A low never-ending murmur filled the conference room when everyone, involved in the mission was called upon suddenly. They kept seated in their respective seats, awaiting a new dimension in the revelation. Jacob walks inside the conference room with Jackson walking side by side with him. He greeted with a thrill.

Jacob: Good Morning, everyone.

The peers kept staring at him. 

Jacob walked up to the larger end of the table and leaned forward to press his palm against the corners.

Jacob heaves heavily: Before I start off, I need to inform you guys about a little change. Mr Alvarez will be out of the office for a few days. Till then, I will be leading this operation. I will be looking after the beginning and the end of this mission. Coming to the main topic of discussion,  these days of hard work, the one thing that we realized is that, they are not someone who should be taken lightly. We made that mistake, and... you have witnessed, what happened. If this doesn't move you, then it is nonetheless to mention that as we have struck several times, they know about all of us. They know what we are planning and yeah, they are going to move accordingly. So, in simple words, we need to get em, before they get us. Before I start off with the operational part, anyone who is getting cold feet may walk out of the room. 

Everyone moves their head in denial.

Jacob: Thank you. So, getting into this. (he turns towards the screen and turns on the projector)We have worked on some information, that we were lucky enough to receive. And, we came down to certain crucial information about their activities, locations and transactions. But, our main motive is to get track of the hostages. (sigh) that continues to remain under the cover. But, the silver lining in all these is that we have locations in our hand. As much as ninety-eight per cent. We need to search through all the locations, godowns, abandoned factories, pubs, old resorts. The hostages are ought to be somewhere within these locations. Questions?

One of them raises his hand: What would be the approximate number of locations?

Jacob: 300...

Man: You say we need to visit 300 locations, searching for the hostages. We don't even know if they are even breathing. 

Jacob: No. They don't kill. 

Man: How can you be so sure? 

Jacob: That's not how they work. I...just know. And yes we need to search through 300 locations.

Man: We need manpower. 

Jacob: THEN GET 'EM! PUT THE NEW TRAINEES INTO THIS WORK. I WANT THAT FUCKARD INSIDE THE BARS!! WE NEED TO GET THE GIRLS OUT OF THERE. ALL THE MISSING REPORTS TILL NOW, ARE OF GIRLS NOT MORE THAN THE AGE OF 19. THEY ARE KIDS FOR HEAVEN SAKE.

Jacob's sudden lashing out, silenced the conference room, as everyone held their eyes down and Jackson crossed his hands across his chest. Jacob softened his look and closed his eyes to compose himself. 

Jacob: I...I am sorry. Get the work started, let us gather tomorrow, at the same time. 

Jacob walked out of the room. 

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Later that day,

Jackson walked by the corridor when he found Madeline engrosses in her laptop screen. Jackson stopped and decided to go near her. 

Madeline kept running her fingers through the keyboard when she felt a sandwich slide towards her table. She got distracted from her work and looked up to find Jackson standing by her. She kept staring at him, with enquiring eyes. 

Jackson: You never had lunch.

Madeline: You don't get to fill your tummy when you are frustrated. 

Jackson: Why are you frustrated?

Madeline: Jake didn't let me in the meeting.

Jackson creased his eyebrows in confusion: Huh! 

Madeline turned her eyes back towards the screen and moved her head from side to side: Nothing you should be bothered about. 

Jackson twitched his lips and took a seat near her and leaned towards the table. Madeline kept concentrated in her work

Jackson: Madeline, in any way, do you know any of them?

Madeline eyes on the screen and hands on the keyboard: Who?

Jackson: Wizards! 

Madeline stopped what she was doing. Even though she tried to maintain a poker face yet Jackson sensed the change in her expressions.

Jackson: Madeline.

Madeline turned towards Jackson, startled.

Madeline: No. I don't know any of them. 

Jackson kept scanning through her eyes: Are you sure?

Madeline turned back her eyes towards the keyboard as she kept rubbing the keys gently: Y...Yeah...

Jackson stood up from his place: Have the sandwich quickly.

Madeline taking a deep breath: I am not hungry. 

Jackson: But, you need to have something.

Madeline: I said I am not hungry.

Jackson: You just came back from the hell, okay? So, yes you are having the sandwich. I got it for you.

Madeline in a higher pitch: And?

Jackson rolled his eyes and walked out of the place.

Madeline slumped her shoulders and looked at the sandwich. She twitched her lips and turned back to her work, but unable to keep it she grabbed the sandwich at once, and nibbled at first and then took a whole bite. 

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The raid across the locations commenced from the day after the order. The whole department started to stay for night shifts more often, so did Jacob. Jackson never left his side, and actively participated in all the scrutinies.

Days later:

Madeline barged inside Jacob's office and took a seat facing Jacob.

Jacob: What happened?

Madeline: I feel left out.

Jacob: Why would feel that?

Madeline: Why are you keeping things from me? I am a part of this right?

Jacob: Maddie, you are not well. 

Madeline: I am alright. You guys need to stop pitying me. 

Jacob: Maddie, calm down. No one is pitying you. You just need to take some rest. 

Madeline: I was at home for a whole week and lately even though I joined the office, I have been leaving early. But, now it's enough. I need to get normal. 

Jacob: Maddie...

Madeline: Is there a different reason? Is it because of what I said earlier in the hospital?

Jacob: No...but,

Madeline: Is it because Corvett is too close now? And you think he can scare me off? 

Jacob heaved heavily and kept silently staring at her. 

Madeline nodded her head: Your silence said it all. I am not a kid anymore. I know I got shaken after everything that happened. But, I am back. No one can deviate me from my goal. 

Jacob: I am not deviating you from your goal. I...I am just protecting you. He knows about you, and now we desperately need to get him first.

Madeline: That's a good thing he knows about me. That will be a good thing if he realises that I am a constant witness of his destruction. I need to see him get destroyed with my own eyes and I want him to know it. I need to get involved, please. 

Jacob turned his eyes towards the table as Madeline kept waiting for a reply. 

Jacob: Okay. I will let you know everything. Give me some time. 

Madeline's eyes sparkled with joy, and her lips curved into a grin. 

Madeline: There you go. 

She quickly turned towards the door to find Jackson standing and all of a sudden the smile in her face vanished. Jacob noticed her awkwardness and looked up towards the door, and his jaw dropped. 

He stood up from his place: How long have you been here? 

Madeline rushed out of the room keeping her eyes lowered. 

Jackson: And that's why you are more than passionate about getting the Wizards screwed. 

Jacob: Claros, you better not come to any conclusion.

Jackson: What's the deal with Madeline? Why are you protecting her? 

Jacob pointing his finger towards Jackson: Keep within your business, okay? I am working along with you guys. But, that doesn't give you the authority to raid into someone's personal space. 

Jackson: Trust me, I don't want to. But, some events are too visible to avoid. They seem too serious to avoid. 

Jacob: Why are you here? 

Jackson: Forget it!

He turned back and walked out of sight. 

Jacob banged his fist on the table: DAMN IT!!

-------------------------------------------------------------
Jackson: MADELINE, WAIT!!!

Leaving Jacob's cabin, Jackson tried to get in pace with Madeline who rushed out of the cabin and was running towards the basement. Jackson screamed out her name from behind, but she did not respond. Jackson outran her, grabbed her by her arm and swung her towards himself, as she gasped.

Jackson(stern voice): Spit it out!

Madeline: Let me go.

Jackson: No. You told me, you knew none of them. Then what is Jacob protecting you from?

Madeline: Look, I don't have an answer for you.

Jackson: Madeline, we need clarity to solve this case.

Madeline: And? Do you think I have something to do with them?

Jackson: Yes, you do. I know you are hiding something.

Madeline: I am not.

Jackson: Then what are you running from?

Madeline: LET ME GO!!

Repeated instigations broke the last line of her resistance as she suddenly snapped out, startling out Jackson. He kept staring at her, as her eyes started to turn glittery, as she breathed heavy. His expressions softened. He decided not to let it out further. After a brief silence, he held his eyes down and turned to leave, when a choking voice hit his ears.

Madeline: He took away everything from me. My dreams, my teenage, my family and fucking hell, my identity.

Jackson looked up at her, to find her head bowed down as tears streamed down her cheeks. He walked up to her and carefully wiped the tears off her cheeks.

Madeline: I was a dork, to ever think that he loved me. I was warned, but I didn't care. Till the day, everything changed by a single gunshot. He killed my mother in cold blood, in front of my eyes. Two years, I was a nobody just a win in bets of filthy men, until I shot the regular and the highest bidder down before I fled from that place. I was just 19. A teen when I killed a man. You asked me whether I knew those men. Yes, I do. They were the only faces, I have ever seen after Corvett. That day, at Jake's place, they recognized me. They did try to take shots at me. But they failed yet again. This chase is both ways, between me and Corvett. "Who gets the bullet first"

Jackson kept his eyes steady into hers and gulped down hard.

Madeline(curving her lips into a smile, with glittery eyes): I am a human of flesh and blood, irrespective of the profession I have. I do have a heart, Jackson Claros. It. Is just in a shattered state. I do have an emotion, but it is just dominated by vengeance. (Seizing the smile) I want him dead. I want him dead, to live, to survive. I just yearn to see the history repeat, but this time, either way. I want to laugh as he cries out in pain.

Jackson:...for whatever it takes. And you chose to sacrifice your innocence.

Madeline: I was already stripped off the thing called "innocence". I couldn't be something, I wasn't anymore.

Jackson lowered his eyes and stepped back: I...I am sorry. 

Madeline kept standing in her place, as Jackson turned and disappeared from the place as fast as he could.