It All Starts With a Lie

Unknown Number

Chapter 16: Unknown Number

*****

"Buzzzzzz. Buzzzzz. Buzzzzzzz." The phone of Indie spoke.

She was confused and unsure whether to answer it as it was an unknown number. Finally, after some time she picked it up.

"Hello!" She said abruptly. This wasn't a new experience. She has been getting calls from unknown numbers for a long time. But this was the first time she was picking it up.

"Be ready for my next move," a stranger on the other end said.

Indie was filled with dread at his words. "W- Who are you?" She asked. She was scared that her face was getting dews of sweat without any workout.

The stranger continued, "What do you think, huh? It is so unfortunate that you'll lose in this war. Does your family know about it? Whether you make me out of the house it doesn't matter. I'll come back. Take it as a warning or compliment, I Don't Care!" After the very second of his last word, he abruptly hung up.

"N-N-No you can't. Please don't come. H-hello? H-hello??" Said Indie but it was of no use. This call was like a thunderclap for her. She didn't know what to do. Without having any option she started crying. Her tears were full of pain and resentment for that stranger.

***

Here at the headquarters, the environment was so anxious and intense. Everyone was filled with fear as this wasn't an easy option. But to lighten up the mood, Ella stated with her convincing voice, "We all know that, this mission is paramount for us. But to win, we need an energized body and a relaxed brain. This can be achieved by a proper rest. Already, you all have been training all night since the last week. So now, the rest time. Let's end our meeting here with a group call." After saying she stretched her right hand above the table, keeping her palm open and facing it towards the table.

Looking at her hand, everyone did the same as Ella by placing their hands above each other except Jason. He wasn't interested. He was requested but didn't come. Finally, when Rory pleaded him, he joined them. While placing his hands above them, his eye contact with Ella and Ella's with Jason.

"Let's make this fight, a great victory!" Ella shouted and everyone moved their hand upwards posting towards the sky (the ceiling).

Everyone was leaving the headquarters. Jason was also about to go behind Rory, but Ella stopped him. "You'll not go anywhere before giving me the answers." Said Ella.

Jason stopped, turned in the opposite direction where Ella was standing, and took a few steps forward to come and stand close to Ella. He asked, "Which answers?"

"You were thirty minutes late. Everyone was waiting for you for a long time. You were not even picking up your phone." shouted Ella in aggression.

"Okay. But what's the question?" Jason asked in a calm voice.

Ella was so much angry that she pressed her teeth so much that they started to pain. She continued in an angry tone, "So. The question is, why were you late? You know, you are the leader of this mission. How can you be late? huh? (then she held Jason's collar with her hands and then pulled him closer and started saying) or you think that you've won over laws to time. Huh?"

Jason pressed her arms so tight but the pain was nothing in front there eye contact. The anger made them forget about the pain they gave to each other.

"Your loud and sharp voice will never win this conversation. I wasn't partying. There were things that I had to do. The workload, which grandma divided me, Dad, and you; when you denied, the whole workload was on me. So the reason for me being late today is you!" Explained Jason.

"The work can be done later. This meeting was more important than your workload. Do you know, you serve The Ancient? Is serving the country a joke for you?" Continued Ella.

"I know everything, so you don't have to tell me, what to do and what not to do," replied Jason.

In this ongoing conversation, "Knock-knock," and Grace entered.

Jason and Ella were in the same position. Hearing that, they became restless and displaced themselves. Jason took his hands back from Ella and Ella left his collar.

"I've found the very important thing," Grace stated.

"Is it about that?" asked Ella

"Yes. May I call everyone again?" asked Grace obediently.

"No. Just tell me." Replied Ella.

"This mafia has become a terror in some parts of the country. In these regions, brainwashing is one of the most common practices. These are the places." replied Grace. She showed a hard copy of a document that showed the map of the country with some places marked.

"What's new? this is too I know," replied Ella

"Look at it carefully. The zones are increasing rapidly. The increasing rate is thirty percent. We have to do something or else in a few months, the whole country will become a terror group." replied Grace in a serious tone.

"Whew!" Ella took a breath out and was stopped for some time.

"What does this mean?" Jason interrupted.

"There are things which are beyond this mission. The main problem is that the secret still revolves around whether Victor Deadborn is a single man or a group of organizations," replied Ella to Jason.

"Anyway, what've you got about this?" Ella asked Grace.

"No news," replied Grace in disappointment.

"It makes me still a concern. What if this mission isn't successful..." Replied Ella.

"Let's hope for the best." Replied Grace.

"Why will this mission be unsuccessful?" asked Jason.

"A few days back we just found that they've placed at least twenty-three bombs all over the country. After getting this news, all the bomb-defusing agent and their team of this country were instructed to find them and defuse them. Thankfully, not a single bomb exploded. But this news never came out." Explained Graced.

"We think that everything is normal but not every time, the reality is what you see." Added Ella.

"Everyone is happy in the team but we only know how complicated this thing is. Oh God! What to do?" Said Grace in fright and frustration.

"Let's change the plan." Said Jason.

"What?" Said Ella