Chapter 109 - Black Gift

Lorna took slow breaths, her heart slamming loudly in her chest, her fist clenched tightly, others passed by her, but all were invisible to her, all sounds lost, a point of both panic, fear, and confusion.

Her eyes never leaving the white package on her desk. Was it a bomb? Gas? G-st. All sought of thoughts formed in her head, but she knew whatever was in there was not good, she gulps taking her seat, eyeing the package suspiciously, before her shaky hands reach for it, her heart slamming loudly in her chest as it would explode in any second.

She unravel the package slowly, bits by bits, it was a box lying beneath, she gulps taking deep breaths as she open the top, her shaky eyes lands on a black gun well customized, like the agency's but different and what's weird it had a gold bullet inside, she gulps, she wouldn't dare to bring out the gun, she didn't want unnecessary attention, she knew the consequences, his threats were still slamming at the back of her head. But why a gun?

Her eyes caught a small note attached to the side, she took it reading the content, her heart nearly stops.

'A gift, to kill the Black Ghoul'

All the color drained from her face, he must know the black ghoul survived, but why her?

"Hey, Lorna".

"Oh my God", Lorna jumps with a start quickly closing the box, she faced Jesse with a fake smile.

"Hey," she said shakily.

"I'm good, but I would just pretend you didn't just jump at the sound of my voice, I mean it's not scary or anything"

"No no no, you have a sweet voice, I'm just jumpy today that all" Lorna said.

"Okay then, what's that you're holding?" Jesse asked talking in her seat.

"Oh, this? It's just... It came in a mail, something I left in my apartment back in Los Angeles" she said smiling.

Jesse sighs.

"Look Lorna I know you have been through a lot but you don't have to lie to me".

"What lie? I'm not, there's no way I would lie to you" Lorna said nervously.

"I know what's going on with you, I wish you would have just told me first"

"Y-You do?" Lorna asked nervously, fear grips her body instantly.

Jesse nods opening her laptop.

"My laptop is giving me a headache so I decided to use yours and then I saw this," She said turning it to face Lorna.

"Oh," Lorna made a sound as relief flush her insides.

It was her unfinished resignation letter.

"I never knew it was this hard for you, the pressure, the doubts," Jesse said taking one of her hands, squeezing it gently.

"But resigning isn't the answer," she said.

Tears build up in Lorna's eyes.

"What we do, we do it to protect the city away from those monsters, and Lorna you have done nothing but protect everyone ever since you came into this city, I know all the craziness happened along the way but Lorna..." she stared right into her eyes.

"You survived target, kidnapping, God! Lorna even coma's, a lot of coma's " she adds.

Earning a giggle from both Jesse and Lorna, despite the humor, the tears still streamed down her cheeks.

"Thank you Jess" she sobs, embracing Jesse tightly.

"Don't resign yet okay? No one is against you, you're a strong agent".

Lorna nods holding her as tight as she could, she needed the comfort right now, but more importantly, she needed someone to talk to.

*Phone Rings*

Lorna's heart slammed a loud beat as she was once again brought back to reality, she quickly broke the hug.

"I...Um...have to get that" Lorna said cleaning her tear.

"Okay gotta run too," Jesse said smiling. 

Lorna just force a smile back, she left.

She quickly picks the call.

"I should assume you already opened the gift?"

"A gift? You want me to put a bullet in a man's chest"

"We both know it's not just anyone, it's the black ghoul, a destroyer, a plague!" he hissed.

"Why me?" Lorna asked sternly.

"Because you Lorna Hart is very special to him, you are the only one that can get close to him".

"I have no way to reach him and you know that".

"Well he always comes to you doesn't he? It's just like a fairy tale where the prince always comes to the rescue".

Lorna gulps hard.

He chuckles.

"Kill the black Ghoul and every agent in this building get to live, I'm sure you don't want your precious partner to turn into a ghoul, do you? "

Lorna's eyes drift to Jesse talking with someone as she laughs.

"The lives of every agent in this building are in your hands, you best choose wisely," he said in amusement.

"Your lover ghoul or countless life's that will ruin with just a snap of my fingers" he adds, she heard a flick in the background, knowing he wasn't joking, he was prepared but how prepared was she?

Lorna's fist clenched tightly against the phone.

"You have 24hrs"

The call cut.

Lorna took harsh breaths as panic filled her lungs, she held onto the table for support, this man was insane, there were thousands of agents in this building, he was talking of an apocalypse.

She had no idea what to do, she had no contact with Liam, nothing, he was like a ghost that can never be found and worst, whatever was happening between them was over, there was no way Liam was coming for her again, he was bent on destroying the agency and chose that over her just like she chose humidity over him.

Now it was her turn to find him but how? When he practically didn't exist in the homeland and the thought of killing him with this gun. Her eyes drift to it. Did she even have it in her to kill the man she loves? There were lives at stake, the decision was already evident and time was ticking.

*Loud Ticking Sound*

And Time was against her.