Venom: Part 10 "Climax"

She saw him standing in front of his desk. Areem hoped to have a conversation regarding the intervention of the unexpected guests. Judging Sai by the look on his face, he was in a good mood.

'Miss me?' she kissed his right cheek and he kissed her back.

'Ah! You should've been here about an hour ago. IB officials were here'

'Really?' she asked, faking an astonished look.

'Well, they came here in search of information regarding Ivan's death and my involvement of any kind. They suggested that someone was here to kill me. Someone called Venom'. Shiver crept through Areem's spine, the countless lies she told Sai about herself and the truth about her past. Venom's mention made her nervous but she didn't let it show on her face.

'I acted as if I didn't know about it. Thank god I received his part of the research otherwise god knows what would have happened'

'What research?' Areem asked in suspicion. 

'You'll see tomorrow'

'What do you mean?'

'The breakthrough of my life. Get ready for a surprise, Sara'

Areem knew exactly what Sai was talking about. It was the thing she should have taken and left long back. It was the thing Da-ul wanted her to steal. She'd long known about Sai's research. She secretly visited his work station in the city suburbs and copied his data files and modules. The only thing she couldn't care to steal was the weapon itself. But now, she had to.

***

'Any movement?' Raina asked.

'No, nothing. Not even after five hours. What does this man do the entire time?' Meera exasperated. She vented out her frustration on the laptop screen. 

'Are you sure you placed the tracker at the right place?'

'Yes, I put it inside his labcoat'

'Labcoat? Why would he wear his labcoat everywhere?'

'He is a crazy scientist, Raina'

'Good point'

Suddenly, the dart on the screen moved. 

'Meera, look its moving!'

Both of them fixed their eyes on the screen. It was moving quite quickly, as if he just realised to pee. Meera grabbed her gun and bag. Raina was about to gather her stuff when Meera looked at her with a frown.

'Oh, where do you think you're going?'

'What? I am coming with you'

'Not a chance. This is my work, it could be dangerous. I can't risk your life'

'Meera, you can't do this to me!' Raina protested.

'I can' Meera came near Raina and cuffed her to the bed pole.

'Oh, my god! What are you doing?' Raina cried.

'Raina, I've lost people I loved. I can't lose you now' she kissed her forehead and kept a cell phone on the table.

'You didn't need to cuff me for that' Raina staggered.

'Believe me, I do'. Meera closed the door and left.

She reached the reception and told the manager to give the keys to Raina in precise one hour. Along with that she gave him another tracking device. 

***

Meera followed and tracked Sai to a secluded area in the suburbs. She had seen the address before. She remembered it was the same address Raina showed her. Indeed, he was telling the truth. The dart followed inside a dilapidated house. It looked abandoned for long, Meera was scared. She hadn't done any investigation alone for a long time. Having Raina at her side was always a relief but she knew that danger was waiting for her.

She went inside with courage with her pistol held by both hands. She came closer to where that dart was shown. Suddenly, she heard some movement behind her. She turned back but no one was there. She looked in front and there she was. Her startling green eyes and the labcoat wrapped around her. Meera could notice the look, it was the one she gave her when she was little. 

'M-E-E-R-A' she whispered.

'A-R-E-E-M' Meera stared at her in disbelief. It took her a moment to catch hold of her surroundings. It seemed Meera was going to have a fit of shock. Meera always had the feeling that Areem was alive. But alive as what? she thought. She wanted to hug her but she couldn't. Areem had a gun in her hand.

'It's you, isn't it?'

'I missed you, Meera' Areem tried to hold back her tears.

'You're Venom, aren't you?'

'It doesn't matter who I was, I am alive and so are you'

'Are you insane? You killed people, Areem'

'I know! I know! But I am not that anymore'

'Areem Ray you're under arrest for mass murder and attempts of terrorism' Meera took the cuffs in had but instead Areem was fast and cuffed Meera instead.

'I can't let you do it, Meera. I have work to do'. Meera stared at her in pain, she never thought her sister would do such a thing. But the fact was; she wasn't her sister anymore. She was Venom.

'You work for Da-ul! Areem he is the reason why we both are orphans today. He killed our parents!'

'Meera, trust me. I am going to end this the right way'

Areem dragged Meera out of the building, she was strong but Meera wasn't weak either. She tried her best to resist her. As soon as they reached the enterance, Areem calculated the surroundings. She ducked Meera and fired bullets in open air. All of them reached the target. She was waiting for this for long, Da-ul and his army. Most of them, now dead. But an SUV with at least five people still left. Da-ul stepped out of the vehicle with Sai being held back by one man and an unfamiliar face by the other. Meera recognised the face perfectly, Raina was wounded like she was beaten up.

'No!' Meera shouted. Areem looked at Da-ul straight.

'Well done, my child' he said to her, his tattered teeth were visible. He looked pleased with Venom's work, nevertheless happy about her successful mission.

'I thought you had a change of heart' he further said. He looked at Meera, 'Ah! Looks you found your sister, what a pleasant occasion'

'You bastard! You destroyed my family! You created a monster of my sister!' Meera shouted. Da-ul laughed shamelessly. 

'You stupid girl, tried to chase me before. Even then I killed your fiancè. And this time I'm going to kill her' he pointed towards Raina.

'I would skin you to death' Meera tried to release herself from Areem but she was way too strong.

Sai looked at Areem. He was too disgusted to say anything but the words came naturally 'I loved you'

Da-ul laughed again. 'Kill, Areem' he ordered. And just then, she shot the two men who held Sai and Raina. She released Meera.  

'Not anymore' whispered Areem. 

 Da-ul wasn't scared. His death was eventual and by the monster he created. It was justified 

*** 

The police arrived at the crime scene eventually. Areem, Meera, Raina and Sai were all together. They all sat in silence. Along with the police was Director General himself was present. The inspectors arrested Venom. She didn't retaliate. 

'I heard she is your sister' said Director General.

'She is the one who killed him' Meera replied.

'We can't bend with the laws, Meera'

'I'm not even suggesting that' Meera choked.

She went upto Areem and hugged her one last time. Whatever she had done, it was all Da-ul's influence. Areem hugged her tightly, like she used to.

'I'm sorry' she whispered.

'Shh, it wasn't your fault' Meera tried to comfort her.

'No, I am sorry for this' Areem pushed her aside and tossed a pill inside her mouth. She immediately fell on ground; cold and dead.

'No!' shouted Meera and rushed towards her. Sai came running from behind. Meera lifted Areem's head and sobbed. Raina dropped towards Meera. Sai planted a kiss on Areem's forehead. 

***

EPILOGUE

Raina had come to meet Meera like she always did on every Saturday. Surprisingly, things streamlined after all that happened months ago. Meera decided to take up the desk job. Her psychiatric sessions had concluded as well. Raina was working at the ISR.

'Where did you get this postcard from?' Raina asked as she admired the picturesque city of Florence.

'It's from Sai and his girlfriend, Sara'

'Sara?'

'Yes, we met her as well'

'We did?'

'Time out, Raina', Meera smiled and trailed back to talking. 

THE END.