A light in the darkness

Chapter 6

"Mary!"

Ben and Maria turned around at hearing the soft angelic voice and Ben's hand went to his gun. Maria's heart sank and the next second relief washed over her.

There had stood her sister in the shadow of the trees. She had worn black jeans and a black hoodie and had pulled the hood on her head. Her dark waist-length hair had come out from under the hood on both sides of her head.

"Anna!" whispered Maria.

The next second the two girls were hugging each other tightly. Ben's hand that had gone to his waistband to grab his gun returned to his side as he watched the two women crying in each other's arms.

"Oh my God." sobbed Maria and pulled away to cup Anna's cheeks in her hands. "You are fine. You are alive. I was worried sick."

"Mary, what has happened to you?" cried Anna, staring at the new dark bruise on her sister's cheek and dried blood in her hair. 

Ben cleared his throat and got the attention of both girls. "As much as I hate to ruin the moment but we should return now." he said sternly and looked at Anna and stretched his hand. "Give me your bag. And I should check you for any weapons."

Anna looked at Maria confused. "I will tell you everything later." said Maria and helped Anna to take off her backpack. "You can trust him. Give him the bag and the gun I gave you."

Anna nodded and looked around, making sure no one is watching before pulling out a gun from under her hoodie and handing both her bag and gun to Ben and letting him pat her sides a bit to make sure she has no more weapons with her. Ben was shocked at how easily they cooperated.

"Okay, now get in." said Ben and opened the trunk of the car to put the bag in. He pointed at Maria. "You will sit in the passenger seat again. And you ..." he pointed at Anna this time. "I won't hesitate to kill your sister if you make just one tiny wrong move."

Anna gulped frightened and nodded and then sat in the back seat. Her eyes held the same innocence as her sister, only adding to Ben's theory about the sisters being forced into a dark plan.

"Maria, what's happening?" asked Anna warily some minutes into the drive, not being able to hold herself anymore. "Is he one of his men?"

Maria shook her head. "I failed, Anna." answered Maria. "He is one of King's men. Things are a bit complicated."

"Oh!" answered Anna and Ben watched from the rearview mirror as the fear in her eyes only increased. 

Maria turned toward her sister. "Anna, everything's going to be fine. Just breathe." she said, worried for Anna's health. "Have you had your pills? Are you fine?"

Anna only nodded in return and Maria sighed, not liking the stress her sister was going through. She saw Ben glancing at her from the corner of his eyes, obviously confused. He was silent, obviously trying to gather information as much as he could. She didn't know him, not even his name. She just knew he had a high rank in the King mafia from the way everyone was acting around him. But he had helped her and she owned him a lot already.

But the thought of him only increased her dread of going back to King's main base. She knew Anna was anxious as well and that was not good for her health. They both need a distraction. "Tell me how did you flee from the flat."  

"You were right when you said Santi's men will leave when you leave." Anna began to talk. "The two vans left after some minutes and two cars with only two men in each took their place at the front and back door. It seems he didn't think I will be able to take care of myself or flee without you."

Maria nodded but didn't say anything and Anna continued. "The Camera they had put in the corridor was sending the footage through the network. I hacked it and made it repeat a minute that the corridor was empty over and over again, making sure they will see the empty corridor. I then walked out of the flat with my bag, pretending I'm going upstairs, and then went to the first floor flat you gave me the keys to."