Scars of the past

Mahamud

They were on their way, but the information they had already given us was making knots in my head, my lecture was approaching and I was getting more and more nervous, I felt tingling in my hands a few times, and George saw me rubbing them frequently. My breathing was labored and my stomach was churning.

"Hey, what's up honey?" He said holding my hands but I looked down he then lifted my chin with his thumb and forefinger. "Look at me... It's going to be okay, let's put an end to this finally."

My breathing was still accelerated, but just looking into his eyes, it was as if the rest of the world disappeared, as if there were only the two of us, it was the peace I needed.

"Daughter, it's time, your lecture starts in 15 minutes, we need to go down."

My father's announcement made everything more real, I was ready and after letting out a sigh, we all went downstairs. Angus, Clarck and Angelic hadn't arrived yet, but we needed to keep the lecture as bait for Mahamud, he probably had a plan, but so did we.

We went down the stairs and I entered the auditorium which was packed, it was chic and old like the rest of the hotel, it looked very much like a theater, upholstered chairs, paneled walls, and lots of red velvet. I walked in through the side door, and the support team was there, for them and for all the agents that were watching, it was just the talk really, but it wasn't just me who got on stage, they were there with me, my dad and George too. The three of us saw Henry sitting in the front row, my father had already placed trusted agents to watch him. He waved at me and my dad, and it took all my strength to pretend everything was fine and wave back with a smile. I started as I normally would, introducing myself, but before I could say anything, slow clapping interrupted my speech.

"Well well, well done Miss Colin, great performance, thought you were going to deliver the talk as if nothing had happened? And without even crediting me for creating it? It was thanks to my stealing files that you developed this software." The hoarse voice made my heart seem to stop for a few seconds, I had to remember to breathe, I exhaled and tried to control myself not to freak out. It was Mahamud, in the hall, right in the center of the auditorium.

The agents looked at each other in confusion, and some had the reflex to draw their weapons. Was Mahamud crazy to show up there? Inside an agent meeting? My peripheral vision distracted me for a few seconds when I saw Angelic and Clarck sneaking up from the side, but where's Angus? Clarck opened his notebook and Angelic handed him some things.

Everyone in the auditorium was looking at me in astonishment, staring at me waiting for some answer, one I couldn't give, until Mahamud continued speaking.

"I see your little boyfriend is here, didn't I order you to stay away from him?"

Mahamud was smiling now, as if everything was going according to plan, but I was pretty sure he had no idea we knew about Henry.

"Since he's next to you, I'm going to need to press that button." He said showing a cell phone. "If I press here, all the files I stole become public domain, that must be what you want, isn't it?"

I froze, and looked at Clark who waved me away, he still couldn't block it, we were all still at Mahamud's mercy.

"Answer me you bitch, this is not a monologue." He spat out the words as he made a hand gesture and two henchmen brought a person over. "I brought a special guest to maybe get you talking. I found him investigating what he shouldn't have."

When they brought it closer, it was Angus, he had a black eye and some scratches on his arms, I froze when I saw him, and I let the air out of my lungs, I was starting to panic and hadn't spoken yet, not even a word. It was as if the presence of that man froze me inside, I lost control.

"Did you really think you could build a case against me? That you could learn from my sources and my informants? That you could bring me down? I'm much deeper and higher than you might think." I felt the reference to Henry, he really had no idea that I already knew. "But be careful who you put to investigate me, it could be that very end."

In just one movement he pulled the gun that was on his waist, pointed it at Angus's head and pulled the trigger, the strong sound of the fuse echoed throughout the auditorium, my eyes widened and my heart froze and shattered, I felt the floor open Beneath me, everything else was in slow motion, the memories of Alisson's death haunting me. I heard Angelic scream in horror, and all the agents pointed their guns at Mahamud, who showed his cell phone, making everyone there hostage to him too, his files were also there and everyone was afraid that this was going to be in the public domain, I could only scream:

"Don't shoot." Before I feel my knees go weak, my arms and legs tingled, and I felt tears flowing from my eyes, I was in yet another panic attack, but before I fell, I felt a hand on my waist.

It was George, he held me upright, pressed me hard against his body and said firmly in my ear.

"You're not going to let him win, you've got all the pieces, just play. He's just an idiot who managed to muddle your brain, but you're so much more than him. You're stronger than that, you can do it. For you, for me, for our kids, for everyone, you can do it, I know it, and you know you can do it.

His words took me out of the trance, the cloud that was over my thoughts dissipated, and everything became clear as day, I could and I managed to defeat him, the strength was always within me, I just needed George to remind me of that .