CHAPTER 54

~"You can trust me with anything"; this line destroyed thousands of lives~

~Mina.

SERAPHINA'S POV

"Here." Ace handed me a steaming coffee mug.

"Thank you."

"It's been fourteen hours." He tiredly rubbed his eyes.

"It'll be worth it." I convinced.

Ever since Aisha announced the nerve-wracking news, we haven't so much as have an hour of eye shut. Everyone was busy piecing out evidence, just anything to help with the tracing. There's no good news so far but I'm still hoping.

"This proves harder than I was expecting."

"We're tracing a skilled hitman, Ace. Someone who has maybe possibly spent years stalking us and tracking our every move, what do you expect?"

"I knew it won't be easy, but I wasn't expecting it to be this hard either." He chuckled, taking a sip of the hot beverage.

"Well, it is what it is. Enough of this bull bullcrap, how are things with Severina?"

A blush crept up his cheek at the mention of my twin. Somebody's whipped.

"Still hoping." He smiled.

"I don't understand that English."

"You're something else, Phina." He mused.

"Uh uh, don't even go there. This ain't about me." He was trying to change the subject and thought I didn't catch on. Do people really take me for the slow type?

"Let's just say I've taken my first shot but wasn't so lucky."

"No way! she bounced you!"

Unbelievable.

Ace groaned and rolled his eyes.

"Your lousy ass is the reason I didn't want to tell you."

"Oh my. I'm imagining your face when she rejected you." I giggled.

"Haha, funny. Severina likes me, she just doesn't trust her feelings. " He confidently stated, way too confident. Like he was taking the words right out of Rina's mouth.

"And how did you know that?" I raised a questioning brow.

"I know how girls work. Severina's type especially. Part of the reasons I'm not giving up on her." He sounded so determined. I pray your hope doesn't get crushed, Ace.

"Okay, weirdo," I murmured the last part.

"I heard that."

"My bad."

We rejoined our friends in the huge built-in studio situated on the third floor.

The scene was the true definition of hectic, with papers and files occupying half of the plank floor.

Aisha being the hack lord was hooked to different laptops and electronic gadgets, while the less-blessed airheads like myself were scattered on the floor, reviewing files. The files were reviewed in impenetrable silence. No one talking to the other.

To rescue you from oblivion, these files are a stack of records containing confidential information about Zara and Tyler, from their birth to date. Academic records, family background, health insurance. Just mention it and it's in the record.

You may be flabbergasted as to why we weren't going any further with this much information, but the sad reality is that these records contain nothing relating to a rap sheet.

"For how long will this continue? It's pointless reviewing these files. Everything's gibberish." Severina exhaled.

"Let's just try Rina, we might find something. " Lalia tried to be optimistic but her weary voice begged to differ.

"I'm tired, man. Severina's right. The remaining documents are replicas of their family background. They've got a clean slate." Nathan huffed.

Defeat and tiredness had the entire room submitted to their will.

"I still don't know how you were able to find out it's a lady,  Aisha. " Asher pointed out.

"Easy. I filtered out the full call recording of the unknown caller from Seraphina's phone, and connected it to an auto gender detection machine." Aisha responded without looking up from her laptop.

"How was the machine able to detect that?" Kabia asked next.

"Its sole purpose is to remove all filters that may have been used on records to enhance quality based on characteristics of vocal folds."

"I'll pretend like I know every other thing aside records. " Caleb chuckled.

"And to think I claimed to be in the same university as her when I obviously don't know one-third of the shit she does." Malu heaved in defeat

"The FBI needs you," I stated matter of factly.

Since it's been agreed that the documents were useless, we cleared the floor off all papers and instead surrounded Aisha. She was so into it to the point of not acknowledging our disturbing presence.

"Got it!" Aisha exclaimed, drawing in our attentions.

"She's forty-two kilometres away, Brownsville, Brooklyn(WABC)." She read out loud to Malu who scribbled it down on a notepad.

"You traced it?" Kabia's eyes were the size of meatballs.

"Yup, but she's on the move, judging from the frequent shaking of the red dot. So I better get going."

I drew closer to the laptop and sure enough, a red dot could be seen moving about on the screen.

Aisha threw on a black cotton shirt over her tank top and wore a black beanie. That for disguise, I supposed.

"We'll come with you." Kabia offered but Aisha was quick to shake her head.

"Nope, it's risky and may get her alerted."

"Take this at least. You know how to operate a gun, right?"

She rolled her eyes and snatched the weapon from Asher, tucking it in the waistband of her jean.

"Badass." Lalia chuckled.

"Aisha hurry! she's moving fast." Malu's worried voice filled in.

"On it. Bye guys, I'll keep you in connection."

"You better. " Severina jokingly threatened but there was a hint of worry underlying her tone.

We were all worried for Aisha. This is a life or death situation, as we're dealing with a top-notch, trained assassin. Aisha's a foreign national, if she falls in deep shit, we're all doomed.

"Be careful, Aisha." I hugged her.

"I'll see you when I see you."

I helplessly stared through the window with a heavy heart as she drove past the huge electronic gates.

Please God, no matter what may happen out there, just bring Aisha back to us safe and sound.

I won't survive losing another part of me.

TIFFANY'S POV

"Wakey, wake, sleepyhead."

I groaned and pressed my face further into the soft pillows, blocking out the annoying voice.

"Don't force me to bath you in coffee, Tiffany."

"Go away," I grumbled, but knowing his daring nature, I reluctantly got up, blocking the sun's glare with a hand.

"Morning."

"When will I go home?" I wasn't in the mood for formalities.

"Rude much."

"I've been here for days. I want to go home."

"I can give you everything but that."

"It's pointless asking you anyway when I already know the answer myself. "

"Time, Tiffany, time."

I rolled my eyes and took a sip of the mouth-watering, morning cappuccino.

"At least let my parents know I'm in safe hands."

"They'll."

"When?"

"So...

"Soon. yup, that's the trending show-stopping lie." I scoffed.

"Has your mouth any filters?"

"No."

"Just forty-eight hours and everything will be over."

"That's your problem. I'm leaving either way."

"Why are you being difficult? I've been nothing but nice to you." Some nerves.

"Difficult? I'm the one abducted against my own will and you have the nerves to play the victim?"

"I'll appreciate it if you quit the yel...

"Or what! what huh?!"

"I won't be so nice next time."

"Bigmouth, empty threats."

"You weren't saying that two nights back."

"How many?" I dodged the subject and was glad the devil played along.

"One so far."

SERAPHINA'S POV

One hour and still no sign of Aisha. We've lost contact with her when she entered Brownsville, and this almost gave me a panic attack.

The fact that nobody knew if she was alive or dead was nail-biting.

"I  knew it was a bad idea to let her go alone on such a dangerous mission." Kabia barked, frustratingly running a hand through his already dishevelled hair.

Everyone remained silent, no one daring to challenge Kabia's temperament.

"Have you tried her phone again, Malu?" Asher inquired.

Malu dialled her number and put it on speaker but like all the other calls, the damned voicemail came through.

"I'm sure she'll be alright. She did tell us to expect the unexpected." Severina assured.

Just then my phone pinged with a text. I opened to iMessage and gasped, my fingers trembling.

"What is it Sera?"

"What did you see?"

I ignored my friends' questions and instead dialled Maya's number.

Please pick up, please.

"Hello." Her sleepy voice grumbled.

"Maya, get out of that house, now! you're in danger!."

"What are you talking about?" She sounded very confused.

"I just received a text message from an anonymous source stating you're next. Leave that house, now." I demanded, my heartbeat erratic.

"Okay, I'm coming." She yawned.

"Hurry up Maya. Time isn't on your side," I knew Maya very well, and believe me when I tell you the girl is capable of planting her ass back in bed.

"Okay, okay, geez. No need to torment my ears." She snapped and hung up. No one likes it when their beauty sleep is interrupted, but I hope she understands that circumstances called for it this time around.

"What does the message say?" Severina asked. I've even forgotten about them.

'bestie dearest is next on the line'

I got up and walked over to the window, checking for any sign of Maya but was met with emptiness so far, except for the violent movement of the pine trees as the wind blew.

The clouds were dark, a warning sign of heavy rainfall. Ironic how the weather outside was the perfect depiction of the mood inside. Dark and cloudy.

A ringing tone suddenly blared in the room, making me almost jump out of my skin from shock.

"It's Aisha"

Malu put the call on speaker and placed the phone on the round centre table.

"Where are you, Aisha? you got me worried to death." Kabia bellowed.

"I'm driving back." Her voice was suspiciously calm. Way too calm for someone on a killer hunt, and that doesn't sound good.

"So, anything?" Bia asked the one question everyone seemed to be tight-lipped on.

"It's bad news."