ra trailed after him, worrycing her voice. "Dn followed the old man here two days ago, and then-nothing. He''s just gone. Not even a call. I''m scared something happened."


    Charles gave her shoulder a gentle pat. "He''s tougher than you think. Probably just lost his phone or something. Come with me, let''s find a ce to stay first. Then we''ll ask around. And listen, sis, remember what I said: here, people like us are targets. Anyone you meet could be sizing you up for your organs. Trust no one."


    "Got it."


    ra had never set foot in this country before. With all the recent chaos, her own government had ordered everyone home and banned tourists from visiting-it was just too dangerous.


    She and Charles rode into the city. Even the grimiest towns back home weren''t this filthy. Trash was everywhere, and this was supposed to be the capital.


    Charles finally tracked down a motel that looked halfway clean. After a quick chat with the front desk clerk, he led ra through to the back courtyard.


    ra had no idea what they were saying, so she just followed quietly.


    The courtyard was a bit cleaner. The clerk said something else to Charles, but his gaze kept lingering on ra.


    Charles''s eyes turned sharp. "Get lost."


    The man seemed to get the message and hurried off.


    ra could guess whatever he said wasn''t good.


    She sat down on a bench as Charles walked over, looking pissed.


    "That guy thought I was selling you-wanted to make me an offer. Sick bastard. Anyway, I asked him he hasn''t seen any foreigner who stands out. With Dn''s looks, if he''d been around, people would''ve noticed."


    ra looked down, watching the sky outside grow darker.


    "Charles, let''s split up to ask around. Meet back here at nine."


    "Alright. Take Milo and Buddy with you."


    "No need. They''re too obvious."


    He nodded. In a ce like this, blending in was everything.


    ra went west on her own, stopping to question people along the way. The men she talked to all looked her up and down, eyes bright with interest. Two of them ever exchanged nces-she could tell they were plotting something.  s


    A pretty foreign woman walking alone was basically an open invitation.


    One guy came over, speaking in rough English. He imed he''d seen Dn, even described the color of his suit.


    ra narrowed her eyes. She knew this guy was trouble, but she still followed.


    After a short walk, the man flexed his wrist and grinned switching back to his broken English. "Prettydy, stay with us. Have some fun."  s


    She nced around-several men were waiting, all of them armed. Definitely one


    of the gangs Charles had warned her about.<fn1a9c> This update is avable on </fn1a9c>


    She didn''t waste time. She pulled her gun, took out the others in quick, clean moves, then mmed the ringleader back with a hard kick.


    "Talk. Where did he go?"


    Fear flickered in the man''s eyes. He clearly hadn''t expected ra to be this ruthless.


    She pressed her boot to his chest, leaning in. "Tell me. Which way did he go?" He''d known too much about Dn''s clothes for it to be a lie.


    "Don''t kill me! Please! I''ll tell you! He went north, to the old forest. He was looking for someone-an old man The wettest mountain up there. Nobody goes near it. It''s been locked down for years, no outsiders allowed. Someone bought the whole area ages ago-hundreds of miles. But it wasn''t anyone from here, I swear."  s