Crimson drops on a ghastly pale face, hands smeared in blood and a dishevelled countenance. A piteous sight, though I'm sure someone like her would hate to be pitied.

  The dim fluorescent light is restricting, allowing the observer to see some things while keeping most others in the shadows.

  Yet, I see clearly the look of violent rage on her face, an ill suited expression. It is both surprising and enlightening.

  ..............

  'What.Are.You.Doing.Here?' I said, enunciating each word. If looks could kill, he would be lying as dead as the hapless corpse of the unfortunate, late Mrs Huang.

  The man had on a white shirt tucked in at the sides, in his left hand he held a battery powered torch, expression steely. His eyes drifted over the sorry corpse before settling on me again. For a moment his expression faltered and grew disgusted, but that was not for long.

  'I came looking for you at your place.' he stopped as if picking his words carefully. 'There, a guy named Alvin told me that you hadn't returned in hours, so we came to find you'

  'And why were you looking for me?' I made no effort to hide the malice in my voice, and from his retired sigh, I believe it was not lost on him.

  'Some development. My scouts found some clues,' he said, sweeping a glance at the open wooden box. 'But that is not important, why dont we speak outside, you don't look so good' he offered.

  I was at a loss, how does this man always turn up in such situations, but he was right, this really was no place to speak in and thus like a beast robbed off its prey, I reluctantly followed him up the stairs, while tidying my hair.

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  'Need some help?' he asked offering his hand. If humans could read each other's minds, he would have thought better of it. Nevertheless I had to return his courtesy by throwing him another dirty look that shut him up.

  The stairway opened into the very living room where I had been knocked out. A wooden plank lay beside the opening. Its top surface was covered with the same vinyl floor mat as the rest of the floor, letting it blend seamlessly.

  'Are you sure you're okay' he asked looking me up and down with a worried expression.

  'The blood's not mine' I assured

  ...........

  It was already dark outside, the street lamps shone at uniform interval, this part of the city was unnaturally quiet. Most houses lining the main road had their lights turned off .

  As we stepped out into the front porch, a woman's voice came from up ahead.

  'We should have gone with him' she lamented. 'You! Go in now' she ordered to someone.

  'That wont be necessary' said Vittore from beside me, as we approached them.

  Standing ahead was an assertive woman accompanied by a man who, although taller than her, looked completely subdued by her presence. The woman turned upon hearing his voice, and ran,yes ran, towards us. I thought she was gonna pouce so I kept my distance. But she stopped within a few feet of us. She had several piercings on her face, deep set eyes and a commanding appearance. It was Elda Viscontini.

  She opened her mouth to say something then closed it again upon seeing me.

  'Oh my, what happened to you' she asked with concern. The man, Alvin also walked over.

  'Just got into a fight' I tried to wave her off.

  'What? With an assasin?' She asked, half jesting.

  'Yes' I replied looking her dead in the eyes.

  At my answer she looked taken aback, but then adressed Vittore with even more anxiety than before.

  'Are you alright, vic? Please tell me you didn't have run into any assasins'

  'No, thankfully Ms Lane took care of them, they had already ran off by the time I arrived' he said offering a reassuring smile. 'but i did see a corpse though, and it's left me feeling quite nauseous'

  Something about his mannerisms changed as he left the house, it was as if he was putting up a front. Which was the true image and which was the front that I could not tell but I could guess.

  'The Huang family, that is, the original residents of this house, have been murdered' I said, mostly addressing Avin than the others.

  'I'm afraid the axis has found you, ' this, was adressed to Elda

  Elda paled, she was, inevitably familiar with that name.

  'Vic, what should we do?'

  'Don't worry about it' he said wrapping an arm around her shoulder 'we are well prepared this time, besides with Ms Lane protecting us I'm sure they can't get to us that easily'

  At this Elda looked somewhat convinced. .