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"Didn't you hear me calling you?" Harper grabbed onto Yanpu's shoulder and turned him around. "You can't just run off like that!"

"Harper—"

"I know you're excited about exploring but it's not safe! So don't go anywhere like you just did! Stay within my sight!"

"Harper—"

"What?" She frowned.

"I saw them." Yanpu smiled.

"You saw... what?"

"The stars..." He pointed to the sky with a wide smile. Harper raised her head and studied the black sky.

Other than dim lights and heavy fog, she couldn't see anything. "Yanpu... stars are just a legend. You can't actually see one. Those bright orbs are just the lights."

"The stars are there!"

"If you say so, Yani." Harper sighed. "Let's go back to the room before—" Harper felt her arm being snatched. Before she could finish her sentence, she and Yanpu were dragged deep into the lobby.

The perpetrator was none other than Hyde. Harper felt her heart skip a beat.

He walked over to the elevator, pressed a button, and when the doors opened, he shoved Yanpu inside. But his firm clutch remained on Harper's arm.

"You must want to die," Hyde's eyes burned into her soul when he turned his head to look at her.

"No no no!" Harper shook her head to deny his coming accusation. "Yanpu ran off! I wasn't trying to escape!"

"Bull."

"No! I'm serious! I even went to ask Arnest for help, but he's—- well... go and check for yourself!"

Hyde grabbed Harper by the throat and clenched his fingers around it tightly. Harper choked, and snagged onto his forearm, a desperate attempt to fight for air.

"H... Hyde!" Harper coughed.

Hyde flared his nostrils at her but released her with a heavy sigh. "That was your last chance. However, as much as I enjoy the thought of carrying out your death right now, I still have a job to finish." He tilted her chin up.

"Head right back to the room, and wait for me. If you try to leave again, I'll tear off your legs first, and then work my way up to dissect your arms. Do you understand?"

Harper nodded. She was just thankful that he spared her one more time. But she knew that his command had an underlying meaning. Maybe he was going to kill her after he was done.

The thought of that sent chills down her spine.

The elevator doors opened, and Harper rushed inside and next to Yanpu, who was still standing there awkwardly. Without another word from Hyde, they went back to the room.



~~~

Harper barely received enough sleep as she waited for Hyde to come. Her nerves were overstimulated. Honestly, she was ready to book it out of the room if he had arrived.

Despite her anxiety, she found herself coming out of slumber in the early hours of the morning. When her mind grog cleared, she was able to think straight.

And the first thing she wondered was why the sheets felt so cold and empty beside her. Yanpu was close to her hours before, but where was he now?

Worry stirred in her heart as she sat up.

There was a lamp that outlined Hyde's figure on the other bed. He was lying on his front, clutching onto a pillow and in a deep sleep.

"Hyde?" Harper moaned and rubbed her eyes.

She never heard him walk in. After yesterday, she didn't doubt his lack of energy. He had been drinking in large amounts with the woman downstairs.

"Hyde..." Harper slugged her way over to him and tapped his shoulder. His eyes opened immediately, catching her off guard.

"What?" Hyde's growl rumbled from deep in his chest. He felt like he was forced out of his rest.

"Yanpu... he's not here." Harper frowned. Part of her was hoping that he was with Arnest, but the look on Hyde's face put out all faith in his safety.

Hyde rolled out of bed quickly and stormed through the room. First, he barged into the bathroom and checked behind the shower curtains.

Then he stomped back over to the beds and flicked up the sheets. He brushed his hair back in frustration. "Shite!" He turned to face Harper with the most deadliest glare she'd ever seen.

The glow in his eyes was the sign that she needed to dodge his attack. She ducked before he could grab her and backed into a wall.

Hyde was perplexed by her evasion, but not majorly stunned. He was still tired. His abilities weren't in line with his current mindset.

It would've been a waste of time to deal with her. Killing her wouldn't change the fact that Yanpu was gone. It wouldn't bring him back.

Hyde grunted and opened the door to leave the room. Harper followed, keeping a good distance behind him. "Hyde! Isn't he with Arnest?"

"He's not." Hyde hurried down the hall.

"How do you know? Did you check?"

"Catch up." Hyde flicked her on the side of her head. They neared the elevator, and Hyde was the first to step in.

"He did this last night."

"What?"

"He vanished. That's why I went after him!"

"He's gone because of your lack of awareness. You're irresponsible." Hyde commented. "You'd better pray nothing happened to him. Count your days."

"Lack of awareness?!" Harper huffed. She stepped into the elevator right before the doors shut.

She couldn't believe he was insulting her capabilities. She had known Yanpu for years and was always able to keep track of him. But Yanpu's behavior change was strange.

This was the first time he had ever shown defiance, or an emotion other than curiosity. Perhaps it was because of the change in environment.

"I have watched over Yanpu since before he was fully developed enough to finish incubating. Don't blame me for this! Your bad influence probably rubbed off on him!"

Rather than Hyde swiping at her for her rebuttal, he smiled menacingly and cackled. "You don't even realize how callous you sound. I wouldn't expect someone with your level of intellect to understand anyway."

"What?" Harper seethed. "Callous?"

She didn't understand. What about her words made her seem that she had a lack of heart?

She felt everything she stated was to protect Yanpu. She wanted to keep Hyde's negativity as far away from the boy as possible.

"On what planet does the discussion of incubation sound natural?"

The question stumped her. She guessed that to the untrained ear, it would sound far from ordinary. But she was a scientist. She had been a part of experimental studies for almost 6 years.

Incubation and studying how a body functions under tests were things she had gotten used to.

"I thought so," Hyde spat.

"Incubation is a new way of bringing life into this world. It's technologically advanced and saves women the burden of having to go through that draining process. There's nothing wrong with children coming out of an artificial womb."

"That's what all of you dastards at that pure-impersonated prison think. But it doesn't change the fact that it's a wicked way for someone to come into this world. You scumbags don't even realize the implications one has to go through afterward."

"Do you have a grudge? You make it sound like you experienced incubation or something." Harper crossed her arms and pouted.

His lips twitched and his eyes darkened in color. The intensity of the red shine in his pupils frightened her. But his lack of reply made her suspect that her words had struck a nerve in him.

"... No way..." Harper frowned. "That can't be... there are no records of you before your service to the facility." She bit her lip. "Incubation only happens there... there's no way you would've been a result of—"

The doors opened, and Arnest stood on the other end. He was surprised to see Hyde.

"Oh. I was just coming to get you."

Hyde stepped out first. "The kid is gone."

"What?" Arnest's eyes widened. "Wait... how is he gone? Wasn't that wench watching him?"

"I'll search outside. You take her and search on this floor. He's small, so his legs couldn't have carried him off that far."

"This vile woman keeps making things more difficult," Arnest muttered before snatching Harper's arm without a care for her yelling.

As Hyde stepped forward, Enzo and several other men dressed in dark blue suits and shades approached. Enzo had a sinister stare as if he was out for blood.

"You guys are up." He voiced sharply. "Before you leave, there's something we need to settle."

"I agree. Give me what you promised in our deal." Hyde demanded.

"Patience is such a beautiful quality. Don't you think so, Hyde?" Enzo flipped his golden hair before placing a hand on his waist.

"Too bad I don't have it." Hyde shrugged. "Hand over the crystals."

"In time..."

"Don't give me that shite!" Hyde drew his dagger and held the tip against Enzo's neck. "I assisted you for One night. Give me what you owe!"

"It's true that you fulfilled your part of the deal initially, but plans have changed."

"Plans have changed?" Harper huffed. It was like her worries were coming true. She had warned the men before not to trust this idiot.

"I trusted that you would wait patiently for me to exchange with you. But you decided to sneak around and steal."

"What are you talking about? We didn't steal anything from you!" Harper snapped.

Enzo clapped his hands. Another buff man stepped in the line of their vision, and he dragged Yanpu from behind him. With one shove, he was knocked forward.

The small black box that Enzo had shown them the night before fell out of his grasp.

Hyde's nose flared. He shot a glare at Harper, blaming her for not keeping an eye on Yanpu. There was no excuse he could've made. Yanpu had been caught red-handed.

"I thought you were better than this... I've heard stories of all your assignments in the past. But you're stooping very low to send a child to take what doesn't belong to you." Enzo huffed.

"How do we know you didn't trick him into taking it?" Harper denied. She didn't believe Yanpu would do something like this. She practically raised him. Yanpu was always a polite boy who asked for things.

He didn't even know what stealing was!

"How would I trick him into stealing MY things?"

"I'm sure you'd find a way." Harper retorted. Then she looked at Hyde as if saying 'I told you so' with her eyes. The night before she expressed that she was uneasy about Enzo.

Hyde handled patrol droids effortlessly. Why was he so hesitant to take the crystals they needed now? Why was he allowing Enzo to use him?

The lack of answers frustrated her so much that she felt a migraine coming.

"Control your tagalong, Hyde..." Enzo huffed and placed his hands on his hips. "I won't take such preposterous accusations lightly. I had half a mind to forgive your errand boy, but now I'm feeling insulted by all her sass."

"Tagalong? You haven't seen sass yet! I'll show you what sass is really like!" Harper stepped forward angrily, but Hyde snatched her back roughly.

"My apologies..." Hyde grumbled. "I'm still teaching her how to control her tongue. She's a bit stubborn. As for the brat," Hyde dragged Yanpu close to him by his arm, earning a painful cry in return. "I'll take responsibility for his misdeed."

"He didn't steal it, Hyde!"

"He was caught with the crystals like a deer in headlights," Hyde rebuked her. "I told you to stay with him. I told you to keep him in check."

"I did! I tried to." Harper was going to defend herself to the end. Yanpu disappeared. Right before her eyes, he did. One second he was in the hotel room, and the next he was in the lobby.

She wasn't sure how. That was the only downside to her defense. Even when she woke up, he was gone. But she knew Yanpu well. Yanpu wasn't a thief!

"Give me one reason I shouldn't sell you off to this business and leave you to perish on your own." Hyde gritted his teeth. "You're of no use to me. I offered you your life in exchange that you taking care of him. I've already regretted sparing you."

Hyde brushed his hair back, frustrated. "I bet all you did at the Facility was twiddle your thumbs. No wonder, Bomb stuck you in that worthless position as his assistant. Anyone could see your lack of potential a mile away."

His words hurt her.

It hurt so much that she couldn't even respond. She tried to, but tears streamed down her cheeks before she could.

Harper turned away from all of the men and took a deep breath. She focused on Yanpu.

"Yani, be honest with me." She crouched down and placed her hands on both of his shoulders. "Did you take the crystals from this man?"

Yanpu bit his lip and rubbed his fingers together. His dark brown eyes weren't on Harper's but on his small feet.

"Yani... answer me." Harper needed to know. There was no way. She didn't raise him to be a thief. "Did you take the box? You didn't, right? Did this rude man trick you?"

Yanpu raised his eyes to meet hers. Instead of responding with a look of denial, he frowned. And sorrowful it was, with much guilt hidden behind it.

"Yani..." Harper wiped her tears. "You didn't."

"I did," Yanpu admitted.

"Ha! See? I told you! Why would I trick a child into stealing my things?" Enzo spat.

"Why did you take it?" Harper felt her voice crack. It already felt like Hyde wounded her deeply, and now Yanpu, the one she defended so firmly, was rubbing poison into the cuts.

"I don't know..."

"You don't know?" Hyde scoffed. "I can tell you why."

He bent down to Yanpu's eye level. "Deep within... you're a monster. Even worse than me."

"What?" Harper bit her tongue.

"You heard me." Hyde scowled. "The crystals attracted you, didn't they? You felt the need to have it."

"What are you talking about? Yanpu is nothing like you!" Harper stood. "In this room, he's the most sane and mild out of all of you!"

"If he's so mild, why did he take the crystals?" Enzo leaned in her face with a wicked smile.

"As I stated earlier, I'll take responsibility." Hyde reiterated. "How much do you want for the crystals?"

"Actually, I have one small teensy request." Enzo hummed and sashayed forward. "It's not much, really."

"I'll be the judge of that."

"One of my workers went out to serve a client last night, but he hasn't responded to any of my calls. I fear that he may have been abducted by poachers..."

"Poachers?"

"They're greedy dastards who rob me of men who work at establishments like mine and take them heaven knows where." Enzo sucked his teeth and shook his head.

Hyde looked away for a moment, catching Enzo's attention.

"You're not saying anything."

"I'm thinking..."

"About?"

"Searching and solving kidnapping cases aren't my field of expertise."

"Understandable. I suppose the crystals can be sold elsewhere,"

"Hold it. I didn't say I wasn't going to do it." Hyde seethed. "If I find your guy and bring him back, you'll give me the crystals, at no charge, right?"

"That's right." Enzo nodded.

"And if I don't bring him back, but still searched..."

"I trust your good sense..." Enzo tapped Hyde's shoulder ecstatically. "But the crystals are only exchangeable once you bring my worker back to me and alive."

"Alive..." Hyde groaned. "That'll be challenging."

"Take it or leave it." Enzo crossed his arms.

"Fine." Hyde rolled his eyes. "Give me your client's location and we'll be on our way."

"Ah ah." Enzo refused. "Leave the boy. He still hasn't received his consequences."

"Over my dead body!" Harper growled. Hyde's blade hovered over her nose, and she froze. "Hyde! You can't just let him keep Yanpu here! He's a child!"

"A child capable of stealing," Enzo smirked.

"Like heck I'm gonna leave him here with a devious man like yourself at your Brothel to see unholy acts!"

"Take her and your assistant with you." Enzo ignored Harper. "South of Haylestorm, at the Harbor Inn."

"You heard him." Arnest yanked Harper forward. "Get a move on."

"But! We can't leave Yanpu here!" Harper tried to stand her ground, but air escaped her lips when Hyde chucked her body over his shoulder and carried her out of the lobby. "No! Let me down!"

She screeched. "Hyde! We can't leave him!"

"I have some tape in the trunk, Hyde. Just let me know and I'll shut her up."

"Why are you both doing this to me!?" Harper heaved when Hyde forced her into the sedan they arrived in. "He needs my protection! You imbeciles!"

"Protection? He needs your protection?" Hyde sniggered. "We're in this mess because of your protection! You let him out of your sight!"

"You don't understand anything!" Harper hissed. "Yanpu is the key to everyone's survival here! If you leave him, who knows what they'll do to him!"

"Is that what Bomb told you?" Hyde cackled.

"I raised him." Harper cried. "I know everything about him! You're doing this to hurt me! But I get it okay? So please don't leave him here! Let me stay with him!"

Hyde watched as Harper broke down into more tears. But he wasn't phased or moved. Not one bit.

"Arnest."

"Yeah?"

"Get me the tape."

Harper raised her head to look at Hyde directly. Even more tears streamed down her face. She felt her heart breaking into so many pieces when his cold eyes stared back at her.

"I hate you." Harper sobbed. "Both of you."

"You're not the only one." Arnest handed Hyde a thick roll of duct tape. He tore off a chunk and slapped it over Harper's lips, before binding her wrists behind her. Then he shut the door and locked it.

He didn't even bother securing her into the seatbelt.