Soon enough, the nurse pushed the wheelchair across a passageway. And when they reached the front of ward 134, the old woman held a heavy expression while staring at the door. And as though they told each other anything, they smirked at the same time. Then the wheelchair moved on.
"Silent, eh…" the woman mumbled. "Guess he has finally found a reason to lay low like that. What do you think he would turn into when he faces the real thing? Tch… a crybaby then."
The nurse chuckled.
As the chair's wheel turned into a lone corner, a phone chimed. It was the nurse's… she brought it out, checked the screen before answering the call.
The old woman glanced over her shoulder as the nurse said, "The guys have called," and handed the phone over. She cleared her throat, bringing it slowly to her ears without rushing, because she didn't have to. She was the boss here, the supreme one who gives the orders.
"Good afternoon, madam!" a deep, masculine voice greeted in a high pitch that showed just how much respect he had for this person.
The old woman rested her shoulders at the same time the nurse pushed the chair into an elevator.
The man continued, actually not expecting a response either, "The prison bus will soon reach the Northampton District, so our men have laid in ambush…"
"I already know all that," she cut in, her tone authoritative and unforgiving. "Why did you call then? To just let me know you're on set… or flaunt that you're underground criminals who are going to kill another one today?"
The man didn't reply, clearly shaken by that remark. And in an apologetic, low, and shaky tone, he replied, "Forgive me, ma'am…"
The old woman cut in nonetheless, as the nurse pushed her out of the elevator, then down another pathway… where at the end of which were two tall-suited men who bowed immediately,
"Listen to me, you worthless son of a bitch. I held on to not making you guys turn yourselves in because I needed you to handle this first. But if you dare miss ambushing that bus and bringing that man down, I myself will be the police. You don't want to see my other side… or do you?"
The man replied immediately, "Absolutely not, madam!"
"Good," was all the woman said before hanging up.
The nurse smiled in admiration of the woman to have such potential of being the boss of this game despite her age. And even how she could hide her personality well that others see her as a kind old woman. People like the lady they met in the lobby earlier.
"Welcome back, Madam Jackson!" the men bowed to her, opening the door into her ward. The air smelled of rosy perfume, not of antiseptics.
As the wheels stopped, the woman rose and stepped down onto her feet. She walked to the window easily, unlike someone who really needs a wheelchair… because her legs were fine and the chair was just a disguise.
"I guess it's time to play with the Hollands then, ma'am," the nurse interjected. "Please put your mind at rest… Those guys will handle it well."
The woman sighed. And after a few seconds of staring outside, she ordered, "Get me the live footage of the abduction."
"Yes, ma'am."
Along a free-drive lone road was a bridge atop which five people stood. What they all had in common were body armours and fingerless gloves. Their weapons differed – one with an unwavering focus at the point ahead on the road held a mini bomb launcher while others had knives, shotguns and sorts. But this wasn't all.
A lean guy with broad shoulders, chiselled jawlines and very smooth skin like the descendant of an angelic god of strength gestured at a bush by the side of the road… And someone pointed out, replying that they were alert. Actually, there were more of them lying down in the bush, ready with their weapons.
On the bridge, a slender lady stepped closer to the lean guy. She whispered, sounding as impatient as always, "Captain, how long do we have to wait here before we know the bus isn't coming? The police spy might not have put the bug on it for all I care…"
Her voice dissolved into her throat as the guy stepped closer, his eyes staring into hers. She wanted to voice her concerns because it had been hours since they had been waiting for the prison bus to appear.
But proving her wrong that the bug was still on the bus, he turned the screen of an iPad towards her. There was a red marker that continued moving, crossing a place indicated as Septer Ruins.
The captain said, "Septer Ruins is a few kilometres away from this district. So, soon, they'll be here."
He then wrapped his arms behind him, walked to the bridge's edge, and stared down.
"Remember we're betting this mission on our lives. If we don't get it done, Madam Jackson isn't letting go. So, if we have to spend thousands of hours out here waiting for the bus, we will, so as to be able to spend millions more."
Nonetheless, the lady interposed, "I have a concern. Take a look at the marker… it isn't perfectly fitted to the line. What if the bug isn't anywhere around the bus chassis but on someone else sitting inside?"
The captain stared at the map too, and noticed the same thing. But this wasn't the time for assumptions.
"Kill that thought, Aria. We'll still wait."
Silence stretched.
Still, Aria pressed on. "How about we go block the other path? That's the road leading into New Village. The bus always passes through this place… but what if they change their minds?"
The captain stood still, not saying anything.
Meanwhile, inside the speeding yellow bus, Mr Stamps stared here and there, an iron door locking him inside. It was silent, save for the grunting of the bus wheels, and even the windows were closed, so it was almost suffocating.
He wondered silently how people would treat him when he got to prison. Perhaps the same treatment he got living in the streets at his young age – beaten up, robbed, and even stabbed.
Well, he survived, so he would be the same if such treatment awaited him. Back then, he had clung on to his life tightly so he could finally live a life of luxury. Survival and luxury meant so much to him that he could do anything to get them.
"Uh?" one of the police officers outside the iron gate mumbled as he felt a tingling in his back. He rubbed it slowly, but he noticed it wasn't there either. Yet, he still felt the tingle. "I think something's stuck in my butt."
The driver glanced at him and chuckled, "Maybe you forgot to wipe your shit today."
"No, not that," the second officer declined in a serious tone.
He dug his hand into his pants and touched something round-headed. He knew it! Grunting silently, he pulled it off his skin, which made him wince from slight pain. But bringing the thing to his view, his eyes widened.
The driver had the same expression before quickly pressing the brake, and the other police cars behind him stopped too.
"Damn it!" the officer grunted before rushing down the bus.
A white-bearded man got out of the car closest to the bus and asked,
"What is it, Jean?"
The officer raised the black bug in the air, which beeped with a red light. "Negative code, sir! I think someone is keeping track of our movements!"
The man soon received the bug; then, nodding his head, he threw it onto the gravel road and stamped it until it shattered into pieces.
He then told Jean, "I will ask for backup from the station. And we're taking the New Village route now, not the Northampton District any more."
"Yes, sir!" Jean saluted before rushing back onto the bus.
Mr Stamps watched him as he told his colleague they were taking another route now: New Village. He wondered what was going on.
Soon, all the cars turned left down a road, flanked on both sides by a wide spread of vegetation. Meanwhile, at the end of the same road, near vegetation as well as a rubble of shattered rocks were the captain and nine other guys in ambush. He had later listened to Aria, and it seemed she was right because the tracker app had disconnected. Meaning the police had found and destroyed the bug.
Staring into the silent countryside road, he thought, 'You either stay still over there or come meet us here.'
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A/N: A huge thank you to DaWayn_Easton and Phil_Rous409 for the power stones. Love you!
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