Chapter 16

Fight For Freedom

John was devastated!

He did not know whom to trust anymore.

He liked Cynthia, more than a peer he thought she was his friend.

He had subconsciously assumed her to be the anchor that'd swiftly link him to his past.

But what she did to him was treason.

He did not blame the poor pretending doctor that much.'

She had lied for money and John had made sure that she wouldn't do such a thing again.

But what was Cynthia's agenda?

He needed answers.

Now where could he contact her?

His first instinct was to go to Red Cross.

But that office was blasted and burnt.

His instincts said that they wouldn't reconstruct it again.

Then there was this Harry potter style restaurant where she'd taken him.

John wasn't an idiot. He concentrated hard on what instructions Cynthia was giving the cabdriver but she was speaking in her native language.

So he had no clues where she'd taken him.

Damn he should have demanded or at least asked the name of destination.

He felt like a fool.

If he was ever designated to what Cynthia said, saving the world and all, he air quoted himself "fuck" he cursed himself he was damn bad at it.

What was he thinking?

Cynthia was simply fooling with him, having her gig.

He meant nothing to her.

But then why did she admit herself to the hospital and by the looks of it, he was sure she indeed had consumed those sleeping pills.

She was a very good actor though; John could give her that. She looked 100% suicidal, even the doctor was concerned about her regular visits.

Doctor yes!

John was celebrating mentally.

He wasn't a bad spy or protector or whatever Cynthia had termed him as.

Hospital! They would definitely have her address in the hospital records.

Whether it was true or not, it was a different question.

But he could take that chance and then again there was Red Cross area, he'd visit that place too.

"John" one of the nurses called excitedly "how are you? It's so good to see you after a long time. How's new life treating you?" John realized that this nurse Daisy as her name tag read was indeed a talkative one.

He remembered her checking his vitals everyday when he was in hospital and out of comma.

She was talkative even then.

John rather used to wait for her every morning.

She was a bubble of energy who'd keep on talking and remind him of words that existed in his distant memory.

He vividly remembered her saying your little buddy has been having too many night falls these days with a wink.

'What is that?" he asked "night fall?"

"Ah!" she'd gushed crimson "you don't know about night fall?"

"I probably do not remember" John had shrugged

"Okay what were you thinking or what fantasies were you having stark naked with a girl in your dreams?" she wriggled her brows.

He then realized what night fall was.

She also used to read him headlines every day.

She would share tiny details about how her morning went, how she forgot to add sugar in her latte and the patients she attended before visiting him and what she was going to do next.

She was one of those people John had realized who loved doing their jobs.

He had also assessed that she was a smooth talker and deadly romantic.

"Daisy" John looked square in her eyes "Do you remember Cynthia?"

"Cynthia?" she gave a thought and immediately a smile crept up her face "you like her don't you?" she wriggled her brows mischievously, her habit.

John bit his lip trying to appear a little shy.

He smiled and scratched the back of his neck acting nervous "I want to see her and tell her and find out if she too..."

He need not complete, the excited nurse blabbered immediately "she does. She really does.." John noticed her bouncing on her toes, being a wingman was her prized possession for the moment.

"How do you know?' John tried to maintain his expressions, an excited love sick puppy.

"She might have checked upon you once or twice." Daisy mentioned "tell me how can I help the two love birds?'

"Can I get her address?" John asked expectantly and when he saw her having second thoughts "I want to send her flowers this New Year eve."

A smile was back on Daisy's face "its forbidden in the rule books but I can bend the rules this one time on one condition...'

"And what would that be?" John kept his friendly mode on.

"You'll have to invite me to your wedding." She said excitedly.

John was scared at the speed of the thoughts of the young nurse but nevertheless he smiled and went along "pray for me."

"Fortville street, 19, Uptown" daisy scribbled the address on a piece of paper and handed it over to john.

Muttering a quick thank you, John ran as if his tail was on fire.

'Wait" Daisy shouted and John's heart sank, fear of being caught holding him up.

Reluctantly he turned around and relaxed when she had a smiling face "Send her Choquet, she'd love it."

"Chouquet?" John was clueless. "You wanted to send her flowers, instead send chouquet, it's a combination bouquet of flowers and chocolate," proud of her self she continued "I bet she'll be greatly impressed."

"Sure thing Daisy" John smiled again, genuine this time "Thanks" he said meaning every bit of it not for the idea of chouquet though

John was gone past his lunchtime.

He had to select between going to work or heading towards Cynthia.

Where going back to Danny seemed inviting his legs headed him towards the bus that took him to Fortville Street.

16, 17, 18, he couldn't see 19 but he walked ahead and on the right turn was 19.

He managed to reach the address but the place was too gloomy.

He doubted that a girl like Cynthia would stay in such an apartment.

But he had to take his chances.

The house he noticed was unusually quiet, dirty and looked deserted.

John for once debated about returning back to the showroom and let it be.

He also doubted whether Cynthia would give her actual address in the records.

Didn't she mention something about discreet professional and private life?

This address was fake.

Shit he should have known earlier.

Cursing his dimwit he took steps back when he was hit with a small weightless ball of paper.

He kicked it with his foot tired and exhausted but the weightless sphere simply landed besides him.

John cursed himself. Of all the things he shouldn't have littered.

He bent down and picked the paper wanting to throw it in the nearby bin.

The ball had a small piece of bread inside it and John couldn't help but unfurl the paper thing and notice.

He thought it was a ploy at first but when he read alphabets H L E P scribbled randomly with some mud or stone, he was intrigued.

He looked upwards to find the source of the paper but the windows were shut close and it appeared that the windows that were filled with dust were closed for years,

He looked again, now in a different light assessing the place, looking through all the doors and windows. He found the building deserted and old.

He noticed that one of glasses of the windows were cracked with a small hole in it.

He watched the piece of paper again and the paper did have some traces of dust.

He joined two and two together.'

The more his head shouted danger, the more cautious and determined were his steps towards the entry of the building.

He made sure that the floor didn't creak between his feet.

Once he was inside the building the dust speckles had disappeared like the place was maintained. It wasn't pretty looking or renovated to the latest trends but it seemed like the place had seen some life lately.

And the place was eerily silent.

He walked further to see that all the rooms in the building were locked from outside.

He simply nodded his head.

He'd behave a real rash sometimes, he thought.

He was stupid to waste his time here when Danny needed him at the showroom.

Although Danny had been scoring well and learning too from John about the arms and guns but he is still a wreck when two or more customers enter the shop in one go.

He noticed another thing

The place was too silent, awkwardly silent.

Such a kind of secluded places had to infested with some insects weeds or inhabited by animals, birds or pests.

But there was nothing

Not even a single cobweb

And the deafening silence!

He walked towards one of the doors and pushed the door, the lock immediately fell on the floor. So the locks were intended for mere appearance.

He could smell something but could not figure out what.

He heard hushed murmurs.

Too low a voice that he wondered if he'd actually heard.

But his instincts told him to carry on.

"What did you do?" he now clearly herad a whisper in deadly silent building.

"I.. I thought he could help." He heard a wallowing mutter.

"And what if he is one of them? They wont ask or give chances, just a gun shot." He could now hear clearly and so he stood on one of the corners listening trying to take in as much information as he could.

"Exactly I did not want to die without a fight." John heard arguement.

'Death would be an easy option" the old lady said.

John couldn't wait any more. It was clear that the girls were in distress and he couldn't risk waiting.

In one swift motion he entered the room from where he could hear voices.

He was shell shocked when he entered.

The vast room was filled with girls, almost fifty of them battered, bruised and malnutrition and from their faces he could deduce that they were from different part of Asian countries.

A chorus shriek was heard when he entered

"Ssshh... sshhh.." he placed his pointer on his lips "hush.. " he lifted his hands in the air "I am not here to hurt you"

"We know" a bold lady of approximately 25 stood tall and blurted "all you need is our flesh and vagina."

John cringed at the words "no' he shouted.

"Do you have a better reason to have us all locked here starving to death?" she asked.

"See" John looked around assessing for their captivators "I am not one among them."

"Then what do you want?" a young girl probably sixteen asked.

"Sorry I simply stumbled upon this place and I got this." He showed the piece of paper.

Another girl probably in the end of teens grabbed the sheet of paper "forget that you got this, leave or they will kill all of us, even you."

"Who are they?" John asked.

"You are lucky." One of the girls said "they are not here or you'd been dead by now." She turned around to show two dead bodies dumped in the corner, their blood from the gun shot one on the waist, others on her head had now dried and they were stinking, actually now John realized that the entire place had a foul smell of dead bodies.

"How many of you are here." John asked.

"Around forty girls in this room" one of the dark skinned girls stated looking around.

"In this room?" John was startled.

The other rooms" the dark girl who looked more like a leader stated "all other rooms have people some young some children, ladies who can no longer work as prostitutes but can be good as servants. The rooms are categorized and allotted accordingly" the girl said like no big deal

John felt a bitter taste in his mouth, humans were categorized as if they were articles or cattle or sheep.

He needed to do something

"Please help us" a very young girl sobbed in front of John "I want to go home."

Another girl hugged her "sshh... "She said "nobody can help us. We have to accept the fate."

""I will go and get some help." John offered making the girl chuckle.

"And whom are you getting for help?" she asked "cops? Sorry to disappoint you but they do nothing. Some are even amongst them."

Then she straightened up "my advice. Leave us alone and save your sorry butt and run."

John moved a hand on his hair scratching his neck, his brain working million times in that minute.

"I am going to help you, rescue you." he offered.

"You are a nice gentleman.' The oldest of the girls said "and brave too. But you are alone. How do you intend to help?" she asked.

"I might be alone.' John stated the fact 'But you said there are more people in other rooms. If we join together we can make an army."

"But they have guns." The dark girl said "we stand no chance."

Agreed " john shouted "but if you got to pick the fight for freedom or give in to your slavery what would you rather pick?" he asked.

There was a long pause, the eerie silence was back but the faces that were torn, starve and helpless earlier were now confused and debating within.

After minutes of pause silence one of the shy girl who'd been hiding in the corner for so long came out and stammered "W..we... ff..fiight."

The dark haired girl too joined in "I choose to fight too.

"me too"

"I pick fight "we chose to fight for freedom" was the loud echo running through the sound proof room.