The first thing Kasey could comprehend was a tapping sound, repetitive, too fast to be a clock.
She couldn't place the location of her hands, her senses heightened fast as she regained consciousness, but kept her eyes shut.
She was definitely in an enclosed space, cool and quiet, except for the tapping.
The room smelled old and rusty, bitter, like a basement. This slight cold humidity could only mean one thing: Stone walls.
Her sense of hearing sharpened; she heard the unmistakable sound of other people breathing, and then she understood how she was positioned at the moment: Her arms were above her head, wrists tied up together, her heels could barely brush the concrete floor, her hung body swayed side to side.
Kasey opened her eyes and groaned as her mind flickered awake, her body stiff from being restrained for so long.
She had lost track of time.
She tried to shuffle her shoulders, finding it much easier to relieve her stiffness. Her arms where secured above her head with a rope around a metallic tube, connecting them, not holding her back as much as they wished to.
Sad grey walls enclosed this space barely bigger than a bathroom, a table stood at the far end, with an open case that contained and presented familiar torture devices. The scars on her body already knew how painful they were to experience, yet she also knew these people and their weapons were outdated, just slightly.
"Amateurs, they didn't even take my shoes off," Kasey gazed at the people staring at her. The black-haired guy in front of her was still tapping his foot over and over again.
"About time," he said with a low growl. Kasey was sure who this boy in black battle gear was and wasn't the least bit surprised.
"Rocko Stoneheart? Wow! I almost didn't recognise you! The black hair and stupid face suits you well! I'm sorry I don't remember well, but your code name was GA-60, right? The nerd who always wanted to be popular." She looked at the two girls and the boy behind him. "Let's see, the pink-haired nerd over there has to be Miceline Mousley, your code name was MO-53 and you were very quiet, but you always survived because you were too smart. The redhead has to be... Ummm... Hellena Inferguson? Yeah, HE-77 was your code name. Ooohhh, and that tanned guy? Ha! TY-63, isn't that right? Tyler Stripesen. Yeah, you got oh-so pissed off about everything! Ha-ha! High school reunion, huh?"
"She keeps talking drunk," Tyler said. "Must be the sedative."
Kasey laughed to herself. Sometimes faking dementia came in handy in this job.
These amateurs were all well built, yet they all looked the same, blandly generic.
The last generation of Hunters before Evie ruined everything.
"Former hunters protecting Monsters? Ha! How ironic," Kasey laughed a little. She had seen many Hunters graduate, many unworthy of the mantle, and these four gave that impression. Kasey believed that only BC-13, VI-93, LI-05, EV-13 and herself were worthy of being hunters, and perhaps if Zeth wasn't a monster she would consider him worthy, a legend who lived up to his own legend. But this little group of high school bullies? Please! Teen movie crap!
"We are Former Hunters indeed," said Rocko, "And if we didn't take your shoes off, it's because we already know you won't be able to use them against us."
Wow they were stupid!
"Oh! Who would have known!" She giggled, "I guess you've noticed that my shoes are old school, Rocko. How about you take them off and give me a foot massage while you're at it? Or are you going to let me keep them so I can escape?"
"She continues speaking incoherently. We need to question her while she's still dazed from the sedative," Tyler said, impatient as ever.
"Your right heel has a switch blade inside, and your left heel has lock picks," Rocko walked around Kasey's suspended body, then eyed her up and down, "But I don't see how you can take them right now."
"I'm quite flexible, I raise my pretty legs, I hold the heel, POP the heel comes off, CLICK I switch out the blade, SLASH I cut the rope and POW, POW, POW, you all fall down! I hope my lesson helps you in the future." Kasey laughed.
"Theory classes are on Mondays and are taught by Instructor Schwarzenkatze, but thanks." Rocko mocked. "Now, why don't you give us a demonstration?"
"I don't want to, I wonder if you know why."
"Information. It's obvious," Hellena said, "EV-13 told us to keep you alive."
"Obviously," Kasey laughed, "EV-13 was always the sentimental type. Tell me, is BC-13 still Mr. Right? The one who crosses by the corner and puts on his seat belt?"
"I see you know both of them well." Said Hellena, "What about you? Tell us about yourself, KC-47."
"What is this? Some UN interrogation? Where is the blood and beatings?" Kasey laughed.
"Do you think you're funny?" Hellena asked with a frown.
"Oh! Didn't you get the memo? I am the rebellious, seductive fake-sister. Don't expect a stone face like EV-13."
"Would you describe yourself as seductive?" Rocko asked.
"If they sterilized me years ago, we better take advantage of it, don't you think?" Kasey laughed, looking down at him, "Why don't you untie me and I'll show you?"
"EV-13 told us you're very good at seducing, and BC-13 said you don't like to follow the rules," Rocko laughed, "Bad news. I pedal backwards."
"Sterilized, homosexual and employee of the millionaire enemy," Kasey laughed, avoiding his gaze, "It's not going to be easy to convince you to let me go, I see."
"EV-13 wants to offer you a job, here with us," Miceline said, fearful as ever, "It's a good life, they treat us like people here, not like weapons."
"Oh good! When do I start?" Kasey laughed loudly, "I'm dying to be a slave to a shouty, mediocre boy band."
"Then you'll get out of here in a bag," Tyler sounded offended. Good. People don't think well hot-headed.
"Let it be a gift bag, black is elegant, with a golden bow," Kasey just couldn't help it.
She'd been in worse situations, with worse people.
She could handle this.
"So, this is the scary KC-47 everyone was so afraid of?" Rocko commented, facing her again and crossing his arms, "I expected more than just a mouthy girl. Oh well! Now that you are awake, I think it's time to answer a couple questions."
"I think not," Kasey narrowed her blue eyes at him. Her jaw clenched, her muscles tightened, her mouth twisted into a snarl, "I'd like to skip to the part where you tell me where my fake-sister is. We have so much to talk about."
Rocko smiled broadly, and in that moment, Tyler reached in the case, lightly plucking out a ragged, bended knife, which looked like a deformed black candy cane.
"Tell your boyfriend not to play with that, he might get hurt," Kasey laughed.
Oh! This was so much fun!
"I see you like to play Cupid," Tyler approached Kasey, tilted his head, and placed the curved blade on her stomach, "You like shipping men huh?"
"I just love seeing two souls getting together," Kasey bit her lip, preparing for the pain she'd endured too many times, but under no circumstances would she show weakness.
"You're very funny, aren't you?" Tyler put the tip of his blade against her stomach, "Your sense of humour is a sign of fear."
"Yes, and teasing without sticking the knife surely speaks volumes about your bravery, Tyler," she made sure to say it as calmly as possible, but mockingly as well.
He was just trying to intimidate her.
She was sure when he stepped back.
These people wouldn't hurt her, that's all she knew. Evie wouldn't let them. Well, Kasey would return the favour by only knocking them out, it would be an act of good will for their excellent customer service.
"Why did you want to scare Jade, KC-47?" Rocko asked, and stepped closer.
"Ooohhh. Now we are on a code name basis?" Kasey stared at the ceiling, the distance from it to her body, and made the calculations in her head.
Just enough. It was worth a shot.
"You wanted to get captured, that's what they told us." Rocko leaned forward. "The only question is: Why?"
"You didn't do your homework... Too bad," in a split second, Kasey had wrapped the rope around her wrists and executed an incredibly painful straight pull up with her legs following, kicking with both feet Rocko's face. He fell unconscious to the floor with a bleeding nose.
The other three gasped before turning their eyes to Kasey.
"Oops, I did it again," she mocked.
"You bitch!" Tyler roared and approached with the knife up, but Kasey kicked the blade out of his hand and kicked him away.
"I told you we had to tie her legs!" Hellena took a rope and approached quickly, but Kasey knocked her out with a kick, and kicked Miceline's face from a specific angle to also knock her unconscious.
Tyler, the only one not sleeping yet, stood up.
"So it's true what they said," he said, wiping blood from his nose, "You're good."
"No. You are all very incompetent. That's different," She couldn't calculate this anymore, she had to just take the leap, so, she swung forward, and proceeded to walk up Tyler's chest. With her body in a horizontal position, she stepped on his face and kicked up to the ceiling swiftly.
In the position she was in, upside down, the rope was easy to get rid of, and with a stomp of a foot, she weakened the tube's hold and broke it.
She landed on the concrete floor gracefully, and she even posed like a movie superhero.
She rose up slowly, and laughed when she saw the tanned guy, with furious eyes, holding the knife firmly.
"Do you think that's going to be enough?" Kasey took slow steps towards Tyler, completely removing the ropes from her wrists, "Come on. What are you waiting for?"
"Fuck my orders. You'll get out of here in a bag," He thrust his knife, she dodged effortlessly, and even slapped him with a laugh.
"That's it? Why do men think sticking it on is everything? Where is the foreplay?" She taunted. Tyler spun and the knife sliced ââthrough the air, but she just stepped back to dodge, "How boring. Let's get this over with, shall we?" When Tyler attempted to stab one last time, Kasey grabbed his wrist, bent it, and made him drop the knife.
Elbow to the face, kick to the stomach, and he tumbled backwards.
"I'm going to finish you," Tyler threw a punch, she dodged. A kick. She stopped it without breaking a sweat, smiling.
"Watch and learn, rookie," and then she jumped back to kick his face, landing on her hands and then to her feet just to see him fall unceremoniously and unconscious. "Shameful. But it was obvious that the weakest Hunters would join the enemy. Oh well! Let's see what we've got here."
She navigated through the unconscious people, reached for a handgun in Hellena's leg holster and took in her surroundings.
There was a metal door that she unlocked with the lock picks she had in her heel, and slowly pushed it open with her gun up.
She glanced right, then left.
But there was a draft that made her turn to face the wall.
A door on her right, definitely meant to camouflage with the wall.
"Looks like you keep hiding your training rooms, Evie," Kasey laughed, "Let's see if there's anything useful in there, something I can steal."
She put her ear against the door.
There were voices inside...
"Kasey said she was just going to scare Jade." Evie said, pacing back and forth in her training room. The floor was soft and blue, and the walls were covered in weapons, from shurikens and handguns to swords and a bazooka. There was also a punching bag hanging from the ceiling, "But she also said she had her personal plans. I wonder if we'll find out soon."
"We have a concert tomorrow night," Zeth said, checking his mobile phone, "We can't deal with all this right now. And I still have to prepare everything for the Revamped album. Miss Van Shee told me that it's taking her a long time to get everything done. I hope Anton will be of help but for now we only have two revamped melodies. I can't give myself permission to get distracted right now, I also have to make sure the paperwork is correct for tomorrow's show at the hotel. And since we didn't shoot the music video here, I still have to disassemble the portable stage to take it to the Hallow Inn."
"Relax, Boss. You can do everything." Evie said, turning to look at the Big Guy, " Everett, you look thoughtful. Are you okay?"
"I don't like Angry Blonde being so easy to capture," Everett said, crossing his arms, "I think she wanted us to bring her here."
"I think the same," Zeth crossed his arms, "Evie, it's urgent that you take care of her."
"Zeth already has us all under lot of pressure," Everett said, "I don't enjoy job like I used to, and I think rest of us feel same. No more delays or surprises or he's going to break us."
"Do you think I'm putting too much pressure on you guys?" Zeth raised an eyebrow and the Big Guy nodded, "Sorry. It's just that with the drama between Alex and Draco and now this, I'm worried about not being able to deliver the projects in a timely manner to the fans. This is a difficult era, if you sit for too long, it's all over."
"And if you break us, it happens too," Everett grunted.
"I'm in charge of everything Hunter-related, Zeth. Including my fake-sister," Evie replied. "You can't take care of everyone and everything. You're the leader, I get it, but the guys are also adults and have superpowers."
"Jade is weakling," Everett said, "I can protect her."
"She is stronger than you think, Big Guy." Zeth said, rubbing his cheek, "She has a Power Slap."
"She is quite stubborn when she sets her mind to it too," Evie said, walking in circles thoughtfully.
Zeth was watching her out of the corner of his eye. He could see the sweat gathering on her neck, despite how cold it was in here.
"Why do you protect the blonde so much?" Zeth asked, uncrossing his arms, "Because she's your fake-sister? Because you don't want to kill her?"
Evie shook her head, still pacing.
"No. I am not protecting her, but I am not sure why she would put herself on the spotlight."
"To be captured, but why?" Zeth put his hands on his hips.
"Maybe Angry Blonde wanted to know where we live," Everett replied, "Maybe she's obsessive fan."
"I mean, obviously everyone wants to know where I live," Zeth checked his nails, "But I'm sure the blonde isn't interested in my irrefutable beauty and fame, right?"
"When she wakes up I'll take her to my apartment and talk to her," Evie replied, "BC-13 is already there. You and the boys just focus on doing your job, be a normal boy band and that's it."
"And after that?" Zeth looked sceptical, "We do our job of singing and being hot, but what about you? Do you expect your fake-sister to sit down and drink tea? Evie, you're part of our family, and soon you will be everyone's girlfriend, and you know that I don't want to lose you. I don't want you to die."
"I appreciate your concern, Zeth," Evie said, "But I..."
"It's not concern, Evie! Can't you see what's obvious?! We all fear for your life!" Zeth yelled.
Evie was bright red.
"I'm going to figure out why Kasey wanted to be captured, and why the other hunters wanted to kidnap you guys." Evie replied. "I wonder why she gave herself up so easily. Her gun, which she threatened you with, was empty, so she had no intention of shooting."
"But this one does have bullets." Kasey said, aiming her gun at Zeth as soon as she stepped into the room. "Hands where I can see them, Ken doll. I'm here to negotiate."
"All negotiations will be with me," Evie stood in front of Zeth. "Your weapon is no threat to him anyway."
"And what about him?" Kasey aimed at Everett's head, who immediately growled.
"How about we go to my apartment, Kasey? You and I, alone?" Evie asked.
"Apartment?" The blonde grimaced, "Sorry... You say this is a condo and you live here?"
"I think there's something you want to tell me." Evie changed the subject.
"Yeah, there's a lot to talk about," the blonde aimed at Evie again. "Come on, move. But if this is a trap..."
"Funny," Evie cocked her head. "I was going to tell you the exact same thing. Your presence here, your capture, everything was suspiciously easy."
"Well I didn't expect to get into this place so easily. It's like shopping," the blonde replied, "Oh! It's a whole toy store here! The Teddy Bear, the Ken doll, I guess I'm Barbie and you're Raquel, Evie!"
"So I was right," Evie raised her head, "Your plan was to get here."
"It was obvious that you were going to capture me alive. I think you know that I came to..." Kasey hissed, "Regain the honour I had before you took everything from me. A job for an obsessive daddy's girl will take me back home, baby! Who would have known?"
"You don't have to do this, and we had no home with the hunters," Evie replied, "If Monster Mash taught me something, it's to talk through your problems before you shoot them."
"Let's talk then, alone," Kasey insisted. "Then I'll shoot you."
"Zeth, I'll take care of this. You and the boys, I beg you, stay out of this one," Evie said quietly.
"Death Match!" Everett roared, but Zeth held up a hand.
"Easy, Big Guy. Let the women talk," Zeth nodded at Evie. "Be careful, baby."
"It's funny you say that," Kasey scoffed, "Now you are worried, Rahman? Are you worried that I'll hurt the girl who crippled Rubinstein?"
"Angry blonde makes me angry," Everett grumbled.
"Is the teddy bear angry? What are you going to do to me? Hug me until I die of tenderness?" Kasey said with a laugh.
"Why did you want to scare Jade?" Zeth asked, but his body looked less tense than before.
"It's business," the blue-eyed blonde replied, "It's nothing personal. Besides, you can't blame me. The customer always comes first."
"Your client knew Jade before she met Monster Mash, right?" Zeth made a face, one that Evie knew well. He knew something, she was sure about it, but didn't know exactly what.
"My job is not to ask questions," the blonde replied and eyed Evie, "Ask the traitor here and she'll tell you that's how the job is."
"Her job now is to protect, mine as well," Zeth took a step forward, "You said your client is a daddy's girl. How do you know?"
"There's no employer who texts you with emojis and talks about Monster Mash like you're gods, right?" Kasey laughed, "She's obviously a young woman and obviously has the money to pay me. It's that easy."
"Your client can't give you what we can give you, not even the hunters. I offer you a family, the same offer I made to Evie." Zeth stood between the gun and Evie, staring defiantly at Kasey, "I'll protect her, so if you dare, shoot me. I'm in charge here, Evie is just my employee."
"Someone is worried." Kasey replied with a laugh. "Oh Ken Doll. I can read you like a book. I know what's going on here. All that cheesy stuff about giving Evie a family? Ha! Not even your mummy would believe it! You're thinking with your dick, not with your head. Men do stupid things like this for women. If you want to shout your love from the rooftops, Ken Doll, do it. I hope that gives you an idea of what I saw last night." then she turned to Evie again, "Come on, fake-sis. We have a lot to talk about."
"Zeth, stay out of this one," Evie said, looking him in the eyes, "Go with the other guys and let me work. I got this."
With her hands up, Evie started walking to the door followed by Kasey.
Evie walked out the room with her fake-sister aiming a gun at her, down a hallway, then stepped out onto dark space where the stairs to the Solar were. She made sure not to make any movement that might reveal that the boys lived upstairs, and she lowered her head to avoid even turning to see those stone steps.
"Over here," Evie turned left and opened a door. They walked down an empty hallway, there were arches that showed a rose garden below and from here she could see the windows of Frank, Draco, Alex and Finn's rooms. "We're here," Evie said, opening the door at the end of the hallway.
Kasey quickly looked around. A coffee table between two grey couches, many psychology books on large bookcases, and a desk with a laptop on it, a huge window that offered a beautiful view of the sea beyond the cliff, and the curtain wall was a grapple gun shot away.
Kasey had already planned her escape.
"I'm going to keep this," Kasey removed the silver grapple gun from Evie's lower back, "Nothing personal. Always have an out."
A young man came from a hallway to the right, very handsome, Kasey had to admit.
"You remember BC-13?" Evie asked Kasey.
"Oh yeah. We have a past, don't we, handsome?" Kasey winked, but he wasn't fazed in the slightest.
"Would you like me to get you anything, EV-13?" BC-13 asked.
"Coffee for me and Kasey, and bread," Evie replied, dismissing him.
He gave a nod and left.
"Are you planning to poison me with coffee?" Kasey asked.
"You know me. If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have brought you here," Evie motioned with her hand for her fake-sister to sit down, "A tranquilizer dart and a bullet are interchangeable in this business, so please trust me and let's chat."
Both girls sat opposite each other on the grey couches.
Evie, however, couldn't stop shaking.