Chapter 94 Countdown to my doom.
Madison's POV
"I don't feel so good about this, Maddie." Alessandro closed the door behind me.
"We've worked so hard to just back out at the dying minute, Alessandro." I stared at him, putting on my disguise outfit.
I was waiting for Alessandro's men to ambush one of the ladies, so I can take her access card, walky-talky phone, and prototype face mask.
They were technological criminals because what was all those heavy security for?
He sighed weakly, holding my hand. "We should've sticked to my plan and burn down the whole place."
"And risk the lives of innocent kids? What about the psychological effect?" I raised my eyebrow at him. "No can do."
"Just pick Moon then. It'll be less stressful and almost unnoticeable." He tried to convince me, like he had been trying to convince me for a while.
I know he feared for my safety but I didn't mind putting my life on the line for every one of those kids.
"No child deserves to be trafficked. No one of them." I said, seriously.
Alessandro squeezed my hand. "I'm sorry. You're right." He pulled me in for a hug. "Be careful in there. Rule number 1."
Don't let them get you.
"Copy, Boss!" I saluted, leaning to place a kiss on his lips.
Alessandro placed his hand on his earbud, his face serious. Then he looked at me, nodding curtly.
It was time.
The whole crew bid me a goodbye, except Alessandro. He refused to come out of the room.
"Ready, Partner?" Adrianne nudged my arm. I nodded.
She was going to be my eyes and ears outside while I tried to help the children escape.
Didn't sound hard but it was.
We reached the place in time, when they were still checking people in. Alessandro's guards had already given me everything I needed to freely move around.
"You, Number 12! Get the kids ready. You know the drill yeah?" A tough looking lady with bald head said to me.
I learned she was the twin sister to the man who ran the trafficking.
She looked mentally deranged. No doubt, because why then would you kidnap kids.
I nodded, waiting for Stefan to tell me where to turn to. He was able to get the structure of the building.
" Turn left. Third hallway, last door. The ID card of that lady is your access into the room." He spoke
Keeping my face straight, I made my way there. The area where the kids were kept was very dark and quiet as a graveyard, which was an opposite of what was happening inside.
It was hidden at the deepest part of the building. Nobody would ever come this close.
The orphanage was legit but only few kids were lucky to be used as an eye catch to the public. Very few kids.
The rest... They were doomed.
Who knew how long this had been going on.
Once I pushed the door open after being granted access, I muttered, "Cameras."
"Hurry up!" I heard Alessandro's voice. It was sharp and panic filled.
The wails and cries of the child got louder when I entered, almost deafening my ears. They were all scared and worn out.
"You're good, Maddie." Alessandro told me.
"How many kids?" Nikolai asked.
"Approximately 20." My eyes scanned the building. They couldn't be more than that.
My eyes locked with this familiar ones, my heart aching for her.
Moon.
She was wrapped in the arms of a bigger girl. The girl looked around 7 years.
"Okay kids. You have to corporate with me. Especially y'all within age 7 to 10." I spoke calmly.
As if my words fell on deaf ears, they began to scream loudly but they wouldn't dare move.
They must've really traumatized them.
"Look, we don't have much time until you're being sold out and trust me, some of you will not be alive to see your parents once that happens."
I knew it wasn't a nice idea to scare them but I was clueless and confused from their cries.
It broke my heart.
"Point the gun at them. They'll obey." Alessandro hissed.
"Please let us go. We beg you!" One of the bigger girls spoke up, her lips trembling.
"Exactly why I'm here. I'm here to help you but you just have to -"
"Liar! Liar! You won't help us. You're going to kill us." Another girl, around age 6 or thereabout pointed.
Okay, ouch.
"What are you doing, number 12?" Someone said from behind me, making me freeze.
"I... I - I was trying to get them ready?" I pointed at the kids.
"I doubt. We agreed to poison their air and knock them out so that their bodies can be silently moved." The girl said. My eyes fell to her number. "And you clearly act clueless about that."
Because I am.
"I just wanted to give them a pet talk before doing that. Of course, I knew."
"What's the name of the boss?" The girl asked, raising her mask. "I know Natalie and you can't fool me. She's quick to act and she obeys. So now, tell me the name of the Boss or else, I'm calling the execution team on you, imposter."
The kids had gone quiet, watching us seriously.
"Shit!" Alessandro cussed.
"Fine!" I said, stepping close to her. "Her name is an easy one."
One I didn't know.
Oh God.
"Sure, tell me then."
In a swift moment, I brushed her to the ground, watching as she landed with her head. Then I went for her neck, choking her until she passed out.
"Don't do this at home, kids." I warned, breathing heavily. "Moon, step forward please."
Moon's eyes widened, her body stiff. So I pulled my mask off, smiling at her, hoping she'd remember me.
"Aunty!" She ran to me, wrapping her arms around me tight. "I'm so scared."
"Moon, do you know her?" The girl who held her asked, eyeing me carefully.
"She's my heros favourite person." Moon clung onto me, not wanting to leave me.
"What do we do?" The bigger girl stepped forward, less trembly this time.
"Tie your hands with this. It can cut fast, so be careful. You're going to cry and shout while I point this fake gun at you, okay? Do whatever I say too. Please, trust me." I told them, helping them tie their hands with the weak straps.
Just like I told them, they began to cry and shout for help.
"Shut up, nasty bitches." Someone said, joining me to control them. "Why didn't you sedate them?"
"It was easier this way. They're already frightened and tied, they wouldn't dare me if they don't want their brains blown off." I said seriously, looking at them through my mask. "Move, kids!"
Sorry Kids.
"The bus is parked in spot. 5458Jk." Stefan read out the plate number.
"My men are on the move, just try to get them on the express road." Alessandro told me. "Tread safely, Madison. It's not over yet."
The mission was going too smooth, it was scary. I wasn't relaxed at all.
I had successfully tucked the children in the van, closing it when someone placed a gun behind my head.
"Move aside."
Raising my hands up, I slowly moved aside before turning.
"Walk." The guy pushed me forward until we got to the field where others were standing.
"There's an uninvited guest here." The bald lady said, pointing her gun at each and every one of us.
"Stay calm, baby. They'd probably just scan the mask and that's all. Send the jet, Nikolai." Alessandro hissed, his voice edgy.
"Jets are prohibited from flying there. They have eliminators." I heard Nikolai explain.
"Remove your mask. Everyone!" The lady roared. People did so immediately. I copied their actions.
I wasn't easily recognizable because of the fringe wig that covered my eyes. Not to talk of the black lipstick and heavy eyeliner that gave my eyes another shape.
I came prepared.
I thought so until ...
"Scan the codes on their neck and read to me their real names and number." She instructed, making me freeze.
"Start from the last girl there." She pointed at me, her eyes and that of everyone, pinned on me.
My head only adviced me one thing - Run.
But it was risky. Very risky.
So I took a deep breath and waited for the machine to scan my neck while counting down to my doom.
3...2...
1.