A/N: Here's chapter 35. Enjoy, people.

"A simple mission, you said," Cole hissed. "In and out, you said. Well, why the hell did you not mention the armed guards outside the building, Iris?"

"Would you shut up?" Iris snapped, crouched down behind a felled tree trunk. "We've come too far to back out now!"

"We have absolutely not! We cross that line of trees and then we've gone too far to back out because we'll be dead!"

"Would you both be quiet? I think they can hear us." James pulled out his gun from his waistband.

Surrounded by sparse trees with minimal foliage was a fairly large building with a dilapidated roof and grey walls which were once white. It could have passed for an abandoned warehouse had it not been for the wired fence and muscled men and women clad in black guarding it. A heavy smell of smoke was carried by the breeze and a plume of grey shadowed the place like an ominous cloud. The woods were usually abandoned at all times of the year due to the various Keep out and Trespassers will be shot signs at the entrance.

If Iris squinted, she could just about make out the silver of a keypad on a wooden door. She had no idea how Mia got this information and she didn't care. Beyond those door was information on who killed her mother. Iris had no idea what she would encounter, but had a feeling it would be a fruitful endeavour. Hopefully.

"You know, Cole, you can just stay here if you want."

"Please." He scoffed, handing James a knife. "We're already dead if Harry finds out we helped you here and we'll be even more dead if we come back with your body. Might as well die on our own terms."

Iris bit back a smile. "Just like Germany?"

"We do not speak of what happened in Germany." He shuddered and slumped down lower. "Alright, what do we know about this Meredith woman?"

"Didn't you send the file with her information?"

"Yeah, yeah, I got one of my technology people to get the information. She's very reliable and I couldn't be bothered to read the entire document."

James sighed and clicked his tongue against his teeth. "One of these days, your laziness is going to get you killed. Fortunately, I read through all of it. What we know: she killed Miss. Ellison, this seems to be one of her bases of operation, and this is where Mia-- or, rather, Mi Cha-- has said she believes her to be."

"We also know what she looks like to an extent," Iris added. "Brown hair and quite tall."

"Well, that narrows it down a lot."

Iris made a disgusted noise at the back of her throat. "Sarcasm. Cole's a bad influence on you. Anyways, here's the plan. You both will have the job of getting rid of the guards there so I can sneak in and get the information I need. Once I'm in, I need you both to run as fast as possible away from this place."

"Hold on, you shouldn't be going in there alone." Cole frowned. "What if something happens to you? You owe me far too many favours for you to die."

"I'll be fine," she forced out, unable to meet her friends' concerned gazes. If today is to be my last, at least I'll be able to see my mother much sooner. "I can't concentrate if I'm worrying about you chuckleheads."

"Alright, then." James nodded, tugging on a lock of his blonde hair. "How are we going to do this?"

An evil grin stretched across Iris' face and her crystal eyes sharpened with uncontrollable glee. "So, remember how we were talking about Germany?"

***

The plan had been set, and Iris' entire hope was hinged on the insanity of the two boys she'd travelled with. She prayed to a higher power she didn't quite believe in that they could pull it off, otherwise the situation would get very messy.

She crept around the trees, keeping low just like she had been taught by Harry in the brutal training sessions. Her breaths were even and quiet, inaudible over the breeze, and she tucked her hair into a bun and stuffed it into the back of her hoodie. Fortunately, James' aunt had been more than happy to give Iris a deadly blade-- currently strapped to her thigh-- when she'd admitted to feeling unsafe while walking home. Cole managed to swipe an automatic pistol for her, which could potentially buy time in the case of an ambush, and even had a suppressor for added stealth.

The guards were trained to look directly ahead of the front, wired gate-- after all, it was where the guests or ambushes were most likely to happen. Iris fully intended to exploit this fact with the secateurs she'd stolen from the box of gardening tools at James' home. Hopefully, she would survive long enough to return them.

"Ah, ehxcuse me!" the loud and obnoxious voice of Cole rang out in the silence. He'd put on some ridiculous accent-- reasons for which weren't entirely clear-- and skipped down to the guards. "Iz this ze wayuh to the uh, Waferparlk Centree?"

The head guard, a woman with blonde hair tucked into a neat updo and sunglasses, flinched. "Excuse me?" Her finger tightened on the trigger of the gun in her right hand. Shock was the only thing which prevented her from shooting him.

"Ah, ah, ah!" James strutted past, throwing his arms in the air and adopting a completely different dialect. "I hadst toldeth thee so! Thee... shouldst, uh, hark to me more oftenst!"

Oh my god. Iris closed her eyes. I can't watch this any longer.

"Stand down," the woman ordered to the other guards. "They're just a bunch of kids."

"Kidzz?" Cole pressed a hand to his chest and took in an outrageous breath. "Kidzz? I shalleth-- uh, I mean, I shalluh havez you know I am the son of a reespected Ambassador! I haveuh so much stuff! More zan you can eemagine!"

"Aye! Bid her who is't I am." James crossed his arms.

"Hee ist myuh emotional support pauper."

"Get out of here!" the woman yelled. "Or I'll order my subordinates to shoot you."

"Woman!" James glared. "Never shake thy gory locks at me."

As they had successfully grasped the attention of those in the vicinity, Iris was free to move-- much to her relief. She padded softly over the earth, wincing at every crackle of leaves or twigs which snapped under her weight. Fortunately, James and Cole seemed to be acting out some sort of soap opera, their cacophonous shrieking hid Iris' noises.

Finally, she found a fairly deserted area guarded by only a section of the robust, wired fence. There were no doors or windows on the red, brick wall on the other side, which meant security was sloppy. No one but teenagers on a dare would venture so close, and none would go further.

Iris grinned and, with fingers trembling from adrenaline, started to cut a hole from the fence. Impatient at the slow progress, and worried someone would hear the decisive click snapped wire, she only cut half a circle and pressed with her weight to make it fold into a neat semicircle entrance.

Crawling through, her jacket got caught on a barb and ripped it. She tugged the scrap cloth free and stood, dusting off her knees and hands. Excitement pooled in the pit of her stomach and she resisted the urge to shout in victory. Now, I need to find my way inside before someone notices.

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Stay safe and thanks for reading :)