[Alice]
I stepped out of the ward where my mom still laid unconscious three days later. I had just wiped off tears from my face, and applied light make-up to conceal every trace. It was mid-day, and Agnes was still in school.
I was not only stepping out of the ward but also the hospital, the city and the country. The D-Day was finally here, and too bad, Agnes wouldn't meet me when she returned from school. But I had to go nonetheless. She knew she wouldn't meet me, and we said our goodbyes last night before she left for home.
Agnes had suggested that she skipped school, and even though I couldn't get tired of having her around, I had to decline, for her safety. Father must not have any reason to believe that she was part of the elopement plan or knew anything about it, and making her go to school was the perfect way to make it look like she knew nothing about it.
A few guards were stationed outside the ward, and they did not hide their surprise to see me. For one, they were not aware that I would go out today, and for another, since I brought mother to the hospital, I haven't left for anywhere, not even to the house. Agnes brought everything I needed whenever she came by.
"Maa…" It was Ethan, the same bastard who had reported my secret relationship with Jared to father.
"I am going for a walk." I said sharply, cutting him off before he could complete his statement. My voice was low but it carried an underlying message that screamed "shut the hell up!"
"You will drive me of course," I added on a second thought. What other way to get back at him than make him be the last person to see me before my sudden disappearance, and thereby answerable to father, who wouldn't spare him for anything in the world.
"Just him," I said, facing the others when they charged forward to accompany him. Whether or not they followed me, they would get a fair share of father's wrath but theirs would be nothing compared to Ethan's.
Ethan took my bag, and I allowed him, and even nodded a thanks. We were heading for the hospital's parking lot while the others trailed after us. Even though they wouldn't come with us, they were to ensure my safety within the hospital's premises.
"Shopping Mall," I said simply, and stepped into the backseat of the car. Ethan nodded, as he eased into the driver's seat, and proceeded to start the car. Jared and I had agreed to meet at the shopping Mall, owned and controlled by the Mafia, and even though the arrival time was mid-day, we had agreed that I would come in a little later.
"Has it been this sunny since I was at the hospital?" I asked, raising my voice so that it was loud enough for Ethan to hear me.
"Yes ma'am," he replied but my gaze had returned to the streets made extremely bright by the scorching sun. Young girls walked around with trays balanced on their head, selling goods that ranged from fruits to staple products. I wondered if they weren't affected by the scorching heat of the sun, but not for long. Once the car sped past them, and drew closer to my destination, the only thought that filled my head was freedom. With thoughts of freedom, came a mixed feeling of excitement and worry. I worried greatly about Agnes.
What if father finds out that she is aware of my elopement, or even accuses her of it? Who would protect her from his wrath?
The blaring sound of the car pulled me out of my thoughts and I realized that the car had stopped moving, and was now in front of the black gate which housed the twelve storey building painted with white. Boldly inscribed on the top of the building was protecting citizens' rights, which was the Mafia's slogan.
I sneered as I read the inscriptions silently, wondering how any of the barbaric laws which they practiced could be seen as a way of protecting citizens' rights.
"Drive in, " I mumbled while my eyes were fixed on the building, and the people trooping in and out of it in their mass number. Ethan honked again, twice this time, and the gates were pulled open, to grant us passage into the compound.
Ethan drove in, and pulled over in the parking space after which he came over to my side of the car to get the door open. I stepped out of the car, and after taking a long look at the building one last time, I headed inside while Ethan trailed after me. He wouldn't dare fall into place beside me, not with my new title.
I was heading for the liquor store which was on the first floor, where I was sure Jared would be waiting for me, and I needed to get there without Ethan knowing,
But how?
He was trailing behind me not more than five feet away, so as to keep a close eye on me. So far my pace had been nothing but normal as I could not risk Ethan suspecting a thing. Then an idea hit me just then, and I stopped walking, giving Ethan a chance to catch up.
He came close to me, his expression was questioning.
"My bag," I said simply. I had watched him place the bag at the front seat of the car, and for reasons I couldn't tell, I had stopped myself from asking that he give it to me. Now I was happy I didn't ask. There was nothing important in the bag. A few Euro notes and a pen. Nothing incriminating. I had given my phone to Agnes last night, and with it I would contact her. She didn't need me to tell her to be extra careful with the phone, I'm sure.
"I'm sorry ma'am," Ethan apologized, while I kept a straight face. This was a great turn of event but he didn't have to know about it.
"Well, go get it, and don't waste any more time." I said, exuding impatience and authority at the same time. He left just then while I smiled within me for a job well done. When he got to the end of the hallway, he cast one last look behind him, towards my direction, and I frowned.
He didn't look like he suspected me, he only looked sorry that he was making me wait. I waited a few seconds after Ethan went out of sight before I stepped into the elevator which was only two doors away from me.
I stepped out of the elevator about a minute later, and walked briskly into the liquor store, ready to begin the journey ahead. In no time, Ethan would be back from the car where he had gone to get my bag, and once he discovered that I was nowhere to be found, he would inform my dad, who would only have to make a few calls to get this whole building on lockdown, and I sure as hell, didn't want that, hence my haste to get to Jared, and get the hell out of here but…
The liquor store was empty, with no single person inside.