Rain was sobbing behind the counter when Ariel barged in like she was running from a wild beast.

“Where is he?.” She asked the distraught aunty Rain, fearing the worst had happened.

“I can't find him, he is missing.” Rain cried in response, blowing her nose with a towel.

“When did this happen?.”

“This afternoon."

"He went out to play with the other kids but he never came back. I'm panicking, what if something bad happens to him? He's just a baby.” She sobbed.

Ariel's heart sank to her stomach. She desperately hoped he was still alive. This was all her fault, that psychopath had probably gotten his claws on Khan.

Desperate, she ran out the door in search of Axel, he could not have gone far, he was still around, and he could help.

She wondered why he had not saved Khan, it was piece of cake for him.

But if Khan dies, it'd be too late. Nothing could bring him back. Ariel had a hunch the serial killer had kidnapped Khan. But Axel was the only one who'd know what truly happened. She ran to the spot he had dropped her off, but he was nowhere to be seen. The alley was dark and quiet, it was also dangerous. Ariel was desperate, she had to find him.

He was the only shot they had at saving Khan.

“Look who we have here!.” Some boys whistled, emerging from the alley. Her heart sank. “Don't come close, stay away.” Her voice trembled as she warned the boys. They laughed in amusement. “She's cute.” Another said with a wide grin plastered on his face. Their sport was interrupted when Axel emerged from the shadows and broke one of their arms. “Scram!!.” He commanded in a low threatening voice. They managed to pick themselves up and ran away.

“You should go home.” He said, turning to the frightened Ariel.

She ran to where he stood and knelt before him, oblivious of the fact she was making a mess of her dress.

“Please, save him.” She pleaded desperately.

“I'll do anything you want. Please, don't let him die.”

Axel was silent. Spoiling Ariel's date and letting her know about Khan's abduction was never in his plans. But a part of him could not stand that date, he tried desperately to ignore it, but it kept bugging him. He could also save Khan if he wanted, but he wanted Ariel to have a taste of pain. Everything had been as perfect as the date she was enjoying before she betrayed him. When you get too happy, bad things happen. “Please…. help me. Just say what you want and I'll do it” She begged Axel who didn't look like he was willing to help. “Go home.” He instructed in a commanding voice and walked off.

The chirping of the crickets kept Khan awake. He was scared. Khan winced in terror at the scary sight before him.

He was firmly tied to a tree in a lonely park. His voice could not be heard even miles away. The strange man was holding a dagger, and humming an unfamiliar tune. He adjusted his old baseball hat, and scratched the festering wound on his neck.

“Sorry kid, I've watched your aunt break down and complain about how hard it is to take care of you. Children like you are a burden, I'm only helping humanity.” He sharpened his dagger.

“This is for the best, your aunt's life will be peaceful when this is all over.”

The maniac promised the whimpering Khan as he walked close to him, holding the knife.

A powerful kick on his ribs jolted him out of his reverie. Lucius stood up, and was confronted with Axel's sharp cold piercing gaze. Furious, Lucius charged like a bull and launched the knife at Axel, who grabbed it and beat him to pulp. Axel was pissed he could not kill, but at least there had to be a way to make Lucius pay for his crimes. He beat him up till he was unconscious, and made an anonymous phone call to the police to pick him up.

Abandoning Lucius' unconscious body, he untied the exhausted Khan who had fainted, and dropped him on his aunty Rain’s doorstep.

He rang the doorbell and vanished.

Rain cautiously opened the door to know who it could possibly be. It was midnight. On sighting Khan, Rain burst into tears. She had never been that worried in her entire life. She had desperately hoped Khan would not be included among the stats of missing children in the neighborhood. She carried him in and locked the door.

On seeing his mission was complete, Axel returned home. Ariel was still wide awake. She had obeyed his command and gone home like he had instructed.

She pranced around the entrance of the mansion in her dress. She was yet to take her clothes off. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him. Wearing her anxiety like a sleeve, she ran to him, her eyes searching his to know the outcome. “He's fine.” He replied nonchalantly, but those two words calmed her frailing nerves. “Thank you so much.” She whispered in gratitude. Axel was surprised to see she cared, it felt like she was not the same person who tried to feed his heart to some wolves to save her father.

“I'll do anything you want, just name it.” She promised.

“You should not be careless with your words, you can't take it back.”

“I mean every word.”

“You can't fulfill my demands… fleshling.” He warned her.

“I owe you.” She insisted stubbornly.

“If you don't mind, let me take you for dinner.” She offered.

“The type you had with Jaques?.” He replied sarcastically. “No, nothing fancy, just something elaborate, to thank you for helping me save Khan, I owe you.”

She said in sincerity, Axel could see she was exhausted, it was midnight, and she had barely had rest.

He looked at her. His eyes feasted on her dress and how it clung to every cynosure of her body, it was unintentional, but he could not seem to take his eyes off her. All he could do was watch and wonder if that dress was designed to burn a hole through his self-control.

His throat tightened. Ariel was a natural seductress, she didn't need to try. It seemed like not even a ten feet distance could save him. But she was an enemy, he'd never let her get close to him.

“Please.” She pleaded, interrupting his train of thoughts. His throat throbbed when he looked at her lips and how they pronounced every word like they were calling his name. He was losing his mind. He had to make her stop talking.

“I'll come.” Desperate to get out of her midst, he replied absent mindedly and walked off .

He had been so carried away he had no idea what she had invited him for.