Preparations

Everything went very fast, but fortunately he was able to buy one more travel ticket for the woman who accompanied him. That male seemed in a hurry until the moment he boarded the travel bus; moreover, he asked the woman to make an effort this time to which the young woman nodded.

"I hope we are no longer being followed."

It seemed that man recognized that they were being sought, though he didn't know exactly by whom or whom. Nevertheless, his objective had not changed: to reach Madrid in order to meet with his servant to show him the existence of that black stone he had found in Loarre.

Unfortunately, the presence of the woman he had picked up was an impediment for him; therefore, he wished to leave her with a relative or in a protective institution.

On the other hand, the young woman who seemed to be calm, but always looked sideways at the one who saved her began to sigh.

"Thank God there were no impediments in buying another ticket ... I thought that without my ID they would not let me, but strangely they listened to his request ... as if they owed him some favor ... ... It is fortunate that we are going to Madrid, now I just have to stay with him until I go to my uncle's house ... I must communicate with them soon ... But the most important thing is to know ... What was it he did to me?"

While both of them were immersed in their thoughts, that group of young people were talking among themselves about that pair sitting a few seats in front of them.

- So ... What did they talk about, Liam? - Glen asked.

- Nothing.

- What do you mean, nothing? Come on, tell us ... aren't we friends anymore?

- ...

- At least you asked him about the woman he brought ... was he having fun last night? - Renato commented provocatively.

- Hey, stop meddling in his business ... although I really find it strange about him ... in the little I know him, he has always been someone reserved ... What could have happened? - commented Daniel.

- Well, be it that or the other, either way, our trip together will end when we get to Madrid. - said Glen indifferently.

Everyone understood, because from the beginning no one was obliged to stay in the group and, saved from the accident, it was not necessary for them to stay together.

On another bus, the pair of men who had met Glen a day ago could be seen again. They both seemed to enjoy the little trip.

- You know ... don't get caught ... yeah, keep that in mind too ... well, see you ... - Gajel who was on a call seemed to be a bit more cheerful than usual.

- Are you really going to send him there? - said Vincent.

- Sure... he's been lazy these days; it'll be like a warm-up for him.

- Yes, maybe ... but now that Vil has passed away, we can't let another one go. - commented Vincent somewhat worried.

- Don't worry, I told him that the priority is that he gets out alive... Licard may be impulsive, but he is very rational when the situation demands it.

- Yes ... you are right, I think ...

- Of course I am; on the other hand, when we meet with Rord we will start the second part of the plan.

Vincent smiled.

During an early breakfast inside a mansion of yet unknown location, which at its entrance had a plaque that read: Casa Martinez, a group of elderly people were gathered and seemed to be somewhat worried.

- What do you mean he escaped? 

- They don't know ... they say that when they arrived they found the closet door open and there was no one inside.

- Not only that ... they say that the blood traces only go as far as the entrance bars ... it's as if they disappeared before leaving.

- It's true! What about that woman... she supposedly had to see them escape?!

- Yeah ... about her ... they say Romina seems to be in a paranoid state ... they're trying to get her to confess if she saw anything.

- What do we do now!...what will we tell them when they find out...even worse what will happen if the news gets wind of this.

- Stop talking like that ... solutions! ... we need a solution! ...

At that moment, a man entered and brought the dirty said woman who had seen everything. Those present were surprised to see that woman, as she looked as if she had not slept for more than a day.

- Dear everyone ... you had better listen to what she has to say. - commented the same man who was in the hotel with a group of people looking for the woman who disappeared.

After a few minutes, the sound of a plate falling to the ground and breaking into pieces was heard.

- What do you mean a man was already there all of a sudden?!

- Romina ... Where did he go? What did you see?

- As I told you... I went to the garden... there was no one there... I didn't hear the sound of cars either... I looked everywhere, but I didn't find... nothing...

- Who sent it ... was it her?! ... was it her?!

- No... it's not possible... didn't you inform us that you haven't found anything yet?

- ... Never mind that... we have to find her...

- Gentlemen ... as you know, yesterday I was able to locate them through the security cameras; the clues indicated that they went to a hotel a little far away and, certainly when we reviewed the recordings of that place, we saw that it was that young man ... but something was strange. - explained the man.

- W-What did you see?

- As he left the room, an untouched woman came out with the man.

- Intact? What do you mean?

As if trying not to understand, those people of supposedly high status asked.

- It was a woman with legs and arms ... she was without any apparent injury ... only what we found in that room was the clothes that the woman was wearing ... even the receptionist told us to see that the young man was wearing a sack ... he never saw him enter with any woman ...

- That means he hid the woman in a sack ... but then went out with someone who was healthy ... it is not possible! Did you check the cameras well? Maybe he had a companion who helped him?

- Maybe he did...after all I find it hard to believe that man pulled this off all by himself. Surely the two of them hid it somewhere. - spoke another of those present.

- I couldn't be totally sure ... but anyway we are looking for where that pair went after they left the hotel.

Those assembled seemed to be somewhat desperate; however, they came to a decision.

- We will keep this news a secret ... none of us will divulge anything; meanwhile, look for her all over the region of Zaragoza ... no matter if the Duchess tries to intervene, we will not stop until we catch her again ... our heads are at stake.

All present nodded unanimously.

At the home of the Duchess of Saragossa, a man entered the office where a woman was sitting, full of reports to review.

- My lady, on the subject in Luesia, it seems that they have already arrived there, but there are some complications with the entry.

- What about Lisbeth and her people? - Sofia asked.

- They say that the area is classified as very dangerous and, for security reasons, they are not letting them in.

- What's wrong with them? Is that why they're not going? ... What are they demanding? - Sofia said somewhat frustrated.

- They are currently drafting a power of attorney, where they are not responsible for any consequences that may occur if they are allowed to enter.

- ... So they want to blame me if something happens ... how soon will that notice be ready?

- They say within twelve hours.

- That long? ... Okay ... let me know when it arrives.

- I understand.

That butler left the office.

"Something is strange to me about this ... Why would they take so long to write and send that letter ... It's not like it's the 1900's ..."

Being, during their trip, on that omnibus, that couple who had recently met; the woman standing by the window looking out at the view seemed to be relieved of her worries.

"How long had it been since I had traveled ... ? It seems as if I were dreaming ... For the moment, I must hide, although I would like to talk to Sofia, but I cannot harm her now ... I hope she is well ... leaving that aside, now that I have the opportunity, I must put my affairs in order and find out who did this to me ... although I already have some ideas ... "

Looking at that woman's determined face, Aren recognized that she was certainly a strong-minded woman as he had thought before. Now that she was miraculously recovered, one could see in that woman's eyes the flames of life burning brighter and brighter.

"As I guessed ... she is not afraid of what happened to her or so it seems ... even if the trauma ... is still latent."

Behind them both, in the front seats, was a boy with a patch over his right eye who was looking out the window.

"I guess I have no choice ... I'll have to do it with the people I have."

Passing through fields and forests, that bus headed toward its destination.

At one of the capital's ground stations, two passengers alighted somewhat exhausted and, although they had not been running during their journey, they wore an expression as if they had run a marathon.

- Hahh ... hahh ... looks like we were able to make it in time, huh? - said a blond-haired male with dark circles under his eyes.

- Hahh ... I want to take ... a bath. - said the woman accompanying him.

- Well ... let's find a place to stay ... for today I just want to sleep ... in the bus I couldn't sleep a wink ... it was as if I felt the presence of that thing around me ... - said the male.

- Yes... I understand you, Marcus... but let's not talk about it anymore...

As they both walked with some luggage, the male collided with a passerby.

- Oh excuse me ... I didn't see where I was going. - said Marcus.

- No problem. - said the young man who had been bumped into by the other who was also on his phone on a call.

A voice called out to the young man to hurry up.

- Eric, hurry up... - said Lirio.

The young man went on his way.

It was just a trivial encounter, like any other that could happen.

Inside an office, there was a man sitting who was finishing reviewing some news from a newspaper website. On his desk, a small plaque could be seen that read:

Department of Research, Innovation and Technology

Head of the Technological Research Area

Russel Corvino

The seated man looked like he was in his twenties and was wearing a long beige coat and a black shirt. Suddenly, a man entered the office carrying some papers.

- Mr. Russel, I bring you the reports of the second prototype energy meters.

- Oh, that's fine, thank you... just leave them on the desk.

While I was listening, the man asked.

- Are you seeing the news that happened from the train that left Luesia?

- Yes ... something strange, really ...

- Yes, I think the same thing ... How is it possible that they have mistakenly taken an old track that was sealed for many years?

- ... It's true, but still maybe someone planned that ... well, never mind, it's time to work! - Russel commented as he stretched out in his seat.

- Well, I'll leave you to it then. Don't forget to call me if you need anything.

- Thank you, I will.

The young man left the office.

Before he could begin his arduous work, the brown-haired man rose from his seat and, turning around, walked to the window behind his desk.

That window was of considerable length, but of a short width, and as the young man looked out at the streets of Madrid, he seemed to be immersed in thought.

"What is the master doing? Since then, he has not communicated with us ... I hope he is enjoying a quiet life in that castle ... ... maybe I should go visit him? ... It's good that Jhosep is in another country; if he knew how worried I am, he would laugh at me ... Well, now let's get to work."

Even if this young man was truly unaware of his master's current whereabouts, their meeting might be quite close to what he would believe.