CHAPTER ONE : NOSTALGIA
“HOW’S YOUR DAY GOING?” HE ASKED HER AS SHE ENTERED THE ROOM WITH A FILE IN HER HAND.
“WELL NO ONE DIED TODAY.” SHE REPLIED WITH A LONG FACE.
“WHAT? THESE ARE YOUR STANDARDS!” HE SAID WITH A SURPRISE.
“OH AURTHER.! IT’S NOT THE FIRST TIME YOU ARE ASKING ME THAT AND I'M REPLYING LIKE THIS.” SHE REPLIED HOLDING FILE TO HIM. HE SMILED AT HER.
“YOU ARE GETTING IMPATIENT.” HE SAID ADJUSTING HIS GLASSES AND LOOKING AT THE FILE. SHE PULLED A CHAIR AND MADE HERSELF COMFORTABLE. HE OPENED THE FILE AND START LOOKING THROUGH THE PAGES. HIS BROWS WERE FURROWING AS HE WAS GOING MOVING AHEAD. IT WAS CLEAR THAT HE WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE WORK. AT LAST HE CLOSED THE FILE AND PUT IT BACK ON THE TABLE. HE TURNED HIS GAZE TOWARD HER. SHE WAS PLAYING WITH THE ROUND GLITTERY PAPERWEIGHT.
BEFORE SPEAKING HE CLEARED HIS THROAT AND PUT DOWN HIS GLASSES ON THE SCATTERED PAPERS ON HIS TABLE.
“I HAVE TO CHANGE IT AGAIN.” FINALLY HE SAID BREAKING THE SILENCE. SHE TURNED HER GAZE TOWARD HIM FROM THE LITTLE ROUND GLITTERY PAPER WEIGHT. SHE LOOKED AT HIM FOR A MOMENT AND NODDED. AND GET BACK HER ATTENTION TO HER PLAY TOY.
HE LET OUT A DISAPPOINTING SIGH AND STOOD UP FROM THE SEAT. HE MOVED TOWARD THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROOM AND OPENED A CABINATE. HE TOOK OUT A BROWN BOX COVERED WITH LEATHER AND PUT IT ON TABLE BESIDE THE COUCH BEHIND WHERE SHE WAS SITTING. HE OPENED THE BOX AND TOOK OUT A CIGAR AND LIGHT IT WITH HIS LIGHTER. HE LOOKED AT HER; SHE WAS STILL PLAYING WITH HER TOY LIKE A CHILD OF FIVE. HE MOVED ACROSS HER TOWARD THE BIG WINDOW AND OPEN THE BLINDS. THE SUN WAS GETTING LOW.
HE COULD SEE THE RUSH OF CROWD ON THE ROAD BENEATH THAT 137 STORY BUILDING.
“HOW WAS YOUR LAST NIGHT?” HE ASKED HER STILL LOOKING OUT OF THE WINDOW. SHE STOPPED SPINNING THE PIECE OF GLASS AND LOOK AT HIM. HE WAS PUFFING AND THE ROOM WAS FILLING WITH THE AROMA OF THE CIGAR. SHE STOOD UP FROM HER CHAIR AND MOVED TOWARD HIM. SHE STOOD BESIDE HIM FACING HIS LEFT SIDE.
“YOU KNOW THAT TOBACCOO USE IS INGERIOUS TO YOUR HEALTH. BUT STILL YOU ARE SMOKING. I SHOULD HAVE THROWN THAT BOX.” SAYING THIS SHE TOOK THE BURNING CIGAR FROM HIS HAND AND PUT IT IN TO THE ASH TRAY.
“THAT IS NOT MY ANSWER.” HE SAID TURNING BACK TOWARD HER AND SITTING BACK IN HIS CHAIR WHILE SHE AGAIN SAT ON THE SAME CHAIR.
SHE LOOKED AT HIM FOR A WHILE AND A SHARP SMILE DANCE ON HER LIPS. SHE LAY BACK ON THE CHAIR WITH HER ARMS RESTING UP ABOVE HER HEAD IN A CROSSED MANNER.
“TELL ME...?” HE SAID IN BITING TONE OF VOICE.
“IT WAS GOOD.” SHE REPLIED CLOSING HER EYES.
“WHAT?” HE EXCLAIMED. SHE OPENED ONE EYE AND LOOKED AT HIM AS IF SHE WAS HAVING FUN.
“DON’T BE RIDICULOUS. TELL ME EVERYTHING.” AS HE SAID SO HIS INTERCOM BUZZED. HE CLICKED ON THE RED BUTTON AND A SCREEN APPEARED IN THE AIR.
“GOOD EVENING DIRECTOR SIR. YOUR CLIENTS ARE WAITING FOR YOU IN THE MEETING HALL ON 54TH FLOOR.” THE LADY SAID WHO APPEARED ON THAT THIN AIRED SCREEN.
“OKAY. I WILL BE THERE SOON.” HE REPLIED TO HER AND PUSHED THE SCREEN DISAPPEARED.
“THE MEETING?” SHE SAID STANDING UP FROM HER CHAIR.
“DON’T TRY TO TWIST AND TURN THINGS. WE ARE NOT DONE YET.” HE SAID PUTTING ON HIS GLASSES.
“I WANT TO COME WITH YOU.” SHE SAID LOOKING AT THE ENTRANCE DOOR.
“NO. YOU WILL BE STAYING HERE TILL THE MEETING ENDS AND WE WILL BE CONTINUING THE REST.” HE SAID STANDING UP FROM THE CHAIR AND MOVING TOWARD THE DOOR. SHE FOLLOWED HM AND MOVED AHEAD TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR HIM.
A GROUP OF TEN H-BOTS WAS STANDING ON THE DOOR.
THE BLUE H-BOT MOVED AHEAD AND BOWED TO THE MAN IN FRONT OF HIM.
“WE ARE HERE TO ESCORT YOU TO THE MEETING HALL ON 54TH FLOOR. THE MEETING WILL BE STARTING SOON SIR.” THE H-BOT SAID IN HIS VODER VOICE. HIS EYES WERE TURNING ON AND OFF WITH A BRIGHT LIGHT WITH EACH SECOND LIKE IT WAS HIS COMMAND FOR EYE BLINKING.
“OKAY. LET’S GO.” THE DIRECTOR SAID MOVING AHEAD AND ALL THE H-BOTS SURROUND HIM LIKE A SWARM OF BEES PROTECTING THEIR QUEEN. AND IN FEW SECONDS THEY DISAPPEAR FROM HER VISION.
SHE CLOSED THE DOOR AND STAND THERE FOR SOME MOMENTS THERE DOING NOTHING. THEN AFTER FEW MOMENTS SHE MOVED TOWARD THE BIG WINDOW AND OPENED IT. SHE LOOKED AT THE SKY THAT WAS GETTING PINK. SHE JUMPED AND SAT ON FLOOR OF THE WINDOW. LOOKING OUTSIDE THE WINDOW SHE TOOK A FEW DEEP BREATHS. HER EYES WERE UNSTEADY AND HER GAZE WAS RESTLESS LIKE SHE WAS SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING. ONE OF HER HAND MOVED TOWARD HER NECK AND UNZIP HER UPPER COAT. HER FINGERS WERE SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING THERE. AND IN FEW MOMENTS HER SKIN TOUCH THOSE SILVERY ROUND BALLS IN THAT CHAIN. IT WAS A LOCKET WITH SEVEN SILVERY BRIGHT ROUND SMALL BEADS. SHE WAS ROLLING HER FINGERS ON THEM AS SHE DRIFTED IN THE PAST.
“MOMMY? DADDY? WHERE ARE YOU?” CRIED A VOICE IF FOUR YEARS OLD GIRL COVERED IN THE BLOOD. BUT THERE WAS NO ANSWER. STREETS WERE EMPTY WITH SEVERAL BIG MOVING MACHINES.
SHE RAN FROM THE TO HIDE HERSELF AND TOOK SHELTER UNDER A BROKEN SHOP. ITS HALF PORTION WAS DAMAGED BADLY, THE ROOF WAS ALL BLOWN AND WALLS WERE FALLEN AND COVERED WITH BLOOD. THE PAPER AND BOOKS WERE ALL BURNED AND SCATTERED EVERYWHERE.
SUDDENLY SHE HEARD A HUGE EXPLOSION AFAR SOMEWHERE. SHE GOT SCARED AND HID UNDER THE CLOSET IN THAT BOOK SHOP.
SHE WAS INJURED, TIRED AND HUNGRY. BUT BESIDE THAT SHE WAS WORRIED ABOUT HER PARENTS WHO WERE MISSING SINCE ALL THIS STARTED. SHE WAS NOT KNOW FOR HOW MANY TIME SHE WAS HIDING THERE IN THAT RUINED SHOP WHEN SOME PEOPLE DRESSED IN BROWN UNIFORMS FOUND HER WHILE CLEANING THE RUINS OF THE BUILDINGS. THEY TOOK HER AND OUT HER ALONG WITH THE OTHER VICTIMS OF MISSING PEOPLE. THEY PUT THEM IN A TRUCK AND RUSHED TO A VERY DISTANT PLACE. AFTER REACHING THERE SHE WAS BLINDFOLDED AND TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT PLACE WITH TIED HANDS.
“OPEN HER HANDS AND TOOK OFF THE BLINDFOLD.”
AFTER FEW MOMENTS...SHE FOUND HERSELF IN A BIG HALL WITH ALL LUXURIES. SHE WAS ABLE TO SEE WHAT WAS IN FRONT OF HER. IT WAS A PICTURE OF HER PARENTS HANGING ON THE WALL IN A GOLDEN FRAME.
“HOW ARE YOU DEAR?” A VOICE ASKED. SHE TURNED TOWARD THE VOICE AND LOOKED AT THE FIGURE CAREFULLY.
“THOSE ARE MY PARENTS. DO YOU KNOW WHERE THEY ARE...?’ SHE ASKED POINTING AT THE PICTURE.
“YES. BUT I CAN NOT TELL YOU WHERE THEY ARE.” THE FIGURE REPLIED.
“WHY...?” SHE ASKED AGAIN.
“THEY ARE GONE.” THE VOICE REPLIED.
“I DO NOT UNDERSTAND?” SHE SAID WITH A CONFUSED LOOK.
“THEY ARE EXPIRED.” THE VOICE REPLIED.
“LIKE BATTERY OF MY SPIDY ROBOT?” SHE ASKED INNOCENTLY.
“HM. WELL SOMETHING LIKE THAT.” THE VOICE REPLIED.
“SO THEY ARE NOT GOING TO COME BACK.” SHE SAID WITH TEARY EYES.
“NO.” THE FIGURE NODDED.
“SHE STARTED TO CRY STILL STANDING THERE LOOKING AT THE PICTURE OF HER PARENTS.
“WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF ME NOW?” SHE SAID SOBBING.
“WHAT ABOUT ME?” THE VOICE SAID. “MY NAME IS AURTHER BELLS.” HE SAID MOVING AT HER AND TAKING HER IN HER ARMS.
HALF BALD HEAD, PALE FACE, BIG ROUND GOLDEN FRAME GLASSES...SHE STILL REMEMBER HER FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH HIM.
BEEP-BEEP.
SHE WAS BACK TO PRESENT. THE DOOR OPENED AND AURTHER ENTERED THE ROOM. SHE LOOKED AT HIM JUMPING OFF THE WINDOW SEAT. SHE CLOSED THE WINDOW AND WALKED TOWARD HIM.
“HOW WAS MEETING...?” SHE INQUIRED.
HE CROSSED HER AND SAT IN HIS CHAIR LIKE PREVIOUSLY.
“NOW TELL ME EVERYTHING ABOUT LAST NIGHT.” HE ASKED HER LOOKING AT HER WHILE SHE WAS SITTING IN THE CHAIR.
“WELL. I KILLED THEM. ALL FIVE OF THEM ARE DEAD.” SHE SAID WITH A MISCHIEVOUS SMILE ON HER FACE.