Safe Zone (NF, NP, ML, EB, JP)

Chapter Two

Everyone froze.

"Mom?.. Dad?" Bonnie's voice cracked, her eyes wide with disbelief.

The two figures stepped fully into the light, smiling but certainly not with warmth.

Then, the sound of slow, deliberate clapping echoed through the safehouse.

"Congratulations," said their father, his voice laced with suprise. "You've passed the test."

"The final test," the mother added, her smile wide "Well done, 4 Elements."

Milk took a step forward, her voice low, trembling with rage. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"The attack was all a test arranged by us. If we wanted to hire bodyguards, we need the best for our girls." The father explained

"So, what if we died there?" Emi asked, holding back her anger "What about all those hardworking guards who died back there?!"

The mother didn't even blink. "As I have expected, you're the one with the most compassion."

"I said, what happened to those guards back there?!" Emi yelled, gritting her teeth

With a snap of her fingers, all the thousands of guards came out of the doors. Standing in a uniform line, ready to serve the family as if nothing happened.

It was then the 4 Elements could let out a sigh of relief, no one had died in that dangerous mission.

"Don't worry about your teammates injuries, we'll make sure to hire the best doctors for her."

The father clasped his hands behind his back, his smile never fading. "Pressure reveals true potential. You all performed magnificently under extreme conditions."

The group looked at eachother, confused and definitely annoyed at whatever this test was.

The mother raised an eyebrow. "You've proven your loyalty. Your strength. Your place in this family's future."

"So please, make your way into your new dorms and get ready for tomorrow's schedule. We have an event to attend, a special event."

_________________

"The match-making event." Milk stated, slumping against the sofa in her room

"The what now..?" Natt repeated, brows furrowing

"Match-making event. The sisters go to some fancy dinner party and find a good man to make into a husband."

"Oh." Natt said simply, a tinge of disappointment in her voice

"You like her, don't you?" Emi said, cutting through the silence like a blade.

Natt froze mid-step. "...What are you talking about?"

Emi didn't look up from where she sat cleaning her sidearm, but her tone was laced with knowing. "Pitcha. You get that tone in your voice whenever she's mentioned. The 'oh-no-she's-gonna-marry-someone-else' tone."

Milk glanced sideways at Natt, suddenly more interested in the conversation than sulking. "Wait... seriously? Pitcha?"

Natt looked away, jaw tightening. "No. I dont, you don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah, you totally dont." Milk muttered with a smirk.

"Funny," Emi said, setting the gun down carefully, "because you sure didn't look like 'just a bodyguard' when you threw yourself in front of danger just to protect her."

"That's my job, why wouldn't I do that?" Natt shot back, voice a bit too quick, a bit too defensive.

Namtan raised an eyebrow. "Sure. But even we didn't protect our girls that well. Out of all the heirs, Pitcha is the only one that came out without a single scratch on her.