Sia’s heart pounded as she got out of the car to run towards the hotel, a few blocks away. She didn’t have any time to spare, but she called Ajay. Before he could greet her, she spoke to him first.

“Ajay. I’m outside Hotel Citizen. Varun is already in there, capturing proof of my uncle’s activities. I know you asked us not to go ahead with the plan. But I did. I’m sorry.”

“Sia!” Ajay’s voice shouted frantically. “Don’t you dare do anything stupid!”

“I’m going inside, Ajay.”

“Sia, don’t! Don’t go in there by yourself. I’m on my way.”

Tears began to roll down her eyes. “I love you, Ajay. If anything happens... tell Anika I’ll always love her. “

“Shut up! And stay where the hell you are. I’m warning you. DO NOT MOVE!” he roared out.

She ended the call and continued running towards the entrance of the hotel. There were guards outside. She had asked the hacker to cut off any communication from the inside. Scanning her master RFID card and retina, she was led inside. Once the uniform guard led her to where the event was held, they heard shouts and sounds of struggle from the inside.

The guard froze.

The doors were completely locked to not let anyone out. She initiated her master key and unlocked them. As soon as she entered, she shut the door again.

“How did you come in!” a panicked voice shouted.

“Let us out!” another panicked voice shouted.

Before they could surround her, she pushed them away, trying to find Varun.

“Varun!” she screamed.

There was no answer.

“Get her!” someone shouted.

Just then, in middle of the room, she saw Varun overpowered by half a dozen men who were punching him repeatedly. There were a few other guards too next to him, most of them lay unconscious.

Before she could go near Varun, one of the uniformed guards rushed towards her direction. Immediately, her body braced itself and automatically took on a combat position. She waited until the guard was close, and stepped aside. As soon as he was thrown off balance, falling to the side, her fist connected with his stomach. The man went down with a whoosh of exhaled air and landed hard on the floor.

There were two more guards circling her. From the corner of her eye, she saw one guard, edging around the outside of the room, hoping to come at her from behind. Another was striding towards her to attack her head on. She tackled the one who was in front of her. She smashed his face with a sweeping high kick, breaking his nose, and causing a good amount of blood to be spurted on her as well as on the man.

Not pausing, she twisted around, landing a blow to the guard behind her on his abdomen, until he doubled over. She kicked him again in the stomach to ensure that he remained on the floor.

Immediately, a few more guards tackled her at the same time, getting a few kicks in. It hurt. She almost doubled down in pain. She ignored the pain and attacked them back with speed and ferocity on her side, soon they all lay groaning on the floor.

There weren’t any other guards left. Any help from outside was also blocked since the door was locked. Six guards were still holding onto Varun who was thrashing against them. They didn’t leave him to tackle her. They knew Varun was a bigger threat than her. Listening to his roars, they knew if they let him go, he would tear them apart with his bare hands.

“Let us outside, you bitch,” a well-dressed masked man shouted at her. He was one of the ‘patrons’. That man was taller than her and built quite strong with bulging muscles in the neck, powered mostly likely through steroids. He looked as though he was trying to lunge at her even though he was still a good six feet away from her.

She knew that behind his mask, he must be a pathetic coward, trying to show off near his perverted cronies. She knew he wouldn’t have the courage to attack her. So she decided to use him as leverage.

She calmly removed her gun from her purse and pointed it at his knees. Then not bothering to warn him, she pulled the trigger.

A high-pitched scream rent the air as blood spurted out from the wound.

“That bitch shot me!” the man squealed like pig. “She shot me! Kill her!” he ordered, sobbing out loudly.

“If anyone moves, the next bullet will be inside his head,” she warned in a chillingly calm tone.

It worked. No one dared to move.

“Remove your masks and stand back,” she ordered. When they hesitated, “Right now!” she snapped.

They all complied. Including her uncle.

Slowly, she headed towards her uncle, standing in front of him. Then sweeping her eyes over him in disdain, she shook her head. “Tsk, tsk. You really surprised me. I thought it would be much more difficult, in fact impossible to catch you in the act. But seems like you are just a dumb, pathetic offender who would do anything to get your vile fix. Child trafficking? Is there no low you can go?” she asked.

Her uncle’s eyes flared wide in anger, but he remained quiet. A fat man standing next to him, hissed out his threat. “You will regret this,” he warned.

She directed her cold look his way. “I already do,” she said with a controlled smile. “It should have been your kneecap I shot.”

“Do you know who I am!” the fat bastard, exclaimed.

“Yes, Judge Sundaram. You are the person responsible for all this. The mastermind behind the ‘thriving business’.”

There was fear in his eyes, but he puffed up his chest. “You can’t do anything to me. To any of us. We are not ordinary men,” he grated out.

“Definitely not men,” she answered him. “A real man wouldn’t have to rape an innocent.”

Meantime, Varun got up on his shaky legs and moved closer to her holding the mask that held the camera. His face was a bloodied mess. When he approached her, she took out her phone from her purse and gave it to him.

“Varun, take the rest of the children to safety. The police and reporters will be here shortly,” she said.

She began to rip out the masks from everyone’s face.

“You are making a big mistake,” the judge cried out. “And all for these nobodies. We can pay you how much ever you want. We can—”

“Shut up,” she said quietly. The pure menace shining from her eyes was enough for him to follow her order.

“They are innocent children. Not nobodies. And definitely not commodities to be sold to the highest bidder.”

The judge clenched his hands.

Sia took the mask from Varun’s hands and raised it towards the ‘esteemed’ guests, clearly recording everything.

“I’m going to ask each one of you to tell me your name and your profession along with information on whether you have a family or not.

“Let’s start with my loving uncle first,” she said as she pointed the mask towards him.

Her uncle was quiet.

“Do you need assistance?” she asked. “Don’t make me shoot you between your legs like I badly want to,” she threatened softly.

Her uncle took a deep breath. “My name is Jagadish Naidu. I am a...”