("Watch out!" a voice screamed.
"Huh?!"
— BANG —
The bullet whizzed past me, but the distraction was enough.
"See you next time, little girl!" Black Bullet sneered. With a practiced motion, he grabbed my unconscious father and leapt through the shattered window. Below, a black helicopter hovered in the smoke.
"No! Father!" I scrambled toward the ledge, but someone caught me from behind, pinning my arms.
"What are you doing?! You can't go! It's suicide!"
"Who are you? Let go of me!" I snarled, fighting to break free. I managed to push them off and reached the window, but the helicopter was already a disappearing speck in the grey sky.
I turned back, ready to lash out at my intruder, but my vision blurred. I looked down at the floor. Blood?
A sharp, stinging heat blossomed at my temple. I touched my head, and my hand came back crimson. One of the stray bullets or a piece of glass had grazed me.
"Don't move, you're injured!" the man shouted, reaching for me.
"No... I have to... save my fath..."
The world tilted. My legs gave out, and the last thing I felt was a pair of strong arms catching me before everything went black.
Erina's Room
"Mmn... where am I?" I groaned, forcing my eyes open.
I sat up too fast, and the room spun. "Ouch... my head!" I clutched the bandage wrapped around my forehead. The hospital? No, this is my room.
Memory flooded back—the explosion, the laboratory, the Black Bullet. I practically fell out of bed and stumbled into the living room. I stopped near the railing when I heard voices from below.
"We will do everything in our power to save him," a man's voice said—deep, calm, and commanding.
"Please, save him as soon as possible!" my mother cried. "We don't know what those monsters will do to him!"
I didn't wait any longer. I descended the stairs, my eyes fixed on the stranger. "Who are you?! What do you want?"
The man turned. He was young for his stature, with sharp features and the unmistakable aura of authority.
"Erina! You're awake!" My mother rushed to me, her face lined with worry.
"Yes, Mom. I'm fine. Now, tell me—who is he? What connection does he have to us? And who was that man who took Father?"
"Erina, it's a long story..."
"I have time. Tell me everything."
"Alright," Mom sighed, guiding me to a chair. "Your father is one of the most brilliant minds in the country. Years ago, the government asked us to help develop specialized weaponry for national defense. They promised us protection. But then, a shadow organization began to threaten us. They wanted your father's research for themselves. If we didn't comply, they threatened to kill us all. This man has been our secret guardian until yesterday."
The stranger stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "My name is Kail Williamson. I am the General in charge of city security. Ma'am, you need to pack your things. This house is compromised. We are moving you to a safe house immediately."
"Alright," Mother nodded. "I'll go get ready."
As soon as she left the room, I turned to Kail. "So, this is how you 'protect' people? By letting them get kidnapped in broad daylight?"
Kail's eyebrow arched. "Ha! That's rich. If you hadn't barged into that lab like a maniac, your father might still be here. My men would have had a clear shot."
"You know that's a lie," I countered, stepping into his space. I spoke with a coldness that didn't belong to a student. "You can drop the act. You weren't ready for an attack of that scale."
Kail narrowed his eyes. "For a scientist's daughter, you're remarkably bold. And your aim... I've seen the footage. My best soldiers don't shoot with that kind of precision. Where did a girl like you learn to handle a gun?"
"None of your business, General."
The Safe House
An hour later, we arrived at a massive estate on the outskirts of the city.
"This house... it's huge," Mom whispered as we pulled into the drive.
"Only two maids live here," Kail explained. "They are specialists from my base. They will take care of you while we locate Professor Philip."
Inside, Kail introduced us to two stern-looking young women, Kate and Jessy. "Take care of them. They are not to leave the premises."
As Kail turned to head back to his car, I ran after him. "Hey! Wait!"
"What now, Erina?"
"I'm coming with you. I'm going to save my father."
Kail let out a short, mocking laugh. "What? You think this is some online game? This is real war, kid."
"I'm serious!"
"Listen, Erina... just because you got lucky with a few shots doesn't mean you can join the military. You'd be a liability."
I smirked, the tactical agent Silvia showing through my eyes. "What if I prove it to you? Give me a chance."
"How?"
"Next time you come here, take me to your military base. Put me through your best trials. If I fail, I'll stay here quietly. If I win... you let me help."
Kail looked at me for a long time, searching for the fear he expected to find. He found none. "Fine," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "I'll pick you up at dawn tomorrow. But don't cry when things get tough."
"Don't worry, General. I've forgotten how to cry a long time ago."
~ to be continued