Chapter 19: Neo-Venezia

As Emma and Carl fled and their silhouettes disappeared into the swirling portal, Alessandra suddenly felt something strange. The metal on her neck began to heat up. At first she ignored the sensation, but the pain was growing. She violently grabbed her neck. It was her necklace - an ancestral ring worn on a chain - that began to heat up until it finally began to steam her.

- Damn what's... - she hissed, pulling off the necklace in one swift motion.

The metal almost burned in her hand, she noticed that the ring vibrated strangely, as if it lived a life of its own. She hesitated only for a moment, then moved towards the exit of the cafe, where Alex, Luca and Elias, stared at the place where the opponents had disappeared a moment ago.

- What happened? - Alex asked as she ran up to them, still out of breath.

- This is the ring," she explained, showing them a piece of metal.

Her hands were still trembling slightly.

- A family relic, from the days of the Venetian Republic. I've always believed it was more than a mere souvenir.

Elias raised an eyebrow, looking at the ring with interest.

- Do you think it's not a coincidence? That the ring has now reacted?

Alessandra nodded her head.

- Yes, I feel that something awoke in him when Emma opened the portal. It was as if he sensed his energy.

Luca scratched his head, staring at the ring as if it were the key to the whole puzzle.

- What if it was also the key? Emma could open the portal because she had the right technology. And you ... You have something that reacted in the same way. Maybe this ring can also open the portal?

Alessandra looked at the ring, feeling a mixture of fear and excitement. Luca's idea sounded absurd, but.... what could she lose? She slipped the ring onto her finger, feeling the metal become cooler. Almost immediately, glowing symbols appeared on the surface of the ring, arranged in mysterious patterns, as if engraved by an invisible hand.

- What the hell? - Alex took a step back, clearly surprised.

Elias, more interested than frightened, approached her.

- These are ancient runes. I've seen these somewhere before," he stated. - They look like a panel controlling some kind of technology. Maybe the same one that Emma used.

Alessandra took a chance. She touched one of the glowing symbols, and the air in front of her began to vibrate. Space swirled, as if moved by an invisible force. Energy exploded in front of them and materialized into a swirling portal, almost identical to the one Emma had opened. Everyone froze. The portal pulsed, shining with an unreal light, and a strange, electrifying atmosphere began to grow around them.

- It works... - Luca choked out, staring at the portal in disbelief. - Well, I don't believe it... You had a teleporter around your neck the whole time. Well, fuck... and we had to deal with some shitty rituals, mechanisms and other crap wasting time.

- Seriously Luca. I didn't know," she replied guiltily to Luca's accusation.

Alessandra looked at the portal, feeling the weight of responsibility. A path to an unknown, dangerous world was opening before them. With the ring on her finger, she now had powers she barely understood.

- Shall we go? - Alex asked, looking at her expectantly.

Alessandra took a deep breath, feeling there was no turning back. That ring - something that had been a mere family heirloom for years - turned out to be the key to something much bigger. But what exactly was it? The answer to that question was waiting on the other side of the portal.

- If we don't try, we'll be stuck here forever. - Elias added.

Luca laughed, though there was more nerves than humor in his voice.

- If we hit the 60s, I'm staying. I've always wanted to see Woodstock.

- Let's hope we get where we need to be this time," Alessandra replied, clasping her hand.

The air around them rippled, the space seemed to change into a kaleidoscope of movement and light. The world twisted and vibrated, as if unable to hold a single shape. Sounds ripped through their thoughts, like uncontrollable screams lost in the storm of time. Then. Silence. Darkness. And suddenly - they were where they started. Or were they sure they were? They were standing in a place that was supposed to be their present - the Venice of 2023. But something was wrong. At first glance, everything looked familiar, but with every glance they recognized disturbing differences. The architecture had changed, as if the city had moved forward by decades, not days.

- What the hell...? - Alex couldn't finish the sentence.

Futuristic vehicles flitted through the streets, and skyscrapers shot toward the sky like organic creatures from another world. Buildings that once adorned ancient Venice were now surrounded by smooth, gleaming structures that resembled giant shells. The walls seemed to be alive - they reacted to their surroundings, their surfaces pulsed as if they were breathing.

- Fuck me... Fuck again... - Luca could barely breathe as he looked at the electric cars with their streamlined, almost fluid shapes, as if they had been lifted from the pages of a science fiction novel.

Everything was different. Venice had become a hybrid of past and future, an intricate symphony of old townhouses and technological marvels. Instead of the usual gondolas, there were silent electric gondolas on the canals, which flowed gracefully, as if floating above the water. In the squares - holographic projections displayed images from centuries past, interspersed with futuristic graphics that blended into the urban space like living art. Alessandra was the first to spot the people. They looked like Venetians, but their clothes combined retro aesthetics with modern technologies. Women wore dresses with classic cuts, decorated with delicate LED patterns that changed colors as they moved. Men - elegant, in suits whose fabrics shimmered thanks to built-in micro-sensors. All wore accessories imbued with technology - rings, bracelets, glasses that were at once sophisticated jewelry and miniature computers. An android walking past them, dressed in a perfectly tailored uniform, flashed a look that was too human to ignore. Its skin had a cool, matte hue, and its movements were fluid, unnaturally precise. The entire city was full of such robots - from waiters to tour guides, from doormen to street cleaners, androids that silently roamed the streets, ensuring impeccable order.

- This... I don't think this is your present," muttered Elias, looking around as he noticed cars with anti-gravity cushions gliding across the sky, hovering above the ground like ghosts of the future.

The city was alive. People moved around on electric bicycles and in futuristic streetcars that moved smoothly over the streets without disrupting traffic at ground level. Beneath their feet, they could see roads lined with solar panels, collecting solar energy that powered the entire city. They stood in the middle of this futuristic Venice, trying to digest what had just happened. This was supposed to be their reality, but now it was more than just a change of scenery. Everything had changed - time, space, rules. This city, so familiar and foreign at the same time, was proof that their return had not gone according to plan.

They decided to go to the hotel to think about what to do next. Stepping through the city, their hearts beat to the rhythm of the future, which intertwined with the past, creating an uncanny mosaic in which each step brought new questions, and the answers seemed to escape into the unknown. When they arrived at their destination, there was tension in the air. They entered the Neo-Venezia Hotel exhausted, each step was like a battle against gravity, as if the entire city had allied against them. The hotel shone in neon lights, and the elegant android doorman, LUMI-7, greeted them with a cold smile on her display face.

- Good evening. Welcome to the Hotel Neo-Venezia. What can I help you with? -said LUMI-7 with a smile that adorned her face screen.

Alex, speaking up as the group's leader, replied with a little surprise in his voice.

- Good evening. We need 2 rooms.

LUMI-7 began to search her information resources. After a moment, she looked at the group with distrust and answered.

- Sorry, but we have full occupancy.

Luca, feeling uneasy, intervened.

- Would you please check again? It's really important. - He replied by putting a few hundred euros on the countertop, which he had rolled up on the way to the hotel to a random couple he had deliberately bumped into.

LUMI-7 checked the database again, causing impatient anticipation among friends. Finally, she returned with the result.

- I apologize for the confusion. Actually we have rooms 305, 306 and 307 vacant, and I can take you to them if you allow me.

They followed the android into the rooms, full of hope for a blissful rest. LUMI-7 led them to rooms on the third floor. The doors - 305, 306 and 307 - opened quietly at the same time, revealing interiors that at first glance looked like an oasis of luxury, but in their current state, these places were nothing more than a refuge from chaos. Alex and Alessandra entered their room, and the door closed behind them with an almost too gentle click, as if Neo-Venezia couldn't wait to separate them from the rest of the world. The interior was elegant but austere - a combination of cold metal and warm wood. The mirrored walls reflected the soft light coming from modern lamps hidden in the ceiling, giving the room an almost ethereal glow. In the center of the room was a huge double bed with white sheets, looking so clean that they almost sparkled in the twilight.

- We need to get cleaned up and rest," Alex said quietly, seeing Alessandra, whose face was stained with blood and dust after the fight.

He himself felt the dirt and blood solidify on his body, sticking to his skin. Alessandra nodded, barely holding back her fatigue, and they moved together toward the bathroom. It was spacious, lined with light marble overlooking the futuristic city. The shower had transparent walls, and water flowed from the ceiling like tropical rain. Under the stream of hot water, the two stood in silence, watching the dirt and blood run off their bodies, forming reddish-brown stains on the marble tiles. Fatigue took control of their every movement, but the shower was like a cleansing - a momentary escape from brutal reality. After bathing, wrapped in white towels, they lay down on the soft bed. Alessandra snuggled up to Alex, and his arm instinctively embraced her, as if he was trying to protect her even in her sleep. At that moment, all they wanted was peace and quiet. They fell asleep quickly, tired and exhausted, leaving behind everything that had happened that night.

Elias entered his room with a clear weight on his shoulders. His thoughts were swirling in confusion, but the room he entered exuded calm. It was more modest than Alex and Alessandra's room, more ascetic, but still modern and luxurious. The bed stood in the middle of the room, simple, with a dark green velour bedspread. A large window occupied an entire wall, showing the city skyline lit up with neon advertisements and holograms. He approached the bed, but instead of lying down like his companions, he knelt beside it, his entwined hands resting on the edge of the mattress. Fatigue filled his body, but his mind wouldn't let him rest yet. Instead, he closed his eyes and began to pray, whispering words to soothe him. Each prayer was not only an escape for him, but also a ritual of tranquility, a way to find strength in moments of weakness. He prayed for a long time, until finally his thoughts began to calm down. When he felt his body begin to give in to fatigue, he lay down on his bed, though dressed, he closed his eyes, allowing himself to sleep for a while.

Luca entered his room almost automatically, struggling to stay on his feet. Inside was a cozy twilight, and the dark wood of the furniture and thick curtains added to the room's feeling of intimacy. In the center of the room stood a large bed with a navy blue bedspread, and in the corner was a small table with a lamp of warm amber light. He didn't have the strength to look at his surroundings. Paying no attention to anything, he took a quick shower then walked over to the bed, sank heavily onto it, as if his legs refused to obey him. For a while he lay motionless, his face pressing into the soft sheets. With his eyes closed, he breathed deeply, trying to calm his accelerated heartbeat. With each passing minute, his body grew heavier and heavier, and fatigue descended on him like a heavy veil. Without even removing his hotel robe, he finally fell asleep, barely aware of what was going on around him. In the quiet of the rooms of the Neo-Venezia Hotel, the four of them were finally able to rest - if only briefly - from the world that had so brutally brought them to their knees.

The morning came quietly, as if the city wanted to allow them some peace and quiet after the previous busy day. Alex woke up early, carefully slipping out from under the blanket so as not to wake Alessandra, who was sleeping next to him. He had a plan. He knew they had a difficult conversation ahead of them about the way forward, but first the sanctity of every morning's coffee. In the elevator, descending to the first floor, he could still feel the fatigue echoing in his body, but the pulsing adrenaline wouldn't let him stop. At the reception desk, he ordered four strong coffees - bitter, black, exactly what they needed now. When he returned with the steaming mugs, the corridor on the third floor was filled with silence. He stood in front of the door of Elias' room and knocked gently, balancing the coffee mugs in his hands. The door opened slowly, and Elias, not yet fully awake, looked at Alex with mild surprise.

- Coffee? - Alex asked, raising his mug in a gesture of invitation.

Elias nodded, took the cup and accepted it gratefully, feeling the warmth of the drink spread through his body.

- Thank you," he murmured quietly, stretching, then went out into the hallway.

Alex then walked to Luka's room. He knocked, but this time without an answer. He knocked again, harder, until a moment later the door opened abruptly, and Luca - disheveled, with bloodshot eyes - looked up at him, still half asleep.

- What...? - he muttered, trying to understand what was going on.

- Coffee. Morning. Plan of action," Alex replied, handing him a cup.

- Aha, thanks," sighed Luca, accepting the drink.

It was apparent that he needed a solid dose of caffeine to start functioning. He stretched, rubbed his face and joined Elias in the hallway.

- Come to my room," Alex chuckled, leading them back toward room 305.

When they went inside, Alessandra was just rising from her bed, stretching lazily. Alex had set the cups on a small table by the window, and the sun was pouring in through the large windows, illuminating their tired faces. Neo-Venezia was awakening to life outside, but inside it was quiet.

- We need to talk about what to do next," Alex began, making things clear, though his voice was calm. He knew that what lay ahead required not only strength, but also a plan.

Elias and Luca sat at the table, drinking coffee slowly. Alessandra went to get dressed quickly, then, leaning against the windowsill, folded her arms across her chest, watching them intently.

- We need to act quickly before the Brotherhood finds out where we are staying," Alex continued, his eyes sweeping the room as if looking for strategy in every detail.

They were tired, but ready. The morning coffee had brightened their thoughts, and the decisions they were about to make were only a matter of time. But this was just a prelude. Suddenly the door to the room collapsed with a bang, shattered like matchsticks. A group of armed Brotherhood mercenaries, equipped with weapons illuminated by icy LEDs, rushed into the living room, their steps almost silent and their movements practiced. No words, no negotiations - they knew that a fight was inevitable.

- To attack! - shouted Alex like a general, and their small group momentarily went into action, like a precision-operated machine.

The first blow came from Alex's hand - he delivered a straight punch to the mercenary's face, surprising him with his strength. The mercenary fell, and Alex immediately turned around to face the next one. Alessandra threw herself into the fray, nimbly blocking her opponents' blows with her agile movements, until she finally snatched one weapon from his hand and used it against the rest. The fight was brutal, and the space was too narrow to dodge the blows. Everything happened in the blink of an eye - chairs flew through the air, mugs filled with still-warm coffee smashed against the walls. Luca, on the right flank, outmaneuvered the three attackers, deftly dodging their shots, while Elias, like a shadow, crept up from behind, disabling one after another with short, precise blows to the neck.

- Alessandra, watch out! - shouted Alex, as one of the mercenaries rushed at her from behind.

She turned at the last moment, dodging a blow that almost hit her. She grabbed her opponent's arm, twisting it with a grace and brutality that betrayed her training. The mirrored cabinet in the room became an unexpected aid - Alex used it to blind her attackers, reflecting the light of the sun straight into their eyes. A moment of confusion was enough for Elias to bring out a series of precise strikes, incapacitating more opponents. But the attackers were well organized and relentless. Every now and then new ones appeared, and their numbers grew. Fighting in the confined space of the hotel room became increasingly difficult. From the window they spotted more Brotherhood transports landing in front of the hotel - modern, anti-gravity vehicles glided silently over the streets, and their crew immediately joined the fight. Alex knew that if they did not escape now, they would be defeated.

- We have to get out of here! - cried Luca, and his voice sounded desperate in the chaos of the battle.

Agreeing, Alex pointed to the back exit leading to the corridor. Luca grabbed a chair and threw it at the door, trying to delay the attackers. The narrow corridors of the hotel now became the only escape route, and the friends ran through them, passing another closed door, trying not to think about how close the enemies were. Everything might have worked out, if not for one detail.

When they reached the lobby, more mercenaries rushed in from the huge windows. One of them, clearly more experienced, moved with the grace of a predator. He found himself behind Elias, grabbing him with a force that left Elias unable to move. A glass knife flashed in his hand, applied to the hostage's neck.

- If you move, I will kill him," hissed the attacker, and his voice sounded like cold steel.

Alex froze. The exchange of glances with the rest of the group was quick, but full of desperation. They knew they could not risk Elias' life. Their weapons dropped and their hands raised in a gesture of surrender. They were powerless, surrounded on all sides. They were tied up and led outside, where the Brotherhood's levitating vehicles were waiting - modern, shiny machines that looked as if they belonged to another world.

- Pack them into hoovercabs," the attacker ordered.

Elias was thrown into one of the vehicles, while the rest of his friends were placed in separate cabins. Alex, peering through the window of the vehicle, met Alessandra's gaze for a split second. It was a moment when they didn't need words - they knew they would do anything to get out and fight on. As the transport floated over the city, passing among neon lights and futuristic holograms, Alex couldn't stop analyzing the situation. Every detail, every possible plan was slipping away at the moment, but he knew one thing - he had to keep fighting.

Although bound and deprived of the ability to act, Alessandra did not lose her fighting spirit. Her wrists were sore from the tight bonds, but she still clenched her fists, anticipating the opportunity to break free. She knew she couldn't give up - not only for herself, but especially for Alex. Thoughts of Elias and Luka swirled in her head. She had to find them before it was too late. Every second seemed like an eternity. In a separate cell, Elias concentrated on his torturers' every move. He watched them closely, like a predator waiting for the right moment to attack. He furrowed his brow as the guards exchanged brief glances and talked in hushed voices. He knew something was getting ready, and he had to be ready. He was already close, close to getting his freedom back. All he needed was a moment of inattention - a moment that would turn the situation in his favor.

Meanwhile, the transport glided over the city, increasing the sense of uncertainty with every turn. The narrow streets of Neo-Venezia were full of traffic and shadows, and Alex felt adrenaline bubbling through his veins. The situation was becoming increasingly tense. Time was running out, and the pressure was mounting. The handcuffs that bound his wrists, were an older model - surprising in a world of such advanced technology. At this point, however, it was working in his favor. "A key? Too easy," he thought as his fingers explored the cold metal. He had dealt with something similar more than once before. Thievery, survival - these were all part of his past experiences, which he could now draw on. He gently began to manipulate the handcuffs, feeling the metal links move minimally. Finally, he managed to get his thumb out and felt one of the handcuffs begin to slide down his hand. The cool air immediately wrapped around his free hand, but he had to control his excitement. It was still too early to celebrate. With concentration, he freed his other hand. Now he acted quickly and efficiently, as if his every move had been practiced thousands of times.

He looked at the guards - they still suspected nothing, focused on driving. But time was working against him. He had to devise a plan. He cast a quick glance around. In the corner of the cabin, he spotted a metal pipe, part of the carrier's structure. "This will come in handy," he thought. With determination, he began to manipulate the handcuffs, using the pipe as a lever. The metal slowly began to give way, emitting a quiet groan that disappeared into the noise of the engines. Finally, the handcuffs gave in completely, and Alex felt a rush of adrenaline that forced his heart to beat faster. Now there was no turning back. He started moving toward the rear of the cabin, where he spotted a ventilation duct. He looked over his shoulder - the guards were still oblivious to his actions. Silently and with precision, like a trained assassin, Alex pulled out a knife hidden in his shoe and began working on the ventilation grate. His movements were quick but controlled.

Finally, he yanked the grate out with one decisive thrust of his leg, and the cool air hit him in the face. He grabbed the edge of the opening and with a quiet hiss of pain crawled outside, squeezing his body through the tight space. When he reached the roof of the hoovercab, the wind smeared his face and the sound of the city flooded his senses. The sight of Neo-Venezia stretching below momentarily took his breath away, but he had to focus on the task at hand. The transport ship rocked on the uneven streets, and every step he took on the vehicle's roof was a test of balance. Alex moved toward the cockpit, trying to avoid the cameras and sensors deployed on the vehicle. Every move had to be deliberate, every breath controlled. He spotted a hatch leading back into the interior. He opened it gently but quickly, and slid inside like a shadow, closing the hatch behind him.

The interior of the cabin was different now. The silence that surrounded him had something sinister about it. Two guards still sat at their consoles, oblivious to his presence. Alex, acting with lightning speed, got to the first of them, holding him down and knocking him out with surprising ease. The sound of a body hitting the floor filled the space, and Alex snatched the weapon from the unconscious guard's holster in one motion. The weapon was cold and heavy, but it gave him an advantage. The second guard turned abruptly, his face frozen in an expression of shock. Alex pointed the barrel at his head, his voice was icy, controlled.

- Take it easy. No one has to die," he said. - But I need some answers.

The guard turned pale, with trembling hands he lifted himself slightly from his seat, as if he wanted to escape, but knew there was nowhere to go.

- Who sent you? - Alex did not take his eyes off him, and his finger trembled slightly on the trigger.

The guard stammered, his eyes filled with fear.

- I... I can't... - he began, but seeing Alex's cold stare, he changed his tone. - They will kill me.

- And I'll shoot you here and now if you don't tell me," Alex replied firmly, pressing the barrel harder against the guard's temple.

Silence filled the cabin for a brief moment, and then Alex, without hesitation, shot the guard in the arm. The roar of the gunshot filled the space, and the guard wailed in pain, clutching his bleeding arm.

- Who sent you? - Alex repeated the question, and his voice was like a blade cutting through the air.

The cry of pain turned into a pleading moan.

- Really... I can't... They will kill me! - the guard sobbed, his body shaking from pain and fear.

Alex, relentless, raised his weapon higher.

- Don't make me repeat myself. Because I will blow your head off," he said in an icy voice.

The guard clenched his eyelids, drew in air as if he had already surrendered to his fate, then whispered

- Brotherhood...

He didn't have time to finish when Alex used his experience and agility to stun him with momentum. The rumbling of the falling body of the startled guard could be heard, and he was momentarily thrown from the driver's seat. Overcoming the chaos of the momentary confusion, he took control of the vehicle. He rushed toward the second hoovercab, where Luca was located. His hands squeezed the steering wheel with confidence and his legs responded to the pedals with precision. He accelerated, anticipating the right moment. Adrenaline propelled him into action. With lightning-like momentum, he slammed into the side of the vehicle Luca was in. The rumble of metal, the crack of breaking glass and the sharp crunch of the ripped hull filled the space, but Alex didn't slow down. He knew there was no time to think. He had to act - quickly and mercilessly.

The vehicles glided on, colliding, when the door of the second hoovercab swung open momentarily, revealing the imprisoned Luca. Alex focused his gaze, not about to let go. He took another charge, striking again until the front of his vehicle went under the rear of the hoovercab. He jumped out through the shattered windshield, landing gracefully on the back of the vehicle. Luca, handcuffed, looked at Alex with a mixture of relief and horror.

- Can it help? - threw Alex with a smile, at the same time shooting the lock of the handcuffs with precision. - Now we jump on the hood.

- You must be fucked up! - exclaimed Luca, but he was already climbing onto the hood, following in Alex's footsteps.

Both jumped from the hood through the windshield to the hoovercab, where Alex immediately took over after throwing the driver out. He caught up with the next opponent. The vehicles sped along the canal, and Alex impetuously slammed into the side pushing it into the water. The roar of the falling hoovercab and the splashes of water brought him relief, though he knew this was only the beginning. Now he had only one goal: to catch the transport with Alessandra.

Hoovercab darted through the winding streets of Venice, gliding on the edge of traction. Luca, with his hands clenched on the railing, watched the fierceness painted in Alex's eyes. The city around them was turning into a backdrop for this frantic game of life. Alex was like on a chessboard, where every move of the opponent had to be anticipated in advance. Corners, bridges, narrow alleys - Venice fought back, but Alex was like a predator who would not let his prey escape. Every turn, every leap over the stones of the street, every sudden maneuver of the opponent was another opportunity to get closer to the target.

The opponent used urban obstacles like a master of acrobatics - he jumped curbs, dodged stalls, but Alex stuck to him like a shadow. Through narrow streets, bridges, rooftops - they sped, breaking all the laws of physics. At one point the driver took a risk, turning sharply into a crowded alley. It was a mistake that Alex was not going to waste. The enemy's hoovercab disappeared around the corner for a moment, but Alex pressed down on the accelerator, feeling the engine cranking to its limits. The narrow street was a trap - for the enemy. As he tried to escape, Alex impetuously closed the way for him. They collided violently. Metal rasped, sparks shot from under the vehicles. Hoovercabs stood still, coming to an abrupt halt on the verge of disintegration. Alex and Luca wasted no time. They jumped out of the vehicle in a flash, moving toward the attackers. They were like a storm - fast and relentless. A few blows, instantly immobilizing the enemies.

Once everything was under control, Alex approached the back door of the hoovercab. He opened it with superhuman strength, expecting to see Alessandra. However, something completely different was waiting for him inside. An old man - brother Elias - was looking at him with horror and confusion.

- What the fuck? Where is Alessandra! - exclaimed a surprised Alex.

Elias barely got the words out.

- They took it over... We were separated... It all happened so fast....

A situation that was supposed to be simple - recapture friends, escape the city - was now becoming uncontrollable chaos. Alessandra was in the hands of the Brotherhood, and their technological superiority only made matters worse.

- We must act," said Alex with determination. - Elias, tell us everything you know. Maybe we can still get her back quickly.

However, the information Elias had was sparse. The entire group fell into a brief deliberation, but nothing concrete could be determined. Every second of delay only moved them further away from the possibility of finding Alessandra. Desperation hung in the air when finally Elias suggested that they return to the regrouping area. It wasn't an ideal plan, but they had no other choice. They set off through the maze of Venetian streets, searching every nook and cranny, but to no avail. Hope was fading until they finally spotted an old woman who was looking at them with concern.

- Maybe she saw something," Luca said and moved closer to her.

The old woman told them how one beautiful woman was brutally thrown into a vehicle full of technology she had never seen before. She described the path the kidnappers took, but her last words froze the blood in Alex's veins.

- After they placed the woman in the vehicle they were attacked by an armed squad. But they were already local boys.

- Anything else you might remember? - Luca inquired.

- . I only know that those who attacked them went towards the old warehouses. I didn't see anything else.

- We understand. Thank you very much for the information, good woman," added Elias.

- But something else caught my attention," she added thoughtfully.

- Yes. What's that? - Alex asked.

- Those kidnappers. They were strange people.... as if out of this world," whispered the old woman. - Their appearance... their outfits... It's something our city has never seen.

Alex felt a cold shiver run down his spine.