A Strange Encounter

The newscasts reported the events of the fall of a train belonging to the company Lincox SAC, whose representatives mentioned that everything was caused by a terrorist attack that began with a routing error; they also indicated that they were taking responsibility for the scheduled trips and requested government support for those who died in the incident. On the other hand, reporters in the field indicated the departure of survivors on buses bound for Zaragoza. This time the trip was also overland, but by bus.

The two days had passed quickly since those passengers and survivors of the train had been rescued; during their stay in the hotel until today they were well treated.

Being the same as at the beginning, the young men were sitting inside the vehicle hoping to arrive soon; however, before only Renato was the one who was uncomfortable during the previous trip, but now Liam was accompanying him in mourning.

- I think you guys are exaggerating ... it's been more than a day already. - commented Daniel.

- Let them ... it seems they are still kids if they can't handle something like that. - commented Glen.

- Hey, Aren...is it true they were naked? - asked Daniel.

Aren who was standing by the window curled up on his arm with a disinterested expression just nodded.

Even if that should not have been more than an annoying moment, it dragged on longer, as the news showed the pictures of that naked group with the employees and a couple of bewildered young men in the middle of them. Yes, the image of those young men was tainted and this was reflected by the passengers on the bus talking about it with laughter and mockery.

Meanwhile, Renato spoke in agony.

- N-Nobody asks about what they did to me....

No one heeded his words.

On another bus, two men were sitting next to each other. One of them had long silver-colored hair, while the other had short dark hair.

- Looks like Renato made some friends, huh? - spoke the long-haired one.

- Good for him... on the other hand, what are you planning, Reiss? - asked the other one.

- Hey... remember my name is Gajel now... besides don't say it in that tone like I'm going to do something bad.

- It's not like I don't know you...besides Vil has passed away and the other two we have sent them back to report what happened.

- According to what Renato informed us, he said that a monster appeared with Vil's head... it seems that he was also the one who was in charge of the search team at that place. - The white-haired man smiled as he said it.

- ...

- You know ... it makes me want to go back to that place again ... I'd like to see what that creature looked like.

- Hahh ... mind your own business. - replied the short-haired young man.

- Ha ha ha ... I can't wait to get to Madrid. 

The trip was not supposed to take more than a few hours, but since it was tourist season, the traffic prevented them from arriving on time, making the trip almost a full day.

Two days passed, the squares, avenues and shopping malls were a spectacle for the sight of tourists and citizens. Certainly the big city could not be compared to Rivas or Luesia, as it was the capital of one of the regions of Spain, Aragon. With more than 900 km2 of surface, with a population of more than 600 thousand citizens blessed with the Ebro river; this capital had been preserved and modernized over time; however, it was notorious the amount of green areas that highlighted even more the city, because in this way had stopped the excessive advance of industrialization and pollution in the region.

- Hahh hahh hahh hahh ... I-I need to get to a h-hospital ... soon ... - gasped a boy of about 11 years old with dark brown hair; his clothes were noticeably dirty and disastrous, he seemed to be a young beggar who was in pain as he walked through the streets being ignored by the people.

 That little one was trying to keep walking in the middle of the sidewalks of the streets; however, he seemed to be unable to hold on any longer. Slowly his trot was turning into trembling steps.

None of the people who noticed him tried to shake hands with the child; only their faces of discomfort and annoyance could be seen.

Suddenly loud footsteps were heard behind the young man, it was a group of men dressed discreetly, but in their faces could be seen an expression of anger and concern.

Some thought they might be relatives of the boy; however, the boy's horrified expression indicated that these men did not have good intentions.

 The young man, upon reaching a street corner, tried to run away from them, but, as he took the first few steps, he collided with a person causing him to fall to the ground.

A young man a few years older than the boy held out his hand.

- Hey, are you okay? - Liam asked.

- Hey! What was that?! - exclaimed Glen who, having been pushed by the boy, also fell to the ground.

- Ya ya... look, he's just a kid... although..." commented Daniel who at the same time had noticed the boy's condition.

The boy was helped by Liam to get up and as he passed that group of men, about three of them, they met Liam and the rest.

Those men didn't seem to care who the boy was with, they just wanted to take him with them and, as they tried to do so, Aren got in the way between them and the boy.

- What do you want? - Aren said.

One of them answered.

- Th-That child ... he ran away from home ... let's just take him back.

- That boy? Don't you think that's an unusual way to refer to someone you're trying to help? - Aren replied defiantly.

- W-What?! What do you have to w-...?!

Before the man could finish complaining, another of the men stopped him by nodding his head.

- B-But, Frank...

- Never mind ... I've got time left. - commented the man.

Being so and understanding that they were making a scene in front of the rest of the passers-by, those men withdrew without further ado.

- We have to call an ambulance! - exclaimed Daniel when he saw that the boy had fainted.

Fortunately, one of the passersby supported the young men by indicating that there was a hospital nearby; therefore, those four young men left immediately.

On the way, the group met Renato who had just come from buying some snacks. He was surprised to see them in such a hurry and carrying an unconscious child with them.

- Now... What did they do? - Renato commented quietly as he ate.

Yes, the scene was not at all common; however, the boys took Renato along with them and explained what had happened.

- Seriously guys... it seems like you guys are always in trouble, right? - commented Renato after an hour had passed and they were already at the hospital.

- We just wanted to help ... if we left him alone who would know what would have happened. - replied Daniel.

- So... What does the doctor say? - asked Renato.

- I don't know ... Aren was the only one who went to see the doctor ... since they think he ... is the guardian ... - answered Liam.

- I mean ... they think the rest of you are brats?

- ...

Those young men standing outside a room watched as a young man in his 20's with long hair approached and next to him a man in a white coat with a nurse.

That doctor quickly saluted and left, as he seemed in a hurry.

- So, what did he say? - asked Glen.

Aren said nothing for a few seconds, but then commented on the sad news.

- He is suffering from pneumonia and seems to have wounds and bruises on his ribs. From the condition he's in ... it's hard to get him checked and operated on if the pneumonia doesn't kill him first ... anyway, he may not last until today or tomorrow.

- What about his history, did you find any family members or friends? - Liam asked.

- No ... he seems to have no medical history or records of ever being admitted to a hospital or medical facility.

- That's strange ... even if he looks like a beggar, does he really have no one? - commented Daniel.

- What about medical expenses, is he covered by insurance? - asked Renato.

Everyone looked at him as if he was the only one out of place for worrying about money.

- Hey...why are you looking at me funny? I'm just saying that if we don't see that, they might throw him out today without any help...you don't want to see him die in the street, do you? - Renato argued.

Liam sighed.

- You are right ... we have to check that ... it is the least we can do for him ... on the other hand, what is his name? 

Everyone was a bit puzzled, as no one yet knew the name of the dying boy.

- Marcellus ...

They all looked at whoever answered.

- Marcelo Quispe ... about 11 years old, although there is no birth certificate, nor anything that could corroborate it ...

- So, Renato and I will go and look for insurance information; maybe we will find some help ... we will be back soon. - Glen commented.

- What?! Why me?

- Come on, stop whining. Do something useful for once in your life. - Glen commented as he grabbed Renato by the neck.

Agreeing to this, the group split up. However, in the corner of the passageway, a man could be heard making a call.

- Take care of the first two. - the man hidden in the corner was heard to say.

Minutes passed and, as usual, Glen and Renato were being walked around the hospital looking for the information they needed; however, both of them suddenly behaved strangely.

The pair stopped naively searching and began to head for the upper floors until they reached the rooftop.

 The two of them, in the clear place with a panoramic view of the big city, stood silently watching the sky.

Suddenly, the atmosphere became tense.

- Come out at once ... do you think we are idiots? - Glen spoke out loud.

No one answered.

- You'd better come out or we're coming for you. - added Renato.

After a few seconds, two men armed with guns and knives came out of the shadows on that floor. Only the third of them came out of the door through which Glen and Renato had entered.

- Wow ... I knew they were hiding, but how did they manage to get up to the fifth floor ... Except for you ... since you used the door. - Renato commented in a mocking derogatory way towards those men.

- Weren't you...? - Glen commented.

- Do you know them? - added Renato.

- Oh ... so it is you. I thought you had surrendered before ... now you come armed to the teeth. - Glen added.

Before they could continue speaking, the impact of a bullet on the floor a few inches from them startled the young men who might be feigning bravery.

- Drop the act, you brats. Can't you see you're shaking? - spoke the man who had come through the door.

- A ... silencer? - Glen asked quietly.

Yes, the guns seemed to have silencers so as not to attract unnecessary attention.

- Listen well ... we don't want any more trouble, just leave the hospital quietly and don't come back or ask about that boy or tell anyone, pretend you never met him. If you do, you can live peacefully. - said the man who shot with a smile on his face.

The young men began to sweat slowly.

- I see ... well ... it's a pity. - replied Glen.

Renato was surprised to hear this.

- Yes ... it's a pity for you. - spoke the man again, but this time pointing all the others at the pair.

"Is this guy crazy? What do I do now?" thought Renato. "I guess I have no choice."

Without hesitation like the first time, the three men fired.

Meanwhile, Liam, Daniel and Aren were in the third floor reception area where the patient inpatient area was located where they were waiting for Glen and Renato to return.

- Seriously, what's taking them so long? - commented Daniel.

- Yes ... on the other hand, did the doctor say we could talk to him when he wakes up? - asked Liam.

- No... he said it was better not to see him yet. - replied Aren.

As if he was getting impatient, Daniel couldn't stand it any longer and went to look for the pair.

When Aren and Liam were alone again, Liam took the opportunity to continue the topic he had left unfinished.

- Aren ... I would like to ask you a question.

The long-haired young man remained listening.

- If you are willing to know who were the ones who framed you for those crimes, let me know and I will tell you what I know about them. If you are willing, I will make you part of a plan I have ... surely you have never heard of me before, but I have all the necessary resources to act.

- ... What are you talking about?

- You know very well what I mean, I won't ask you to answer me now. Two days ... when we leave in two days for Madrid as the travel agency notice mentions, I will ask for your answer.

The young man showed determination in his look and words.

- I understand. - Aren answered.

On the terrace of the hospital, the sound of metal falling by gravity to the ground could be heard, but not with the speed of a gunshot.

The three men were shocked to see the scene after what they did.

Certainly, those shots were so close to their target that they would be considered point-blank shots, meaning they could not miss. However, there were no traces of blood or wounded writhing on the ground, there was only the figure of two young men where one of them was holding a sword with its sheath covering his face and another young man with a drawn sword who was in a defensive position.

The scene was not credible for those men. Only one question lingered in their minds.

"Where did those swords come from?"

Glen and Renato were in position for counterattack.