The operator got to work, pulling out the electronic files of Tyler and Ryan, containing all their records.
“I’ve transferred to your official cloud sir. You can access it using your password.”
“Password?” Alex stared at her.
“Check your access card, sir, it’s a barcode.”
“Oh okay,” Alex replied sounding relieved.
Oh there you are,” Q stepped out of the elevator, walking towards him.
“Agent Q, where can I get hold of a computer?” Alex asked.
“You can use the control centre up on the balcony,” Q replied. “Or my office.”
“Alright,” said Alex. “I’ll be back.”
Thirty minutes later, Alex reclined his chair backwards and marvelled at the information he had just obtained.
‘’So that’s why they’ve been quiet,” he thought. “They’ve been planning this all along.”
He saw what looked like a satellite photo, and zoomed into it. He could make out two figures whose heads were covered by their hooded shirts.
He tried to access the security camera footage from Serena's house, but there was none.
“I guess,” he said. “My best lead is the car registration pointing to Tyler.”
He shut down the computer and rose to his feet. As he reached the door, he ran into Agent X.
“I have to go into town,” Alex said. “Some business I want to take care of.”
X nodded. “Be careful.”
Alex went straight to his room where clothes had been provided for his use, in a wardrobe. There were also shoes, bags and other personal items.
Taking a bag from the closet, he packed a few clothes and other items and headed for the clinic where Serena was admitted.
“I must see her before I go,” he muttered.
Exiting the door, he took the staircase leading to the clinic, two floors below.“How’s she doing today?” he asked, as he spotted one of the Doctors strolling from Serena’s room.
Recognizing him, the doctor forced a smile. “She’s stable now, but very weak. The sedatives need time to wear off completely”
“Okay Doctor,” Alex replied. “Can I see her now?”
The doctor pointed at her room.
“Thank you.” Alex quietly opened the door and slid inside.
“What?” he exclaimed.
Serena was lying down helplessly, each of her hands secured with a restraint belt on either side of the bed.
“Alex?” she called out weakly. “Is that you?”
“I’m here my love,” he came closer, sitting on the bedside.
“What are they doing to me?”
“You’ll be fine Serena.”
“I - I can’t feel my hands. My feet are cold.”
Alex turned away, tears streaming from his eyes. “I can’t take this anymore.”
“What did you say, Alex?”
“Nothing dear,” he replied, wiping the tears with his shirt sleeve.
Standing on his feet, he walked to the window blinds, shutting them down. He locked the door, making sure it was secure.
Turning to Serena, he said,” Baby, do you trust me?”
Serena looked at him bewildered. “I don’t understand Alex. My head still hurts and I can’t see you properly.”
“You were sedated,” he replied, holding her hands. “There’s something I want to do right now. It won’t take long.”
Serena nodded.
“Close your eyes,” Alex said gently.
As Serena’s eyes closed, Alex placed his right hand over them. He closed his eyes for a moment.
Then suddenly, Serena’s body began to vibrate. She grimaced in pain.
“Shh,’’ Alex encouraged. “All the negative energy is being gathered for expulsion.”
A bright green glow appeared on her forehead, then gradually diffused into the rest of her body, giving her veins a dark purple colouration.
The vibration in her body increased in intensity. Serena tightened her limbs as she stretched against the restraint, attempting to free herself.
“Patience my love, patience,” Alex said as he held her down with his other hand.
Letting out a scream, Serena lay still. Alex sat back in the chair, wiping more sweat from his face.
He looked up as he heard her move.
‘’I want to vomit,” she said, as she got up and sat on the bed.
Alex looked around but found no bowl. He quickly rose and lifted her off the bed, to the bathroom. As she got to the bathtub, she began to vomit violently.
Alex watched her intently, tapping her back as she emptied her bowels.
When she was done, she knelt on the floor and breathed deeply. After standing still for a minute, she got up and turned to the bathtub.
“Yuck! It’s dark green,’’ she grimaced.
Alex smiled with relief.
“Welcome back.”
Selena studied him for a moment, then ran her hands over her head and stomach.
''The pain is gone. Where did you learn how to do that?"
Alex opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by knocks on the door,.
“Knock, knock, knock!”Silence.Serena and Alex stared at each other.“Well, don’t just stand there,” Serena said pointing to the door. “Open it, while I clean up this mess.”Alex walked to the bathroom exit and paused suddenly.‘’But how do we explain what happened?” he replied. “I think you should get back to bed.”Serena hesitated for a moment. “You think that’s a good idea?”“We don’t know who’s at the door.”“Okay if you say so.”There was another knock and Alex proceeded to open it, while Serena quickly jumped into her bed and sat upright.As he opened, a nurse showed up at the entrance, looking puzzled. “What happened?”“Oh uhm,” Alex scratched his head. “I was in the bathroom.”The nurse froze on seeing Serena sitting up on the bed. ‘’Miss Davis?”Alex looked at her and then back to Serena who was now smiling. “Uhm,” Alex stammered. “She complained of wanting to vomit. So I took her to the bathroom and she did - ”“I felt better after that,” Serena cut in.The nurse still sto
“And what exactly do you have in mind? Tyler eyed Diego in disbelief.“Simple,” Diego said, relaxing in his chair. “Grand Theft Auto.”“What about that?” Tyler asked, looking puzzled.“Well dummy,” Diego sneered. ‘We’ll file a complaint that your car was stolen.”Silence.Ryan and Tyler nodded continuously while exchanging glances.‘Why didn’t you think of that earlier?” Ryan joked, giving Tyler a friendly jab in the arm. Tyler smiled, a relieved look on his face. But the smile quickly melted into a frown.“What now?” Ryan poked him.“What if the cops question the timing of the report?” Tyler replied.“Hmm.” Diego nodded. “I’ll get a friend of my father’s to handle it. He’s a cop on our payroll.”“I’d drink to celebrate that,” Ryan declared. “What do you have, Diego?”Diego smiled, picking up the receiver of his intercom. “Send champagne on ice. Three glasses,” he ordered.After half an hour of drinking and chatting, Diego looked at his watch. “It’s already one p.m. Let’s go bail you
A small, amused smile played at the corners of Alex’s lips, growing into a full, booming laugh.The leader of the gunmen, a hefty man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward, his voice a low growl."Ready!" he spat, venom dripping from his words“Aim!” he barked, raising his right hand.The blaring of a car horn broke the solemn silence. All eyes turned to the gate as it opened to allow the vehicle in.“What are y’all waiting for?” Diego screamed. “Shoot him!”Silence.“Do it!” “Sorry young boss,” the leader shook his head. “El Capo is here. He will give instructions now.””Cowards,” Diego muttered, shaking his head reproachfully.All the gunmen slung their weapons back over their shoulders, their eyes fixed on the black limousine slowly parking at the main entrance of the complex.“Move,” the leader pointed a handgun at Alex’s head. “And I want your hands where I can see them.”Alex put his hands behind his head and was marched towards the limousine. “My father will dea
“Mama?” Alex muttered, narrowing his eyes in thought.Diego shook his head in disbelief, restraining himself from speaking to avoid further incurring his father’s wrath. All three men maintained a graveyard silence as they waited for Isabella. Within minutes, there was a soft tap on the door.“Come in,” Carlos said, puffing out more smoke. He replaced the cigar in the ashtray, his gaze fixed on the door.Isabella opened the door quietly, almost tiptoeing into the room. She was dressed in a denim jean skirt paired with a pink shirt. Her dark hair was neatly arranged and tied with a matching pink ribbon.She failed to notice Diego and Alex seated to her left, as her gaze was focused on Carlos. “You going to stand there, or do u want to sit?” Carlos spoke politely.Isabella stood transfixed, clutching her bag. “We need to talk, Carlos.”“Mama,” Alex interrupted, rising from the chair.Isabella turned towards the direction of the voice. "What?" she gasped, startled by the surprise.“W
“Alejandro, wait!” Isabella cried out, her voice breaking as she sprinted after him. But he had already slammed the door and disappeared into the elevator."Stay away from me, Mama," he said coldly as the lift doors slid shut.“No!” Isabella screamed. “Come back!”"Let him go," Carlos said softly from behind her.Isabella wailed, collapsing to the floor with her hands covering her face."Give him time," Carlos murmured, gently helping her to her feet. "He'll come around."Both returned to his office, with Carlos offering her a seat."Father," Diego said, his voice trembling. "You mean Alex is my brother?"Carlos nodded, offering Isabella another handkerchief.Diego sank into the sofa, his head in his hands. He still couldn't believe all he had heard. Until now, he had been the sole heir to the El Diablo empire. Now, he had a potential contender—someone he hated with every fibre of his being.“I’ll leave you two to catch up,” Diego said flatly as he stood up.Isabella was now in Carlo
"Are you sure it was thoroughly checked?" Agent Q asked, a worried look on his face.The computer operator nodded, swinging his chair towards him. "We're certain, sir. It's not from this world.""Just got a report from the police," Agent X added. "And it's not looking good.""Ah, there you are," Agent Q smiled as he turned to the entrance."What's up, Q?" Alex spoke, out of breath. "I came as soon as I could.""There has been an attack in Cosmopolis," Q replied."Uh-huh?" Alex nodded attentively. "When?""Today. The creature broke into an antique shop, killing the owner and his wife.""How?""Their heads were severed from their bodies.""Ugh." Alex recoiled in disgust. "Did anybody get a description?""We're processing the CCTV footage," Q said."It was damaged in the attack," X cut in. "But our techies are working on it.""So, nobody knows what it looks like?" Alex turned to the operator."Eyewitnesses confirmed it possessed the body of a human and the head of a reptile, sir," the op
Serena's voice quivered with anxiety. "What's going on, Alex? Who is he?"Alex held her gently, a soft smile touching his lips. "I'll explain everything when I return from this mission.""Mission? I don't understand." Serena clung to him, her grip tightening. "It sounds dangerous.""This is what I do now, love.""Why do you sound like this? You've really changed.""Cosmopolis is in danger. I have to go," Alex said apologetically, gently prying her hands off him.He stood up, facing Agent Q. "Let's go.""Miss Davis," the agent announced, "my staff will take you home. Your parents are expecting you.""But I don't want to go without Alex," she protested."It's for your safety, ma'am," Q insisted, giving Alex a meaningful look."Oh, uh," Alex stammered instinctively. "I'll see you at home later, okay?""Promise?" Serena's voice was fragile, laden with helplessness.Alex nodded, kissed her hand, and quickly left with Q. Serena followed them to the door, watching as they stepped into the ele
‘’Why has Diego been looking all over campus for you?’’ a student asked.‘’I don’t know. Maybe he needs something,’’ replied Alex, both students walking along the campus lawn leading to the faculty.Deep down in his heart, Alex knew why Diego wanted him. He had kept a low profile for three days, in a bid to avoid him.But today, he had enough and decided to go to class and risk running into him.‘’I regret the day I met those three,’’ he murmured.''For years I've endured their humiliation. But today I'll no longer take it. I'm ready to pay the price,'' he said in defiance.''I do hope you have enough will to fight them off,'' the student gave him a worried look.Alex was quite decisive about what he wanted to be in future, right from an early age."I want to become an archaeologist when I grow up," he said to his mother one day.Years ago, a pregnant Isabella Rodriguez embarked on a long trip to Cosmopolis City. She was seeking refuge from the dangerous gang wars in her home country.