Chapter Four: The search for her body

A year ago,

“Sir, we have captured the murderer of General Fodder.” A man from the two rows of soldiers spoke. His general nodded his head.”Take me to him. I will personally question him.” The General responded. “Sir, we just placed her in the Women's Imprisonment section.” Another soldier spoke. The general frowned and put his hands on his pockets with a cold expression on his face.”So it’s a ‘she’?” He asked curiously.”Yes, sir, we were all surprised at first.” The same soldier responded. The young general chuckled making everyone freeze in their spots.”This is getting interesting.”He mumbled and continued walking.

Women's Imprisonment Section

“Look what we have here. Isn’t she quite a doll.” The woman in her mid-thirties chuckled darkly. The young blonde woman sat on the bed and didn’t pay attention to what the other woman was saying. “Sasha leave her alone. She just got here a few hours ago.” Another woman jumped down from the top bed and looked at Sasha with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

The woman named Sasha snickered. “Don’t worry I won’t kill her. Let me just play for a bit.”She flipped the knife in her hand in the air and sent it directly towards the young blonde woman,  also Ainara in disguise.

Ainara caught it with her hand and sent her a glare. The hand she used to get the knife was already bleeding but she showed no pain. Sasha’s expression changed into a gloomy one.

“How dare you try to defend yourself! I rule in this prison and you will listen to everything I say!” She shouted angrily. Ainara got up and walked towards her. She calmly handed the knife back to Sasha.

 “You dropped this.”She told her and gave her a gentle smile. Sasha frowned.”Oh...so a brave one I see.” The other woman chuckled. “My name is Layla nice to meet you-“She waited for Ainara to respond but she didn't.

“My friend is talking to you, answer her!” Sasha yelled. Ainara took the knife from her hand and sent it straight to Layla’s gut.”She won’t be able to talk to me anymore.” Ainara told her with an innocent smile.

”Do you want to go next Sasha? Mn?” She questioned innocently but her words were bloody and cold. Her look made Sasha shiver subconsciously.”Who are you?”She asked. “Go sit down and don’t ask questions if you don’t want to end up like your friend,” Ainara warned and sent her a glare.

Understanding the danger she faced Sasha listened to her words and sat on her given bed. The cell door opened and a row of soldiers entered along with the young general.

 “What happened here?”He questioned. “Take her to get medical attention!”He ordered. “Yes sir!” Three soldiers responded and took Layla’s body away.

”It’s too late she’s dead.” Ainara told him with a nonchalant look. She went back to her bed and opened the book she was reading earlier.”Who killed her?” One of the soldiers asked the rest of the woman inside the cell including Sasha. Nobody said a word and the room fell into a pin drop of silence. The soldiers started to suffocate under their general coldness.

”She said that I should answer her when I speak but I didn’t want to answer so I killed her dear General.” Ainara responded honestly and saluted him playfully.

The general narrowed his eyes.”Sir, she is the woman we were speaking of earlier.”One of the soldiers informed.”Bring her for interrogation now!”The general commanded and didn’t pay attention to Ainara any longer.

Inside the interrogation room

“There is nothing to confess. General you know he was corrupt so think of the bright side. I did you a favor didn’t I?” Ainara shrugged with her handcuffed wrists. The young General didn’t react.”I know it wasn’t you. The real killer is an independent assassin. You are just her scapegoat don’t gloat about it as if you're proud.”He told her.”Now tell me everything you saw. Capturing this assassin is a goal of mine so if you collaborate it will benefit you.” He told her.

 “General Davis….mmm Davis what an interesting last name. It can’t be from one of the royal families, right? I must be wrong.” Ainara replied lazily and she played with the handcuffs. The young general froze.”Who told you this?”He questioned.”Guess.”She responded with a yawn.

“Crown Prince James Davis it's an honor to meet you. I will tell you how I know this if you do me a favor.” She requested. James narrowed his eyes. He could just kill her now but he felt like having a bit of fun so he laid back and decided to play along.

“ In two minutes I need you to escort me to solitary confinement. We will stop by your commander’s office and you will let me kill him.” She told him. “So you're telling me that you purposely killed one of the top General’s and got yourself captured just to kill another important person?” He concluded but she knew he was mocking her.

“You’re indeed smart. Besides that, I wanted to meet you Mr.Davis.”She mused. “What’s your name?” He asked with interest.  “Ainara. You can just call me Ainara. There is no point in telling you my real name.”She lied calmly and placed her cuffed hands on the table so that he could unlock them.

He smirked. “Don’t play games with me. I know you are just a distraction.” He replied. Ainara rolled her eyes. “Technically yes I am. But you will know why later.” She told him and raised her eyebrows, focusing her gaze on her hands. He looked at her indifferently and got up. He handed her the key and walked away. “Escort yourself.” He told her.

 Unlocking the cuffs she shook her head.” Nah uh, that’s not the deal Mr.Davis.” She blurted out slightly annoyed. He was not acting like what he usually acts like and this annoyed her. She wanted a challenge but he was just letting her do what she wanted, not even caring.

Oh well, let’s see how he will act when he finds out that she’s here to kill him…..

Minutes later,

She placed her hand on her abdomen. She looked at her hands and there was blood in them. She didn’t react at all. Her expression remained indifferent. She was not at all affected by the fact that someone had just stabbed her. The blade had pierced through her skin deeply and the blood dripped on the floor.

”You-“ He looked at her in shock. He didn’t even know her and yet she had just saved his life. She sighed. “Well Mr. Davis, it was a pleasure meeting you.” She walked closer to him until her face was visible.”Remember my face. Nobody has lived after seeing this face.” She told him. He raised his eyebrows in surprise.

What is that supposed to mean?

 He started to think she was going insane. She lifted his jaw and made him look at her straight in the eye."You are a very interesting man. I heard you were a genius. So young and yet so powerful. They even said I would fear you. They also told me there is a reason why you’re a general at such a young age.” She paused when he held her wrist and pushed her away.

”And a woman-hater too..." She sighed. “What a pity…” She mumbled and placed her hand on her bleeding stomach. He frowned but didn't say a word.”I’m just wondering. If you are such a terrifying man then why do you insist on declaring me innocent?” She asked.

He looked at her with a lazy smile. He took a step forward, still holding her wrists. This made her even more amused. If it were any other person of any gender or age she would have cut their hands off for touching her.”All I see is a young 19-year-old girl who is afraid of the world. She was used as the scapegoat of a dangerous assassin and is acting like she’s strong.”He expressed his thoughts.

She chuckled. She leaned in and gave him a devilish grin.”Wrong. I am the assassin.” She whispered and shook his hands off from her wrists. She turned around and walked away calmly.

“The assassin who came here to kill you.” She added. The only sound that was heard was the rhythm of her heels clicking on the payment and the blood dripping from her wound.

He was shocked but didn’t take long to compose himself. He rushed after her and grabbed her arm.”What do you mean?” He questioned coldly. He didn’t believe that he had read someone wrongly. It appeared impossible for him to be wrong. If she’s here to kill him then why did she not let the man his commander sent to kill him do the job for her?

Wouldn’t it be easier than saving him?

”You heard me.”She told him. Her lips curled upwards.”I’m the assassin you have been looking for.” Watching his stunned face she laughed softly." I can’t let someone kill my prey. It’s not fair this way. Oh, but I will kill you someday...I never leave a mission unfinished." She told him and slowly pushed his hand from her arm. He gripped it tighter but she didn't show any pain.

He was pointing a gun at her head and ready to kill her. ‘I change my mind.’ She thought and laughed.

“ Tuesday, March 10, Lunken Bridge, If you want to capture me you better be there." She said to him and ran off. In a matter of seconds, she disappeared into the night as if she had never appeared in the first place. He balled his hands into fists and walked away.

She had saved his life so he would not play dirty games and kill her today...but he also doesn’t leave any mission unfinished. One day he will kill her…

***

Present-day,

“ Sir there is nothing.” The soldier informed him. “Keep searching!” The general ordered. “ But sir it’s already been a whole day and we haven’t found a body. If there is no news by this morning….” The soldier wanted to tell his general that there is no hope. He wanted to tell him that the body has probably washed away into the ocean and that they will never find it.

“ I said keep searching!” His general ordered and he had no choice but to continue the search. In the background, helicopter sounds were heard and the search for Ainara's body was still ongoing.

____________

This was just a small flashback to a year ago after this we will skip to when she wakes up, and when five years go by. Hopefully, I don't confuse you guys.

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