CHAPTER 47: REVEAL YOURSELF!

Zero was waiting for Naomi to go back online, but she no longer appeared online. She must have turned off her phone. But why?

They were just having a conversation a while ago. She was asking for some help but now she went offline.

Ah, he will try contacting Alpha Maxwell. He switched to the Windowless Lovers chatroom, and sent a message to him.

After almost half an hour of waiting, Alpha Maxwell is finally online.

Zero: Dude, did Naomi contact you a few minutes ago? Did she send you a private message?

Alpha Maxwell: No, we have not chatted. Why?

Zero: She just reached out to me via private chat asking for my help. She sounds desperate and panicking.

Alpha Maxwell: Why would she chat with you in private? What did she tell you?

Zero: She told me that her father was planning to marry her to his boyfriend Edison against her will. Since she was grounded and couldn’t leave the house, she asked for my help. She wanted to escape, leave her house and go back to the facility to be reunited with baby Jacob. I told her I would ask management about her request for rescue. But when I came back online, she could no longer be reached. She went offline. I wonder why.

Alpha Maxwell: That’s strange...

Zero: She told me that she would wait for my help. She wanted rescue to happen as soon as possible. But she is no longer online. How to reach her? Do you have her number? I want to call her directly.

Alpha Maxwell: I have her number, I will call her now. I will reply to you here after I talk to her. BRB.

Zero: OK, dude. I’ll wait... let me know right away.

Alpha Maxwell left the chat. He quickly placed a call to Naomi’s number, unfortunately he only got a message saying the number you are trying to call is not available please leave a message after the tone. He finally stopped calling her number after hearing the same system message. He went back to chat with Zero.

Alpha Maxwell: I called her number several times. Her phone must be switched off because it would be impossible for her to ignore my calls.

Zero: I see... I have a bad feeling about it.

Alpha Maxwell: What is that?

Zero: Naomi was desperate for help. She wouldn’t abandon our chat just like that... unless she lost her phone or someone took her phone away. In short, she cannot chat with us anymore. Sad to say, the wedding to her boyfriend will happen based on her father’s plan and there is nothing we can do about it.

Alpha Maxwell: No, it can’t be!

Zero: Poor Naomi, grounded and no means to contact us anymore. I feel the weight of her problem pressing down on us. What can we do for her?

Alpha Maxwell: I will go offline for a while, I’ll see what I can do...

Zero: Dude, don’t do anything stupid. You can’t just go straight to the house of your enemy. Let me spy on her house. I will inform you if I’m successful.

Alpha Maxwell: What? Spying? You mean you will go there yourself and investigate?

Zero: Yup, why not? I’m up for the challenge, just so you know I’m an adventurous guy. I have some spy blood running in my blood, hahaha

Alpha Maxwell: Stop joking, Zero. Tell me about what you plan to do to help Naomi.

Zero: I could send some drones and monitor the house. I just want to know if Naomi is okay and not in danger.

Alpha Maxwell: Sounds like a good idea... but I want to ask you this... why are you so willing to help me and Naomi? What’s in it for you? I mean, why are you so dedicated to helping us and getting in touch with us? Are you paid handsomely by the facility to do this?

Zero: Well, you are right. As long as I’m doing my job right, I’m paid well. I was assigned to help you guys and I promise the management I will do my job well.

Alpha Maxwell: You haven’t told us yet who is the mastermind behind our kidnapping? Who are your bosses?

Zero: Sigh, I’m not going to tell you. They forbid me not to reveal our identity. But don’t worry, we all will reveal ourselves to you at the right time. For now, we will remain a mystery, the shadow working behind the scenes to help you guys out.

Alpha Maxwell: But why are your bosses doing this to us? What is the purpose of all this?

Zero: There’s a reason behind all of this. You and Naomi are especially chosen for this purpose and it will be revealed to you when the time is right.

Alpha Maxwell: You’re talking about riddles Zero. Why don’t you just reveal yourself to me and all this will be over?

Zero: Ah, not gonna happen soon. The road is still long and winding. But I will be there when you and Naomi finally reunite again for the common good.

Alpha Maxwell: Common good? What the hell are you talking about? Can you elaborate more?

Zero: Ah, scratch that... just a slip of my tongue, no meaning at all. Anyways, if there is one thing I wont get tired of repeating... it should be this... everything I do and the management is done for a good cause. Our intention is pure and sincere.

Alpha Maxwell: Pure and sincere? Are you fucking crazy? Is the kidnapping pure and sincere? Naomi and I are currently facing extreme difficulties in our lives because of the kidnapping your bosses orchestrated. And you are telling me now that a kidnapping is morally right? You make our current lives complicated and difficult to navigate and you are still calling yourselves saints and heroes ready to help us? Painting yourselves clean and pure with honest intent? This has got to be the biggest joke of the century!

Zero: Dude, you’re right. I’m guilty as hell, and I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart. Don’t worry your pain will end soon.

Alpha Maxwell: You play with our lives, I will never forgive you and your bosses!

Zero: Sigh, dude, don’t condemn me yet. All I know is that I’m doing this for your own good. One day you will understand. Of course you won’t understand now because your heart is filled with anger. But one day, when all this is over, I’m hoping you will find in your heart to forgive me.

Alpha Maxwell: Why wait for tomorrow? Why don’t you just reveal yourself to me now so I finally understand why you and your crazy bosses are doing all this madness behind our backs?

Zero: Sigh, you are really making things complicated...

Alpha Maxwell: Excuse me? I’m not the only one who is making things complicated, you are the one!

Zero: I’m not making things complicated. In fact I’m making things easier by trying to help you and Naomi. I will help your lover in distress. I’m like a shadow that can move behind the scenes undetected. Let me be your hand this time. So instead of ranting, just stay here and wait for the results of my investigation. Adios!

Zero went offline.

Alpha Maxwell left the chat as well, brooding in the corner of his room.

His conversation with Zero revealed a few things. The guy was paid handsomely for doing his job of helping and assisting him and Naomi. But why would the bosses still extend their help when they have already released them? Out of guilt perhaps? Strange...

It’s hard to comprehend the motives behind the kidnapping.

The mystery deepens. Who are these people?

Why are they doing this to him and Naomi? This does not make sense at all.

If he kept thinking about these mysterious people’s intentions, he might go crazy.

Sometimes he felt that he and Naomi were like puppets and someone powerful was holding the strings.

Argh!

All this mystery surrounding their kidnapping and the current problems he and Naomi were facing were making his head throb painfully.

He went to bed and lay down, closing his eyes, trying to empty his overloaded mind.

How is Naomi doing right now? Is she okay? He hoped she was fine.

He grabbed his phone and called her again, and was greeted with the same annoying system response. It’s now clear as sunshine that the phone was intentionally turned off. But he won’t stop calling her number. Maybe later Naomi will finally answer his call.

He closed his eyes again, seeking sleep, but sleep didn’t cooperate. Frustrated, he got up from the bed and went to the bathroom to take a quick shower.

Inside the bathroom, he stripped his clothes and let the cold water wash away the fear and worry he felt inside.

What can he do to help his sweetie pie?

Ah, after showering, he will find a way to leave the house undetected. He was deeply worried about Naomi’s silence. It made him imagine bad things happening to her at this very moment. Despite knowing that she is now in the safest place on earth and that is her family home, it doesn’t calm his jittery nerves.

He will only feel relieved if she answers his call or sends a message that she is fine.

He will go to Naomi’s house today if there’s still no news about her.

This time nothing and no one could stop him!