Chapter 4: I shouldn't care
Zhalia's basement
Dante
_
HORROR DISCOVERY
The police gropes in the dark
Rotterdam, 13- 10- 1978, The nursemaid B. van der Laan
was taken to the hospital in shock, after she'd discovered
a bloody double murder in the house of her employers.
According to the police the victims are Mr. and Mrs. Moon,
from whom very little is known. They have been killed by
multiple stab wounds. Their two kids, a boy and a girl
named Zhalia and Zane, are missing. The police presumes
that they have been abducted by the same person(s) who
have killed the parents. Anyone who has seen anything
what might be related to the drama, is asked to contact
the Rotterdam police.
_
Ok now I was confused. Was this article about Zhalia? She has been abducted as a kid? But by who? And why? Where's her brother? And why is she carrying this article with her? Has it anything to do with the reason I'm here? Too many questions ran through my mind. I really had no idea what to do with this information… If I would ask her anything about it, she'll know I've stolen it. But on the other hand she'll find out it's gone anyway, sooner or later, and suspect me. My own thoughts were giving me a bad headache.
I sighted. God I wish I had never took that article…. For some reason I felt a bit uncomfortable knowing this, like I'd read her diary or something.
But a part of me didn't regret it at all, that part of me felt sorry for her, and wanted to know more about her, talk to her, understand her, be with her…
Now my own thought were starting to make me scared. What was wrong with me?
Dante's house
Michael
Lok and I were sitting in the living room, waiting for news from Guggenheim. At eleven 'o clock his face finally appeared on the tv- screen again.
"Hi Michael, Lok, I've got news."
"You know where Dante is?" Lok asked hopefully.
"Unfortunately not, but according to another foundation agent in Venice Defoe and his suits are reported in town yesterday."
I jumped up of the couch. Everybody knew that Defoe and Dante were arch- enemies, and that he had been in town on the same day Dante had disappeared was… alarming. But it doesn't have to mean anything… I said to myself.
"Wait, there's more." Guggenheim said. "I've talked to one our spies at the police and asked if any incidents have occurred. He told me that yesterday a snack bar has been robbed, the old shoe factory has been wrecked and several vehicles have been stolen, but that last thing happens almost every day."
"The shoe factory… that's not far from here." I said. I had a bad feeling about this, and looked at my little brother. I saw he was worried to.
"I'm going to call Sophie." He said. "We have to go look for Dante, it can't be a coincidence that Defoe was here."
Guggenheim nodded. "I'm afraid the organization may have abducted Dante, so I'm going to give you two a new mission: Find Dante and bring him back home safely."
Zhalia's house, at that moment
Zhalia
I sat on the floor, with my back against the wall and looked at the cheap cellphone I had bought for my 'mission' a few days ago. I took a deep breath and dialed his number.
"Hi Klaus." I said. There was no need to say my name, he had recognized my voice immediately.
"Zhalia… I already had the feeling you'd call soon."
"You know what I'm calling for?"
"About… Defoe has told me you've kidnapped Mr. Vale right under his nose, I must say I'm impressed, but after all, you're trained by me so it's not a big surprise."
"Skip the nonsense."
"Ah… not so snappy. We have all the time of the world."
"Yes we have, I just don't like talking to you. I want this to be over as soon as possible."
"Then let's get to the point. You know I want to have Mr. Vale to finish my biggest experiment. And I guess you've kidnapped him to trade him, am I right?"
"Yes, and we're going to do it my way."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I'll kill him."
"You're bluffing… he's just an innocent man. You wouldn't do that, you're not like me, unfortunately."
"No I'm not like you, fortunately, But I will kill him, I'll do anything to reach my goal. You know that I never give up. And without him, your whole experiment, years of work, will collapse."
"Fine. I'll call you back within a few ways."
And he hung up. With trembling hands I put the cellphone back in my pocket. I had been bluffing. I didn't thought I would be able to kill Dante… But Klaus had fallen for it. At least I hoped so.
Now there was nothing I could do but wait.
Sophie's house
Lok
"I'm going with you." Sophie said stubborn.
I sighted. I knew she was going to say that.
"Sooph no, we're going to Prague and infiltrate the organization's headquarter, it's too dangerous for you to come with us."
"It's dangerous for you to! We have a better chance if we're with three. Dante is like a brother to me, I want to help him!"
"But Sophie-"
"I've made my decision. I'm going with you whether you like it or not. Besides, I'm a Casterwell, my spells may be helpful."
I sighted again, but this time for another reason. She was right, her spells would be very useful… but still I couldn't risk that something bad would happen to her, I would never forgive myself…
"Ok that's settled, she's going with us." Michael said.
I gave him an indignant glance. "Nothing's settled!"
"Yes it is. Now Dante's missing I'm the team- leader, because I'm the oldest and best seeker. And I decide that we need Sophie's help."
I just wanted to make a sarcastic comment on that when LeBlanche came in.
"Miss Sophie, I've heard about what happened, you want me to book tickets to Prague?"
"Yes LeBlanche, book three tickets for the next flight. We want to leave as soon as possible."
"I'll take care of it."
"Thanks LeBlanche."
I saw it was useless to protest. Sophie was going with us no matter what I said. For a moment I cursed myself for having such a stubborn girlfriend.
That evening, Zhalia's house
Zhalia
I was in the kitchen making dinner for Dante, when I remembered the article was still in my pocket. I wanted to pull it out but it was gone. The blood curdled in my veins. It's impossible I've lost it...
Dante. How could I've been so stupid? No doubt he'd taken it.
I started walking circles, trying to make myself calm down. What did it matter? He wouldn't care. I shouldn't care. But I did, for some reason it felt like he'd read my diary or something like that.
God now I'm afraid to see my own hostage …. I thought bitterly.
I cursed Dante Vale from the bottom of my hearth for doing this to me.
-
Problems… problems…problems….
Next chap: More problems
XD
Let me know what you thought of it ;-)