File 2.0 – [Dead Little Princess]

"So, let me understand. YOU with YOUR impregnable NC, which I personally created, was added to some sort of chat with some strange people who knew your personal information?" – Malek's eyes were wide-open and filled with mixture of ridicule and surprise.

He was and electronic engineer even younger than Serj. Born in the ex-Saudi Arabia he was fortunate and talented enough to have been admitted into the most prestigious university of the European Federation at the age of fourteen.

Well, during these dark years, it probably was the ONLY university which remained intact after the War.

In any case Malek Isa was a real genius.

And he also was a real stereotype of nerd.

"You need some exercises…" – Mumbled Serj as he disapprovingly looked at the skinny figure and slightly banded back of his friend.

Malek was still talking about how impossible the whole situation with the Serj's NC was and was taken aback by the sudden comment. - "What did you say?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing…Whatever, yes, that is exactly what happened and even if you ask me another time the story won't change in the slightest."

Malek remained very skeptical. – "And they also could see everything you saw?" – Seeing how convinced and serious was Serj he finally surrendered, and sighing made a gesture towards his worktable. – "Sit there, I will check your NC."

Serj was about to move than suddenly an interruption made him stop.

'[New Call incoming]'

The number was one that he couldn't ignore.

'Answer it.'

'[Good job with the bomb. Your payment was already transferred on your bank account, Ghost.]' A man's coarse voice masked with many interferences sounded directly in his head. Strictly speaking the one's talking could even be a female but Serj didn't really cared about it.

'Thank you, Boss.'

Malek was about to say something but noticed a slightly blank look on his friend's face and stopped.

'[There is another job for you. High urgency. The helicopter will bring you to the private plane at Venice and then a direct flight to Berlin. Depart immediately. I will send you all the detail on the NC.]'

'[The Call was terminated]

Serj sighed. Malek looked at him for a second. – "New job? You pretty much don't have a single free minute, man! Transfer to my department."

The serious tone of his friend made Serj smile. – "I'm far more talented in more…action-based work."

He exited the room and went towards the roof where a helicopter was already waiting for him.

'[1 New File received]'

'[Desire to accept?]'

But before he could answer suddenly a red dot of the chat notification flashed.

'[File successfully downloaded]'

Serj stopped right in the middle of the corridor. He opened the chat.

[Tarantula: Sorry Boy, I was too curious! I like information too much.]

[Tarantula: Hahahahahahahahahahaha.]

[Unknown ID: That's why no wants to have any business with you, Bitch.]

[Tarantula: Soooo mean, Brown_Recluse. You made me cry…]

[Brown_Recluse: I don't care.]

As Serj read this useless crap, he felt something long forgotten. Helplessness.

For now, he really could do nothing at all against this chat.

'Set my Name as RedGhost.' He mentally ordered to NC.

[RedGhost: Don't download my files before me.]

He thought for a second and added.

[RedGhost: If possible.]

[Tarantula: Hahahahahahahahaha, finally couldn't ignore me, Little Ghost?]

[Tarantula: Well…I will try my best! Yay!]

[Brown_Recluse: You're delusional, Boy.]

Serj closed the chat. It was an extremely bad sensation. To be constantly observed and exposed. 'I need to find a solution. Hopefully Malek will find something.'

He opened the door and saw that the helicopter was already started and waiting for him.

[…]

'Adolf Meisner, a magnate from the old Germany. Born in 2001 in some Frankfurt hospital. His father, Otto Meisner, was a common shop owner while his mother, Elisa Neumann was a talented biologist working for the government.'

Serj skipped some parts about his early years.

'In 2043 he founded the MT, Meisner Technologies, which quickly occupied the leading position in field of technological innovations. The Third Word War only gave to MT more potential for the expansion.'

'The MT played the main role into the post-war reconstruction of the Europe.'

He skipped some more useless information.

'In 2055 he married Hannah Lang.'

'Just before the war.' Thought Serj while continuing reading.

'From their union, in the 2068, was born a daughter, Agatha Meisner.' There was a photo attached to the file.

A smiling little girl with curly brown hair. Skinny, she still gave of an energetic and healthy feeling.

*Beep*

The red dot flashed.

'These bastards…'

[Tarantula: AWWWWWW!]

[Tarantula: Such a cute little girl.]

He was about to close the chat. but the next message made him tremble slightly.

[Tarantula: She is somehow like your sister, Boy.]

[BoldSpider73: The one that died during the War?]

[Tarantula: Have you even read the info I've sent you?! How many sisters do you think he has??]

Serj eyes became vacant as he stopped reading and was slowly dragged inside the darkest corners of his mind.

[…]

He was in a dark room. The door was opened. From the window time to time rays of electric light penetrated the room and illuminated the bed.

A small boy was sitting in the corner. He was embracing his own kneels and trembling. Some traces of tears were visible on his face.

*BOOM*

Outside many rifle shots were followed by a sudden explosion and screams of pain.

The boy's shivering intensified.

Suddenly he heard someone quickly going upstairs towards his room. It's were soft and light steps very familiar to him.

He didn't even look towards the person who just ran inside.

It was a girl. Skinny and a bit taller than him. Her hair, normally brown now had a color of dirt and ashes.

"Serj! Come here. We have to run!!"

She gripped his hand and pulled.

At first, he fell forwards like rag doll, but the girl helped him and dragged him out from the room. They went downstairs. The first floor was devastated. Broken furniture covered with blood stains, many holes leaved by the bullets and traces of fire.

Suddenly someone hit the front door. Somehow it resisted the first hit.

"No, they are already here."

The girl looked around and took two kitchen knives. One of them she gave it to Serj. Return to your room…

*Sbam*

The door was forced open by the second kick and a robust man covered with some rags entered inside.

He had a ferocious expression on his face.

There were many people like him outside.

Marauders without any law and morals who were happy to live on the ruins of the world.

"Hohoho, what do we have here." - His gaze lustful as he glared at the girl. She pushed Serj behind her.

The man slowly advanced towards them. – "What do you want to do with this." – He pointed towards the kitchen knife in her hands. – "Small girls shouldn't play with such dangerous things."

He smiled. – "Come here. If you obey me, I will spare you brother's life." – His gaze became even more disgusting.

There was some hesitation written on the girl's face, but suddenly she jumped and slashed with the knife.

"Wrong choice, Little Bitch."

Her hand was stopped mid-way by the man. He gripped her throat. – "Se…rj…don't…look…"

Some tears appeared on her eyes from the pain.

Serj closed his eyes.

His whole body was trembling.

He could hear as some clothes were teared. The man's heavy breathing. A girl's cry.

Serj gripped the kitchen knife.

[…]

*Beep*

Serj snapped out from his memories.

[Tarantula: What was her name again? Anna?]

'Yes, Anna Lomonosova.' Thought Serj before closing the chat and ignoring the new messages. He returned to the information about his actual mission.

'So, I have to protect the daughter of Adolf Meisner. Damn, if I knew that my current mission was to babysit a kid, I would at least try to refuse it.'

But he also knew that given the opportunity he still would not refuse.

Partially for his work philosophy, and partially for some personal issues.

Some terrorist group threatened Meisner that they would target his relatives if he didn't disband the MT. 'Laughable request.' Thought Serj.

His precise mission was to protect the girl during the transfer from Berlin to the private fortress-like private mansion of Meisner.

The plane was extremely new and fast. He looked outside the window to see a strangely pacific scene.

'The reconstruction is really fast thanks to Meisner.'

He closed his eyes for the moment.

[…]

"I…I…I'm…Sorry"

Small Serj was knelled before a body of a girl. A huge knife wound could be seen on her belly. But she was still breathing. – "Don't…worry…"

Some blood spurted from her mouth.

"…sur…vive…bro." - Her voice interrupted by another fountain of blood.

"…Anna?...say something…Anna…Sis…please…SAY SOMETHING!"

Tears dripped on her breathless body.

After some minutes he slowly stood up and took the knife. He looked right. There was the corpse of the man from before. His throat was cut.

"…it's your fault…" – His eyes were vacant as he went near it. – "It's your fault."

He raised the knife.

"IT'S YOUR FAULT THAT I KILLED HER!"

The blade pierced his dead body.