Arriving at another store in Eldridge, Alexa had driven the car there for about twenty minutes from their previous location. Isabella, from inside the car, gazed at the boldly written inscription on the wall, which read "Luminova Scientific Emporium." Curious, like a cat drawn to a mysterious sound, she asked, "Alexa, what do they sell here?" "It's best if we acquire the microscope before the gun. They're not sold in the same store, so we'll get them one after the other." "Oh, okay. Should I go in now?" Isabella asked with the innocence of a child who's yet to distinguish her right from her left. "Yes, Isabella, go on in now and purchase the microscope," Alexa answered, like a mother who thus showed her little kid the way to the playing ground, and Isabella stepped out of the car gently. As she pushed open the heavy glass door to the store and entered the Luminova Scientific Emporium, her eyes met those of a man dressed in white scrubs, resembling a doctor. He wore a glass on one
As Isabella slipped back into her car, she began to reflect on how things suddenly went haywire between the old man who sold her the microscope and herself, like a delicate thread unraveling from a once tightly woven fabric."He was nice at first, all because he thought I would buy the invention," Isabella muttered like a disillusioned traveler. However, even though she was essentially speaking to herself and expected no one to answer, Alexa spoke up like an unexpected echo in a quiet chamber."Yes, Isabella. Everyone has their own strategy for selling their product. The way I saw it back there, the man hadn't sold any of his items in a while. When you entered his store, the happiness that welled up in him was taller than Mount Everest and deeper than the mighty ocean. This happiness grew even more when he saw you engrossed in the invention. He probably thought there was no way you'd not buy it, but you disappointed him, and he resorted to calling you names.""Well, he's a fool to thi
Immediately, Isabella's car roared to life like a lioness of the jungle, scaring away other animals. Her hands were not on the steering wheel, as it was obvious to anyone who looked into the car on the road that it was driving itself like a sentient being following its own path.Even with such propelling speed, resembling a swift gust of wind, the journey took Isabella another 30 minutes of driving. And at this moment, they were at a car park in front of a children's playground, which obviously confused Isabella even more."What is this, Alexa? Where have you brought me? This is no place where they sell weapons; this is a car park with a playground in front of it.""No, Isabella. Why would I decide to play jokes on you? We are here for some serious business, and acquiring a gun needs to be discreet. Remember, you're buying a gun illegally without a license. If you look around carefully, you'll see something unusual. Head towards it and open the dusty door.""I see nothing, Alexa," Isa
Isabella noticed that there was something strange about the clown man as he continued to shoot a sidelong glance at her, as if he were monitoring her movements and trying to understand what was going on like a detective unraveling a perplexing case."Why is he looking at me like that, Alexa?" Isabella pressed her lips to the side, attempting to prevent the clown man from detecting that she was speaking to someone or something on the phone using an earpiece. As she talked, she covered her mouth with her left hand like a covert agent, concealing secret communications from prying eyes."How am I supposed to know, Isabella? I am an artificial intelligence, not a magician performing tricks on stage to entertain people," Alexa replied, her voice tinged with a hint of playful exasperation."I know, and I apologize. He's still giving me that sidelong look. Could it be that the dusty door is somewhere near him?" Isabella whispered like a conspirator sharing a secret in hushed tones."No, you'r
"And oh! You might want to unplug your earpiece as you approach the door," Alexa said once more."But why?" Isabella asked, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. She wondered why she should unplug her phone's earpiece, especially since it was her phone and they did not own it."You must understand that this place is a dangerous zone, and any mistake on your part could have dire consequences, potentially leading to your death. So, follow all instructions meticulously and blend in as if you're one of them, only to acquire the weapon. You'll be out of here quickly. Moreover, this task falls on you alone, which means I am shutting down in 1, 2 ....""No wait!" Isabella interjected in a loud whisper, but it was too late. She suddenly heard a chime, signaling Alexa's shutdown. Hence, fear began to take hold within her as she remembered everything Alexa had said, particularly the fact that even the slightest mistake could result in her death."Wordpass Santiago." Isabella breathed out the passw
Hearing this, Isabella's legs began to quiver all of a sudden again, as she knew nothing of what to say. Then beads of sweat began to drop from her face like raindrops on earth, and the ground beneath her became wet like the canvas of a painter's masterpiece, absorbing the intensity of her apprehension.“Ehm, ehm, ehm," she began to stutter, as the guard's face looked more dangerous than before. Hence, the second guard at the door, like the first guard, revealed his pistol on his belt and stepped closer to her.Isabella could hear his breathing, which indicated how carefully he stepped toward her. Then he pulled the pistol from his belt and slowly pointed it at Isabella’s head, like a hired assassin who was going to kill his victim without any atom of empathy for her life.Seeing that two pistols were pointed at her, Isabella's heart began to race more than the horses on a race track. She immediately wished she could just speak to Alexa at this moment, and Alexa would bail her out by
"Are all of these weapons sold illegally to people?" Isabella exclaimed, her surprise evident. But she didn't expect a response from the man. However, to her surprise, the man did reply. And in this moment, his words contradicted Isabella's initial impression. "You are mistaken, Ms. Isabella Rosewood. These are the weapons we sell to people with reasons to use them. So many unjust things occur under the warmth of this sun, facing the earth, and people often seek a way to rectify the hardships they've endured. For instance, Isabella, you've been unfairly treated by Ethan Mark, who claimed his late father’s properties and quickly forgot about you. In my opinion, it doesn't matter who initiated the divorce; once he reached a peak in life, he should have called you back and rekindle your relationship. So, you have a valid reason to possess one of these weapons. With it, he won't see it coming." Hearing the man's words, Isabella let out a deep sigh. Everything he said felt right. Although
Isabella's heart surged with dread, her fear akin to that of little chicks whose mother hen had been plucked away from them. And thereafter, the chicks scattered in all directions as their cries for help pierced the air.Observing Isabella's reaction, the man deduced her intense fright like a skilled tracker reading the panicked footprints of a prey on the run. Consequently, he loosened the metal he had inserted into his pistol's mouth and carefully returned the firearm to its original position."Don’t be frightened. This is merely routine around here," the man reassured, striding over the lifeless bodies of the naked man and woman. Upon reaching Isabella, who stood at the room's entrance, he looked in a distant direction at the guards positioned by the door and nodded at them. In this way, their response was a reciprocating nod.Still gripped by fear, much like a kidnapped child in the clutches of a dangerous captor, Isabella's heart alternated between racing and sinking in trepidati