"Mickey, what did you see?"
Roxxy came to check on him, handing him a handkerchief.
"This woman's real name is Bett Dormergue..."
Mickey struggled to recall more.
"I saw a drug handoff… she received a case of capsules from a man… probably her superior…"
He handed over the sketchpad.
"There was also a girl with orange hair… I think her name was Sally or something like that. In the most recent memory, she and the man in this drawing were searching for that girl."
Two sketches—one of a man, the other of a young girl.
"Betty called that guy Candy. They've committed a number of attacks together… but the important thing is I'm sure those two are currently trying to track this girl down…"
"Did you get anything on Enlightened?"
"..."
Mickey focused.
"I saw a large meeting… not sure if it's the same, but that map…"
"This one?"
Syd pulled out the marked map of the United Kingdom.
"Yeah… I saw Betty forcing the girl from the sketch to read it… not sure why… but I don't think it can be read normally. Oh—and France. I clearly heard them talking about something related to France…"
Mickey took a swig of water from the bottle Roxxy handed him.
"That woman's incredibly stubborn… even when I accessed her memory, she resisted. Completely loyal to that guy Candy…"
"That's all you saw?"
Syd asked.
"Yeah…"
"That's more than enough."
Roxxy turned her laptop toward the group.
Bett Dormergue
Background: Former arms dealer in the Middle East. Suspected involvement in the assassination of a high-ranking Iraqi general. Faced human trafficking charges (later dropped), and numerous other accusations.
"…She's got quite the rap sheet," Toshi commented.
"CIA's underground crime records… No wonder they never caught her—she was hiding in London all this time," said Syd.
"I'll find out more about Candy and that girl myself. Toshi, come here."
"Uh—okay…"
Toshi replied stiffly as Roxxy led him over to the laptop in the corner of the garage.
"I guess those two are going to take Betty in now, right…"
"…Yeah," Syd answered Jody.
"And what's going to happen to her?"
"…She'll disappear. We might hand her off to the mafia. Or say she was killed by enemies and never found. Could be worse than that."
"..."
Jody and Sera both went silent. This was heavier than any movie they'd ever seen. This was real—and it was happening right in front of them.
Jody remembered what Betty had said to her…
You can't leave this life, Jody.
I want you to think it through again… is it really worth it? Did you really weigh the rewards this guy offered you… against what it'll cost you for the rest of your life?
"..."
Jody was weighed down by it. But not as much as Sera…
Jody at least had some mental armor when it came to killing another person. Sera didn't.
She looked deeply unsettled being part of something like this. Not because she was idealistic—but because it was the first time she'd ever seen the process up close.
She always knew these things existed… but seeing it with her own eyes was another story. It was something that would keep you up at night.
Mickey could feel the storm of emotion inside her. And he understood how she felt.
"You feel off, don't you?"
"F-Feel what? Nothing…"
"You'll be seeing a lot more of this. Better get used to it."
"What's your problem?"
"…People like this don't deserve sympathy. You'll get used to it. Just the fact you didn't throw up when you saw her says a lot."
"Mannix, what the hell are you rambling about?"
"What about you? What are you rambling about?"
"..."
"You don't even know what you're saying, do you…"
Mickey could tell. She was putting on a front. Pretending she was okay.
"I asked what you were rambling about."
"You already asked that."
"..."
Mickey continued.
"This is the real world. No matter how powerful someone is, they still die to a bullet. There's no such thing as 'fair.' This isn't that fake world at your school… out here, there's only success or failure. Rich kids who think they can do whatever they want just because they have power and money? Kinda laughable, don't you think?"
"You dissing me?!"
"Did I say your name?"
"But your tone says it all, Mannix!"
"Take it however you want."
"Fine! Just say it to my face, then! Stop being a smartass! What the hell is your deal with me?!"
"You want it straight? Fine…"
Mickey walked closer.
"Has anyone ever told you your hair looks like toothpaste?"
She immediately heard the boys burst into laughter.
"Candy-flavored, huh, you asshole…"
Syd added.
"Judging by her attitude, probably shit-flavored."
Mickey responded.
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
They were cracking up.
Are these ***#&%@ guys seriously making fun of me right now?!
"You—!"
Sera snapped. She raised her hand and slapped Mickey hard across the face.
SLAP!
"…Ugh…"
Mickey's head turned from the impact. He looked back at her, pressing a hand to the red mark on his cheek.
"Whoa… did you just use violence?"
"Yo… Sera slapped Mickey…"
"Sera used violence, bro."
"Damn, she really did it."
The guys all turned to her, looking as if she had just stabbed someone.
"Whoa… she actually used violence…"
"Totally did."
"That slap was loud…" Syd and Toshi piled on, just to make sure she heard it.
"Ow…" Mickey moaned dryly,
"Guys… I've been physically assaulted…"
"Uh…"
"Yo yo yo, did she just assault my friend? Everyone, listen up! Emo chick just assaulted my friend! Where's Twitter now?! Bring out the hashtags! #SaveTheGay!"
The boys laughed uproariously.
Mickey looked back at her with a calm expression… and smiled.
There was no doubt—he let her slap him. He could've dodged easily… but he didn't.
"Y-You…"
Sera was at a loss. Completely shut down.
"This is society, huh… why's it always so unfair…"
"You started it, Mannix! You provoked me first!"
"Oh? Are you victim-blaming now?"
"YOU!!!"
Sera snapped. This time, she didn't care. She launched herself at him, swinging wildly.
Mickey raised his hands in defense.
"Kidding, kidding! Don't—don't!"
Later…
Sera sat in a sulk inside the house, glaring out the window where she saw two Cleanup agents talking with Syd's team.
Then they disappeared—along with Betty.
They were probably taking her to a secure base for further interrogation. Somewhere with all the tools to dig out the rest of her secrets.
"..."
In the familiar living room, she and Roxxy were the only ones inside. Both girls were on their laptops, working.
Same room—but on opposite ends.
So awkward…
Damn it, Jody… Why'd you have to vanish right now…
Jody was still outside, talking with the boys.
"..."
Sera glanced over at Roxxy, then back at her own phone screen.
"..."
She scrolled through everything she could. There was nothing left to check.
She set her phone down and cradled her pounding head.
Those guys really worked her up… she wanted to punch each of them in the face.
They were the literal definition of bullies—yet somehow always weaseled their way out of it.
She leaned back, head dangling over the edge of the couch, scowling with her eyes closed, exhaling long and hard.
((deep sigh))
…If it wasn't for them blackmailing me, I wouldn't be here…
When she opened her eyes, she noticed Roxxy had just shut her laptop and was rubbing her eyes while yawning.
Then, when their eyes met, Roxxy seemed to realize she wasn't alone—Sera had been there the whole time, not glued to her phone like usual.
"…"
Her face stayed stoic, but her reaction made it obvious—she got caught.
Sera, a natural talker, saw the opening and took it right away.
"Tired?"
"..."
Roxxy looked a little embarrassed.
"…It's past midnight, after all…"
"…You flew in last night, right? Did you get any sleep at all?"
Roxxy shook her head. Sera saw the opportunity and bounced up from the couch, moving to sit at the same table.
"Don't you get bored staring at a laptop all day?"
"Less than you staring at your screen, I bet…"
"…Ah…"
Sera knew she'd stepped right into it…
"Please, I'm begging you… you're the only other girl in this whole zoo. Don't turn into one of them, I'm already halfway to a breakdown as it is."
"…I'll try."
"By the way, I've been meaning to ask for a while now… that lipstick you wear—"
Sera paused when Roxxy looked directly at her with that expression…
"…What about it?"
"…Is it from Nyx?"
"..."
"..."
"…How'd you know?"
Suddenly, Roxxy's voice changed—as if Sera had just unlocked something inside her.
"How could I not? That shade? Only one brand does it quite like that. But tell me, did you pick the color yourself?"
The spark had been lit.
"Y-Yeah…"
At that moment, Sera had unknowingly poked one of Roxxy's soft spots.
"It suits you well… Do you use any foundation or anything with it?"
"…Yeah…"
"Don't take this the wrong way, but I think you might be using the wrong shade."
"!?"
"It's not quite bringing out the lipstick the way it could. Something's just a little off."
"..."
Roxxy didn't argue—because she knew Sera was far more skilled at this kind of thing than she was.
"So… what should I do?"
Roxxy asked.
"Have you tried shade number (…)?"
.
.
.