Okay, so not 15 votes, but I wanted to upload today. So, vote vote vote! :D this time there will be 15, yes?

Chapter 9-

(Geek's PoV)

 Damn, my knuckles hurt. I winced as I bandaged them tightly, making a face at the bloody water in the tub at my feet. Sometimes being a CIA agent sucked.

 My cell rang, and I checked the caller I.D. before answering quickly.

 "Mr. Winters," I greeted.

 "Agent Peters," he growled, "Why didn't you tell me that you let Landon push my daughter?" he demanded, sounding extremely upset. I sighed.

 "You hired me to protect Ainsley, and I am. I'm protecting her from the stalker that is sending her death threats and obscene notes. I can't blow my cover, and if I had knocked out Landon then and there, your daughter was bound to be suspicious. If she's suspicious, she won't let me around her to protect her and my cover will eventually be blown. I can't have that happening. If the case had been extremely dangerous, I definitely would have done something. She can handle herself for the most part, though, Clinton." I spoke calmly, even though I was seething inside about what had happened too. He grunted.

 "Just watch over my baby girl," he muttered and hung up. He sure was pleasant to talk to when he was upset...

 BRRRRINNNG BRRINNNG!

 I sighed and answered.

 "Agent Peters, here."

 "Agent Peters, we need you immediately at Southcenter mall..." Boss's voice sounded over the phone urgently.

 Work never ended when you were a top-notch spy.

~

(Ainsley's PoV)

 Rosemary and I walked into the grand mall entrance, entering the large foyer. Escalators made an X in the center of the floor, and the whole mall was set up so that each floor had a four-way. I tingled with excitement, wondering what kind of clothes we'd be able to find for her.

 "So what kind of look exactly are you looking for?" I asked, grabbing her arm and leading her to the up escalators.

 "Oh uh... I guess dressy casual, but not too over-the-top. Nothing revealing and not too... stunning. Just simply feminine?" she questioned nervously. I narrowed my eyes and bit my tongue, thinking up an outfit that fulfilled her expectations.

 "Got it. Let's go into... this one!" Rosemary tilted her head back to get a quick glimpse of the J.C. Penney's sign before I dragged her in. The smell of clean clothes and promise filled the air, and I smiled to myself. Oh, this would be fun.

 "Over here." I dragged her to a chair and sat her down, handing her my purse.

 "I'm going to go find a few outfits for you, hold this. Be right back! DON'T MOVE." I shot her a Look and she gulped nervously, sighing and bowing her head in defeat. I practically skipped to the Women's area and began searching like a fiend for something that could catch my eye. Nothing really stood out, so I just acted on an impulsive whim and snagged a few shirts that Rosemary would like before going back over to her.

 She frowned at her phone, reading and rereading something on it. I held my hand out, arching a brow.

 "It's him, isn't it." I said bluntly. Her eyes widened in nervousness, making me smirk.

 "Uh, y-yeah it is. He wants to-" I read it quickly, my smile turning into a scowl. What a jerk!

 "Ainsley.. Ainsley, that face scares me. Don't do something rash! Please, Ains, listen to me!" she begged. A slow, malicious smile spread across my face and I tossed her the shirts that hung on the hangers.

 "Go try these on for me," I pointed to the dressing rooms and she frowned worriedly.

 "Don't call him or text him back. Just let it be, Ains, okay?" I nodded, slyly crossing my fingers behind my back. She sighed as I tried to look innocent and slumped off to the dressing rooms. I quickly whipped the phone up to my ear and pressed Talk, strolling down a different aisle, browsing through some dresses.

 "Hey, Ro." A guy's voice greeted. I smiled to myself.

 "This isn't Rosemary." I heard a gulp on the other end and tried not to laugh.

 "Ainsley?"

 "You bet your dumb ass it is. If you ever, and I mean EVER, try to get back with her, I will pay you a visit you'll never forget. She's too good for you, and you aren't good enough for her, nor will you ever be. She'll find someone better and if you try to break her heart a second time, you've got another thing coming to you. Got it?" I threatened into the phone. Someone coughed and I looked up to see a middle aged woman staring at me in shock. I smiled sweetly and turned around, cupping my free ear to hear his response better.

 "I- I- I... ok-okay... S-sorry. Tell her I'm s-sorry." he stuttered. I nodded to myself as I saw a plum colored dress hanging on the rack, and reached for it.

 "Mhmm, I'll consider it. Now, delete her number off of your phone and don't talk to her again." I ordered.

 "I-"

 "Do it." I growled. He hiccuped and I bit down on my lip, forcing myself not to giggle.

 "B-bye," he muttered quickly, and I hung up. Well, that went swimmingly. I held the dress up so I could see it, and tilted my head in consideration. It had a thick-ish halter top strap around the neck and was somewhat low-cut as it was a V-neck, but it had a cream colored silk sash that tied into a bow in the back, and beneath that was long, flowy material that looked beautifully elegant. She'd love it.

 I tossed it over my arm and ignored all the other dresses, once I looked at the price tag. I'd have to be extra careful not to let her see that. After dropping them off at her dressing room and convincing her that she'd look amazing in it, I walked around lazily, crossing the tile walkway and onto the opposite carpeted part, checking out sports wear and pajamas for women. I was too busy inspecting this cute pair of flannel ducky pajamas to notice it happen.

 But I smelled it after many minutes.

 Smoky air wafted around my face and I frowned and sniffed cautiously. Something was definitely burning...

 I whipped around, ice cold fear shocking my veins, and faced the rack of clothing across the aisle from me that was beginning to catch other racks on fire. How the- What the-

 "FIRE! THERE'S A FIRE!" I yelled, scanning the area for a fire extinguisher. What the hell! Who set fire to a rack of clothes in a J.C. Penney's sto-

 He was here. My stalker had been here. The same ice cold fear ran through my body, making me freeze. He had been here, not even eight feet from me. He could've... he could've...

 I stared at the racks and racks of burning clothing with wide, vacant eyes, when someone ran up to me. The carpet on that side had just caught fire, and I merely watched, completely immobile.

 "FIRE! FIRE! HELP! HELP, THERE'S A FIRE!" the person screamed, latching onto my arm and dragging me away from the smoke-infested area. Her fingernails dug into my bare arm harshly and I flinched, snapping back to reality.

 "No, no my friend! I've got to go get my friend! ROSEMARY!" I yelled, fighting the woman's iron grip.

 "Nobody's in the dressing rooms! I checked already! Who did it? How did it start? You were the only one in that area!" she demanding, question after question. Suddenly, I whirled on her.

 "MY FRIEND IS STILL IN THE DRESSING ROOMS. LET GO OF ME!" I yanked my arm out of her grip, her nails leaving a bloody trail as she glared at me, probably thinking I was out of my mind to go back. But I didn't care. My best friend was going to die if I didn't go get her.

 "Call somebody for help! Find a fire extinguisher or something, I have to go get her!" I ran towards the smoke, my heart racing in fear, and I couldn't make out what the woman was yelling at me. I coughed and spluttered, my eyes stinging as the smoke whipped against my unprotected eyes.

 "ROSEMARY!" I screamed. Fire lit up the left side of me, thankfully not touching the tile walkway I was running on.

 "RO! ROSEMARY ANNE! WHERE ARE YOU?" I yelled, my throat burning at the amount of smoke I was inhaling. Big, black-gray puffs of the stuff began clouding the store, and I heard the evacuation bell ring.

 "EVERYBODY OUT OF THE STORE, NOW!" Someone on the intercom yelled. I put my arm over my eyes and hacked, my head pounding.

 "Rosemary! Rose-" I choked, coughing again. My lungs burned, my throat burned, everything just burned... I fought the smoke and ran to the dressing rooms, letting out a terrified scream when I saw the entire carpet ablaze. Whoever's idea it was to build a store with carpeting was extremely stupid, I thought to myself.

 "ROSEMARY!" I screeched, my voice beginning to become hoarse. The wooden doors were crackling with flames and I looked around frantically, my eyes landing on something that made my blood run cold. There was something written on Rosemary's dressing room door.

 I told you it was burning me, Ainsley, and now I am showing you. But it's burning someone else...

 Black dots spiraled into my vision and I blinked, my vision blurring.

 "Rose... Rosemary?" I whispered, my head throbbing. I turned around, flames leaping at me from all sides, licking the floors and crackling with demonic intent. I swayed woozily, only seeing orange and red.

 I passed out right as her door burst into flames.

~

(Geek's PoV)

 "What's going on?"

 "There's a fire in J.C. Penney's..." People whispered in panicked, hushed voices.

  I sprinted towards J.C. Penney's. Who the hell would set fire to a J.C. Penney's? And why on earth were people dumb enough to install carpeting into their store?! A frantic woman latched onto me when she saw what I was wearing, slowing me down considerably.

 "Help! Please, help! There's a girl, and she's- she's in there! She's in the fire! Please, help her..." she sobbed, clutching onto me. There was a girl in the fire? Awh, freaking hell! You've got to be joking!

 "Who?"

 "I don't- I don't know her name! She said her friend... her friend was in the dressing room!" she wailed. I nodded briskly and removed her hands from my arms.

 "I'll go get her," I muttered, and sprinted into the store. The chalky, black smoke burned my lungs and I strapped on the gas mask, trying to see through the haze of my protective goggles. Damn, couldn't see hardly a thing!

 I went on instinct and turned to the right, running down a tile walkway. Dressing rooms, where were the dressing rooms...

 I looked to my left and saw her. A girl was sprawled on the tile walkway, arms bent at odd angles, flames licking the sides of the tile. My heart lurched as I saw her state. Oh please, oh please, oh please..

 I ran over to her and crouched down, hoisting her up and tossing her over my shoulder. She sagged against me limply, and I knew it was only a matter of time. Dammit! If I had been a fireman, this would have gone way smoother...

 I rushed us out of the store, my lungs protesting from the lack of oxygen. Once we walked out of the burning hole of Hell, a crowd erupted in cheers.

 "YOU SAVED HER!" they screamed. I ignored them and turned my attention on the girl, laying her on the stretcher they provided. She slumped against it, hardly moving aside from the occasional rise and fall of her chest. Something tugged at the back of my mind when I saw her wavy hair that was covered in soot, but I repressed it and strapped an oxygen mask on her. I wiped her face off, removing the grime and smoky layer, and her eyes shot open.

 Blue. A sky blue so vivid it could paralyze you with one fleeting glance.

 She looked up at me and coughed.

 "My friend-"

 "Wasn't in there. Everyone was evacuated, you were the only one left." I informed her. She nodded and clutched her head, inhaling sharply in pain.

 "It hurts," she mumbled weakly. I nodded curtly.

 "I know. You'll be okay though." she glared at me and for a second I wanted to laugh. Her glare looked exactly like A-

 "What's your name?" I asked urgently, panic electrocuting my veins.

 "Ainsley." she smirked, right before her eyes fluttered and she collapsed back against the stretcher.

~

 (Ainsley's PoV)

 My whole body ached in protest, telling me that it wasn't quite time to wake up. Except, falling back asleep would be impossible what with this stupid object poking me in the arm...

 I groaned loudly, announcing my discomfort, and cracked open my heavy eyelids. At first, all I saw was white, but then my eyes focused and I could see that I was in a room. On a bed. With wires coming out of me.

 "What the-" I tried to say, but I hacked and clutched at my chest. Holy FRICK that hurt!

 "AINSLEY!" My mom's voice wailed, and I flinched, looking up. She hovered over me, big blue eyes wide with worry.

 "Oh my baby, my poor baby, are you all right? Does your throat still hurt?" she demaded, bombarding me with question after question. I struggled to breathe properly, and my eye twitched when I cracked my spine. Ow.

 "I'm fine, Mom. Can I have-" A bottle of water was thrust at me and I looked down to see Seneva holding it up to me, blue eyes twinkling with mischievous intent. I took it from her cautiously, reminding myself that she was only four and therefore didn't know what poison was or how to get it. After I unscrewed the top, I checked to make sure there was no coloring or mystery molecular items floating around in it. Once I decided it was safe, I guzzled... and guzzled.... and guzzled...

 "Thanks, Neva." I thanked her once I finished, and wiped my mouth. My mom looked like she was on the verge of sobbing, and I panicked.

 "Mom, I'm fine. Honestly. I probably just inhaled a bit too much smoke or something," I shrugged and winced as the IV in my arm moved. I hated needles.

 "I was just so scared-" she choked, cupping her mouth with a hand as tears flowed. I resisted the urge to sigh, and looked at her.

 "Why don't you find Dad?" I asked softly. She nodded and planted a kiss on my head before leaving the room quietly, leaving Seneva with me, who was still staring at me. I shifted into a more comfortable position and stared right back at her. Yes, she was four, but she was the only person who could scare me. Don't judge me until you've met her.

 "There was a man who saved you," she said conversationally, twirling her strawberry blonde hair around a tiny finger. I eyed her with interest.

 "Do you know who he was?" She shook her head and rolled her eyes up towards the ceiling.

 "Nope." she giggled and climbed onto my bed, snuggling against me.

 "He was cute." she whispered in my ear. I laughed and flicked her nose gently.

 "Well, what'd he look like?" Her face scrunched as she thought back.

 "He had brown hair.. light brown hair.. really messy," she added. "He was taller than Daddy, really muscly, and had... light green eyes." she straightened up, proud that she remembered. Now it was my turn to scrunch my face. I didn't know anyone that fit her description.

 "Was he a fireman?" She shook her head 'no'.

 "Then who was he?" She shrugged and sighed.

 "I'd marry him," she said dreamily. I burst out giggling and covered it up with fake coughing, accidentally bringing on a cough attack. Great. Superb. Fantastic. She glared at me and I kept a straight face until she flopped back around.

 "You smell icky," she informed me.

 "Thanks," I muttered dryly. "It's the smoke."

 "I know," she huffed impatiently.

 "Where's Dad?" I asked curiously. She shrugged.

 "Prob'ly talking to the guy."

 "What guy?" She sighed impatiently again, as if my questioning was irritating to her. I scoffed. Know-it-all four year olds...

 "The guy who saved you! I hope the fire didn't fry your brain." she mumbled. I scowled.

 "Hey! I'm right here."

 "I know," she said dryly, mimicking me. My eye twitched and I tried to mentally soothe myself.

 Didn't work.

 Sometimes she really frightened me with what she said and the way her mind worked... Seneva climbed off the hospital bed, and skipped to the door.

 "Where are you going?" She planted her hands on her hips.

 "To go spy on them, sillyhead." I perked up. Spying? On a cute stranger? I was so in.

 "Wait for me." I squeezed my eyes shut as I carefully pulled out the IV and removed all the other things that were attached to me. I had to find out who my rescuer was, and how my stalker had pulled that whole thing off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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*Sorry for the horrible, unedited chapter, I was in a rush because I'm tired and need to go to bed but I wanted to upload cause I haven't uploaded in ages. Tell me what you think! If there's a spot that's kinda hard to understand, tell me and I'll rewrite it. Thanks! (: Any questions about her stalker? And... where's Rosemary throughout all this? Hm? >:)