The Runaway Huntress

CHAPTER 38

Lorna's eyebrows furrowed in Liz's response. She was about to open her mouth, but a voice from the inside stopped her.

"Get in." Her mother's response.

She turned the knob and opened the door. She went in first before Liz.

Melisca tensed her body to be on alert. Her eyes wandered around the room immediately. It's a typical office with white-painted closed walls, a table, and a stretcher in the corner for patients. This serves to be a clinic, as she sees it. Nothing suspicious inside, and there were only the three of them.

She looked at the doctor before them. The face of her mom came to her mind. They had some resemblance that irked her. Hoping that they were not related at all by blood. That could be another betrayal again and too much to take in from a family. She swallowed hard and clenched her fist at the thought. Nothing would change, though.

"Hello. Good afternoon, Liz. I hope you don't mind me calling you that as well. It's to shorten your name, Melisca, not the fake one." Vera emphasized the last part with a smile. She stood behind her desk table.

"Good afternoon too, doctor." She replied with respect. Rolling her eyes on the inside for being fake, but she had to play nicely. "Please, I don't mind." Giving a small smile, forcing the sides of her lips to curve up. "I'm sorry about my behaviour earlier. I was so agitated by being held down."

Vera waved it off with her hand. "Don't worry about it. You're not the first to panic when they see that equipment. Anyway, take a seat." She sat down on her swivel chair.

Lorna already settled herself on the sofa on the right side of the room. All ears at the exchange of the two.

Melisca contemplated sitting down, but then she was faster than the other two people inside the room in case they showed any threat to her if she failed. She followed her kind offer.

"Here's the thing, Liz, once you signed it, there's no turning back." Vera handed a black folder to her.

Lorna shut up from her seat and jumped to Melisca's side. "She's in, right?" The excitement in her voice echoed inside the room as she asked her mother. She hadn't even opened the folder in her hands yet. The girl spoiled the results for her to read.

"Yes. And quiet down." Vera reprimanded her daughter as she shook her head at Lorna's childishness. She might as well jump and clap her hands for being thrilled by the decision.

Melisca didn't head heed Lorna's reaction and just proceeded to open the folder to read its contents. Her eyes scanned the documents. She can't think straight. She wanted to jump in joy as well, for she succeeded in infiltrating their organization. But it's still too early to celebrate. This is just the first step.

"But we were wondering, Liz." Vera started again. Lorna finally stopped her musings and calmed down by her side. "Why couldn't we find anything about you on the system? There's no information, nothing. It's like you didn't exist at all."

That got Lorna's full attention and look at her quiet friend.

So, they look her up also. Melisca raised her head and fished out an ID in her pockets. She smiled at the doctor and placed the card on the table. "Of course, I'm a registered bounty huntress. My identity had to be hidden. I had to be extra cautious about my former job. It's even riskier than the authorities if my enemies found out anything about me." It's a good excuse for her to delete information in the system. It wasn't required to do so, but she did anyway.

Vera took the ID she presented and glanced at it.

"You can call the Vrona PD to confirm that I worked for them." She added. "Just mention my name. I can give you their telephone number."

"No need." Vera handed her ID back, and she returned it to her jacket pocket. "It's understandable in that kind of job. Here, you can sign it, and Lorna would be over the moon to tell you the rest." She took the pen the doctor offered and signed the paper.

"Don't you want to read it first?" Lorna butted in as she gave the folder back.

"You would tell me the rest anyway."

The girl took her plastic bag to the sofa and stepped to Liz's side again.

"Lorna, you would get back to the camp this time, right? Your friend would have to be there." Vera gave her daughter a pointed look.

"Sure. I have no problem with that. Maybe I could learn something from Liz." She shrugged her mother's sharp gaze and smiled at her friend. "C'mon, Liz. We had to search for a new place to stay." She dragged the woman to stand up and was thankful that she went along with her.

"Your father had been looking for you." Her mother stated, but they were already at the door, and before she could say another word, she pushed Liz outside, and she followed, shutting the door behind them.

Melisca lets Lorna in her actions. She didn't mind the girl dragging her out of the room. She's thankful for that, for she doesn't want to stay much longer. She even wanted to get out of the building and off the hospital's premises.

"I'm sorry about that." Lorna grinned at her sheepishly.

"I don't mind it. I want to get out of there anyway, and this building."

Her smile subsided. "Right. You hated it here."

"Aren't you close with your parents?" Melisca did not stop herself from asking her that question. She somehow envied the girl that she still had her parents. But she's treating them that way. Well, she didn't know her enough to judge the situation.

"I am." Lorna was a bit surprised that Liz asked her a personal question. She thought the woman won't be curious for she doesn't care about getting close to people, even to her. "But then, I prefer to act this way to learn to be independent." She shrugged, not wanting to deepen the conversation about her parents anymore. There were things better left undiscussed.

Melisca gave her a side glance and didn't for the subject further.

"Anyway, where do you want to stay for the night, Liz?" They were now outside the building and heading towards her big bike. "You can stay at my place. I have my own apartment and I have two rooms there. Then I can discuss with you further what we're gonna do next."

Melisca faced her as she propped her backpack properly. "Can I just message you later about it? I have a place I want to visit. My parents' grave."

Lorna stopped and blinked. "Oh. Sure. Please ring me up anytime."

"I don't know if that place had a signal, but don't worry about me." She raised a leg to settle down on the seat and fixed the helmet on her head. She kicked the stand back up and inserted the key in the ignition. She revved it up. When she turned to Lorna again, the girl was looking at her with a knot on her forehead. "I'll be fine. See you soon." Then she closed the helmet's visor and started on her way.

She glanced at the side mirror. The girl followed her by gaze. She had nothing to worry about for she could fight by herself. If Lorna only knew what she's completely capable of.

Melisca remembered where the mountain was. Though many years passed by, it was an unforgettable place for her.

On her way, she stopped by a flower stall along the road and bought a bouquet. Looking around for other shops nearby, she had to leave her big bike somewhere and her things. There's no wolf around so there's no threat for the time being. A mechanic shop caught her attention. They would do.

She hurriedly drove in front of the working boys.

They all looked up to her when she halted before them and removed her helmet. Their faces were immediately in awe as they stared at her up and down.

"Hey, big guys." She plastered on a sweet smile as she put the headgear in front of her.

One of the men approached her direction. He looked like the boss. "Hello there, pretty lady. You got a nice big bike there. Got any trouble on it?" He scrutinized her first before her service. "I don't see any problem physically." His eyes went back to her.

"No. It's in perfect condition. But what I need is if I can park it here safely. I'll pay you of course."

His eyebrows suddenly furrowed. "You want to leave it? Why here? Did you carnap it?"

"No. I have my license and document if you want to see that I legally own it."

"Hmm. You're confident, so it's fine. When would you be back? Though we're open 24 hours here."

"I have another request." She said instead.

The guy contemplated for a moment then he nodded. "Let's talk inside then."

Melisca followed him. The other men went back to work as she was gone in their view.