Mila's Men

The Bracelet

The light grew brighter. Mila braced herself. A figure stood in the doorway.

"Santa, it's you!" Mila screamed - seeing that it was Grandmaster Tawlin.

"Shh!" He uttered. "They'll hear you!"

Tawlin grabbed Mila and pulled her back out into the alley. Then he closed the secret door - which was covered in bricks to camouflage itself.

"You mustn't tell anyone about this - for your own good!" Tawlin warned.

"Tawlin! Tawlin! Help me!" A hoarse voice interrupted.

Mila and Tawlin looked down in horror. There was an old man on knees, crawling up the alley towards them. His clothes were in shreds, and he was covered in cuts and bruises.

"Sensei Yumeo - you shouldn't be out here!" Tawlin gasped.

"Wait!" Mila exclaimed. "I thought you were dead?" She then turned to Tawlin with a look of disgust. "How dare you beat this poor old man, then tell everyone he's dead - just so you could become a grandmaster!"

"It's not what it looks like!" Tawlin announced in his defence.

"I must tell someone - the darkest secret!" Yumeo exclaimed with urgency.

"What is it?" Tawlin asked - kneeling down to Yumeo's level.

"Doctor Jarrod Snively - his mother was date-raped. Snively is not his real name - it's..."

'Bang!' a gunshot rang out.

Yumeo moaned and began coughing up blood - he then fell over and died. A man wearing turban was standing him with a smoking handgun. Mila recognized him from her dream.

"Run!" Tawlin shouted - grabbing Mila as he ran.

"I thought those guys were after me?" Mila said, panicking.

"They are!" Tawlin answered. "You are in great danger, Mila!"

"Yeah, I know - they're trying to kill me, so they can take my body to the island..."

"No, Mila!" Tawlin interrupted. "This is something far more dangerous than that. You are caught in the middle of the greatest conspiracy of all time! A conspiracy that will ultimately lead to the destruction of this world!"

They could see Daylow's limousine at the end of the alley.

Daylow stepped out of the limo. "Ah, Mila - good to see you're safe." He said with a smile.

Tawlinstared at Daylow with a disheartening gaze.

Daylow stared back. "Thank you so much... Judge Tawlin - for keepping Miss Furthington safe. It's nice to see you outside of the courtroom!"

"Same to you - Counselor Carson." Tawlin said - rolling his eyes as he turned towards Mila.

◊

Kage walked out of Mila's suite, and down the hall. Tomo came out of Daylow's office - slamming the door behind him. Kage glanced at Tomo and continued walking. Tomo shook his head and ran into Mila's suite. He slammed something down on one of the ornate end-tables that furnished the room. It was a jewelry case. Tomo sat down on Mila's bed. He hung his head low and breathed heavily. There was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" Tomo shouted.

"Mila's brother Jike!" A raspy voice called.

"Your sister's not here!" Tomo hollered angrily.

"I'll come in anyways." Jike exclaimed - opening the door.

Jike entered the suite. He immediately noticed the Tomo's jewelry case.

"What's this?" He asked - picking it up with a grin.

"That's mine, darn it! Tomo cried, "Put it down!"

Jike opened the rectangle case. Inside of the case was a silver bracelet with the letter 'M' on it.

"Ah - I see you have a thing for my sister!" Jike exclaimed.

"I told you to put that down!" Tomo shouted as he jump up from the bed.

"You know - bodyguards shouldn't get involved with clients."

"Give me that!" Tomo barked - grabbing the case from Jike's hand. "This was for Daylow's secretary Margret - not Mila!"

The suite door opened again. It was Daylow and Mila.

"Oh, brother!" Mila remarked - rolling her eyes at Jike.

"No pun intended - I hope!" Jike replied with a smirk.

Kage returned - poking Mila in the back of the shoulder.

"I see everyone is glad to see Mila's back. We must be extra careful not to lose her during an altercation. You two are her bodyguards - you know!" Daylow rebuked.

"We'll be more careful next!" Tomo and Kade said confidently.

"Good!"

"Hey!" Jike spoke up. "Doesn't anyone wonder why I'm here?

"Why - cause you wan't to annoy us!" Mila stammered.

Jike's face turned somber. "There's been a death in the family."...