They both walk down the sidewalk when Amelia looked for a good place for dinner whereas Evelyn whistled as she worked on hacking into all the cameras set on their way there.
"Blackout, blackout, blackout~," She said with all liveliness in her tone. "Hey Amie, have you found a place yet? I'm starving!"
"Oh yeah, I see one down the street." She said, "Look over there."
"Ooh~ looks good," She said, observing the restaurant not too far away from them. "Okay, now you go inside first and update me about the surveillance camera facilities in there while you're ordering and I'll join you once the work is done. It won't take long, hopefully." Amelia agreed and all went smoothly as they'd planned.
After that, they settled down at a table and waited for their food to arrive.
"We should get packing once we get back." The elder among the two said, looking down at her phone.
"Why tonight?" Evelyn asked.
"Look Evie, how long do you want us to be in this living hell?" She said, looking up from her phone. "I want this to be over and quick." Evelyn agreed.
"So, we're flying to the USA tomorrow?" She said, thanking the waiter as their food arrived.
"Yup." Amelia said, taking a bite out of her food "I've booked the last flight leaving to New York tomorrow, looks like the first one's full." She said, and Evelyn's expression went blank while chewing on her food. "What's with that look?"
"....Nothing...it's just that..." She said, looking down at her plate "..it's been so long since I was last at New York. Back then, I think I was Seven...or Eight? I don't remember well but, going back- that too, to put an end to this....- I don't know how to react."
"I understand Evie, I feel the same way too. But trust me," She said, reaching for her friend's hand, "we're together in this. Maybe not from the beginning, but till the end for sure. And as I said, this time- this trip we're gonna be going on- is going to change everything"
And she was right. This trip sure did change everything.
________________
It was about time the boys left for their flight to New York but their minds still wandered about the day before instead of the upcoming concert. When they were about to leave for the airport, their manager spoke up,
"You boys don't seem well, is something bothering you?"
"I couldn't sleep well last night, maybe that's why." Vincent said, "Thanks for asking."
"I see, what about the rest of you?"
The rest of them managed to come up with some excuse themselves saying that they're just tired and the manager was convinced since Ian and Patrick were already asleep in their seats with Ian's head resting on Patrick's shoulder while Patrick leaned on the window.
To be honest, none of them slept well the other night. James and Liam admitted they felt uncomfortable to sleep alone after what had happened earlier and shared their bed with Ian who gave up arguing and agreed after they've begged him for so long. Patrick had to put up with all this since he and Ian shared the same bed. And Lucas and Vincent had two hours of sleep after having a long talk about what had happened that day and decided not to say anything about the incident to anybody until things settle down. Even if that meant getting into trouble. After all, they had fans looking forward to this concert. Despite the fact that they were creeped out by the threats of those anonymous women, they won't let their fans down.
The car ride took One-and-a-half hours but it felt like minutes for all Six of them. Once they reached the Airport, everything went well as planned until they stopped at the check-in area.
For some time, their manager looked frustrated and was having a serious talk with one of the staff. When he returned to the boys, Vincent asked,
"Is everything alright? You don't look well."
"We got the wrong timing." He sighed "And now we'll be waiting for the flight that will be leaving in exactly..." He glanced at his watch, "...One and a half hours. We'll be heading to the waiting area now."
Meanwhile, at the airport waiting area.
"Why are we here this early again?" Evelyn sighed from her seat, bored after sitting at the same place since morning.
"I told you, that hotel is no more safe for us. And it would be a waste of time and money if we stay at another place for just five hours. In fact, it's Two times safer in here than outside. So, quit whining like a kid. It's just a couple more hours." She turned to her side only to find her friend looking into the distance, totally ignoring her. "Are you even listening?"
"Hold on." Evelyn reached for her backpack and took her laptop out and was busy at it for some time until "Bingo." There was a mischievous smile on her face.
"What is it?"
"Check this out" She showed her screen to Amelia.
"Oh, their flight left an hour ago. What a coincidence." The elder said, not bothered at all.
"That's not it. Our flight is the last one leaving to New York today."
"So?"
"And all I want you to do is take a look at who's in front of us."
And so Amelia did, only to find Six very familiar faces seated right in front of them.
"How is this possible?" Amelia quickly looked away to face the younger.
"Isn't it obvious? They must've missed their flight. There's no way they're canceling the concert tonight which leaves them with the only option, take the next flight there as soon as possible." She leaned back on her seat, "And you know very well which flight that is."
Amelia thought for a moment before her phone went off. She chacked it to see it was Evelyn's Father.
By the time Amelia was busy on her phone, one of the men had already noticed and recognized them. He was more than terrified.
"....Dude, Liam." James nudged Liam, trying to gain his attention.
"What's the matter? You look like you just--" He said before getting a glance at what his friend was looking at. "...What do you think they're doing here?" He quickly looked away.
"I don't know." He nervously said, looking at Liam. "Do you think we should inform someone?"
"No, let's not do anything now. If they make any move that seems suspicious, we'll see. After all, we're the only ones who noticed them."
Well, he was wrong.
Lucas let out a chuckle after he read the text he'd just received and looked up, only for him to be greeted with one of the faces he wished he'd never see again. The woman waved her hand at him and smiled.
For a split second, he froze and then prodded Patrick who sat beside him on the thigh but he was already fast asleep. When he looked back up at her she pressed her finger against her lips indicating that he shouldn't say a word which made him gulp down his saliva.
He decided to text the others about this but as soon as he looked down at his phone, it died.
Wait, how is that possible? He charged his phone right before leaving the Hotel.
He looked up, once again, to meet the eyes of the woman who had this mischievous grin.
'𝘋𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘪𝘵.'
While three of the men were having a hard time at the waiting area and just wanted to run away from there, Evelyn on the other hand was enjoying this.
"They look so funny." She whispered to Amelia who sat beside her.
"Whatever fun you're having, make sure it's limited." Amelia said, right after she hung up, "We're supposed to talk to them later and I don't want them to do something stupid when we do."
"Why so sudden?"
"It was dad on the phone. He said Victor has his men following them now." She sighed in frustration, "Look at what I've gotten us into?... I hate this."
"Victor? following them?" Evelyn asked, "Wait, does this mean they're in trouble?!" She whisper-yelled.
"Yeah. Now keep your eyes open, I have a strong feeling they're somewhere around here."
Just then, they noticed one of them get up from their seat and leave towards the restrooms. And a suspicious-looking man followed him.
"Stay here and keep an eye on the rest of them." Amelia stood up from her seat "I've got some business to be dealt with."
With that, she follows the man towards the restrooms. Just when she reached the entrance, she saw the man trying to choke the other guy. She quickly got into the scene, tackled the man to the floor, and saved the victim. Shocked by all this the guy just stood there, frozen at the sight of the man who tried to hurt him being beaten up to a pulp. When the woman stood up, she said,
"Send my regards to Victor. And that's the only reason you're alive." She turned to the frozen person behind her, "Promise me that everything that just happened here doesn't leave this place."
He said nothing.
"I'll take that as a 'yes' then." She started walking away and then returned right back in front of him. "Just so you know, you're in great trouble now so make sure to be careful. This too is for your own safety."
"Who are you? And why are you following us?" He finally spoke up.
"I have my ways," She answered him, but let his other question slide. Why? Well, who knows?
"Oh, and make sure to wash your face before you go back. I don't want you to look like a tomato that's about to explode any moment when you get back there." She started walking away "And I'll see you soon."
And he'd never thought it would be that soon.