“Raise your hands.” He ordered again. Kender didn’t respond, he just stared. The man was about to forcefully raise his hands when the door to the room opened.
The guard turned which gave Kender the chance to return the phone. He hurriedly put it in the guard’s pocket.
Kendra felt relieved.
“What are you doing?” The old man (Besnik) asked the guard.
“She needed water.” He replied and walked towards the man.
“Were you ordered to care for them or watch them?” Besnik asked, sounding upset.
“I’m sorry.” The guard apologized with a bow.
“And why are their hands untied?” He asked, noticing they were free.
“I’m sorry.” The guard apologized again without explaining this time. He knew explaining might make things worse, so he hurried to the children and tied their hands again.
He took the glass of water and bowed at Besnik.
“In twenty minutes, we would be moving them.” He said and Kender’s eyes widened in shock. He exchanged looks with his sister.
Besnik walked out of the room leaving the guard with them again. The guard forgot about his phone and took his seat again.
Kender sighed and hoped their parents would arrive soon.
~
Axel stopped the car in the middle of the street where his kids were taken, it was in the middle of the night. No cars were passing by.
“So, according to Kender, they took a right turn after twenty seconds.” Axel said.
“There are lots of right turns on this street.” Nadia replied as she looked at the GPS.
“Yes, that is why we have to follow the time he gave us.”
“At the same time, we have to drive at the same rate the Albanians drove when they took them.” Nadia added.
“They would be driving fast right? They can’t drive at a normal pace after kidnapping kids.”
“Should I drive?” Nadia asked and Axel gave her a look.
“Fine, just go fast enough then, I will count.” Nadia said and he nodded.
Axel turned on the ignition again and drove down the street as Nadia counted. At exactly twenty seconds, Axel took a right turn.
“Great, now in the next thirty seconds, you would take another right turn.”
After thirty seconds, Axel took another right turn.
According to Kender, if they come across a church or something similar, then it means they are on the right path.
They came across a church and they knew they were on the right track.
They followed the rest of Kender’s description and it ended in the middle of a lone street with different abandoned houses.
“It would take forever to search every house, they could be in any.” Axel said as they both walked out of the car.
“Should we split up?” Nadia asked.
“What? No freaking way. It’s dangerous for you to be alone.” Axel replied and Nadia chuckled.
“Really? Do I look weak to you?”
“No, but you are still Lily.” He replied, she chuckled again and shook her head.
“I can really knock you out for hours right now.” She said and Axel rolled his eyes.
“Fine, you made your point but we are not splitting up. I don’t want to be looking for my kids and my wife… ” He paused when he realized what he said.
“Ex-wife, Blackwell. Always remember that.” She replied and walked ahead of him. Axel sighed and trailed behind her.
As they walked, Axel sent Max his location, requesting backup. Anything could happen.
They both suddenly paused when they heard voices, they rushed off the street and hid when they noticed men coming out of a house.
“Get the car out of the garage, we are leaving.” One of the men announced.
“They are leaving?” Axel muttered.
“They are moving them, we have to hurry.” Nadia said and before Axel could blink, she came out of where they hid and ran towards the house.
She was careful not to be seen and Axel trailed behind her.
There were only two men outside the house but they were armed. Axel got to where Nadia was and this time, he ran towards the men. He got to them and knocked both of them out quietly.
He grabbed their guns and threw one at Nadia as she walked towards him.
“It’s about to get bloody. Ready?” Axel asked.
“Sounds fun. I am taking the lead.” Nadia replied and walked to the front door, she kicked it open and shot the men in the living room before they could pick up their guns and defend themselves.
They heard men speaking foreign languages and footsteps.
“Whoever has the highest kill count gets to spend a month with the kids.” Nadia said.
“Deal.” Axel replied.
“Seven.” Nadia said as she shot the man that showed up in the living room.
“I will take the stairs, and check the basement.” Axel ordered as they split up.
Axel walked up the stairs and shot every man he saw, he was careful not to get hit. He started checking the room as he killed the Albanians.
Nadia walked towards the basement and found it odd that she came across no guard.
She got to the front of the basement and found the door open, it was odd and she knew.
She walked into the basement and took the stairs leading down. She got fully into the room and met her kids. Besnik was standing behind Kendra with a gun pointed at her head and Kender was sitting on a chair with a vest on. A bomb was wrapped around him and it had a timer, five minutes.
Kendra whimpered in fear and Kender froze. He was too scared to move because Besnik told him if he did, the bomb would go off.
“Drop the gun or I shoot her and press the button then everyone dies.” Besnik threatened and Nadia breathed out heavily before dropping the gun.
“Great, where is your husband?” Bensik asked.
“Ex- husband.” Nadia replied.
Axel suddenly showed up in the basement and his eyes widened in shock seeing the state his kids were in.
“He is here too. Read the room and drop the gun.” Besnik ordered and he dropped it immediately.
“Hands in the air. Both of you.” He added and they both raised their hands.
“It’s okay. Everything will be okay.” Axel assured his kids and Nadia turned to him.
“Really? Are you really doing that right now?” Nadia asked.
“What? You were supposed to calm them down when you got here.” Axel replied and she rolled her eyes.
“Kender, Kendra, everything will be fine.” Nadia said to them and Bensik chuckled.
“No, it won’t.” He replied and corked the gun.