"I think the ladies are over here, I'm picking up some noises". I said to Anthony over the receiver.
"I spotted seven people dressed in white coats leaving the building, there should only be a handful left, but still be careful". Anthony replied carefully watching the surrounding areas.
"Okay". I responded.
"Should I go after them?". Anthony asked.
"No need". I shook my head even though Anthony couldn't see me.
"All I wish to do is speak with the women". I replied.
"I've searched over five rooms, I hope this is the one". I opened the door and luckily I saw three ladies.
"Who are you?". One of the ladies asked.
*They don't seem hurt*. I wondered as I stared at them.
The women seemed calm but had a sad face on, well two at least, the other lady was crying her eyes out.
"Mrs, what happened".
"Why are you crying?". I asked.
"I failed.....I failed her!".
"Huh?, who are you talking about?".
I walked towards her but before I could get close to her, the other two women stood in my path and started yelling.
"Stay away from us!, You bastards! better give us back our babies!". The lady with green hair screamed.
Identification of the three unknown women: one with orange hair and looks below thirty, second with green hair and looks above thirty, the third and the lady previously crying stood at 5'7, with brown hair and a familiar face.
*Where have I seen her before?*. I wondered.
"Ma'am, you've got it all wrong I'm not with those people who brought you here". I tried to explain myself.
"You're not?". She still seemed warily.
"Yes, I'm here to save you all". I announced.
"To save us?". They looked at each other with a puzzled look.
"To Save Us, Huh?!". The green haired lady shouted and added.
"Then give us back our children!".
*What is she talking about?*. I wondered.
"Ma'am, please I don't seem to follow, could you enlighten me on what happened to your child". I gently pleaded.
"Ha". She sighed.
"It's all our fault, sorry for shouting at you kid". She apologized looking sad.
"Why don't you sit down, so I can tell you what happened". The orange haired lady said pointing to the chairs in the room.
*There were seven chairs here, but just three women*. I thought as we all sat down.
"My name is Olivia, this is Rena and Fiona".
Rena (green haired), Fiona (brown haired).
"We are all friends and single moms, well(sigh), we once were to be precise".
"Once were?". I asked.
"Yes, something happened to..... our children". She ended her sentence with soft sobs, Rena and Fiona patted her back.
She sat in-between them, while I sat opposite her.
"It's okay ma'am, please take a deep breath". I said.
"Let me start by telling you about my daughter L.b as I used to call her". Fiona took over from Olivia.
"You see, when I newly gave birth to my baby girl, I wasn't doing quite well, to be precise I was young, dumb and broke".
"I was twenty four at that time, I just got back from a scholarship to study abroad and was still finding a job, back then I had a boyfriend Zach". She looked away from the little boy before continuing.
*The little boy is me*. I pointed out.
"And one thing led to the other he got me pregnant, but he wasn't half as happy as I was to have a child and forced me to abort it, I lied that I had aborted the baby". She paused for a little while.
"Luckily he went on a business trip for a year,
(Star78 : A business trip for a year?, Nah that doesn't seem right, he was actually messing around with a foreign chick, 🤫 she doesn't need to know that).
"When he got back he saw my three months old baby and threw both of us out of his home, I was broke and didn't have anywhere to go". Sadness was evident in her eyes as she spoke.
"But didn't you find a job during that year?". I asked.
She shook her head and replied
"Like I said before, I was young and dumb".
"I had this rich friend who provided for me all throughout my pregnancy period". She explained.
"After he kicked me out, I was too embarrassed to ask for her help again and my parents were dead, with no one to turn too, I took my child and strolled down the road wondering what to do, until I met the devil!". Her tune was filled with anger and hatred at the end of her sentence.
"He came looking like an angel to take away all my sorrow wearing a white coat and with sweet words, it didn't take long to convince me". She shook her head like she had made a grave mistake.
"A devil in disguise as they say, he came to me asking why I was crying, after I had explained it all to him, he came up with a delightful proposal, that he would take care of my daughter till she grew up to age 18 and then she would have to take care of herself ".
*That sounds pretty ok*. I thought.
"I couldn't believe my ears, so I asked him what was the catch, he simply smiled and said all I had to do was visit my daughter but once every year, meaning I couldn't visit her any other time". She paused.
*She wouldn't be crying asking for her child of that was it all*. I waited for her to continue.
"He said he was interested in recruiting more children for his orphanage home, with a failed mom and a dad who didn't wish to acknowledge her existence, l.b was already an orphan, so I agreed, and then he smiled ".
"A smile that I won't forget all my life, a dark sinister smile like welcoming some one into hell, my instincts told me to refuse instantly, but I had no other choice than to accept, after all he didn't seem so and he was very influential, I'd seen him many times on the News.....
"Do you mind telling me who that was?". I asked interrupting her.
"He went by the name Zayne Cain". She replied and my eyes widened.
*Dad was involved?!*.
"After agreeing we promised to meet every year at her birthday till she turned eighteen and left him, at first he kept to our deal, but something was strange he only reached out to me on that day...
"You didn't have his contact info?". I interrupted again.
"No, he refused to give it to me, also he always took us out and never allowed me to see the orphanage, this bothered me a lot, but when I asked on her fifth birthday, he brought out a contract I didn't even know I signed, stating that I had no business whatsoever with her except on her birthday ". She paused gauging my reaction.
"It was unsettling but I managed until her eight birthday, he had brought l.b when half of the day was already gone, I was very unhappy to not spend enough time with my daughter, I queried him and he allowed me to see her again that here, making me really happy". She smiled sadily.
"But when she was ten, she looked at me bluntly and asked who I was, my heart was completely shattered... She paused tears daring to fall.
"So you're saying she knew you were her mom previously?". I asked.
"Yes..., l.b was a really smart girl and at age four, she already knew I was her mom". She explained.
"Oh u see, I'm really sorry to hear that ma". I replied.
"This time, he had brought bodyguards instead of himself, after trying to explain I was her mother for a whole thirty minutes, they took her and left.
" I tried chasing after them, but they were gone out of the cafe we were in and into a black minivan". She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath.
"After a day of uncertainty I rose up and went straight to Zayne office, just a minute of madness I was let to his office to see him, I asked what happened to my daughter ,why she didn't remember me?".
"He simply looked at me like a mad woman and said"I have no idea what you're talking about, who are you and who's your daughter?".
"After that, his security threw me out of his office, but I didn't rest there, I filed for a lawsuit, but there i realized it was just a fake document ....
"What document?". I asked.
"The contract he showed me on l.b fifth birthday , he actually gave me a copy, but at court I figured out it was fake, even his signature, there was no evidence whatsoever that he took my child,...
"What about the phone calls?". I asked.
"That wasn't possible, I had lost my previous phone and had to get another one entirely, so with no evidence, the case was closed and I lost my daughter completely". She started crying.
*So that was the lawsuit, around two years ago*. I thought.
I was around twelve but I heard a lot about it online, a crazy lady blaming CEO Cain for her missing child, there was so much support for my dad.
"After a while I joined up with Rena and Olivia who had the same thing and we joined up to find our children ".
"Ma please excuse me, but what's the full meaning of l.b, you've been calling your daughter that throughout, is it like a nickname?". I asked.
She shook her head and continued
"No that's her name".
"Her name?".
"What's her name?". I asked more properly.
"Linda brown".
"Huh?!". I asked.
*I probably didn't hear her properly, right?*.
"The full meaning of her name was Linda Brown, my name is Fiona Brown". She said.
*Linda's mother?!!*.
________________________________________
"Achoo!". Linda sneezed.
"Who's calling me". She frowned.
*Better be for something good*. Then she smiled.
"Lin, I think we should go back now .....
"Why, shouldn't we wait for Xavier". She asked.
"He's probably going to waste a lot of time ". Max shook his head.
"So we shouldn't wait".
"Okay then, let's just chill a little longer ". Linda pleaded.
The two of them sat down on a mat having a little picnic by the beach.
"Fine then, but if.....
"Hello there, Max and Linda". They heard a voice behind them.
*That voice!!*. They both broke into a cold sweat.
"What are you doing here, planning to escape by sea?". The man around 23 with long, styled up blue hair and multiple piercing said, his voice filled with disgust.
"O...of.. Of course not, it not like that". Max stammered and gulped.
"Good, cause you're too important in our research, so important that I could go to hell to bring you back". His smile so dark and cold, that they couldn't help but shiver.
One of the only researches Max and Linda and every other orphan were afraid of; Raizel Inventa.
"But that wouldn't happen, right?!". He sat on the mat, and placed his hands over their shoulder, bringing them towards.
"Yes, definitely". Linda added.
They all feared him, because he didn't care to use even the most cruel means on little kids.
"Linda, I went through a lot of stress because of you,
"Me?!".
"Yeah, an old hag came looking for you, but nevermind, I got rid of her". He smiled again.
"Get in the car and be quick about it".
"Scream, shout, alert others and you're dead!". He stood up pointing towards the car behind him.
They entered the car quickly, while he had a quick smoke break.
*Xavier, i really enjoyed our day, too bad there won't be another, after all we'll be dead in a week, I won't even get to tell you happy birthday*. Linda sighed softly closing her eyes within the car.
*I had long known I would die, so why am I still so sad, is it because of Max and Xavier, my only two friends in this world*.
Tears silently dropped from her eyes.