Velika: The story of a lover

Around seven-thirty, they arrived at the alley where the doctor's secret laboratory was. Velika O'Sullivan double-checked the guns and spit out her gum without wrapping it up. She frowned and looked at Daniel Heinrich, asked if he was ready. He nodded and told her to relax.

"You said I'm the best agent beside yourself." He laughed, but she didn't. He could tell that she didn't trust him, of course, he didn't trust her either.

The alley was dark and filthy. This was the darkest corner of the city, hidden under the polished appearance of the metropolis.

They kept their heads down and avoided eye contact with people. Velika O'Sullivan walked quickly at the front and Daniel Heinrich followed, stayed in a decent distance from her. It didn't take them too long to find the entrance of the laboratory.

"Typical place for Dr. Frankenstein." Said Velika O'Sullivan when she was scanning around, making sure they weren't being followed, "Okay, the front door is clear, not sure about the inside."

"We'll figure that out soon." Said Daniel Heinrich who thought she was overreacting.

Velika O'Sullivan threw her hands and pushed the door open. A long corridor with dim candlelight that was almost burnt out. They walked down the corridor cautiously with their pistols in their hands. Their shadows projected on the walls that had unrecognizable dark, crimson stains.

They were going down to the basement. The corridor was an inclined surface that sending them down. Almost there, Daniel Heinrich saw a rusty, molded iron door right ahead of them. He stopped, so did she. They stood on both sides of the door, Velika O'Sullivan nodded at him, he knocked on the door.

"Dr. Mills?" He called, "Anyone?"

They heard the noise of footsteps; someone was in a hurry. They waited patiently, after several seconds, the door opened, and a bald head leaned out from the narrow gap of the door.

"Names." The little old man said in a low, nervous voice.

"John and Jane Smith." Said Daniel Heinrich in seriousness.

"Come in, quickly." The chemist let them in and checked outside to confirm no one was following.

"Seriously?" Velika O'Sullivan whispered.

"I know this will get you." Daniel Heinrich winked, "Perfect names."

"Absolutely." She rolled up his eyes, "Indeed."

Dr. Mills anxiously asked them to take their seats. It was apparent that he was afraid of something, or someone. He was checking the door every 30 seconds and when he spoke, his sentences were broken and he had to repeat himself to get his points straight. But they decided to wait patiently and planned to deal with the situation accordingly.

"So, Mr. and Mrs. Smith," The doctor checked the doorway again, "I don't usually do the same project twice, so I'm afraid I can't help."

"Name the price." Said Daniel Heinrich disdainfully.

"No, no, no." Dr. Mills said nervously, "It's not about the price."

"Anyone after you?" Asked Velika O'Sullivan, "Fine, give me their names."

"What?" The doctor blinked and said in confusion.

"Listen, doctor," Daniel Heinrich whispered into Dr. Mills' ears, "We know someone is hunting you, and your face just sold you out. We need to know who is after you, just tell us who hired you to make the drug that killed Edmund Leontes."

"I don't know what you are talking about." Said Dr. Mills, the fears in his eyes grew as the time passed, he was completely terrified, "You are not here for business, then you must go."

Dr. Mills tried to push them to the door and drove them away, but Velika O'Sullivan wouldn't allow it to happen. She exchanged look with Daniel Heinrich, he nodded, then they took their guns out, both aimed at Dr. Mills. The doctor was shocked, he raised both of his hands and was in complete shock. He was hiding something, something that they could only get from this man in front of them.

"You have to leave now," The terrified doctor said with his lips quivering, "They'll get you and kill you."

"Tell us who they are, and we'll keep you safe." Said Velika O'Sullivan, didn't put down her pistol, "Are they the people who asked you to kill Edmund Leontes indirectly?"

"I can't tell you; they'll kill me." Dr. Mills was still trembling, "There are two groups of them."

"Tell us, or you die now." Velika O'Sullivan was so focused on asking Dr. Mills questions, she ignored the noise came outside the door.

Daniel Heinrich heard the footsteps, an armed squad was approaching, he went to the door and stick his ears on, listening to the conversation people had out there. The leader was commanding his members how they should enter the door and seize their targets, which bought Daniel Heinrich and Velika O'Sullivan some time, but not enough to get the answers and leave.

"They are already here." He told Velika O'Sullivan, she frowned, "We have to leave."

"How many?" She scanned around, searching for an exit.

"Minimum ten." Said Daniel Heinrich with a serious look, "Any ideas how can we get out of here?"

"Come on, we are Mr. and Mrs. Smith." Velika O'Sullivan grinned, she lifted her head and he looked up with her. There was a vent in the ceiling. Daniel Heinrich grabbed a ladder from the bookshelves.

"If you sold us out, you'll die too. We are just above your head." Said Daniel Heinrich when he was climbing up, the doctor nodded, still trembling.

Not even thirty seconds after they got into the vent, the door was forced open. The doctor stood right in the center under the vent where Daniel Heinrich was aiming at him with a gun, forced Dr. Mills stood stiffly and they could overhear the conversations.

"Who are you?" Dr. Mills pushed up his glasses, "Which group you belong to?"

"I work for the person who pays me." Said the leader ruthlessly, "Unfortunately, not you."