Slowly opening his eyes, feeling his head heavy and groggy, Arden woke up. Sunlight peeked in through the beige curtains of the hotel room, coloring the white furnishing a smooth beige.
He closed his eyes again, feeling ants crawling in his skull as he blindly searched for his mobile phone, moving his hand up and down the bedside table.
Finally finding it, he turned it on to check the time.
"11 AM! How in the heavens?!" He jolted up and ran to the bathroom.
Years of waking at exactly 4 AM had never made him consider setting an alarm—but that record was now broken.
After brushing his teeth, washing away his grogginess with the splashing water, and chasing the ants by running his brain, he quickly called Amira.
"Hey, good morning, you are not out of your home yet, are you?" said Arden without stopping for a second, not even waiting for Amira to reply. His brain was already planning where to meet Anik, when to call Dhruv for a driver, and how to do all that and still manage to have time to go and plan the trip with Amira.
"I am sooooo sorry I ended up sleeping in!" sounded the phone receiver. He pulled the phone away, staring for a second. His brain paused. He could breathe again. He smiled. His brain halted, and he felt at ease, although the sudden dispersion of brain-wrecking distraction meant the ants came back—but now he was less stressed, at least.
"It's okay, I woke up late too. I have a couple of things to take care of. Can we meet at 6 in the garden?"
"Okay, great, I'll whip up something by then." And that just chased away the ants for the day. It's the second time he'll eat something cooked by her.
12 PM
Arden was standing by the old library, close to Anik's college. The sun was shining brightly, making the pedestrians retreat into the shade.
"It's already mid-July! Oh GOD, just stop this heat already!" A lady in her 40s walked by Arden, talking to herself.
"Heh, this old hag has gone crazy." Arden heard someone comment, probably squatting by the wall behind him. He recognized this voice. Feeling too lazy to react, he didn't say anything.
Not just the pedestrians but also the general traffic was sparse, too little.
Arden sent Anik his location, turning around. The guy who just passed the comment and the two guys squatting with him next to the library choked on the smoke they just blew out.
The three exhaled in unison, flicking their cigarette butts away as they avoided Arden's glare.
"I remember telling you lot to stop spoiling the library atmosphere..."
All three stood up, making annoyed faces and walking off.
Arden walked in, dragging a suitcase along. Within 20 minutes, a young guy entered—sharp mixed features accompanied by empty eyes suited his lean body.
He didn't need to look around; he walked straight towards the last table hidden behind the shelf labeled fantasy.
"What do you want now?" asked Anik, trying to sound annoyed.
"Take care of my stuff for a couple of days," Arden saw through his facade and replied.
"Finally got kicked out?" Anik said, rolling his eyes, and continued," I don't have space."
"Yeah, finally, and you damn well have more than sufficient space."
"Okay, I will."
"That was it? I thought we'd have a bit more back and forth."
"Nah, not today. I'm not in the mood. And you still need to go meet Dhruv."
"Uhhh... okay." Arden was confused by Anik's changed behavior but walked out nonetheless.
15 minutes later
"Oh well, now's the time to get some business done," sighed Anik, walking out of the library, rubbing his temple, and dragging along the suitcase.
The people Arden pisses are then Anik's to handle, making sure no one dares touch Arden.
1:30 PM
Now in a café, Arden stared at his watch, stirring his coffee idly. Dhruv was sitting in front of him on a call.
He'd been calling different people for the last 15 minutes—talking, yelling, cursing, and calling someone else repeatedly.
"So, I gather the taxi driver bailed out on us?" Arden said when Dhruv finally tossed his phone on the table.
"Yes! Apparently, no one wants to 'babysit' some teenagers. Or get in trouble because of whatever 'illegal' thing you might do." Dhruv said, making exaggerated gestures emphasizing his words. "And the ones agreeing are either too shady or demanding double the amount—or both," he added, this time slumping in the chair.
Anik stopped stirring for a second, staring at the wall behind Dhruv.
The driver bailed out... Should I propose using public transportation?
His train of thought was interrupted by a vibration on the table. It was Dhruv's phone.
Dhruv sighed, rubbing his temples. Then, his phone buzzed. His posture shifted as he answered, his face brightening by the second.
"Okay, thank you... Yes... I'll text you the number."
Dhruv said and placed his phone back on the table gently.
"So, now I gather we do have a driver." Arden scoffed.
"And a taxi."
"So now I gather I don't have to look for another rental car."
"Precisely."
"Alright then, send me the driver's contact info. See you in a couple of days," Arden said, standing up.
"So cruel, you're just gonna abandon me after I steam-fried my brain for you?" Dhruv tried making a cute, cringy face to annoy Arden, but he had seen it coming all along.
As soon as Dhruv made the face, Arden clicked a photo of it.
While Dhruv was busy taking it in, Arden took off.
Dhruv hastily stood up, watching Arden dash off. He stumbled, spilling coffee onto the table, and flustered, he bumped into it again.
The cup of coffee Arden had been stirring without taking a sip rolled down the table, shattering into pieces on contact with the ground.
A wave of ominous feeling washed over Dhruv. He tried running out of the café after Arden but was stopped by the staff, who thought these two young 'lads' were trying to dine and dash.
Dhruv quickly paid and walked out slowly, knowing Arden was out of reach anyway.
2:00 PM
"Four more hours to go."
Arden walked back into the hotel room. Eyelids heavy and drooping, almost as if all the sleep he had been skipping for all these years was finally catching up to him.
He walked to the bed and lay down. "Just half an hour," he mumbled before falling asleep instantly.
His half an hour turned into three and a half hours. Again—groggy. Again—the ants.
"Just why does this grogginess accompany such a good sleep?!"
He said again, looking for his phone.
And yes, again, he jolted up, the ants scattered by a racing brain. Arden ran out of the hotel.
Smiling at a kid smiling at him as he passed by, he sat in the taxi he had ordered right after waking up.
In the car, he checked his Messenger app. Sure enough, there was the taxi driver's contact info sent by "Overstimulated", and another chat sent him a link to "Things to remember while traveling." The chat nickname? "Second home - Anik."
Arden smiled and called the driver, named Fred.
"Hello... yes sir, I'm Arden... we are 6 people... Uhh in a couple of days... I'll tell you the exact date by 9... Yes, yes, Dhruv informed me about your rate... okay, see you later."
By the time Arden was done with the call, he was 5 minutes from the park.
"Sir, drop me here."
"But you wanted to go to the park..."
"I have something to do before getting there."
"Okay, have a nice evening."
Arden got out. The sun was still shining, but noticeably moving towards the periphery. Birds started circling in the sky as usual. He walked into a convenience store and walked out with a carry bag in his hands.
Parents came to take their kids home, the sounds of whining from some and apparent excited whispers to watch the next episode of their favourite cartoon were in the air.
Also, there were the kids who thought of themselves as superior to others, as they didn't need their parents to get them back, and also were not excited about some stupid cartoon.
Arden recognised himself in the last kind—the ones who didn't need their parents, the ones who had outgrown cartoons too soon.
He kept walking and soon entered the garden through the small, jammed revolving door.
"Let's throw my shoe this time."
"Nooooo, my shoe is already struckkkk." Two boys, standing shoulder to shoulder, eyed the lone bare sock on the weeping kid's left foot, while a shoe and a paper plane dangled from the low-hanging branches. They looked around, and no adult they deemed trustworthy was in view either.
Funny how in 10 years they wouldn't even need to extend their arms fully to get to the plane and shoes.
Arden didn't say anything; he just walked to the tree, removed both the stuck things, and looked at the kids.
The kids shared secretive glances with each other and looked at the "new tall guy."
"Want this back?"
The one with both shoes intact nodded firmly, while the other slowly hid behind the former.
"Uh oh, but I like the plane... I want to keep it... what to do?"
The kids' brows knitted thoughtfully at the remark.
"But we want it! It's his," said the brave one in exactly 10 seconds after giving up on thinking.
"But I got this down~~"
"Should we tell you how to make it?" asked the one without a shoe timidly.
"Ummmm, what to do, what to do?"
"That's the best we can do, take it or leave," said the one in front.
Arden chuckled and squatted. "Okay, then if you tell me how to make it, I'll return this to you."
The faces of the kids beamed, and both surrounded Arden. Taking the plane from his hands, they undid it and started remaking it, explaining every step in their kid tone.
"Hey, show me that for a second."
"What?"
"The paper."
The kids looked at each other and handed Arden the paper.
He reopened how much of it had been redone and looked at the corner that had caught his eye earlier.
A lily on one corner, a small tiger on another, and a bird on each left corners. Arden felt something stir in him as he stared at the doodles, especially the bird.
"Who drew these?"
"I did..." said the timid one.
"Where did you see this?"
"I just doodled... I didn't see it anywhere."
"Oh, okay."
"Hey! You spoiled it!" said the brave one, stomping.
"I am sorryyy, I wanted to see it again."
"Huh, just this last once—look carefully."
"Okay, okay."
When they finished, Arden helped the timid one put on his shoe, tied his laces, and waved goodbye.
Amira smiled from the other side of the park, looking at the whole ordeal.
Arden smiled as the kids ran off, the paper plane safe in their hands. Then—Amira's voice cut through the air.
"Hey, Arden! I am here!" said Amira, walking towards him.
Arden did so towards her, and they both walked to the chair on their right. Amira was holding a tiffin box in her hands.
Something shifted in Arden. He met Amira just yesterday, but now it almost felt like he was seeing her after 2 years.
"What did you make?" Arden asked shushing that feeling in his heart.
"Sandwiches~~"
"And I bought some drinks~~" added Arden, matching her energy.
"How's your packing going?" asked Arden.
"I am all done, and I have already made a detailed plan as to what to do, when to do it, where to eat, etc," Amira asked, handing him a sandwich and a napkin while taking another for herself.
"Well, that's some thorough planning." He said, passing her the drink.
"Of course it is. Oh, by the way, how about the taxi or something?"
"Yeah, we just need to confirm when to set off and tell the driver the exact date."
"Ohh, let's discuss in the group chat," suggested Amira, taking out her phone.
"How often do you check your phone?" asked Arden, taking another bite of the sandwich.
"Pretty often... I think."
Arden chuckled, almost choking on the sandwich. "Everything's been discussed half an hour earlier. I dropped the text at about 2, and Dayle took care of the rest of the discussion. They decided to go on the 11th, the day after tomorrow. The only one we need confirmation from is you."
Amira stared at him in disbelief. "Are you saying it all really came together?? No one bailed out? We are really going?"
"Of course, we are going. What else were you prepping for the whole time otherwise?"
Amira gulped down another sip of the chocolate shake.
"So, 11 confirmed?" asked Amira carefully, as if one slip of her tongue and the whole plan might come crumbling down.
"Alright, I'll inform the others and Fred."
"Fred?"
"Our driver."
Fred
"Are you taking kids to the resort?" asked a guy, around his 50s, deliberately making his voice sound low—arrogance seeping from his words. "Tsk tsk, that's why you ended up being a driver in the first place. Still making dumb decisions. What if the kids end up getting in trouble and—"
The 50s guy kept talking and talking while his co-worker, Fred, just took another sip of water, blocking out any comments by a certain someone.
With a sudden yank, Fred leapt from the chair, stumbling to regain his balance as he glared at the one who yanked him, Dave—a man in his 50s known for his relentless chatter and need for attention.
"Were you saying something, Dave?" Of course, he was saying something, and Fred knew it, but out of spite, Fred blurted this out.
Others sitting in the rest area, waiting for another call from the planning team for the customer, looked at the commotion and stared away in unison as they realized it was Fred and Dave.
A common occurrence here. Dave pissing Fred off, being greeted with silence, using force of some sort. One line from Fred, and he's fuming, walking out the door, shouting at whoever unlucky meets him outside.
Nothing new, nothing worth their interest.
"Listen, I know you take my words with a grain of salt, but for real, don't take these kids." Dave almost sounded genuine, actually concerned. And others noticed this too. All whipped their heads toward Dave.
His face turning red, he continued, "Riverside Resort feels ominous..."
Unable to handle any more embarrassment, Dave stomped out, saying, "Do whatever you wanna do for all I care. I just don't want an increased workload 'cause of another guy bailing out 'cause of some incident."
Fred just stared at his retreating back until he was out the door.
"I should go exactly because—what if the kids get themselves into trouble? They need a supervisor..."
His protective instincts from being an officer in the past were still in him.
He felt a light buzz in his pocket. Taking out the phone, he looked at the time.
8:15 PM
The buzz was from a text by "Yes, sir."
'We can leave by 11 July.'
'6 people and some luggage.'
Fred's eyes softened, and he too walked out of the resting room.
All 11 were moving closer and closer to their doom, unknowingly.
Devil's plan was taking shape… so was God's.
Zale and the team were getting closer to the trigger while Berry was getting closer to losing his mind completely.