Chapter 1At least, twenty new people hate my guts every night. On a good night, thirty people. As I watch the man zip past me, I realize he's the thirty first.I roll my eyes and spit on the floor. I could care less."He went that way." Koldis throws at me over his shoulder.The wind slaps me in the face as I thunder after the man, who by the way, seems like he has the wind beneath his feet. Fear will do that to you, I reason. My night vision kicks in and I pick up speed.I catch up to Koldis and pass him as the wind continues roaring in my ears. Even before I get within thirty yards, I smell it. The strong unmistakable smell of the sea. There's nowhere for the man to go. I stop running and take up a leisurely pace instead."He's got nowhere to go now." Koldis echoes my thoughts as he catches up with me."Got a light?" I bring out a stick of cigarette from the pack in my hand and stick it in my mouth.

Chapter 3"Stop! This is the place." I pay the cab guy and tell him to keep the change as I vault out. I stare at my phone and notice the red dot on the map has stopped as well.I look up at the building and see a sign that reads Stardust, and I shudder. "Good lord, what is Tanya up to this time? What could she be doing in a place like this?"I want to, I really want to turn around and head back home, but I've lost my sister once before and I know the number of sleepless nights I got. It's not something I want to readily go through again. "Dear lord, please give me some courage."I close my eyes and channel some inner courage. After some seconds, I feel a burst of adrenaline rush and I open my eyes, chin up and walk towards the door. The closer I get to the entrance where two heavyweight-looking bouncers stand, the more my courage fades. By the time I'm close to them, I'm completely wiped out.There's a long l

Chapter 5I glance at the man and almost feel pity for him. His breathing is labored, his breaths coming out in shallowed gasps. He sounds like a train whistling and rattling. I'm guessing a punctured lung would cause that. It comes from all the beatings which we've been giving him.He put himself in this mess. No one steals for me and goes scott free. No one. Precious stones and jewels I harvested with time, effort and hard-earned money. Something tells me things run deeper than that.A set up, maybe, or he was sent by someone?His mouth opens, drawing my attention to his face which is all bloodied and unrecognizable. It looks like someone has rearranged his features. It's a fucking bloody mass of pulp. I glance down at my curled fist which is coated slick with blood. His blood. I should finish him once and for all, snuff the life out of him with one more punch. Just one more punch and it would be all over for

Chapter 7"School is such a bitch, I'm telling you." Clarissa pouts as she squints at her books.Ever since she stepped through the doors of Harry's cargo, she's been this way. Tense and bitch-mouthed. I'd offer to help her with her calculations but this girl is pretty much like me. Stubborn."I'd offer to help, but you'd just turn me down, so. . ." I shrug. From the corner of my eyes, I see her head turn towards me, so fast, I think she'll have a crick in it later."Would you really. . . help me?" She whimpers. I take back my words. It must be pretty bad if she needs my help. That means only one thing- something else has her upset, blocking out her lack of concentration."Yeah, sure." I shrug once again, already moving towards her.I pick up the huge binder in front of her and check out what has her so frazzled. My eyes widen as I take in the figures before me. Calculus has never looked so complicated than

Chapter 9"Hey, slow down, kitten, what's the rush?" He turns me round to meet his gaze.Kitten? Is this man bipolar?He see's the confusion in my eyes and that damn smirk appears on his lips once again."I didn't want to call you that in the presence of your boss. Respect and all that jazz."I nod, not understanding what he means, and continue to walk, but this man wants to chat while all I want to do is give him the damn price list and stay far away from him."So. . . did you see your sister?" His question sounds innocent enough. There's no mockery to it, unlike the last time we met.I don't stop walking, I only reply. "Yes, she came home that same night.""That's good."Anger wells up inside me and I turn round, almost running smack into him. "That's good?" I stare at him as if he just sprouted a second head. "There's nothing good about my sister getting missing and popping up whenever she likes."His b