CHAPTER FORTEEN : Killer's Strike

The office wasn't crowded but there were enough souls in it that made Alina's claustrophobic irritation emerge. They had received an anonymous phone call and were called immediately to the private room.

"Is the speaker still on the line?"

"Yes sir, he is"

Alina only recognized Mason and Patrick, there were two more men in the small room, they seemed to occupy high positions as well.

"I'll answer then"

They didn't seem troubled with it, it was like a weight came off their shoulders, maybe it was so much responsibility and she had to be proud of Patrick. She couldn't see anything special about answering a phone call, it was more likely to be something other than they expected.

"Did you trace him yet?"

"We've been trying to trace the call, but they are untouchable we only get splayed ferromagnetic ground state, they refuse to hang up until they talk to a superior"

"Keep trying, mend him through"

The voice was obviously edited, it was trussed with arrogance, pridefully speaking. With a metallic laugh, they finally spoke:

"Let's play a game"

Everyone listened.

"Look, I don't know who the hell you are, but you won't stay in the shadows for too long"

"Shhh, the best you can do now is listen. I'm the only one who keeps this investigation going, without me you are lost"

Alina felt a pool of rage inside her head, she felt strangled, like her voice was cut out. Eren shared a worried look with her, she couldn't smile anymore. She told herself to breathe, "deep breath in, deep breath out" That was all that her mind was echoing.

"I want the girl you have dead, just get rid of her, or I'll do it myself"

"You know we can't do that, we are lawmen, we can't kill a person just because a psycho wants her dead"

"It's either her or the one I captured. She's mine now"

"What the hell are you talking about?". Patrick felt like he had been shot in the gut, his eyes rocketing wide.

"I'm talking about her millionaire twin sister, this has a lot of money compared to what style she lives in"

"That's impossible, she's a fourteen-year-old, this whole situation is insanity!!"

"More lies, why don't you ask your daughter. I thought you had your doubts, I'm disappointed" The voice emanated from the speaker like a bomb on Alina's heart, her sister was in so much trouble even if she got was rescued. "I just want the girl gone in a week, I'm just being nice. I killed more people and it didn't take me a day"

"That sounds like a confession to me" whispered Mason after he turned the mike off.

"What do we do now?" Patrick muttered in a sick tone, he looked at Alina. The phlegmatic Alina.

"Embezzle them, get more information, a clear confession, enough for a warrant"

"We need an identity"

"Work for it!" Said Mason choking on his words while leaving the room to supervise the call tracing.

"Anyways, I can't stay here for long. Just wanted to let you know of my plan. The game is on"

Alina, who had been silent this whole conversation, was suddenly hovering, her limbs filled with hatred words she saved all these years, she turned the mic on before Patrick could stop her.

"Leave me and my sister ALONE!" She was screaming.

"I see the thief is here too! Have I caused you much trouble? This will be over for you soon I promise" The speaker echoed with a laugh that almost left Alina's brain on fire.

This whole time, Eren was trying to place the accent, he had an idea or two. But he was sure that it was not American or Mid eastern, it sounded more British.

"I swear to god, I will find you. And when I do, I'll make you beg for my mercy" Alina's voice was excruciated as though a xerophilic being had shattered her skin.

"Maybe I'll kill you before you do, and when I do everyone else will beg for mine"

Alina was about to shove the blade of words into herself when they hung up. They were gone, he was gone, she was gone. Whoever they, whatever they were, the only two things Patrick had known for certainty are; Whatever this meant, it was recondite, and he should take Alina home.

Eren watched Alina collapse with his eyes wide open, it was happening and he was helpless. He wasn't sure why they were there too, and what kind of secrets the girl that had saved his life concealed behind the gloomy bright blue peepers.

They went back home, and Lydia finally answered Alina's texts. She didn't bother to read them. She had been mentally tortured for what seemed to be infinity.

{§______________________________________________________________________________________________________§}

(Flashback)

The baby's screaming waked her up from the nauseating thoughts spinning inside her mind and brought her to consciousness. She held the basket carefully with both hands after messaging her friends to meet her at her house.

Eren was having a conversation with Selena, she knew she would try her best to be the perfect mother, but she just ruined what was left of her heart, Alina wasn't surprised though. She also knew Selena didn't mean it, still, she acted mad so that everyone would leave her alone, she could turn to the great Hulk if someone tried to talk her through it.

After she made up with Eren, the baby started crying again.

"What is that? Wait, you brought your baby home?!"

"Use your head dumbass, of course, it's not mine"

Eren was confused, but he never saw Alina pregnant for nine months, he didn't know Alina for nine months!

"I'm not sure you know how the human body works?"

"I'm not sure either" He had a stupid smile painted on his face. Alina grinned at him.

"Get the basket and I'll meet you at the park"

"What park? St Anderson's?"

"Yes, go!" She said from afar, she went inside the house to get new sheets for the baby, and some money to stop at the baby store and get new clothes. She realized she was not sure if it's a girl or a boy. She shoved everything in her backpack and followed Eren's steps to get to the park.

Lydia wasn't at her house, they called her several times and she didn't answer.

"Why does everyone I care about keep disappearing?" She was at her edge, had enough.

"What do we do now?"

"The police, maybe someone just forgot their baby here," She said as she was changing the sheets after making the baby boy wear his clothes. "Maybe he went missing and someone kidnapped him and then had a remorse and just left him here, or maybe they ....."

Eren stopped her, "Stop it! You could write a novel with a hypothesis like this! No one is dumb enough to forget their baby in an abandoned park!"

He crouched to face her and saw the same watery eyes, the tears waiting for a chance to erupt, just like the first time he ever met her, when he still thought he was the reason for her whining. Now, Eren was certain no one can make her cry, only sorrow can make her suffer and unnecessary agony made her curse humanity.

Filled with rage she replied, "Well, how do you explain the neglection this poor baby has to go through just for being nothing but innocent!!" she took a deep breath, punched her chest, and pursued, "It hurts me more to see other people going through the same thing, over and over again. As if millions of broken souls weren't enough "

She was mad at everyone, she was mad at God. It didn't make any sense for her, why was bad created? or why did they have to go through a lot just to die at the end of the race? There had to be a glitch.

"I'm giving him a name, I don't want him to stay anonymous"

"Are you sure you're not doing it for yourself?"

She let out a deep sigh. "I wanna find him in the future, maybe then I will be able to rescue him from the miserable life of being in a foster care home"

He wanted to tell her he understands her reasons, but he didn't understand anything.

They took the baby to the precinct and filled some papers, they were exhausted since they had to come by foot.

A couple of police officers ran beside them, they seemed in a rush, like a foreboding is nearing them. Suddenly Patrick followed, he stopped when he saw Alina, he didn't have time to explain so grasped her arm and dragged her with him. Eren was watching, uncurious about what's happening until Patrick obviously ordered a policeman to bring him too.

He was a part of their mess now.

(End of flashback)

She was proud of what she had done, for the baby. Alina made a promise to herself looking at the mirror in the middle of the night.

"You will never give up, think! Just keep your brain working, you'll survive!"

She repeated it many times to finally trick her mind into believing it. She knew there was no way out.