaking ring tone. I was to turn it off when another pair from the same side suddenly appeared, now holding a combat knife.

Oh. Give me a break.

~If I could escape and re-create a place as my own world...

When I escape here I'd re-create a place wherein there's no ring tone.

Shit.

This guy almost hit me by my locks as I try to wriggle out my mobile phone from its container.

~Then I could be your favorite girl, forever, perfectly together...

Fuckity shit! It got stuck. Dammit! Just my luck.

As I gave my enemy one of my finest and solely awkward moment—haggling with my purse—he took the time to bring out another knife though this time it's a bit longer, more like a dagger.

Just great. Time to make a fool of myself in front of a professional assassin.

~Tell me boy, now wouldn't that be sweet...

I saw a glint of amusement in his eyes with my current predicament and that entirely threw me off. I instantaneously produced my very own knife beneath my dress and struck him directly to his head. Normally one would aim at the heart, but I couldn't risk him wearing a vest. Plus, I hated that he was making fun of me.

~If I could be sweet I know I've been a real bad girl...

Oh…you have no idea how bad I am.

~I didn't mean for you to get hurt forever, we can make it better...

I took a glimpse of my unlucky opponents and I thought I've done them gentler.

Lucky idiots.

~Tell me boy, now wouldn't that be sweet? Sweet escape...

It looks like I've garnered some attention from the other two close to my sweet escape. I'd prefer they get their asses here so I could right them up good than to go there and risk myself catching a bullet or two. And it's too much work.

Give me a break.

~I wanna get away, to our sweet escape...

The two were about to make a move when they're halted by a command, 'Stop soldiers.'

Fuck it. Another commando bravado freak.

~Woohhoo….Yehooo…I wanna get away, get away…

Fuck right. I wanna get away from here. Come on. Just get here so you'll breathe your last breath.

"Crimson, come out. You know you're not going anywhere," said by the commando bravado freak. As the men he addressed before stood firmly on their stations, stations which I need to get to by…this time actually.

~You let me down, I'm at my lowest boiling point...

More like my highest boiling point. There is no more time! I need to get out of here and follow my Natsuki.

Shit. Where did that came from?

I meant, my target.

My prey.

My…

Fuckity shit. Shut up!

~Come help me out I need to get me out of this joint…

"Crimson, come out."

I bit my lips in deep frustration. I bit until I could taste my blood. This is the only way I could calm my raging rage.

Calm down, Crimson.

~Come on, let's bounce. Counting on you to turn me around...

Fucking mobile is still ringing!

"…nowhere to go…" was shouted throughout the warehouse. I couldn't hear it clearly as my head is physically beating attuned to my tachycardic heart.

~Instead of clowning around let's look for some common ground...

I stared at the dead bodies behind me and I can't see them clearly.

~So baby time's been getting a little crazy I've been getting a little lazy waiting for you to come save me...

Without so much of a thought I snatched the communication device from one of the dead guys.

~I can see that you're angry by the way that you treat me...

"Fucking get out of my way or I'll annihilate you all," I snarled into the microphone.

~Hopefully, you don't want to leave me, want to take you with me...

The only place where I can think of taking them is hell. That bit is pretty much settled even before they stepped inside of this building.

"Crimson, we need to talk."

We need to talk.

Talk.

He said fucking talk.

After this fiasco?

That's when my tunnelling vision became completely dark and in haste I threw the smaller of the two dead guys into the direction of the wooden barrels. This prompted a startling row of fire in its direction. If the guy was not dead, he sure is now.

~If I could escape and re-create a place as my own world...

I threw the next guy in another direction and that disarrayed the line of bullets which were supposed to be mine. I took that opportunity to roll onto the ground towards my original destination.

~And I could be your favorite girl, forever, perfectly together...

The two stationed near by the barrels sensed my presence and was about to aim at me when I instinctively produced my handgun and shot them each with a bullet on their foreheads.

~Tell me boy, now couldn't that be sweet...

Another grin was involuntarily released on my lips as I saw their gobsmacked reactions as they received their ends and with their final breaths, they fell on the ground with a loud thud.

~If I could be sweet, I know I've been a real bad girl...

My grin lasted this time even after the sound announced my position to everyone in the room. Unlike before wherein it vanished, this time however, it got wider.

~I didn't mean for you to get hurt, forever you can make it better...

The lot of my enemies turned around but they didn't fire. They must have been processing what has transpired. The dead body of their comrade which they've been massacring for more than five seconds, the dead body of another comrade whom they fired at not too long ago which I'm now standing right now, and another pair of dead bodies, each of which has a clean head shot.

And the queen of it all, the doer of it all, the woman behind of it all, stood by before dozens of them with such a sinister smile.

Fuck it. I feel good.

~Tell me boy now wouldn't be sweet. Sweet escape...

Sensing they'll be out of their momentarily stupor I quickly lifted off the handle of the manhole which was luckily not locked—Thank shit—before I gave them a victorious middle finger.

~Woohooo…Yehooo…

Then I jumped into my sweet escape.

~Woohooo…Yehooo…

Then I heard the explosion above.

~Woohooo…Yehooo…

Oh, I forgot to mention I left a sweet treat for them.

~Woohooo…Yehooo…

Fuck yeah, I'm a bad girl.

X

X

X

I wish you are all doing great in your respective lives and this is me hoping I made you smile with this chapter. My eternal anxious heart is again ever thankful to those who R&R.

Till next time.

Song: Sweet Escape by Gwen Stefani

Her songs were my LSS back then. Damn, catchy songs. Wooohooo...Yehooo...

Side story:

Natsuki: *gives me a glare* Waki, you and I need to talk in private.

Waki: *keeps distance, about a mile away* What did I do this time?

Natsuki: Why is she here?

Waki: *pretends not to know* Who?

Natsuki: HER! *points at Tomoe casually making tea*

Waki: I-e...eh? *runs away*

Natsuki: Come back here!