The fourth..? I was lifting the heavy cover as much as I could..
In the fifth I dropped it as hard as I could on the guy's head, at the same moment his bullet went out to miss the frozen-closed-eyes girl and hit the wall behind her.. I watched the guy as he fall to the ground without a word, while the girl opened her eyes slowly and looked at me in complete shock.. Thinking that the rest of the gang must've heard those sounds and would come shortly to check things up made me take the girl from her hand quickly, and to the room with the dead girl we entered, while closing the door I heard footsteps coming quickly to where we were a couple of seconds ago..
- Bloody Hell..!! What happened..?
A guy shouted at the end of the hall.. Good.. They were still in the shock phase.. I closed the door quietly and slowly so that they wouldn't notice us, I found myself putting my hand automatically on the girl's mouth, in fear of her losing her nerves or think that I wanted to hurt her ( which would certainly be an idiot thought regarding what I just did to save her) and make a sound.. I felt her heavy breathing, and her trembling body.. Moments passed slowly and nerve breaking, while the guys outside walked through the corridor.. Their shadows passed in front of our door..
- Who did this to him..?
- Don't ask me, and BTW, where is that damn blonde piece of cake that went with him..?
I saw her horrified eyes turning to look at me.. Could they guess that we were hiding here..?
Tensely, I approached the door, waiting for their next move and.......
****
-19-
The "boss"
Smoking my favorite cigarette, I watched what was happening from behind my large sunglasses that hid about half of my face.. Things were going according to the plane till now, except for that dead woman and the help that would probably come within minutes.. Anyway the mission would end soon enough, and we'd be able to leave before they even reach the beginning of the street, and won't get caught.. Everyone would stay alive, creating a happy ending for everyone.. Oops.. I meant almost everyone, as it certainly wouldn't be happy for that babe called "Sohair".. !!
"Khalid" had been suspecting her for a while.. The guy was as attentive as a hawk all the time, or else he wouldn't deserve his position or staying in it for this long..
He noticed her not as interested in him as she used to, so he hired me to spy on her for sometime till I find something interesting.. I knew about that young lawyer she'd been meeting.. Not meeting except in public places didn't make their position any better.. We didn't see them go to hotel rooms or some apartment together to suspect something dirty, but not telling "Khalid" about the lawyer was suspicious enough, at least "Khalid" thought so.. Didn't know whether we were doing the right thing or not, but my work didn't include thinking in the job description.. "Khalid's orders weren't to be discussed.. Whoever be stupid enough to do so, ends as a rotten lifeless body in the nearest alley, so I had to listen to his plan..
I was supposed to kill her during the mess on our walking out of the place, so she would be considered a victim of the robbery.." Khalid" made me the leader of this miserable group, because each one of them had a debt to pay for him, so he didn't trust them much.." Sameer " who stole money from "Khalid's casino, "Kareem" who had piles of debts all over his shoulders for the same casino,"Fawzi" who tried to rob "Khalid's office safe, and finally stupid "Foad" who thought he could spy on "Khalid"and sell his secrets to enemies.. At least those were the ones I knew their stories.. Probably I was the only one in this miserable group that he trusted, assuming he really trusted me..
That way "Khalid" Would revenge from the café's owner "Youssef Elemam", one of his business-competitors who stole many deals from him..
(Among which was opening that bloody café, while "Khalid" wanted to buy the place and turn it to a restaurant..)
And at the same time he would get all his debts back from those losers.. This way he could terminate many unfinished works in just one step.. That was when I heard the siren..!!
The ambulance finally came.. How would its driver react..? Would he leave on finding that the place was completely closed..? Would he try sneaking inside..? Did he call the cops..?
Finding hope starting to appear in many of the hostages' eyes, I starred at them as cruel as I could, playing with my pistol to let them know that we were still in charge, So that they wouldn't get their hopes too high and think that the ambulance coming was a good twist in their favor.. Knocks were heard again, and "Fawzi" who was standing near looked at me cautiously to see what would I do.. I pointed at him to stay where he was..
- If anyone moves or tries to get someone’s attention you know what I will do.. Right..?
The hope that was just starting to look in their eyes evaporated quickly.. Idiots.. Did they really think we would let them go easily..? I heard three knocks on the main door.. Must be the paramedic.. I winked at our hostages, as the knocks stopped, obviously the closed for renovations sign did its job good, but we should be hurrying before things get bad.. I knew there was a back door in the kitchen that led to the back Street..
I told "Kareem" and "Sameer" to go after that idiot "Foad" who didn't return.. I just asked him for a simple damn job.. Just to go keep an eye on that woman and her daughter who went to the bathroom.. Why didn't any of them return till now..? Taking all the money wasn't that important anymore.. what should count now was to leave quickly before we get caught..!!
****
-20-
"Mahmoud"
Looking around me in the white faint light coming from the many lights in the ceiling, I realized how wide the kitchen was.. I noticed large metallic tables, upon which were piles of dishes and dirty cups, passed beside the large stove, upon which were many boiling pots, that many of them dried up and started doing the pitter-patter sound over the stove fire, then I noticed a large white fridge like the one I always wished to have.. It seemed like the cafe's stuff went out quickly and would return any second.. Approaching the half closed door slowly, I tried listening to whatever was happening outside.. Going out right away wouldn't bring me except a bullet in the head..
But the moment I touched the door I remembered I didn't have any weapon.. How could I get one now..? Looking around me quickly, I decided to pick up the large knife lying on the bench beside the large sink.. Carrying it made me feel a lot stronger.. Now I could face that guy having some kind of a chance.. At least I could come from behind anyone of them and threaten using that knife.. Hearing sounds of quarrel, I hurried back to my place behind the slightly closed door.. Through the opening I sneaked a peak nervously, feeling blood flushing through my veins.. Those people had guns and won't hesitate to kill me, and no joking about this..
Did that knife have any kind of chance..? I doubt.. But no more options to choose from.. On the pale white light that covered the hallway I saw the ends of blond hair disappearing behind one of the doors, and after a second came two hurrying men in the beginning of the Hall.. The two guys prepared their guns and started checking the doors along the hallway..
- She must've gone to one of those rooms..
I saw them as they opened the first door.. Not it..
They opened the second door as well, then walked away again when it turned not to be that one either..
Then I saw them approaching the third door behind which I saw the blond hair disappearing..
After switching off the kitchen lights, I went to the nearest table that I could remember it's place, and threw everything on it to the ground, knowing that this was loud enough to catch their attention even if for few seconds from opening the third door.. Standing behind the kitchen door shaking, holding that knife, I waited for their appearance..
****
-21-
"Kareem"
- What are you doing man..? I thought we said no killings..
I watched him nervously, while preparing his gun, and heading towards the kitchen that the sounds came from..
- I didn't say s
hit.. If any of those losers is going to be the reason for us get arrested, I'll kill them all.. But first let's find the slut that's hiding in the kitchen..
His cold answer froze me, and not knowing what to say, I kept silent.. Should I follow him or just stay here..?
- You stay here to cover my back, and I'm going to go quickly to check the kitchen..
His answer saved me from wondering.. I watched him as he walked towards the slightly opened door, hoping everything would go fine.. Please God make it all end now and let it be just a bad dream..
I watched "Sameer"as he pushed the door open carefully, then disappearing inside.. Few moments of silence passed then came the sound of the quarrel, followed by the sound of two bullets.. Dammit.. But "Sameer" didn't come out, which meant that something was wrong.. I headed towards the large door, trying to imagine the possible scenarios of what happened inside.. If "Sameer" was the killer he would've come out smiling.. I stepped close to the door which I felt leading to another world, to the unknown.. I took another step, while my hands reached for my pistol to be ready for whatever happens.. No sounds now behind the door as if it was covering a grave, but that made me even more tens..
Another step..!!
Now I reached the door..
I put my head slowly through its opening.. Will........?
****
-22-
"Nadine"
Gloated, I watched the worry appearing on the two left men after the rest were gone.. They must've ran away after hearing the siren..
- Should we do something to fight the two men left..? Or will they leave quickly without doing anything stupid..?
I heard the whispering question coming from my neighbor "Nadia", and didn't know how to answer..
- Believe me I don't know..
But the answer to my question came quickly when the confident man in the sunglasses pointed at me saying:
- You..!! You will come with us..
Why..?! Why me..?! I finally managed to stop my body from shivering and cleared my throat, before putting my thoughts into words:
- M.. Me..?!
Tense moments passed through which my heart stopped several times, before I saw him pointing to a blonde girl in a white dress sitting in front of me.. The girl in the front was keeping her head down, leaning it on her hands..
- Are you deaf or something..? Come on..
I felt relieved for a second on realizing he didn't want me, before starting to feel guilty for the quick change in my feelings, with some pity for the poor girl.. Why her..?
- You'll come with us to make sure that no one follows us, and if they do, we'll blow your pretty head up..
He was threatening the rest of us more than he was threatening the girl, who stood up trembling, not looking to anyone.. She must be thinking: why her..?
I looked sadly at the guy sitting next to her, who was sitting to her table earlier, and he was looking at her helplessly.. The guy with the sun glasses grasped the girl's hand tightly, and told the other guy left with him:
- We'll go out of the backdoor, let's see what happened to those idiots before leaving..
Didn't forget to turn to us in a dramatic way for one last time before disappearing in the corridor that led to the kitchen, saying:
- We're really thankful for your cooperation ladies and gentlemen, and sorry for annoying you for the last hour.. No need to tell you that whoever tries to stop us will be the only one to regret..
I watched them as they disappeared into the Hall, while the guy who was sitting on the blonds table, together with the fat guy with the large nose rose almost right away..
- Come with me..
The fat guy said to the other guy, while heading to the cashier's desk.. What will they do..? Didn't they hear what the armed man just said..? The young guy - whom I knew after that was called "Sherif"- asked the question I wanted to ask:
- What are you doing exactly..?
The fat guy opened the cashier's desk, and reached for a secret drawer below the money's drawer, answering:
- We keep a pistol here for emergencies.. We can use it to try to save that girl..
"Sherif" asked bitterly the same question I had in mind at that moment:
- And you didn't remember the bloody pistol except now..? Why didn't you get it out earlier..?
- Because I was under threat smarty if you haven't noticed that.. I was afraid to go get it and make them suspect something and shoot any of us..
"Kamel" - as I knew he was called after that - whispered while walking to the Hall.. A good point of view that made me shut up..
A sense of safety mixed with nervousness spread between the rest of us.. We were supposed to have survived.. why don't we feel the supposed joy then..?
Probably because of that girl they took with them.. Curiously, I stood up and followed them..
I wanted to know how this story was going to end..!!
****
-23-
“Mahmoud"
Just one hit was enough to knock him out.. Waiting for the other one who I knew would come shortly to see what happened to his buddy, I stood silently in the dark as if I were the angel of death.. Steps came from far, along with the guy's gasping for breaths, as if he knew what was waiting for him..
Step..
Another step..
I saw his shadow approaching through the opening in the door that made me able to see him without him seeing me.. Will he try to shoot me from his place..? The thought made me tense, and I tiptoed from my place as quietly as I could, carrying the gun I took from the first guy, who was lying unconscious now beside my leg..
When I reached a good place away from the door from which I could manage to shoot him without him noticing me, I pointed the gun at him, and pulled the trigger..!!
Two bullets were enough to make him loose his balance..
I walked out after I made sure there was no one else waiting for me outside.. Careful not to touch the guy's still body or the toilet cover beside him, I headed to the third room where I saw the girl entering, but no answer..
- I'm the one you called for the girl who tried to kill herself..
I whispered to the girl inside, because I realized that I wouldn't answer if I were her.. The possibility that one of the armed men knocking was the major one at these moments.. Few silent moments passed.. She must be thinking whether to believe me or not.. Nervously, looked at the end of the Hall, fearing any of them would show up.. I didn't know their exact number, or when would they notice the disappearance of those three men.. I whispered again trying to make her decide fast..
- Hurry because the rest of them might show up any minute, and there is still the rest of the people here to try to save after getting you out of the backdoor..
The door slightly opened and I could see a guy in his twenties with eyeglasses, and behind him stood a girl.. After they looked at me cautiously for a second and made sure from the custom I wore, they opened the door to the max.. The girl pointed to inside the room whispering:
- But the girl is already dead and.. How did you get in here..?
I looked inside to see a female still body lying on the floor.. I answered her:
- A little girl ran at me and told me about the armed men..
- "Leila"..!! Where is she now..?
She caught my hand nervously, her overreacting response surprised me.. I answered her while removing my hand from her claws:
- I told her to stay in my car till I see what'll happen here..
Then I started to put the picture together..
- You are " Dalia“ that she told me got her out..?
She shook her head silently approving what I said and..
- Just one minute.. You told me the girl already killed herself.. Right..?
I asked them while looking behind them to inside the room at the strange scene happening in front of me.. The girl answered me frowning:
- Yeah..
- Why is she moving now then..?
r /> They turned in horror, to see the same thing I was seeing.. The girl inside was moving.. Moving her leg, Opening her eyes, moving her head, before looking at us and smile..
What I didn't know that the guy lying in the corridor - supposedly unconscious from the hit he got from the toilet cover - was moving too.. I wouldn't know that till he stood behind me directly and.....
****
-24-
"Youssef"
Dr."Youssef" pushed the glass door aside, before stepping down the eight steps that lead to the wide hall, and stopped there watching silently.. Didn't stop taking notes, as his direct supervisor was waiting for a fully detailed report about each case..
He watched the patients scattered in the hall, some were sitting on the floor beside the wall, while some were standing and engaged in whispering talks.. The young doctor approached them cautiously, as they were still considered psychopaths..
He had to say that many of them showed a lot of improvement after some time under that weird trial they were carrying on them, but he must be careful, because in this department there were many hopeless amnesia cases, and some advanced schizophrenic cases that were subjected to an accident or a very strong shock that their minds couldn't deal with, causing them to lose their peace of mind forever.....
Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, express their feelings, and behaves. People with schizophrenia might seem like they have lost touch with reality, and affects the way they look at the people surrounding them.. Besides, many cases become associated with illusions, or hallucinations.. In other words, the patient creates another world for him or herself, other than the real world around them..