Chapter 9: Using gasoline...

Swipe! Swish!

Slightly messed up stacks of papers were rearranged in a rush and stuffed in a metal case. Many documented files faced the same fate.

'Oh, my favorite quill…'

A recently invented fountain pen with beautiful calligraphy and such dark ink, it was unbelievable that it could make such nice writing.

Some mechanical gadgets collection and custom designed chemical apparatus too were carefully packed into the case. 

I packed up the very rare and very expensive chemicals that I couldn't afford to loose. Some weapon I had stored in severeal hidden compartments; guns, short blades and wrist arrows.

Screech!

I pushed the shelf blocking the safe behind the wall. In the wall was a wall paper covering which would be difficult to find unless you knew exactly where it was.

This was the second time I would be opening it after the first time I stored my most precious itemes within. The safe itself was heavy enough to carry and it was sealed within the wall. It was impossible to move the entire safe on such short notice.

So I could only bring the items within that I couldn't afford to leave behind.

Click!

The vault opened after scrolling in the right combination and consisted of seven turns, three clockwise and four anticlockwise. 

Sealed air hit my face filled with the sandwood smell of paper within the vault.

It wasn't anything fancy, it was simply the results of an investigation piled up in detailed information. There was a picture of my dear brother on the very top encased in a picture frame.

His dark eyes and jet-black hair were similar to mine. He was not on the handsome side but he had the warmest smile that I could ever see. The very last photograph I had of him. 

My hands trembled slightly when I touched it. It was precious, I couldn't destroy it or it would be gone for good. I couldn't trust my memory to keep it vivid even after some time.

Although I was the elder sister, I couldn't protect my only family. I was ashamed.

Staring at the picture for long enough, I sighed.

'I will avenge you, Dear Little Brother.'

Many thoughts went across my mind but I didn't have the luxury to think right now. 

I had a little devil waiting for me downstairs and I wasn't sure if it was the impatient kind. 

I carefully encased them and put them too in my bag. 

That was everything. The most valuable things in this place. I put down the hard briefcase and walked to my room. 

There was no way I was going out in my night pajamas. 

I found suitable trousers and a blouse with a long coat to top it off. A black veiled hat and some of my hand gear. A fingerless glove with a good grip and middle finger ring attached to a badge along the back.

I was going simple, to say the least. 

I looked around and found something else and brought it along with me on hand.

Picking up my suitcase along the way, I went downstairs and saw a child peacefully sleeping on the desk I left him at. 

He looked defenseless and I almost faltered. His twitching ear tore away any of that idea in my mind.

How could a child who caught a bullet shot from a silenced gun and responded to a mere whisper be fooled enough to let me walk out the door?

I sighed inwardly. 

The first thing was to survive. I would do anything to survive. My life was no longer mine alone so…I must survive.

On my last step down, the sleeping child raised his head to find the source of the noise. He looked right at me. 

I was sure I faltered in my movement but I got a hold of myself quickly enough. Either way, it was just a child. It wouldn't be good to be wary too much. 

Children are very perspective, much more than they let on.

"Time to go, Vlad," I said wondering if I was being rude or something.

"Sure, Madam," he nodded and got off the seat with little struggle. 

Looking at him more, there was no way he was going to not stand out with such features. 

"Take this…to hide your eyes and all," I said, whispering at the end.

"Oh… what peculiar taste." He commented staring at the hat I passed on. 

I didn't know what to say about that. I was the one who handed him an oversized veiled women's hat. It didn't have enough energy to explain either. It would make sense later anyway.

Vlad took the hat and clumsily placed it on his head. It was a funny sight honestly. 

Wearing baggy clothes with oversized sleeves and a dark veiled hat to top it off.

I found myself giggling at the sight. A first in a long time.

"You can laugh, I know I look weird myself." He said with a tired voice as if helpless. He tilted his head and looked up at me. 

It was wonder how much a difference with a veil between us did. I didn't have to see the deep red eyes staring at me. 

"Ahem! We can leave. I just need to get the gasoline…. Oh, it is in the back. I will drive the car out first."

I could see his body pump up at the mention of a car. I mean, it was a new technology so it wouldn't have extended to the outskirts of the capital. It made sense that he looked forward to riding a car. Or maybe I had the whole idea backward.

Was it the gasoline he was excited about?

I couldn't be so sure.

In the kitchen area was a gasoline tank. I just had to unseal it carefully and pour it in around, leaving the tank at the center. The wooded house would make good burning wood for the fire. As for the car, it was waiting outside covered in a black cloth.

"Let's go."