“Brian, are you ready to go to hell with me?!” Antonette shouted.
Brian turned to look and was shocked to find that Antonette was holding a remote control.
Without warning, she pressed the button. Immediately, a sinister ticking sound could be heard in the dark room.
Right away, Brian knew that things had just got far more serious.
Antonette laughed wildly and shouted, “Let’s go to hell together.”
Just at that moment, Ken burst into the room.
“Brian, are you okay?”
Brian tried not to convey his worry and calmly warned Ken, “Go. There is a bomb in here.”
“What?”
In fact, Brian was most worried about Diana’s condition; he noticed that she was bleeding from the right side of her head, and she looked very weak. He called out to her, but she could only manage a tired look back at him.
And all the while, the ticking sound of the bomb could be heard loud and clear.
Antonette really seemed to be losing the plot, chanting to herself over and over, “Go to hell. All of you will go to hell together.”
It wasn’t until she heard the police sirens’ wail as they arrived outside the building that Antonette snapped out of it. Now she was angry.
“How dare you call the police?” she yelled.
“You have no choice. Give in!” Ken said coldly.
“Impossible!” Antonette roared and rushed towards Ken.
Ken dodged her attack with ease.
“She has lost her mind,” Diana murmured.
Since Ken successfully moved out of her way, Antonette became angrier. She pressed another button on the device in her hand, and the ticking sound of the bomb suddenly became faster.
Brian was extremely anxious. He wanted to release Diana from the rope, but Antonette had wrapped it tightly. He struggled hard, but the more he tried, the more anxious he got.
“You have no time. We only have three minutes left,” Antonette laughed.
Ken was about to make a break for it to get help, but just before he did, Detective Shields entered, his gun in hand and pointing straight at Antonette.
When he heard the ticking sound, he realized what kind of sound it was.
“Is there a bomb?”
Ken nodded glumly.
Detective Shields looked over his shoulder and beckoned to a fellow policeman behind him. The man walked forward with a machine in his hand.
Detective Shields pointed the gun at Antonette’s head and said sternly, “Where is the bomb?”
However, Antonette didn’t give in.
“I won’t tell you anything.”
“I found it!” the policeman shouted.
Detective Shields was initially relieved, however, this was short-lived.
“Detective Shields, there are only two minutes left on this!”
“What?” He was shocked. This was worse than he thought!
“Detective, there are three lines,” the policeman continued.
Detective Shields redirected his gaze at Antonette and yelled at her, “Which line?!”
However, Antonette was laughing hysterically now; it was all a game to her.
“Give up. I won’t tell you.”
The bomb ticked faster. Everyone was panicking, especially Diana. Since she had lost too much blood, she was pale and almost fell faint.
“It’s a complicated one this. I don’t think we can solve it easily,” the policeman said fearfully.
Diana struggled to support herself and said to Antonette, “Antonette, do you really want to die with us?”
Antonette wavered for a moment but steadied herself.
“It’s okay. Since so many people will die with me, at least I won’t be alone.”
“You have tried so hard. Is death your final objective?”
Antonette hesitated again, encouraging Diana to try and persuade her again.
“You have tried your best to get your dream life since you were young. Do you really want to die with us today?”
“Detective Shields, only thirty seconds are remaining!” the policeman cried out.
But Diana refused to give up. She had a daughter now who was waiting for her at home.
Time was disappearing fast when suddenly Antonette shouted, “The red one!”
The policeman cut the red line as soon as Antonette shouted. The ticking disappeared, and the timer stopped… at 0. 01 seconds.
Diana was so relieved that she could no longer support herself anymore, and she fell to the floor.
“Diana! Diana!” Brian called her name worriedly but got no answer. Looking at her pale expression, Brian lifted her up in his arms and rushed out.
Detective Shields took out his handcuffs and arrested Antonette. She was totally gone now, her mind lost within herself. She was taken to the police car without any struggle.
Brian ran to his car, holding Diana, while Ken followed close behind. Ken jumped into the driver’s seat, started the car, and sped off to the hospital.
When they arrived, Ken offered to carry Diana so that Brian could have a rest. But Brian refused. He took Diana straight to the emergency department himself.
Since it was at night, there were not so many doctors and nurses in the emergency department. And the nurse on duty was not overly professional. She had a glance at Brian, and with an uncaring tone, asked, “What’s the matter?”
Brian was angered by her attitude.
“Take me to the doctor!” He roared.
The nurse was frightened by him and led him to the doctor.
Diana was taken into the ward, while Brian could only sit outside worrying.
After a long while, the doctor came out.
Brian rushed to him.
“How is she?”
“What is the relationship between you and the woman?” the doctor asked.
“I’m her husband,” Brian answered without hesitation.
“Okay, well, there’s no need to worry; it’s nothing serious. The wound isn’t deep. She is a bit hypoglycemic, which explains her symptoms. Take her home to rest for a few days, she will be fine.”
After that, the doctor left.
Brian was hugely relieved. He walked into Diana’s room to see her, but she was still sleeping. Looking at her peaceful face, Brian was full of regret.
“I’m so sorry, Diana, I didn’t take good care of you,” he thought.
Ken interrupted Brian’s guilt trip, entering the room with a plate of food in his hand.
“Brian, eat this. You haven’t eaten anything all day.”
Brian gave it back, shaking his head.
“No, I’m not hungry.”
He wanted to wait until Diana woke up.
“What about Antonette?”
“She was taken to the police station,” Ken replied.
Brian nodded. That was the best result.
“You can go back home. I will stay here,” Brian said to Ken.
“But…” Ken hesitated.
However, Brian insisted, “Go. You have to help me handle things in the company tomorrow.”
Ken agreed, put the food down on a table in the room, and left.
Brian stroked Diana’s hair, held her hand, and eventually fell asleep at her bedside.