Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The team held another meeting the next morning as they discussed on exactly what each were going to be responsible for. The only person that was missing was Darren. Joe looked around the table and instantly knew “Where’s Darren?” he asked.
“He is what they say M.I.A….” Eric said, suddenly his face brightened “That spells Mia!” everyone turned to him strangely and his face turned red as tomato “Sorry.” He cleared his throat.
Matt nodded to Doug “Bring him out here.”
Doug got up and walked towards Darren’s room as he knocked on the door. There was no answer “Darren, we’re having a meeting.” He advised. But still there was no sound. When he opened the door, he found a note set on the center of his bed. It read ‘To: P.R.A. Agents’.
When Doug was taking too long Brad decided to go after him. He stood at the door and found Doug reading a letter “Where’s Darren?”
Doug was wide eyed as he looked up at Brad “You better read this.” He handed over the letter to Brad, who too had the same reaction.
*************
In the conference room, while everyone waited, Erin received a call. She saw Darren’s name flashing on the screen but didn’t want anyone to know it was him. She covered her phone and excused herself. She walked outside and answered the call “Darren? Where are you?” she whispered even hough there was no reason to.
“Just meet me at the corner café shop. I want to talk to you.” He must have sensed her being hesitant as he quickly added “It’ll be really fast, I promise.”
Erin glanced at the conference room and then nodded into the cell “Okay.” She quickly snuck out of the headquarters to meet up with Darren.
The minute she was gone, Doug and Brad came rushing out to show Joe and the others the letter. Brad was the first to notice Erin gone “Where’s Erin?” he asked worriedly.
“She had to take a call.” Ted said as he nodded outside. Then his eyes did a double take “She was right there a minute ago.” He pointed.
Brad punched the table “Damn! He’s got her.”
Dennis raised a hand to calm Brad “Who’s got her?”
“Darren.” Brad said darkly, he handed the letter over to Dennis.
Joe frowned “This is going to change our whole plan.” He let out a sigh as he nodded to Brad “The best thing to do is to remain calm and follow our original plan. But now, we have two less agents. Worrying will not help us.”
“Yes, sir.” Brad said without feeling.
**********
Erin saw Darren sitting at one the tables as he waved her over. She was about to sit down when he stopped her “Let’s take a walk.”
She nodded “Okay.” She couldn’t help but noticed he was too calm. He was shaven and his hair was combed. Erin didn’t know why but she grew nervous around him the minute they left the café. His hands clasped behind his back and his sunglasses hid his eyes. She turned to him “Where are we going?”
“To my home.” he said dryly.
“Why?” Erin wondered.
Darren turned to her “I have a few things I want to take with me back to headquarters.” He lied.
It still didn’t answer her internal question “Why did you bring me out here?”
“You are Mia’s best friend and I am Mia’s fiancé. It will take us to save her life.” He said with a distant look on his face.
Erin grew more confused “Darren, what are you talking about?”
Out of the blue, a little girl in a blue dress rushed over to Darren and Erin “Are you Mr. Chiu?” she asked sweetly.
Darren bent down to her level with a smile “Yes. What is it?”
“That lady told me to give you this.” She pulled out a necklace and placed it on his open hands. His heart nearly stopped when he saw the crystal shaped heart with his and Mia’s picture on it. It was his gift to her.
“Where is that lady?!” he grabbed on the girl while her eyes widened with fear.
Erin quickly pulled his hand away “Darren, you’re scaring her.” She turned to the frightened girl “What lady?” she asked with a soft voice.
The girl twirled around and pointed to an alley “Over there…” then she scratched her head “She was there…”
Erin stood back up “Reina.” She sighed. She quickly thanked the little girl and she was gone. She looked at Darren’s shocked expression “Does that belong to Mia?”
Darren clutched the chain in his hand “She said she’d never take it off.” He shook his head sadly “Maybe I’m just kidding myself, Erin. She’s gone…” he whispered.
“Don’t say that!” she scolded him. Her voice was so loud that it earned a few glances from strangers passing by. She turned to him and lowered her voice “Let’s go.” She pointed him to a taxi as they rode back to his mansion.
He gazed outside the window, his eyes glossy from the ready tears. When they reached the mansion, he went inside straight to the bar. He popped open a bottle of cognac and downed half the bottle in one gulp. She eyed him carefully and he turned to her with the pointed bottle “Do you want a glass?”
She shook her head “What’s wrong with you Darren? You’re acting very strange.” But he only drank more. Suddenly, she reached for the bottle “Stop drinking!”
But he was quicker than her as he yanked his hand away “Just leave me alone! Let me get drunk…then I won’t do what I know I’ll regret.”
“What are you talking about?” Erin asked, frustration taking over. He began drinking again and soon she had had enough. She reached for the bottle “I said, stop drinking!!!” He took the bottle and threw it to the ground as it splashed in hundred of pieces and the rest of the drink began spreading quickly against the tiled floor. Erin looked up at him slowly “Please…tell me.” She said earnestly.
He looked at her with red eyes “I love her so much.” Erin nodded with understanding “I can’t lose her, Erin. How about you? What would you do if you knew it could save her?”
Erin answered in a blink of an eye “Anything.”
Darren’s lips slowly curled into a smile “I’m glad to hear you say that.” She tilted her head strangely but didn’t noticed he had slipped his hand into his pocket. Without any warning, he reached the medicine filled cloth over her nose and mouth. She quickly struggled but she was no match for the anesthesia. Her arms weakened and her head tilted back into his arms. Darren let out a small sigh “I’m sorry…I know Brad and Mia will forgive me.” He picked her up and took her out to the car.
He called Mia’s cell and Reina picked it up “Do you have her?”
Darren replied “Yes. She’s medicated, but still breathing. Where’s Mia?”
“You’ll get her when I have Erin in my hands.” Reina said with authority “When you get to the City mortuary, go inside the cold room. Someone will take you into the secret passage where you’ll be greeted by yours truly.”
“I want to talk to Mia!” he demanded suddenly “How do I know she’s still alive?!”
Reina snickered “I guess that’s a chance you’re going to have to take.” She hung up before he could get in another word.
Darren grunted with frustration as he tossed the cell to the passenger seat. He glanced at the rear view mirror where Erin was lying. She looked like a peaceful doll sleeping. When he reached the mortuary, he pulled her out of the backseat and carried her into the cold room. There was a man waiting there with a very young face but his hair was gray “Are you Darren?” he asked.
He nodded “They said you were going to take me inside.”
The guy nodded with a grin, he turned to Erin as he titled his head to look at her more clearly “I remember her…” he pointed.
“Stop it with the nonsense!” Darren snapped “Take me inside.” He ordered.
The guy looked fearful as he pointed to the wall. There were huge silver drawers, Darren guessed it was where they stored the dead people. The guy opened one at random and nodded inside “Lie inside.”
Darren frowned but did as he told as he placed Erin inside first and he jumped in after. The drawer slowly closed and then he felt the metal piece by his feet slip down and soon they were sliding down a maze like cave. He tumbled to the dirty ground while Erin’s limp body rolled a few times before it was halted by Darren’s hand.
He rolled her on her back as he picked her up with his arms and headed to a dim light outside the door. He followed it until he reached another cave-like room. The whole place stunk like dead people, but it was the least of Darren’s problem. He was there for one reason only.
Chris and Reina stood inside the room, greeting Darren with a satisfied smile when Erin was in his arms. He placed her on the ground and Reina smiled at the girl wickedly as she stepped closer to inspect Erin. But Darren would soon disagree as he stepped over Erin’s body and blocked Reina “Where’s Mia?”
“That’s not part of our plan.” Chris said coolly.
Darren widened his eyes angrily as he pointed to Reina “You said-”
“I say a lot of things.” Reina said innocently “Oh, and I forgot to tell you. I have short term memory.” She began laughing evilly and Chris joined in as it echoed the secret room.