Play It Well, You Live Well

Dr. Grooves began telling them on what needed to be done for the next few days that they'll be staying at the laboratory. The nurses started to change her bandages, and now that she was awake, they removed the machine reading her heart, carefully pulling the patches on her chest.

"Why am I staying here instead of in a normal hospital? How long have I been here?" Shania asked, remembering the doctor's words from the start.

Dr. Grooves sighed before answering, "It is for your own safety. General Cray and Mr. Flinch made sure of it. You've been asleep for a day already."

When there was no response from Shania, he turned to leave. "I better get on the results of your tests. I'll come back tomorrow to check up on you again."

Mrs. Cray solemnly nodded, "Thank you, Dr. Grooves." Rubbing her own arms, she closed the door and turned towards her daughter.

She sobbed quietly, pulling Shania into her arms, "You don't know how much we were worried about you. Your father... He immediately looked for you. He really did! He even sought help from Flinch. I really regret it, Shania. I really... I almost lost my daughter, my only child!"

Words tumbled from her mouth that by the end, Mrs. Cray couldn't help the tears that flowed. She was trembling as the fear of losing her daughter was evident on how tightly she held her.

'My father?' Shania sneered at herself, 'Was he worried about me or that thing that I almost lost my life for?'

This was what General Cray had walked into when he entered the room after getting interrogated by Flinch.

"Shania, my princess, I'm so sorry." Choking, he joined his wife and daughter, embraced them as grief mixed with relief and protectiveness overpowered his senses. It was a close call. A very close call where he might end up hating himself for involving his family.

'Thank f**k for that guy,' he sighed in himself.

Shania paled instantly at her father's word. Because for her, those were his admission that he used her to gain something for himself.

"Dad, what are you really apologizing for?" She asked coldly when General Cray released them.

"Firstly, I made you a bait to catch those people in the act. Second, for neglecting the fact that doing so would endanger your life."

General Cray may be an old veteran at war, but his heart wasn't as vicious as to not face the truth when it's glaring right in front of him.

"I'll make sure to keep you safe from now on." He already made plans in his mind to keep this promise.

<=><=><=><=><=>

Baylis Head Office.

As the afternoon rolled by, Xander was already done with all his meetings. He was browsing through his emails when he came across an anonymous email that read:

[From: ]

Subject: Watch if you dare

Xander clicked on the play button then his eyes widened in horror as he watched Shania enduring the tortures during the time she was held captive.

Numerous questions filled his mind. One thing stood out.

'Who could possibly know they were the ones who rescued Shania?'

Xander clenched his fist until all his knuckles turned white. When the three-minute video ended, he pulled out his phone and dialled a number. At the second ring, the person on the other line answered: "Ellis."

"Kid, I need you to track down an IP address from an email I just sent you."

"Yes, I got it, Boss. I'll let you know soon."

Hanging up the phone, he rested his head on his chair with a sigh. He smiled bitterly as his eyes were full of doting warmth when he thought of her.

"Woman, I've already accepted that you can never be in my life again. But now..." For a while, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the situation. But then, as he recalled the beatings he saw on the latest video, a dangerous aura emitted from him.

Rubbing his face, he grabbed some company documents that needed his approval.

About ten minutes after the call, his phone started ringing. He picked it up and answered, "Blue Bear, I hope to hear good news."

"And some news I got, Boss." Blue Bear on the other line answered. "The IP address led me to..."

As Blue Bear finished reporting his findings, Xander started to piece together all that has happened.

He realized that the sooner he talks to the key persons, the sooner he'll likely be able to solve this mystery. He could not afford endangering his team, more so he could not allow any innocent getting harmed.

It's time to put his knowledge of the access codes to good use. He dialled a number, and on the third ring, it was picked up.

"Green Day, you, Blue Bear and Firebird are going to sneak-and-snoop." Xander started without beating around the bush.

Greene Day immediately got excited with the new task. "Finally! My new gadgets will be put to the test."

"Good. Just survey the area and don't leave any trace."

<=><=><=><=><=>

Somewhere in the middle of the city.

Two men were silently playing a chess game. One was an old man in his sixties, the other was a sleek young man.

They were surrounded with men in black suits, all on high alert for any threat in the security. One of them walked over and reported, "The video was sent this morning, Sir."

As the older man place a piece on the board, he whispered, "Check mate."

The younger man chuckled. "You really are full of surprises, Mr. Senator. Nobody can't beat you."

"Devaughn, my man. I am not a senator yet." The old man may have declined the title, but his ego happily accepted the compliment.

"I better start addressing you as one. After all, it won't be too soon for it to happen." Devaughn bootlicked the old man.

"Remember this: Life is a game of chess. Play it well, you live well." The old senator leaned back on his chair as he continued.

"You have to be always on guard. Around your enemies, and your pawns. Especially your pawns. After all, they are supposed to protect the king. The sooner you could master the art, the sooner you could get the entire world."

"That's why a woman is bound to be a man's greatest weakness." Devaughn had a dark glint in his eyes.

"That Baylis boy. What a pity. Such a man full of potential. He will never know what hit him."

Both men laughed evilly as they thought of their plans to hold power in their hands.