So here is the first chapter... Once again English is not my first language and I don't have any beta reader. (plus I'm still looking for a better title...)
Hope you'll like it.
Chapter 1: A day that had started so well...
Friday, October 21, 2016 - 9 a.m.
It was early this Friday of October, as she watched sullenly at the landscape outside of the bus window. She never was a morning person, so a meeting at 7:00 am before the departure from Brighton College in Madrid? A real nightmare.
It's been almost two months since she joined the prestigious British institution. Among all the possible choices, she had ended up choosing this one. The institution had an excellent reputation, international partnerships that should facilitate her admission to various universities and above all, it was based in Madrid and they accepted boarders students. A dormitory was not the ideal solution for her, as she preferred solitude, but she did not have, at 15, the means to pay for her own accommodation. She knew very well that she would have no support from her mother, since the woman considered that the high school of her small town of Cenicientos was quite sufficient, and it was always better than staying with her mother at her father-in-law's house...
In short, Brighton College was perfect on paper.
However, having integrated this school two years ahead, through a "diversification" program, which allowed scholarship students from the working class to hope to be able to attend this school, in the name of "social diversity" to " help opening students' minds" she was far from being in phase with her classmates.
This, combined with a certain lack of interpersonal skills, did not make her the most popular person in her class, so here went her hopes of having a social life. The only other person in a similar situation, although for different reasons, was sitting right in front of her: Alison Parker, the daughter of the British ambassador in Madrid. The typical bourgeois girl who, raised in an old-fashioned way, seemed to have never learned how to stood-up for herself.
Hidden behind her round glasses, she watched Alison write in a notebook as she regularly looked at the group of students sitting at the front of the bus, especially looking at Pabló Ruiz, the captain of the high school athletics team. Does the saying 'all muscles and no brain' means anything to you? There you go. But it was just her personal opinion.
At this moment Alison's phone emitted a sound signaling she just received a text and considering the glances between her and Pabló, it was not necessary to be a sleuth to know who was the sender. Intuition that confirmed as Pabló went to sit down next to Alison.
"Hello" he began clumsily.
"Hello" Alison replied in a small nervous laugh.
"Do you want to go out with me?"
The girl behind them raised her eyebrows at this sentence, surprised, it did not correspond at all to the classic behavior of the young man.
"... forget it… I'm leaving" added Pabló in a rush after a split second, it all seemed so awkward from an outside point of view...
"No, no, stay! I don't have to think about it….I mean, yes" stammered Alison, looking surprised but happy with the proposal. Then the wet noise of the two of them kissing just got too disgusting for the girl sitting behind them who looked away from the pair. No, definitely, she will never get the hang of human dynamics, it made no sense, no logic at all...
Fortunately for her, it was at this very moment that Mrs. Colmenar, their head teacher, decided to announce their arrival at destination.
"Okay, children, we've arrived. Let's go straight to to the museum's hall, where we'll regroup until the rest of the class arrives. If you are ever separated from the group, go see a guard".
The girl packed her things and hurried out of the bus, ignoring the two lovebirds who were now advancing hand in hand. Once outside, she looked up at the building in front of which they had just stopped. It was imposing, completely white and provided with a multitude of windows, she counted 52 of them on the facade. The building consisted of two rectangular wings on each side of an entrance with colonnades, above which floated proudly the Spanish flag, overlooking a large stone staircase as white as the rest of the building.
"And this is the facade of the Royal Mint of Spain" Ms. Colmenar explained once her students had gathered in front of her. "We're now going to enter the building," she detailed as she walked up the steps of the building.
As she passed the security gates of the factory under the piercing eyes of the security guards, the teenager felt a bit edgy this kind of thing made her nervous for some reason… even when she had nothing to worry about.
Mrs. Colmenar voice snapped her out of her thoughts, as she detailed the rules to follow during the visit.
"I would ask you to please stay together and avoid speaking too loud or asking questions to staff without permission. " as if 17-year-old students didn't know how to behave in a museum..." For those who are already hungry, a visit to the cafeteria is planned a little bit later. In the meantime, please follow me, you will receive your accreditation. T hey must be visible all the time, okay? Keep them around your neck and lower your voice! "Insisted the teacher, seeming a bit stressed at the idea of not being able to control her students in a public area. Which is rather ironic when you consider the social background of most of the students; leaders, politicians, big industrialists, wealthy families...
Said students began to scatter in small groups in the first room of the museum, discussing happily, relieved not to have to endure a whole day of school this Friday.
The young girl, was observing money coins which, according to the sign, had been found in the body of a sailor who had been trying to steal the commanding officer of his ship, as she thought she heard muffled cries in the distance, she shook her head and decided not to pay it any mind as Mrs Colmenar began the visit.
As they reached a sumptuous staircase "Entirely made of marble and granite" according to the teacher, the clicking of a weapon was heard suddenly and a man, dressed in a red jumpsuit, his face covered by a Dali mask, appeared.
"Don't move," he shouted, pointing his gun at the woman.
"But what the..." The teacher stammered not getting what was happening "n...no a... wait... " she reached out toward her currently screaming students to calm them when the she finally understood the situation.
"Come on, everybody, this way! Everybody over there! "The male voice continued violently, but some of the students already flew away.
The teenage girl was running with part of the class to the entrance of the building, trying to reach the door to escape this nightmare. This endeavor was brutally stopped as two women threatened them with guns. One had long hair, as black as her eyes, a bit tanned and a slightly aquiline nose, the other was pale and had short brown hair and a fringe.
"You! Stay there!" Ordered the first, before telling the second to go for it.
The teenager then vaguely heard a "I can't see the little lamb, I can't see her, fuck! "As the brown haired woman moved further away from the group and deeper into the building.
The people present in the building were in a state of total panic while the long haired woman herded the hostages in the reception hall. "Hurry up! Come on! Come on! Let's Hurry here!"
A young juvenile man, face uncovered and dressed in the same red outfit as the first man passed by the group in the direction of the entrance, probably to close the doors.
"Come on! Everybody over here! Hold the hand of the person next to you and don't move! Hurry up! " Ordered one of the masked people, there were several of them now, before blindfolding them.
Thus the girl found herself in the dark holding hands with the suited man next to her, trying not to panic and to sort out what was happening.
It didn't make any sense, why did they blindfold them? Knowing that they had been able to see, the uncovered faces of three of the assailants? She surely may not be able describe the young man, she only got glimpse of him, but the two women? Probably... her classmates as well. Who was this "lamb"? What did these people want? Was it just a kidnapping? A hostage situation? A burglary? What the hell was going on?
They remained that way, for some time, in a silent and tense atmosphere, interspersed with slight sobs. It only ended when they heard steps on the stairs and few fabrics noises, surely indicating the arrival of new people. That's when a man started talking.
« First of all. …» he paused "Good morning" He stopped again to let his words sink in before continuing, always at the same pace "I'm the person who's in charge... and before anything I would like...". He paused again, as if he was looking for his words, « to offer my apologies…. "The man was clearly a born orator, and obviously he loved it.
Meanwhile one, or maybe two, of his acolytes passed through the crowd repeating the same litany "Name, Pin, Portable..."
« truly this is not the way to end the week but you are here as hostages" Continued the master of ceremonies.
"Name"
"Alison Parker"
"PIN? "
" 2-0-78 "
"Portable"
"If you obey, I guarantee you'll be left alive " continued their leader, the voice was soft and reassuring, but it seemed rather predatory in reality, a little as if a hungry lion was slowly circling you waiting for the right moment to strike.
Then it was the girl's turn.
"Portable" began a male voice, it sounded young, enough to may have been the voice of one of her classmates. She went through her pockets before taking out her faithful Nokia 3310 and handing it blindly to her interlocutor.
« What's that old thing?! Seriously? Do stuffs like that still exist?" exclaimed a new voice, male again, after a burst of laughter. So, there were two of them, young as well. "You're in a snobby school and you use that antiquity? You can't even go online with that thing! "He continued.
"I like it, it has a good battery, it is solid and it fulfills its function : phoning... "The teenage girl could not help answering, in a shaky voice.
« wow there! Looks likes we offended the little girl! " Did he laugh, before she suddenly felt the barrel of a gun against her jugular"still want to be a smartass? "The voice was much more aggressive this time causing the girl to start hyperventilating, sometimes she hated herself and her too "spontaneous" side.
The first of the two men spoke up. "It's okay, Denver... Leave her alone. "He continued with the usual question: "PIN?"
"0-0-42..." she answered in a short voice
"42 eh?" She could almost imagine the man's amused smile. "Name?"
"Eleonora De Fonollosa Caravella"
She let out a shaky breath when she felt the two men pass to the next person.
A little further away, she could hear the gang leader trying to calm a hostage "it's okay calm down… calm down " he said in a low, soothing voice. "How many months? "
« Ei...eight months" the lady voice was trembling.
"Eight months, huh? »
"PIN"
"Why do you need the PIN? " As Eleonora heard the guy next to her answer with she thought he had to be either of the stupid or suicidal kind…at least, in her case, she had some extenuating circumstances….
"Either you tell me that fucking PIN or I'll blow you with my rifle" Predictably reacted 'Denver', while the sounds of crumpled fabric seemed to indicate that man found himself in the same predicament as her a few minutes earlier. "PIN? "
"1-2-3-4," the voice was panicked and Denver burst out laughing.
" You look so smart, but you've got that shitty PIN. What an arsehole! " He mocked. "Your name. "
"Arturo"
"Arturo what?"
"Arturo Román"
"Arturo Román, very well... Arturito" he concluded, mocking.
"You are our safe-conduct here so I'm going to protect you " Their leader seemed imperturbable, until he suddenly interrupted his speech " Hey... Give me your hands. Let go. Let go. Let go….. What's your name? "
"Ariadna..." Another female voice... The guy had to have a fixation on women.
"Ariadna... come with me. Come. Calm down. Feel my hands. Are they are the hands of a monster? "He continued in an interrogative way.
"No... no" the poor woman answered terrified.
"Because I'm not a monster" he paused" I know perfectly how you feel, The dry mouth, the shortness of breath... Breathe in... Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in... that's it, very good... Please, breathe with me, all of you." He continued, addressing the assembly now. " And Eleonora felt the whole crowd doing exactly what the man was asking to, he was leading them all by the tip of their nose... it was impressing, although she was grateful for this little breathing exercise, already trying for some time to calm herself. "Easy, easy. Control your breathing … come on, breathe out, Very well, very well…. »
The man's little show was suddenly interrupted by the ringtone of the reception phone, a deadly silence suddenly overtook over the assembly.
"Miss Monica Gaztambide please," he said in a clear, compelling and imperious voice.
"Don't move. Please, don't move. Be quiet. I said don't move. Be quiet." Arturo Román whispered to the person next to him.
"Miss Monica Gaztambide… Would you be so kind as to step forward? " The voice, still imperious, had taken a threatening edge.
"It's me..." Replied a trembling voice, and there was movement next to Eleonora.
Eleonora did not listen further, too busy avoiding a panic attack... This was really not the time... In fact, it was the perfect time for a panic attack, it would be totally justified, but it would only make things worse. The speech seemed to be over and the hostages were now left in peace, in silence, if one ignored the sobs that reasoned in the hall, the vision still obscured by their blindfolds. This 'alone' time was just what the teenager needed to regain control.
Unfortunately, this relative peace came to an end as the "person in charge" returned.
"Hostages, for your security, all of you three steps back! "He ordered in an almost military manner. "A little more over here. Very well. Okay. Everything's going to be all right." he added, paternalistic. "A little closer... Calm down" the man then seemed to move away from the group.
"Calm down. I can see the 're full of money. Now they'll leave and it'll be all right." Arturo whispered.
That's when the alarm went off.
"Two minutes! " The man said in a loud voice, visibly addressing his colleagues.
Eleonora then heard Alison speak in a panicked voice, "Why, did they set off the alarm? »
"I don't know, They're just standing there, I don't understand." Arturo replied, stressed and confused.
"Why don't they take the money and leave?" Alison had completely lost control of her nerves
"Chhhht, I don't know! "And obviously Arturo too...
"One minute For..." Continued the head of the robbers before stopping suddenly. Eleonora then felt him move closer to the group.
"What's your name?"
"Arturo."
"Arturito... " He sighed, with in a weary tone, like a tired father facing a turbulent child.
"I haven't seen anything, I swear, I haven't seen anything!" Arturo's voice was completely panicked, and a little whining, as if he was on the verge of tears.
"Look at me. "
"I swear, I didn't see anything... "
"Come on Arturo, look at me.. »
"No"
"Look at me, look at me….Hey, hey, come on….Hey." The voice again, cajoling and paternal. This guy was either a sadist or a psychopath.
Meanwhile, Eleonora was thinking over the recent events again as she was, now, calmer... all of that; the blindfolds, the "lamb", the alarm, the waiting,... didn't make any sense, why bother making such a discreet entrance and to make such a speech in front of all of them if it was to just for that? and why turning the alarm on? unless...
"It's a deception... " she gasped softly.
She felt the man in front of her freeze and divert his attention from Arturo, focusing it on her while removing her blindfold.
"Well, well, well… what a nosy little creature we have here... Did your parents ever tell you not to meddle in things that are none of your business ? »
Eleonora stayed petrified, her gaze fixed on the man in front of her.
"What's your name? »
"Ele...Eleonora" She managed to croak, her breath short with a lump in her throat, the panic attack not far from showing up.
"aah... Eleonora, what a pretty name... Tell me, Eleonora, do you know what happens to people who stick their nose in other people's business? " The teenager swallowed with difficulty, but remained mute, while the man gently grabbed her by the throat. "They die..." He continued in a conversational tone. "Eleonora, believe me, you're going to die," he whispered coldly, his face a few millimeter from the teenager's one.
The teenager for her part, was totally paralyzed, her eyes not leaving the brown ones in front of her, her mind completely blank, because this face... this slender man, who threatened to kill her so serenely, she knew him only too well. She had seen him hundreds of times in the media, on the front page of international newspapers or on wanted notices... Even without ever having met him, there was no doubt about the identity of the person in front of her... Andrés De Fonollosa Gonzalves.
Her father.