CHAPTER 1 Blacking out wasn't so bad. It was the waking up that hurt. The first thing I noticed when I came into consciousness was the mind numbing pain in my head. Then all the horrible events pounded into me like a jackhammer on concrete. I pushed back the first wave of nausea and bile. *Did I get shot?* It would explain why my head hurt so much, but then, wouldn't I be dead? *What if I'm brain damaged!?!* I frantically moved my fingers to my head, except my movements were groggy and I was surprised to hear a groan escape my lips. "Good. You're awake." It was a voice. Not mine of course. It was velvety and, spoke in mandarin. Definitely male. I didn't speak a word of the language but could listen pretty well. Out of habit I screamed in English, "What!?!" I could finally work my eyes, making them open, however slowly. The sight that met me was a guy, staring at me from the chair he was sitting. I couldn't help screaming. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" His eyes noticeably widened as he scrabbled over, which of course made me shrink away yelling even louder and swearing profusely in Japanese. I have no idea why, it was just what I do when I'm freaked, I start swearing in Japanese. He clamped a hand over my mouth. "Stop screaming!" To my surprise he said this in perfect English. I stared at him in horror, eyes wide. This was when I noticed my surroundings. It didn't help. I was on a bed with some strange guy on top of me! You can imagine my instinctive reaction. His hand was still clamped on my mouth so I did the first thing that came to mind. I kicked him right where it hurt. Something all women know. He swore, rolling off me and cursing in a variety of languages. *Where the fuck am I?!* With that thought, I scrabbled off the bed, diving for what looked like the door in my haziness, only to be tackled from behind! "Let me go!!! Let me go!!!!" I screamed, struggling in his incredible grip but not gaining anything. "Calm down! I'm not going to hurt you!!!" He yelled back, dumping me back on the bed. I glared at him, breathing in gasps. "Okay." He glared back, running a hand through thick black hair. "Please stop screaming. I'm not going to hurt you." I narrowed my eyes at him in anger. Thankfully my clothes were still on, which either meant he didn't rape me, or plans to, or maybe did, and put my clothes back on. He must've read my mind, cause he said, "No, I haven't touched you." I seemed to have lost my voice so I just glared at him. *Damn!* I hadn't noticed before, I was being shot at y,know, but... My kidnapper was gorgeous! I still hated him though if that's what you're thinking. It wasn't really he was handsome, okay he was, and had no right to be. With broad, muscular shoulders that traveled down to a slim waist, midnight black hair slicked backed coolly along with black clothes that showed his prominent muscles, any person would think twice before doing what I just did. I think it puts a new image to 'balls of steel', so to speak. From his looks he looked to be what I called a half-breed. Part Chinese, part English/American/Australian, whatever. It sure showed from the Asian looking face with emerald green eyes anyway. He looked me over. Scrutinising with those mysterious eyes. Finally I seemed to have regained my voice. "Where am I? Who the fuck are you and why did you kidnap me?" My voice was kinda shaky but what did you expect!?! He hesitated. "Where are the diamonds?" "THE WHAT!?!" This was the last thing I would've thought he'd ask. "What diamonds!?!" I screamed. I'm nearing hysteria as you can tell. He looked surprised. "What do you mean what diamonds? The ones that were smuggled in with you." "I WHAT!?!" You can probably discern how incredibly confused I am. "Look, I don't know what you're talking about. I don't even own diamonds!" I took a much needed breathe. "Where am I ?" He looked over me again. "You're at my place." His gaze wasn't very comforting. "It isn't a good idea to lie to me. "His voice was unemotional and calculating as he folded his arms. "Now where are they?" I looked at him like he was crazy, which, I deduced, he probably was. "I don't know what you're talking about." I said carefully. He hauled me up, looking at my face. "Then why was Kenji's men shooting at you?" He hissed harshly. I drew a blank. "What?" My voice was surprisingly calm. Very opposite to what I was feeling. He glared with those piercing green eyes, silent. I stared back, willing my own fear down. "What", I hesitated, swallowing, "Do you want with me?" He swept that unnerving gaze over me again. "You better not be lying." With that annoying remark he dropped me back on the bed, scowling. My captor crossed his arms again, looking down at me. I tried again. "I really don't know what you're talking about. I came here on vacation..." Was that a grunt of mockery!?! He shook his head in disbelief. "Fine. I'll play this game. You're just an innocent bystander who just happened to be there on the night of the exchange and just happened to get the diamonds when the security guy they bribed slipped you twenty million worth of diamonds. Right." I was in dumb shock. *What?!* He frowned at my dumbfounded expression. "Don't start with the fake tears." He said coldly. That was the last thing on my mind. The first was, *Wonder how my peaceful computer is doing back at home?* Strange, I know. His frowned deepened. I looked up at him blankly. "Huh?" He looked surprised. "What's you're name?" Even though it sounds sympathetic here, that wasn't the case with his commanding tone. "Nova Gong." I replied simply. He stared at me, looking almost uncertain- almost. "Who are your parents?" Kinda strange no? I shot him a confused look before answering. "Why? They're in Australia." He frowned, looking away. "Look whoever you think I am isn't here. I'm not a criminal or whatever." He was still frowning. It worried me somewhat. What did this guy want with me? "That doesn't explain why they were shooting at you." He said irefully. But it was soft, dangerous. I faltered, staring at him angrily. "Well I would like to know that too!" He eyed me with an annoyed look. "They want to kill you. " I narrowed my eyes. "Why am I here then? You want to kill me as well?! Or...." "I was the one that saved you from those bastards!" He countered fiercely. I shut up at that. What was I supposed to think? Well, damn arrogant asshole comes to mind, or my personal opinion at the moment, mother f***ing bastard, but he did save me. *Damn him!* "How do I know you aren't lying?" I said cautiously. He glared in obvious fury, which of course was quickly replaced by a cold smirk. "They have to pay me enough first." He didn't give me chance to ask. "If you aren't the dealer then I have no need of you. Go." He turned his back to me in dismissal, going to some other room of this place. I scowled hatred at his back, getting up. "Fine." My things had been subtlety ransacked so that any normal person wouldn't have noticed, but me, with my unique messy way of organising could tell straight away. I another glare of loathing at the door of the other room before heading for what looked like the front door of this.....apartment? "It's the one through the hall." I seethed at the amusement in his voice before following his instructions and walking out. Apparently, it wasn't an apartment at all. It was ingenuously concealed however, as some sort of warehouse. Great news for him, really, really bad for me. To make it worst, it was night. Just how long was I out!? Somehow I wandered back to mainstream Hong Kong, scared shitless and took a taxi back to the hotel. "Where have you been!!! We waited for you but you didn't show up!" My friends screamed hugging the life out of me. "I tell you about it later." I went straight to my jag bag, dumping everything out on the floor. Scully and Dana stared worriedly. "I think she flipped." Scully commented as I scavenged frantically through the contents. "Oh. My. GOD!!!!" My eyes widened as I picked up a small velvet bag from the heap. *The.....the .....diamonds.* With extreme care, I opened the bag then shut it, my heart thumping. "Are you..... Okay?" Dana asked hesitantly. I took a deep breathe, gesturing to the table. They sat down awkwardly. "I can't believe this." With that I poured them out. Both of them screamed. "Girl! Are those........are those......" Scully stared at the pyramid of glittering jewels. "These can't be real. Are they?" Dana picked on up in awe. I was back to the state of numb shock. "Nova?" Scully called, her eyes not leaving the pile on the table. "Nova?" "Oh man! Where'd you get these!?!" Dana hurriedly put all of them back in the pouch, her voice shaky. "I ......I .......I.........I don't know." I breathed. "Whoa! You didn't steal these did you!?!" Scully screamed. My mouth opened and closed at a lost. With a little hesitation, I told them what happened today. They stared at me in incredulity. "They think you smuggled these?" Dana looked pale. "Well technically she did." Scully pointed out. "She got these from the airport illegally. That's classified as smuggling." I gulped. "Help." "Y'know, I think we should all go to bed, this'll make more sense in the morning ne? I mean...." Dana went paler. We all knew what she was feeling, and agreed. Sleep sounded good at the moment. Especially after what I went through. Ahhhhhhh. Peace and quiet. Sleep. Lovely reassuring sleep. Strange how you notice the little things in sleep. Car horns, lights, the little twinkle of the VCR clock, lack of air...... Lack of air!?! I choked hopelessly against the hands on my throat, clawing desperately at the strong hands around my throat. "Where are the diamonds bitch!?!" The man hissed. I heard the click of a gun turning off safety. His grip tightened. I could barely get a conscious thought much lest answer him! I my efforts on his hands were failing as I desperately sought oxygen. He growled at my attempts to kick him, all of them misses. "Do that again and I blow your brains out." he threatened in a harsh whisper. I could only nod. My life flashed before my eyes as red dots swam dizzily in about my eyes. It was at this point my faith in god was immediately restored as the pressure left my throat. There were sounds of a struggle nearby and several gun shots, all like titanic thunder in my airless haze. My throat burned as I fought for air. My lungs exploded in a successive ache with each strained breath. An object landed beside me. Blearily I picked it up, realising it was a gun. Then, as a total accident, it went off. I swear! It was a accident! I stared in horror at the weapon before my eyes rolled back. And, for the second time since I arrived in Hong Kong, I blacked out. |