May 19,2014
Tuesday Evening
It was  my birthday eve so many teens had gathered. Dazzling lights with hues of rainbow collide against each other scattering their spectrum as feets bask under its light. The music was being played so loud that it was truly a wonder how anyone on dance floor was left sane enough to keep dancing . Since several seniors had collaborated in organising this party, there was no dearth of cocktails and drinks being served today .

Even Raul had agreed to serve as our barkeeper (coined by Max only ) for today. Still , the whole celebration was like being enveloped in a glamour of world where I didn't belong.

 I was just  sitting beside one of the three tables on the first floor observing everything. It was a pretty vivid sight full of vibrations and colour. But I had no real interest in any of the activities being performed in my name today.

Silva waved to me sitting beside me . I wasn't sure what to talk about so I thought best to maintain my silence watching events unfold.

"Okay! So that didn't work. You do realise it is your birthday, Max ?" Silva questionned.

"I thought you weren't that type of girl who cares about how others think." I interlocked my fingers.

"I just said that one time at one thing . It doesn't mean that you can generalize it , Max ." She justified.

"Fair enough. Well! To me , this day feels no different than others except I have to do this out of a social obligation forced upon me by Claude based on my reputation here.  Either way , it helps maintain my reputation here so I can recuirt more to my organization." I told her .

"Organization! Recuirtment! Reputation! Look at you. That is all you think about, Max . Day and night, no matter what even the most extreme social interaction that takes place in your life is simply connected to either you finding a mystery or establishing and expanding your organization.

Golly! I don't mind it much. After all , that is your aptitude but still Max, come on ! You have got to do something fun for once something that is just not connected to a logical finding or to organization or to experiment." She finished.

"Gosh! How did you even say all that without pausing ? Oh well! That was really quite unusual coming from you . I mean besides me ,do you have any social life here ?" I smirked as she sipped her drink.

"Oh! No need to get upset. But I am just not seeing myself open to possibilities of such a social interaction currently like you stated . But just to follow your advice, I am going to walk up to someone and talk to them without any motive . Does that sound good to you?" I stood up as she nodded smiling.

"And by the way , I often talk with my roommate when she is there , which is like not there most of the time." Silva stopped me as I was going .Oh Silva! Don't worry, I can't have you getting down . I will see to your social life soon. 

"Hey Selica! So I can now to talk to you under covers here. So what is your favorite drink?' I asked as we sat down besides a table . She widened her eyes wondering what I was planning.

"No need to get so shocked. I did give my word to Silva that I would talk to someone without motive . Since everything seems to be in order and fine, here I am. I am pretty sure that we will get new recuirts but currently there is no need for them so I am kind of free" I explained.

"Oh! That makes sense. " She agreed.

"Are you planning to lead on my curiousity? Favorite drink?" I rolled my eyes.

"Max, it is not like I can just pick it out . After all , I am not drinking some  wine but if I had to choose , orange crux L served here ." She sighed.

"Oh! I am stumped. I don't know what to talk about?" I rested my eyes lying down on a table. 

"For real! Well, you were always driven by great ulterior motive while talking to people so I guess that is bound to happen. Want to dance?" She offered.

"Nope. Not interested." I shook my head as .She was probably trying to contain some bubbling feeling within that bright smile.

"Want to eat something?"

"No! I am good" I pointed at my lemon drink.

"Want to talk about which boy girl relationship in class you like best?

"Not really. They will end soon" You are getting that desperate , Zee.

"Want to learn about hacking?"

"Then wouldn't you feel pretty useless, won't you?" I teased her.

"Want to  talk to me?"

"No! I mean y-yes." I corrected myself quickly.

"I tried everything I could think of doing here, Max. You first rejected me a dance and then were pretty mean about your replies." She pouted looking away.

"Sorry, Zee. Hmm ! How about it? You can just ask me one question you want." I suggested.

"Just one question? Well, consider a hypothetical situation. If you happened to know something that others are not aware of but the only condition that you can co-exist with them is by being secretive about that , then what would you do? Would you bade them goodbye forever or try to help them subtly while hoping for a better and hopeful future with them?" She stared at me with her pearly hazel eyes as if looking deep at my essence itself .  What  a strange thing to ask ? Why do you sound so serious just now ? Just what  has etched your mind, Zee?

Suddenly, she clutched her chest, and her face twisted into a look of pain. She coughed blood and stained the side of her lips.

"Sel.." I stood up abruptly quickly calming my voice to avoid causing a scene. " Do you want me to take you to medical room?" I patted her back.

"N-No ! I am fine." She wiped it off quickly. Straight lie !

"You are clearly not fine, Zee. " Amidst all this, I heard a loud bang. In a momentary lapse of even a second, the whole crowd broke into a ruckus in panic. Was that a gunshot just now? How did they even manage to get it inside school? But then again, I also managed to get several shady stuff through loopholes. No time to think about it now! There was only target worth all that trouble here. 

Selica could also relaize that fact and could barely managed to speak feebly  "No ! Just today ..." 

"Hey! I heard that gunshot. Don't worry! I will cover you while we get away to your room and seal ourselves there." Silva assured me as stood beside me carrying a pocket knife. Was she really planning to fight a gunmen with knife?  You are one wild girl , aren't you Silva?

"Got it . But her condition is also not looking much good." I drew her attention to bleeding Selica as she peered at Selica "Just what is going on with you ?

"Don't worry about me ! It was probably just an allergic reaction to orange crux juice I drank. ..Just get yourself to safety , Max." Selica pleaded. Zee! .....

"Fine ! But take care and explain everything to Claude, will you?" I relented as she nodded her head .  The situation had taken an unexpected turn so I wasn't really  concerned at this point about keeping secrets from Claude.

I had only one priority right now i.e. to get rid of the assassin after me and get back to Zee.  Silva gestured me  to follow after scouting outside for enemy.

"I could catch a glimpse of him only but he seemed well equipped , highly trained and ready . He is probably planning to snipe you the moment you step outside." She warned me.

"Good plan for him , bad for me I suppose." I shoved my hands back in pocket.

"You seem calm though?" She peered at me.

"Well! Nothing good would come by panicking now, would it?" I hitched my shoulders as she rolled her eyes in agreement.

"How about this? Let's hide ourselves among students as we leave." 

"Max ! Do you really think anyone would be eager enough to get out right now?" She had  a point .I could only see dread , apprehensiveness and fear etched on their faces .They didn't have my apolomb after all.

Amidst my trundling thoughts , Claude's voice reached me ."'Max !  I hope you aren't planning to go out right now?"  Her face was stricken with worry and an uncanny doubt laced her eyes .

"Are you aware of the situation then?"

"I got the general idea from Selica. She was coughing a lot of blood so I have asked one of our senior member who specialises in medical care to look after her for now. " She informed. 

"I see. That is good!" The news was a respite to me which helped me to clear my mind.  "Thanks, Claude. As for going out, I still haven't decided on that part . There are few things that I would like to make sure first."

"Great ! This is really not the time to be tempted by providence!" She clutched her heart relieved . "Come on ! Let's discuss this first . I am sure that authorities will be arriving soon enough ." With that, she tugged my sleeve dragging me back to my seat .

"Can I say something now?" Silva raised her eyebrows annoyed as I gave my nod. "This situation is nowhere as simple as you two think . If an assassin was truly sent after you, why would he deliberately fire a gun outside just to warn you and cause a commotion?

It has been two minutes already so why has no one arrived here? I  am sure that some members have their phones with them and yet do you see any help arriving? "

She was definitely more perceptive than I had given her credit for .  Then again, she was trained under French government so I suppose it makes sense.

"I had also considered that possibility the very moment I heard the bang .

There are three possibilities as to why that might have happened: first , he might have killed all the teachers and staffs in vicinity so he knows that with no help arriving , we would start to leave one by one and then he can snipe us .

Secondly, he wasn't sure about whether he could actually spot me if I just walk out of here.

Like there could be a possibility that I might leave in a group naturally and that could have effectively acted as my cover from him which wasn't desirable .

Thirdly , I may have been spotted due to my distinct silver hair even if I had come with group and a easy target but he was bounded by some deadline and circumstances to ensnare everyone here. He discovered without a flinch after firing that shot so there is a possibility that he has rigged this place with bomb as we speak."

"So you have really thought this through after all!" Silva smirked . " Well if it is the third possibility, then it is indeed true that time is not on our side. We need to get out of here but then if we get out , we would be sniped by him.  Pretty solid strategy ..." She stomped her foot as she rattled her brain.

"Max!" Claude tugged at my shirt as I turned to her . "I have a plan that might just work but it just need highest amount of fallacy "

"Well ! We are out of time so if your plan allows us a safe escape route , I am up for it." I relented .

"Yeah ! So what have you got up your sleeve, girl ?" Silva smirked .

..........

THOTH'S POV

"Come out already , Max Ryder. Accept your death like a man." Lezan grunted locking his gun at door. Beside clubhouse , there was a small adjoining terrace where he had reposed himself the vey moment he had lured them out but even after five minutes, no one had come out .

Just how long  would he would have to wait like this ? It was so damn annoying . A girl with blonde curls came out of door with her hands up in the air .

"Huh ! You think that is going to save you  ?" He laughed . Just how many times he had seen that one last desperate act in order to act their lives ! Even now , he could feel it like yesterday when he had sniped his first target. It was a kid, barely ten at best .

But he didn't ask any questions or questionned his actions even once. Morals ! Ethics ! All those big words were for pathetic life clingers .

A simple order had been issued to him like everytime : "Get rid of Max Ryder and anyone who attempts to protect him." One glimpse and he could see through that scared girl act of her . She was a trained killer just like him . There was no hesitation on his finger. If need be , he would massacre all here but he would get rid of his target .

With one small thrust , he pushed the trigger as the bullet lodged itself towards the girl . Just a moment before it hit her, she grinned .

"What was up with that grin?" He stood up annoyed . It wasn't like she had managed to dodge the bullet for she was bleeding from her head profusely . He closed his eyes and chuckled "Stupid kids. Getting full of themselves . Did she really think she could dodge a bullet ?" 

"Of course not . " Before he could even open his eyes properly , he felt something hard smash against his head , piercing deep inside his skin and eyes.

He touched his face as a shard cut against his finger ." My eyes...! You brats.." More shards of glass entered his eye as he tried to open them . Unable to sense the direction , he continued to fire gun advancing  forward.

"Be careful . Those are some steep edges  . One misstep and you will break your neck . Opening your eyes might help you know!" He heard a smirk as he gritted his teeth angrily.

"How? Just what kind of devil 's scheme you pulled , brat ?"

"Devil's scheme . Oh ! Please. It was really nothing that dramatic .Right , Claude?"  A voice belonging to Max answered.

"Indeed ! I simply happened to use one inconvenient circumstance to solve another inconvenient circumstance . But we have no obligation to explain our plan to a dead man."

"A dead man...! Don't get full of yourself. You think that I am out of bullets. I may have lost my eyes but I still possess ...." He crackled his fists but felt something sharp hitting his flesh . As he proceeded to shook it off, it penetrated deep into his cardiac muscles as he screamed.

"You shot me in head after all. Don't you think I deserve some payback?" He felt a strong force open his eyes as shards poked his iris at which blood poured out .  He gazed at her face which was still covered with blood  but on her face was plastered with a vicious smile as if this was a simple stimulation to her.

"I see n-now. tHE ...blood was old.."  He uttered before he felt his larynx get twisted and fell down from terrace with a big thump on ground. There was no sensation now! Just a strange coldness...oh ! right ...his heart had finally extinguished its smoldering flames . As last of his essence gave out , he laughed at himself ." What a joke !  Ten years spent in hell of my own choosing just to ...die by a brat . " 

"So is he dead?" He rolled his eyes as she jumped from terrace. 

"Yes ! Standard procedures of my training : Start my hitting weak spot i..e eyes in his case, then  disable gut and heart at same time and immobilize mouth to prevent screams from escaping ." Silva affirmed.

"Well! Certainly one gruesome way to die for sure." Claude remarked.

"I agree but that is just how I have been trained to fight agaist professionals ." Silva hitched her shoulders.

"Wait ? So you knew Adrial wasn't a professional..." He raised his eyebrows.

"Of course. He was literally in same class as me but still I couldn't suppress my doubts so I eventually went easy on him to make him confess. I was also prepared to kill him if he was really an assassin though but your intervention was unexpected. See now , why I called you an idiot" Silva crossed her arms proudly .

"I guess it all makes sense now. " He sighed " Still, it was a crazy and yet such an obvious idea that you came up with , Claude." 

"Thanks. " Claude beamed as she handed her a hanky . "You better clean yourself now, Silva." 

"Well ! We are out of time so if your plan allows us a safe escape route , I am up for it." Max stated .

"Yeah ! What have you got up your sleeve, girl?" Silva smirked.

"Alright ! The killer won't probably stop just because someone surrenders or his client wouldn't have sent him here. The best way to exploit someone's weakness is by fuelling their ego first by making them overestimate their own strength . First of all, Silva , I want to know something. Just how good are your reflexes? I want to know if they are good enough to suit my plan"

"My depth perception was best among all the trainees back in regiment and I can dodge any bullet  fired from any gun lest for machine gun and rocket launcher . " She fondled her hair with a smirk on her face.

"More than enough.So Silva , you would go out with your arms up in air like you are surrendering and dodge his bullet at last second but make sure to grin before pretending to be dead." Claude proceeded.

"Huh? What would that do ?" She raised her eyebrows confused.

"There is adjoining terrace next to club so it is likely that he is reposed there with his gun aimed at door . Since your arms would be up in air , he would not think that you were carrying something but I am sure that you can managed to conceal objects from him at that distance. 

So when you fall down even after that grin , it is sure to cause some doubt within him. May it be a annoyance or dread or wonder but we would certainly managed to incite some sort of reaction from him. The very moment he do so, we will come out and attack him with these glass jars that we have since he would be most vulnerable then." She explained.

"I see. Do you really think it will work though ?" Silva doubted. 

"Well ! Right now , this is the only option I see so it is a gamble really ." Claude revealed.

"A gamble on life and death ! Interesting ."  He smiled . Claude glared at him as he raised his hands " Just kidding ."

"Well ! You have explained all part of plan but what will we do about blood?" Silva crossed her arms .

"Well! Actually about that ..." Claude drew their attention towards a familiar figure.

"You can't be serious . I have to mold my face in her blood." Silva faceplamed herself as she gazed at Selica.

"I didn't even think of such a thing ..." Max ruffled his hair nonplussed. 

"Thanks ! My whole hair is a mess thanks to you after all." Silva groaned washing her face.

"Well! At least we avoided an assassination ." Claude breathed relieved as she twiddled her thumbs.

Max had already informed the students to come out so a large crowd of students  had started to gather apprehensively eyeing three of them who were nonchalantly standing beside a dead guy.

"Oh my! Just what the hell happened here?" Isla looked at the scene horror-stricken.

"Just one brutal fight .... He began before he was hugged by Selica. "I am so glad...I thought..."

"Uhmm..uhmmm.."Claude stared at her as Silva giggled at trio . 

"Hey ! Are you okay , students ?" A maths teacher made his entrance amidst the commotion  with a franatic look on his face. What were you doing all this time?

"Late as ever, aren't you Mr Lefan? Huh! ..." He could barely form his next word before he felt the bullet transversing through his cerebellum .

Why did everything seem slow?  He felt several hands tug him . Were they saying something ? Each sound coming out of their mouth seemed to take forever. 

As his consciousness drifted away ,voices around him became more and more feeble..was he really going to die? He must have dodged right? He would have predicted it right ? Yes ! It was just a shock effect he was feeling right ? Any moment he would wake up and be back in his bed being glared as usual by Claude.

Yes ! 

"I will be back in a while." A small rueful smile etched his face as he closed his eyes and his head fell to the side.

Au revoir readers! Keep posted for next chapter.