Chapter 20 "Saving Sara"

Scarlett

"Are you in position?"

"Yeah, I got you."

Taking off the helmet, I got off the bike and briefly stared at Sara's house from the front. I could see from the window, through the curtain, the lights were on but there wasn't any movements or silhouettes inside. As I looked around, nothing was out of the ordinary, everything was still and calm.

"I'm coming in," I mumbled through the comm.

"Be careful," Violet responded and I let out a breath before walking to the door. I turned the knob and surprisingly it wasn't locked. The door swung open and I was greeted with nothing but silence. Floorboards creaked as I cautiously stepped inside, looking around the room and noticed that nothing was amiss, everything was in their place as far as I remembered.

A sudden ringing of the phone broke the deafening silence, causing me to jump a little. My head snapped to Sara's phone resting on the center table. As I got near, I saw an unknown number on the screen and slowly, I picked it and answered the call, while roaming my eyes around the room, hoping to find a hidden camera as the call was a perfect timing.

"Vladimir," I mumbled through gritted teeth, "Where's Sara?" I looked outside for spies but no one was lurking. I was certain Violet was doing the same also and since she didn't say anything, meant that no one was suspicious.

"Relax Ms. Smith, your little girlfriend is fine here with me..." I heard a groan on the other end of my comm. Olivia.  "... I just wanna say how glad I am that you came. Although I would be more glad if you came with Ms. Miller..." Yeah, well, Violet is on the lookout so she couldn't come, "...but I guess, you'll do...for now."

As I continued scanning the room, my eyes landed on a tiny camera fixed on the tv, above the screen. Smiling, I strode near and stared directly at it.

"I'm glad you think so," I said sarcastically with a smirk.

"Ah, you always look good Ms. Smith. You and Ms. Miller... But enough chitchat, I can't wait to see you again. My guards would be there any minute to pick you up. I hope you will cooperate Ms. Smith, you know the rules. Have a safe trip...and see you soon." The line went dead, leaving me pissed and worried. I hoped Vladimir didn't hurt Sara or I would cut his head off.

After wo minutes of standing in distress, I saw a limousine pulled up in front and two guards came out, scanning the area first before making their way into the house.

"Stay safe Scar," Liv whispered from the other line. The worry was evident in her voice and I hated it that I was the cause of it but it couldn't be helped. We needed to save Sara and this has to be done.

"See you guys at the destination," I mumbled just before two guards burst open the door.

I immediately plastered a huge smile at them, "Hi boys, glad you're here. Let's go," I said, walking past the guards and into the car. I looked across the street, to where Violet and Liv were, hiding in the dark, before pushing myself inside the car.

Wait for us Sara, we're coming for you!

*

I bit my lower lip to keep me from snapping when the guard behind me shoved me for the second time. It wasn't like I was walking slow and didn't know where I was going. He just wanted to piss me off. Fortunately for him, it was working.

"Come on blondie, don't be a turtle and walk faster," he hissed, shoving me once more.

"Shove me again or I'll shave your weird mustache," I threatened as he reached my side and stared me down. I glanced at him briefly and looked away instantly, not wanting to see his face for long. One thing I hated about the guy was his face and another was, well, his Jason King-ish mustache. It didn't really suit him.

I could feel his deep long breaths on my side and it made me wish that he stayed behind.

"Don't you threaten my mustache. You don't wanna piss me off." I nodded eagerly not because I was afraid of his threat but because his breath was nauseating. It was reeked of alcohol and something I couldn't tell. Luckily, he didn't linger long in my side and I was able to breath normally. Why did Vladimir hire this one?

We continued walking down the corridor while I kept a safe distance from 'mustache' behind me. After few minutes, we reached the double door that lead to the familiar hall of Vladimir's mansion. Before the guards could move, I pushed open the door and strode confidently as if I owned the place.

"Scarlett!" My gaze immediately landed on Sara who was held by two guards. She squirmed, trying to break free from their grip but it was no use. Seeing her, I was a little relief that Vladimir didn't physically hurt her.

"Finally! Nice to see you ag-..." Vladimir stopped talking when I raised my hand.

"Sara? You might want to look away," I informed with a wink. She frowned, as well as Vladimir, while I smirked then turned my back to them as I raised my fist and punched the 'mustache' square in the face. He tumbled instantly, gripping his bleeding nose.

"That's for shoving me back there," I snapped earning a glare from him. I turned my back to him and faced Vladimir once again, shaking my hand a little from the punch. Well, I didn't expect the 'mustache' has a brick face.

"Sorry, what were you saying?" I asked getting back to business. Vladimir's manic laughter echoed throughout the room and walked in my direction. I briefly glanced at Sara who has her head hung low. Good thing she heeded my advice or else she would probably faint with the sight of mustache's bleeding nose.

"I never thought you could be so adorable Ms. Smith," he commented making me smile.

"Thanks. I can be repulsive too but we'll save that for later. So, tell me Vladimir, how did you find us?"

"I have great sources Ms. Smith, besides you weren't laying low, being a student and all, it's what blows your cover. Ms. Miller on the other hand, well, she's like a ghost..." Yeah leave that to Violet to keep her identity well-hidden, "she's off the grid, it makes me wonder, who the hell are you?"

I smiled, "You said so yourself, you have great sources, why don't you find it out?" Okay, as much as I found it interesting to chat with Vladimir, I didn't think staying here too long would be a good idea, not to mention, it would be difficult to get out of here, considering the number of guards surrounding us.

Since the plan has changed when I was brought here, Violet suggested that I had to buy us some time until the Violent Storm would get here. But the problem was, I didn't think I could kept this up for long, you see, I didn't like to linger long. Sara was the only one keeping me from storming this place.

"Okay Vladimir, if you want to kill me, do it then, just let Sara go."

He chuckled humorlessly as he closed the gap between us. Before I could react, my head whipped to the side, feeling the taste of blood on my mouth, as he hit me with the back of his hand.

I wiped my bleeding lip as I stared at back at him with a smirk, "You hit like a girl."

He snorted before bringing his fist to my gut, making me kneel as I clutched my stomach. I coughed while the pain was slowly subsiding and looked up to him. Okay, he backhanded me like a girl but he punched like a man.

"Please stop. Scarlett!" Sara yelled and I gave her a quick glance. She was crying as she struggled. I gave her a slight nod to reassure her I was okay.

"Killing you is an easy way out. Do you have any idea what you two have caused me? You have caused me my deal with the Red Circle and I lost a lot of money in just less than a week... I work tirelessly just to get where I was but because of you, I might lose everything...You don't deserve a quick death."

I shrugged, "Okay. A long and painful suffering then. But before that..." I rose up, cringing, but still a smile crept on my lips. With an element of surprise, my fist instantly connected to Vladimir's jaw making him stagger back. The guards immediately pinned my hands behind me and pushed me kneeling to the floor. I chuckled, looking at Vladimir who was seething in anger. Clenching his jaw, he raised his palm upward and a guard handed him a gun, and pointed it at me.

Oh boy!

"Noo! Please, don't hurt her," Sara shouted behind.

"Now what have you done Scarlett. You're supposed to buy us time until our backup gets here. Idiot!" Violet spoke angrily through the comm, making me wince. Honestly, I couldn't help myself from pissing Vladimir off as it gave me satisfaction, and I was so focused on doing it that I didn't think of the consequences. Because of my stupidity, which I realized just now, either it would be me or Sara would end up dead, or worst, we both gonna end up dead.

"Okay Vladimir, let's take this seriously. Let her go and you can do whatever you want with me but if you don't...I can get pretty fatal and I'll make sure, you and your bodgyguards won't get out of here alive."

He scoffed, clenching his jaw, "You are in no position to threaten me Ms. Smith. I'm not the one outnumbered and has a gun pointed to her head here, so you better...behave... But, it seems like you're eager to start our tormenting session, well, okay then...but first," he leaned closer to my face, "let's start with your girl," he said, grinning. I hissed and started struggling under their hold. No, I couldn't let them hurt Sara, she has nothing to do with this.

With a smirk plastering on his face, Vladimir strode towards Sara's direction, twirling the gun on his finger.

"Don't you dare Vladimir!" I hissed but he ignored me until he reached Sara's side. He stroked her cheek, eyeing my way at the same time, a devilish grinned written on his face.

Violet, now would be a good time.

"Say goodbye to your little girlfriend Ms. Smith."

"No!"

As if on cue, a loud bang erupted in the room as the door behind me suddenly shattered open and came in several guards in suits, shooting Vladimir's guards on point.

"Violet, cavalry?" I asked as I twisted the guard's arm behind him who pinned me down and stole his gun then I kicked the other one on his knee before knocking them to sleep.

"No, they're aliens!" she responded.

Great, another unknown dudes!

Even I was in the middle of the chaos, I heard a familiar shout and my head snapped to Sara's direction. She was being dragged by two guards to the other door, Vladimir tailing behind them with a guard protecting him.

I ran to their direction, shooting a guard on my way and held his body as a shield as I fired another shot to the next guy. I turned my back, training my gun to whoever was following me but when I saw Vladimir's guards were busy shooting the men in suits as they tried to barge in.

I backtracked to the door where Sara and Vladimir came through, still holding the guard as my shield as I continued pointing my gun in front.

"Violet, can you track Sara?"

"I'll try. Just get out of there Scarlett."

"I'll try."

I reached the door and hit the guard with the back of the gun, putting him to sleep instantly. As I looked up, a guard saw me and pointed his gun but before he could fire, my bullet had already penetrated his stomach and he fell to the floor. As soon as the guard I shot left my line of sight, I caught a glimpse of something red. It was as if everything was in slow motion when a woman with a hair of gold, wearing a long red dress stepped through the entrance. She was holding a gun, firing a shot to one of Vladimir's guards. With a smirk, she brought the cigarette that was on the other hand, in between her red lips and took a puff, then exhaling a cloud of smoke.

I froze on the spot when her intense gaze landed on mine. A chill ran down to my spine, her stare was burning holes on me. By now I realized that all the gun blazing had stopped and all Vladimir's guards were on the floor, some were the red lady's men. The white shining floor earlier was now stained with blood and for a moment, I was thankful Sara wasn't here to see this.

"Scarlett, I've located Sara, you better hurry before they can get away with her," Violet's voice rang through my head, brining me back to focus. As I turned my gaze to the red lady, I saw she was smiling at me and did nothing as she stood still on the same spot. She didn't make a move and I was thankful for it as I took the opportunity to exit the hall.

"Violet where are they?" I asked while running through another corridor.

"They're on their way to the basement." Of course that was where Vladimir would go. He had a secret underground tunnel that would lead through the woods. Although it wasn't so secret anymore.

"Violet, you wanna take a look at our new visitor in the hall," I suggested as I ran towards the basement's direction.

"Okay, I'll be right behind you."

I reached the basement in no time only to find that it was already empty. If I was here touring the place, I say, that I would really enjoy staying in this room because it was also a gameroom basement.

"Holy shit!" Violet cursed as I walked to a shelf and pushed it sideward, revealing a door. I came in immediately, readying my gun.

"What?"

"She looked...dangerous." I rolled my eyes at Violet's comment on the red lady. She was right though, even if she looked like she was in her mid-forties, she was stunning and gave off a dangerous vibe.

"No time to idle Violet, let's go!" Liv interfered sounding pissed.

I stopped when I came into three passageways, "Violet, where to?"

"Left."

I ran to the left, adrenaline pumping to my veins. As I went further, I heard faint hissing and several footsteps ahead. Leaning my back to the wall, I peeked to my left side and saw their backs as they walked in haste.

Taking a deep breath, I detached my back from the wall and turned to my left, aiming the gun to the guards holding Sara. I fired quick shots which hit their backs and they yelled in pain as they slumped to the ground. Sara quickly turned to my direction, covering her ears, having her eyes shut as she ducked.

As soon as Sara was out of the way, I shot the last guard to his chest, leaving Vladimir standing alone. I was about to end him also when he swiftly grabbed Sara, hooking his arm to her neck as he pointed a gun to her temple. She struggled for a moment until she realized it was for naught.

"Put the gun down Ms. Smith or I'll blow her brain out!"

"No, you can't," I challenged even though I knew he would do it.

"Oh yes I can. What kind of a girlfriend are you? Letting your girlfriend get hurt."

"That's the thing, she's not my girlfriend but even if she isn't, you can't hurt her."

He clicked his tongue, "Is that so?"

"Sara? Look at me." Her tightly shut eyes slowly fluttered open, meeting my gaze. I stared at her and gave her a faint nod, hoping she would understand my message. Her eyes displayed uncertainty but with my unfazed stare, she relented and nodded faintly.

As I adjusted my grip on the gun, Sara acted out the move Violet taught her and was able to get the gun away from her head. With that little opportunity, I pulled the trigger and with a swift movement, the bullet pierced Vladimir's forehead, sending his head back from the impact. Sara let out a cry as she broke free from his hold. I immediately ran towards her and engulfed her with my arms as she sobbed on my chest.

"Shhh, it's over, you're okay," I cooed, rubbing her back.

"Oh Scarlett..."

"Let's get out of here, Violet and Liv are waiting outside."

"T-There's blood..."

"Okay, just stay in my arms, don't look anywhere, I'll aid you out."

"Okay."

I started walking slow with Sara's face burrowed on my neck as she clung on my body for support. We stepped through the dead bodies and once they were out of sight, Sara slowly detached herself from me so we could get out fast.

"By the way, where are your parents?"

"They're on a business trip, fortunately. I don't know what I would do if they were taken also."

"Yeah, that would be worse."

After few minutes of walking, we finally found our way out. I let Sara climbed up first since Violet and Liv were already waiting us outside, then I climbed up next. It felt so good to feel the air again, it instantly calm me.

We walked further through the woods until we reached the road where Ryan, Darren and Sean were waiting.

"Who do you think that red lady is?" Violet asked.

I shrugged, "I have no idea."

She hummed, "Could she be the Mother?"

Now that I think about it..."I hope so," I answered before getting in the car. For now, I didn't want to think about everything, all I wanted was to sleep and to sleep was what I would do.