FORTY-NINE

Rose's and Ruby's father looked at his phone as his agent spoke, telling of his two daughters' successful kidnapping.

He hung up then looked up at his twin brother and said,"See you in h*ll."

Then he pulled the trigger...

***

Luis looked at the man, embedded in huge security guards for a second, then went to take a seat.

The man, with a face covered by an ominous mask, spoke in a Nordic accent.

"Mister Spire, I am aware of your present predicament."

"What are you talking about?"

"You wish to get married to Ms Lester no? But you are trapped within this den of robbers, I have to say, you could have escaped if you wanted to, why did you remain?"

"What have my plans got to do with you?"

He began laughing in a deep tone then continued,"Oh Luis, Luis, Luis, the great Luis Spire wants to turn over a new leaf, but you know better than I do that people like us never change."

"What do you want?"

"Ahh, of course my reason for being here, I came here with a business preposition."

"I'm not interested."

"Au contraire Mon Ami, I am closely knit with some very high people who could clear all the charges against you before you could finish a bottle of your favourite diet cola, think about it, you could go on and continue your previous life if you wanted, the wind in your hair, the police service ten steps behind you, you'd be untouchable...unless, maybe you want to settle down, get married with that, I must say, beautiful gem in the jewelry box."

Luis glared at him as he continued,"Think about it, not only am I offering you more money than you could ever spend, but also your freedom to marry Ms Lester, so, what do you say?"

"I say that you could go and rot in h*ll."

The man chuckled and asked,"Feisty, aren't we? I like that, it would be the perfect character trait for the job you'll be working on."

"And what makes you so sure that I'll work for you, Johan?"

"What?"

"Johan Johansson, Prime Minister of Zurich Switzerland with several drug smuggling rigs operating below your adipose filled midsection, several conspiracy theories hovering around you but none gaining ground because your, quote unquote, very high people, protect you even more deeply than does your democratic immunity, looking at your guards, I can already see five weak points in their formation which could end in your quick death and the improvement of the lives of many, coming from one of your stock services, the guard to the right has powder on his sleeve, your accent may not be bad, but your voice, expensive cologne and ring with Scandanavian engravings in it gave you away."

"Impressive, I must say, and this is exactly why we need each other."

"I get your side, but not mine."

He chuckled again then said,"I understand why you don't trust me..."

"Not only do I not trust you, I don't want to trust you, I'm tired now, could this largely one-sided conversation end already?"

"Not until I've told you of everything you need to know."

"Now you're acting as though you own me."

"But I do Mr Spire, remember your original appointment before the firing squad? Fun fellows those were, they actually really looked forward to getting some blood on their hands, just like you were a few days before, and with just a few tweaks and turns, it could be set for tomorrow, you'd never see your lovely fiancee again."

Luis tried to remain calm as he looked at the man, dead in the eyes, he then asked,"Do I have your attention now?"

"You have thirty seconds."Luis said coldly.

"I don't need it, I have already disclosed all the main details for you but one, I'll need you to act as one of my security guards, as you are a previous hitman, that should be easy right? It takes a crook, to find a crook, I'll be here to pick you later, you'll get to see your deer sweetie once more."

"And how long is this business venture lasting?"Luis asked.

"Oh, anywhere between six and eight days, it depends on how long it takes for you to do the job."

Luis had no other choice than to kill him, and then there was the fact that Lucy would hate that and he would be sent before the firing squad and would never see her again, he was really making a lot of bad decisions recently...

***

I was informed shortly after that there had been another death, but this person had been shot, unlike the others and one of the students was missing.

I researched on the dead boy's biometrics and he didn't fit the criteria...but the girl did.

Born on the fourteenth of March and having one of the two remaining body parts that hadn't been taken, two healthy kidneys, it had to be her, but there was only one way we could find out...

I pinned the library help to a book shelf, almost toppling it over, then yelled,"What did you do with her?!"

"Put me down before I get you expelled."He threatened.

"Start talking..."I said,"... before I make you rot in jail for the rest of your pathetic life."

He began to laugh, then said,"Okay Tommy, really funny, now put me down."

"What did you do with Nicoline Rizwan?!"

"Who?"

I then slammed him on a table, as a small crowd gathered, small because half the library had already fled, I then whispered to his face,"You know who, you bastard, now tell me what I need to know."

"He knows nothing Thomas."

I turned back to see Mrs Lewis as she slowly walked towards me, with the first book I saw in hand.

It sent shivers down my spine as she said,"Nicoline is in good health, but soon, she would be a part of something...out of this world, please don't interfere, Thomas, you'd be much happier if you didn't."

She then walked away.

I looked at the library help, who seemed just as shocked as I was.

He looked at me and asked what was happening, then I showed him everything, the pictures of the book, of the bodies, the case files and all that we knew...I was never actually very good in keeping secrets.

I then said,"Walker, if there's anything you know, anything, please tell me, lives are at stake."

"I don't know anything, I was just told to guard that section of the library."

' With a personality like your's, I don't think it was a mistake... ' I thought.

"Please, think, anything you've heard about a Transcendent will be enough."I said.

"...I heard Mrs Lewis talking with some guy I couldn't recognize in the private study room, about some awakening ceremony tonight at midnight, in the middle of the woods, but don't go, it might be dangerous."

"I have to, someone has to help her."

I stormed out of the library, hoping I wasn't too late...