Anne, Lisa and Carol's past (14)

In no time the men were back into their cars and sped as before because they were left with about fifteen minutes to finish the mission. On the other hand, after the men had left, Susan couldn't move an inch, she just kept on staring at her husband who was also looking at her with eyes that were full of questions, after a few minutes he deeply sighed, wagged his head, went back into his room and closed the door.

That's the moment Susan went into the bedroom upstairs, sat on her bed, and looked in the mirror, she couldn't even recognize herself. She was so bruised and her face was swollen. She didn't know how she was going to explain the events that had occurred to Carol or her closest friends who knew what was happening without revealing the truth. She kept on looking into the mirror, remembering all the events that had just happened earlier. She couldn't stop asking herself what exactly was happening, she couldn't figure out if she was wrong for wishing and fighting for what she thought was the best for her children, and how the events turned out the way they did.

She was even more worried about Lisa, the face of the man who had taken her kept on sending shivers down her spine, as for her daughter's future, she couldn't even guess how it would be it was too bleak to figure out. All she could do was question the kind of love she had for her daughter and blame herself, it's like she was starting to figure out the damage she had done to her family, but it seemed too late to regret or turn back. Her heart stopped for a moment after her mind wandered back to the past when her sister's daughter was under her care, how she maltreated her, how she went missing, and yet she never did anything about it.

"(Hot tears streaming down her cheeks and laughing bitterly) Hahaha, karma, doesn't forget indeed, it's payback time and it seems this grave that I dug for myself is too deep. Susan, Susan, what have you been doing all along?" She said aloud, scratching her scalp so hard and then burying her face in her hands, and for a moment, she couldn't control the tears gushing out of her eyes.

Later she stood and went on to take a cold shower, afterwards, she took an ointment from the first aid kit that was in the last drawer of her dressing table. After applying the ointment, she took some painkillers and slept deeply. 

On the other hand, 30 minutes after the men who were accompanying Susan had left a man wearing a doctor's coat came into the lounge where Abel was sitting on the couch enjoying some whiskey.

"Sir, we have managed to stabilize the mother's blood pressure but I suggest we go back home as soon as possible because the equipment we have here is only for emergencies. We need more to help us to keep on checking both mother and child. Also, we need to do a lot of tests," said the soft-spoken doctor showing respect to the man.

"(Smiling) Finally, some good news (looking at the doctor with a smile on his face) I think you need a salary raise, very well then, we will be out of here in 30 minutes so don't worry doctor." Said the man still smiling. "

"Thank you so much sir, I will be in the emergency room in case you have more instructions for me," said the doctor, Abel didn't say anything he just nodded as a way of approval and the doctor left for the room where Lisa was.

 Just as Abel had said earlier the team that had accompanied Susan was back in about twenty-eight minutes and they all stood in uniform in a straight line, their hands were behind. In no time other men dressed the same began to come out of different rooms, and they all stood in the same manner as the other men. Each line consisted of ten men, dressed in all black, with a mask covering their mouths and noses and a pair of gloves in their hands. The house they were in was so huge that it was able to contain about forty men. It was a double-story house and it also had underground rooms. It consisted of eight rooms that were big enough to contain a team of five people. Then it had two extra rooms used as an emergency clinic. Thirty men were uniformly standing, in just five minutes and Abel was still enjoying his drink and did not pay any attention to them. He then stood the moment when the lady who had come earlier stood in front of him formally and respectfully.

"(After stretching his body and his piercing gaze scanning the men that were standing in front of him with a dirty smirk on his face), let's go dark shall we," he said and began to walk towards the exit without waiting to hear any response from his subordinates and as for them, they also did not say a word but just nodded in uniform.

Going dark meant that the whole team was supposed to ensure that communication was tight and untraceable. No social media, no texting, only burner phones, face-to-face meetings, and coded messages. Any calls were to be made through the encrypted devices that they already had. However, before taking this step they had to take care of the first step and that is erasing all traces from the house, files, records, and anything that might be suspicious in case the police might end up on their case. Also, they had set bombs in that house, in case they got in trouble, and blowing it would be the last option. As for the bodies that were shot earlier, they were put in one of the black vans that was outside, the team was going to bury them since most of Abel's team members were either presumed dead or had no close relatives.

Abel did not wait to hear any response from his subordinates, he just began to walk and the woman whose name was Nina, was walking side by side with him. The moment they started to walk towards the exit door she clicked something that looked like a wristwatch, which was on her hand. The moment they reached the door, Abel opened it for Nina and she came out first as he followed. Fifteen men were outside, and they were responsible for spotting any danger, and any guests and also being the first to take care of anything. Once Abel and Nina were out four men were standing in uniform and they were also dressed in the same manner as the ones that were inside. Two were on the left side and two were on the right side close to the door. As Abel was walking past them, they all bowed in respect, and just a few inches past the four men eight more came to escort them to the cars. Two were walking in the front, two were walking at the back, two were walking on the right side and the other two on the left side. They were heading towards a very large and beautiful water fountain which was surrounded by black, small, four-door luxurious, and fast cars. These cars were surrounding the fountain and they were also of the same model. Seven cars surrounded this fountain and Abel and Nina were led to the fourth one where four men were already waiting for them, two were already opening the back doors and the moment they got inside, the other two, got inside in the front seats the moment Nina and Abel were settled inside. 

In a moment a van reversed and parked right in front of the house's entrance, leaving just a few inches from hitting the door and in no time, Lisa was transferred into the van, accompanied by four doctors. The patient transport van stood as a sentinel of care, within the van's cabin, every detail had been thoughtfully arranged to cocoon its occupants in an oasis of comfort, safety, and medical proficiency. A hydraulic gurney, a marvel of engineering and design, awaited its noble duty at the center of the cabin. Its plush and padded surface beckoned, offering a secure haven for patients in need. Height-adjustable, it promises easy transition in and out of the vehicle with a gentle touch.

 The walls of the van were adorned with an array of meticulously secured medical instruments, defibrillators, oxygen tanks, vital sign monitors, etc, alongside, the seating for medical personnel. If worse turned to worst, a communication system, a lifeline to medical facilities and emergency services, was installed but these facilities were only the ones that were either under the organization or the ones that they trust. Privacy partitions, like veils of discretion, hovered at the ready. They could be raised or lowered as required, offering the patient and medical staff a refuge when needed, shielding them from the prying eyes of the outside world. Storage compartments held an array of necessities, from medical supplies to personal belongings, all tidily organized and within reach. Every detail accounted for in the van's devotion to its mission. And, as the interior lighting bathed the cabin in a gentle, adjustable glow, it offered comfort and solace during the journey. 

After the van was closed the driver started the engine and also clicked on the wristwatch that was on his wrist which signaled the drivers that were in the cars surrounding the fountain to start the engines too. In a minute the gate opened, and the first car was already on its way out followed by the second car, as for the van it was behind the one that was carrying Abel and Nina. In an hour, Abel's convoy had reached the airport. The process went well because they were using a private jet and Abel's dad took care of all the formalities and other necessary documents. In five hours, the jet landed at Abel's dad's private airport, which was in the Southern country. As the jet taxied to a halt, the doors were flung open, and the medical team sprang into action, which included those who were waiting already for Abel and others' arrival. It was a very difficult situation because Lisa's condition had changed and they were failing to stabilize her as before.