***Suddenly, a woman's face appeared in front of us. She looked to be the age of Madame Magda, or perhaps older. She said, flattery dripping from her voice, "Wow, you both are so beautiful!" Then she added, "Anyway, Madame Magda sent me to you. She asked me to take you, Zuzanna." The moment she mentioned our names, a sense of relief washed over us. Zuzanna eagerly asked, "Oh, really?" The woman smiled and replied, "Yes, she's waiting for you. We need to hurry." Then, turning to me, she said with a cold smile, "And you, little one, will wait here, won't you?" The woman hurried to the vendor's shelf and brought me another cookie, which made me feel better, thinking everything was okay. Zuzanna stood with the woman, and they left.
As for me, I said to myself, "Without me? Never!" I quickly pulled out an unfinished piece of cloth, tucked the cookie inside, and hid it in my tight sleeve, then quickly stood up. "Where did they go?" I spotted them in the crowd. Halfway down, near the stairs, suddenly, the woman released Zuzanna's hand and vanished into the sea of people. "Madam!" "Oh my God, where is she?" Zuzanna turned around, panicking, when suddenly an unfamiliar hand pulled her forcefully. For a moment, she thought it was Magda, and a smile appeared on her face, but it faded when she saw the strange hand. It was a man's hand, wearing black gloves, gripping her tightly. "Hurry, it's me," the man said, "Bach." "What? Why you?" Zuzanna asked, confused. Bach smiled in an unsettling way and replied, "Magda is waiting for us." Despite her disgust with his appearance and behavior, Zuzanna had no choice but to follow him. They both descended the stairs leading to the basement, where it was darker. Bach continued to smile in a creepy way. Zuzanna asked nervously, "Where to?" "We'll pass through the bar below. There's a door that leads directly outside. I parked the car there." Zuzanna felt uneasy. She knew something was off. She cunningly asked, "Did Magda buy a lot of fabric?" Bach hesitated for a moment before replying, "Umm... yes, that's why I put it directly in my car." His response sounded suspicious. Zuzanna knew that Magda had only gone to make a phone call and hadn't bought anything. Quickly, she yanked her hand with all her strength, causing Bach's glove to slip off and reveal his strange hand: only four fingers. Zuzanna froze in horror. Bach angrily grabbed her wrist with such force, it felt like he was crushing it. Zuzanna screamed in pain across the hall, "Help me! He's hurting me!" Below, at the drink bar, everyone watched, but no one moved. Their faces were frozen in fear, as though terror had paralyzed them. Bach covered her mouth roughly to prevent her from screaming. Despite the fear, Zuzanna continued to struggle. Meanwhile, Karina had gotten lost in the crowd. All she could think of was to climb the stairs to find the way and search for Zuzanna. She quickly ascended the opposite stairs, her eyes scanning the crowd. From above, Karina saw a group gathering people and focused on the middle, where Zuzanna was still fighting back. It was a horrifying sight. Everyone was watching, yet everyone remained silent. Zuzanna was on the verge of losing hope... and worse, Magda hadn't warned her about Bach, and Szymon hadn't mentioned the killer with the four fingers....
In that grim moment, two men from the group at the bar suddenly moved. In a split second, one of them grabbed Bach by the neck with strength and pushed him away from Zuzanna with a decisive force. Bach was surprised and stumbled back. Meanwhile, the other man gently took Zuzanna's hand and turned it as though they were dancing. Zuzanna, swaying in confusion, met his gaze as he held her chin softly. She stared at him, both shocked and afraid. He smiled warmly and said, "Bill's here, don't be afraid, little one."
***Bach couldn't believe what was happening. He roared like a lion:
— Yeeeah! What do you think you're doing?!
Luca, with mocking sarcasm:
-Przepraszam, angielski, angielski...
(Sorry, English, English.)
That only fueled Bach's rage. He shouted:
— YAAAH… How dare you meddle in my business?!
Then, from beneath his clothes, he pulled out a dagger and prepared to lunge.
Luca, with a devilish smile, dropped his arm and slowly drew a small knife:
— Chopping up this cow will be delightful.
Luca wasn't some amateur. He was an expert with blades.
His real name? Luka Vasiliev, a seasoned practitioner of Systema Russian Martial Arts.
At that moment, Bill moved swiftly, pulling Luca toward him and pressing Zuzanna into his arms in an attempt to calm him down.
Luca:
— What with you, Bill? Why me?
The glint in Luca's eyes vanished, replaced with a stormy scowl.
Bill stood in front of him—not to protect him, but out of fear of what this man, known as Luca Loco, might do next.
Then, with an unexpectedly flawless Polish accent for someone who wasn't even Polish, Bill turned to Bach with an icy smile:
Lepiej się uspokój, sytuacja nie jest na twoją korzyść.
(You'd better calm down. This situation isn't in your favor.)
Bach, his eyes spitting fire:
— Damn it, I decide how this ends. And you'll all regret crossing me!
Just as he prepared to strike, a man beside him grabbed his arm tightly and shouted:
— Damn you, Bach! They're the president's guests!
Bach's eyes widened, a sudden clarity dawning.
The man continued:
— Sitting in the back… is Boss Mikael, the president's official guest.
Behind Bill, at the drink bar, sat a man in a laid-back manner, sipping his drink. Beside him were three men—two of them had hands on their weapons, watching Bach with sharp intent.
Bach, tense but trying to hold his ground:
— This is still my business!
Bill, cutting in:
— It doesn't look like proper business. You should've waited until we were gone. We don't need disgraceful scenes before the president.
Bach clenched his lips in fury.
— But I know this girl… and I must take her back where she belongs!
Bill, glancing at the trembling Zuzanna:
— What do you say, girl? Do you want to go with him?
Shaking, Zuzanna clutched Luca's hands tightly, hiding behind him.
— No, no… Please, sir, don't let him take me!
Bill's eyes narrowed at Bach with disgust. He could smell this man's rotten intentions from miles away—scum like him was all too familiar.
Bach let out a furious roar, humiliated, and turned to leave.
Just then, Magda came rushing down the stairs. She saw Bach from afar, but didn't shout or confront him.
She had known what he wanted from the beginning.
Bill:
— Is this girl with you?
Magda, placing her hands on Zuzanna's shoulders:
— Yes. I'm responsible for her.
She paused, avoiding their gazes—afraid they might start digging into things best left buried.
— We have to go now.
Before leaving, Zuzanna bowed deeply in thanks, her eyes brimming with tears.
Bill:
— Hey, girl… you're strong.
(He pointed both thumbs at her.)
— Impressive.
A faint smile crossed her face as she nodded in gratitude and stepped away, her steps heavy.
Bill:
— Luca, are you upset?
Luca:
— Don't talk to me. You ruined my day. I should have killed him!
Bill:
— Come on. I promise I'll let you fight Jacky.
(Though in his heart, he too burned with the desire to finish off Bach.)
Jack:
— What?! What do I have to do with his emotional mess?!
At the staircase, Zuzanna suddenly stopped, worried.
— What about Karina? We can't leave her behind!
Magda:
— Damn it! I forgot about that monkey!
But before they could act, Karina came tumbling down the opposite stairs.
She shoved her way through the crowd and fell hard, crashing to the bottom.
Everyone turned. Even Mikael's group looked on.
Bill rushed to her, but Karina suddenly stood and shouted:
— I'm here! I'm here!
Everyone was stunned by her spirit.
Zuzanna ran to embrace her.
Magda:
— Let's go. We need to leave!
Malik:
— Oh God… Even we need to get out of this place… and this country!
The group's eyes followed the children as they left.
Karina, however, kept glancing back… studying the men… one by one…
Until her eyes locked on the one in the middle.
Earl:
— Wow. I like that little one.
Bill:
— Look at her eyes… they pierce right through me…
Mikael cast a light glance at her.
Those rare, dim turquoise eyes… auburn hair… small frame… and the misery carved into her features…
Malik:
— Guys, let's get out of here!
Boss:
— Malik… can you not cling to me?
Malik was practically glued to Mikael.
Luca:
— Aw, were you scared?
Malik:
— Yes! I'm a peaceful guy! I came for a vacation and ended up in a forest… hunting poor animals… and now this knife fight madness!
Suddenly, Mikael stood up and said quietly:
— Yes… We leave tomorrow night.
The group was stunned by the announcement.
Malik was ecstatic.
Malik:
— Yes! Praise God, my boss!
Boss (calmly):
— Great… Now we have a reason for enmity.
***Elsewhere, in the underground parking of the center, Bach had the man who stopped him pinned against a wall.
His forearm jammed into the man's throat, crushing his trachea.
— You should've told me they were here… you filthy bastard.
If the president hears about this… I swear I'll kill you.
The man, choking:
— I'm… sorry… sorry…
Bach let go, and the man collapsed, coughing blood.
Spitting and gasping, he rasped:
— Damn you… you filthy scum…
I swear I'll get my revenge….....