ENTANGLED STRINGS OF PAST

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Hazel Grey

We landed in Los Angeles.

It's my fate who brought me back here, but I'll be the one who writes my destiny this time.

All the flashbacks of that night when we were brought here first started to blur my vision as I walked down the plane. How those hands grabbed our hair and dragged us forcefully into that truck, I remember that all! The cries of Jennet and those girls were ringing through my ears.

It was getting hard to walk while carrying the burden of the past but suddenly a hand crawled to my waist and supported me.

"Are you okay?" Aiden asked while holding me, I nodded. The warmness of his hand brought me back to the present and reminded me why I came here again.

We walked through the checking station and after all the formalities we sat in our cars. Aiden and I sat in one, Mary and Terry were in another while about five more cars full of guards were following us.

We were passing by the streets of L. A reminded me of the nights I used to spend on the roads driving endlessly in the hope of ending up somewhere far away.

Isn't it funny that it took me four years and my friend's life to get out of this hell but in only six hours I'm here again?

The drive was silent; I didn't say anything because I just couldn't. But something seemed weird when the car stopped in front of a villa, "aren't we going to a hotel?" I asked Aiden.

"No, we could not work in a hotel without any restriction so I brought this house," he said calmly.

He just bought a villa in Santa Monica.

It was right for him, but getting in and out of the hotel was easy for me, now I have to think of a way to get out of here to execute my plan without getting caught.

We all exited our cars and the guards started unpacking the luggage. The villa was somewhere similar to Aiden's house but a little small. As we walked into the house the caretaker welcomed us. He was an old man dressed in a suit while a few maids surrounded him.

He told us about the room assigned to us and I walked straight to my room.

I pulled out my phone when I was alone in my room.

I opened the private messaging app and a smile crept onto my lips as soon as I read the text message.

It was from Ezar.

I had sent him a text message from an unknown ID.

UNKNOWN (ME): I know your mother isn't dead. You hid her away from your world, somewhere in Sweden.

I knew his weakness was his mother, but in our world, no weaknesses are allowed so he faked his mother's death and hid her in Sweden. Away from him.

I wasn't sure whether he would respond to his text or not but I knew him; he would do everything to keep his loved ones safe. Now that was his real weakness.

EZAR: she's dead.

I texted him again.

UNKNOWN (ME): you bet. Meet me at the old Venice short-line railroad bridge tonight at 3, if you don't want me to spread her address along with her photos on the dark web.

I was just bluffing but he will not ignore this threat, probably he will come to kill me instead. We got onto the plane at 6 in the evening; it took us around six hours, and now it was 1 in the morning. I have only two hours to plan my escape from this new house. My race is against time now!

Old Venice Bridge was the closest and the only safe place where I could meet him. If I take a metro from here it will take me 20 minutes to reach there, but if I steal someone's car it will take only 10. I know what to do.

I disconnected from the chat and turned the phone off.

Meeting Ezar was the first tier of my mission. When I was in New York at Aiden's home, I planned this mission and there was no space for mistakes. I have only got one shot and I'm going to play it hard this time.

I changed my clothes and tried to take some rest but my mind was not ready to waste any minutes so I decided to unpack my weapons from my bag.

I have taken slash stolen some blades and a knife from the warehouse, these are not enough but at least I have something to fight with Ezar.

As I was unpacking the blades from the pile of clothes Mary packed with me I found the teddy, I didn't want to leave it so I just packed it with everything, maybe because I knew I wouldn't be returning. I put the teddy down on the bed.

It always reminds me of Aiden. Remembering him always fills me with the fear of what will happen when he knows the truth. How will he react when he finds out that I am Grey? Will he leave me like everyone did?

All the questions hurt me, but someday I will get the answers to these and I have a feeling that the day is coming soon.

"May I come in?" suddenly Mary knocked at the door.

"Yes," I answered.

"What is tonight's mission" are we going somewhere?" I asked.

"No, are you okay Hazel? We just landed an hour ago. Aiden told us to relax and to take some sleep" she scolded.

"I was kinda bored so I thought to check on you"

"Okay," I sighed.

"Aren't you feeling sleepy?" she asked.

"No, but I think you are," I said smiling, seeing her yawning.

"By the way if you don't mind, can I share your room? I'm just not feeling comfortable in mine" she asked.

"Yeah sure" I accepted her offer as I knew she was a dead sleeper so if I came in out of the house she would never know and even if somebody saw me, she could be my proof slash my alibi.

The plan is lame but I hope it will work.