Chapter 35

New Revelations!.

'Contemplated with my love in my arms I need nothing else.'

Stella's face was pale and tired with all the crying and the encounters she'd been through but Edwin held her in the security of his arms. There is hustling of bullets everywhere.

The back up team wass yet to arrive and Ben was fighting the battle with couple of his team mates.

It was difficult to handle Iris earlier for she was not letting Ben go.

She was not adherent to the fact that Ben is a cop and his friendship was only a pretend.

Instead she hugged him tight begging him, "Please don't risk your life for a scum bag like me."

She cried articulately for the loss of Lizzie 'They have already killed Lizzie," she tried to hold Ben "She was such a brave warrior but Ben; I do not want to take a chance and loose you."

Ben for a moment melted in her arms as he lovingly caressed her head and guiltily hugged her.

This compassionate expression was soon replaced by his stern and strict cop attitude.

He directed Edwin to take hold of her as he moved ahead to catch the guy who's picture he had got sketched.

Ben chased him to and fro behind the boxes trying to escape from the bullets coming from the formers gun.

Once satisfied with the exhaustion of the stock of bullets from the intimidating guy Brent, Ben openly followed Brent.

Brent climbed the heap of boxes and was followed by Ben who too climbed the boxes. Brent threw some picks of brick kind of things at Ben and Ben sometimes ducking and sometimes taking the blow courageously followed the evil.

We could see the blood flowing from his head and his hands, his entire body was covered with blood now and the shirt that he wore in the morning was now crumpled and stained with brown and red.

While Stella stayed wrapped in the comfort of Edwin's arms, Iris volunteered to guide the other three officers to the arena where other girls were kept.

Edwin stood there where Ben was fighting Brent if he could be of some help. Stella was not in a position good enough to be taken to the arena.

The view of the fight between Ben and Brent was not clear but one could still manage to see two figures around on the top of heap of boxes, which was almost 20 feet higher, and Brent was throwing huge stone kind of things at Ben.

Edwin could see Ben struggling as he tripped and crippled before he finally reached Brent.

Once Ben was in a comfortable position he shot a bullet at Brent's feet and one at the shoulder.

He wanted to keep him alive. Next after a lifetime and more, Ben came down with a hand cuffed Brent following him along with the trail of the blood, his own blood, Ben's blood. Though Brent was also bleeding with two blood shots, but the trail of heavy flow of blood was that of Ben's.

Ben hastened to the vehicle they had driven into and tied Brent with his cuff to the rod of the vehicle meant for the purpose. He quickly plucked the keys from the ignition, securing it in his pocket and turned to Edwin.

It was then his realized that his half head has been completely meshed up and all you could see was a loaf of skin hanging from his head and a slim line of red liquid flowing from it.

"I think you need paramedics" Edwin offered to assist him as he let Stella be on her own, not leaving her hand for a millisecond. But she could manage to stand on her own.

He felt proud of his delicate Stella.

Though what Iris was doing was beyond imagination for she held herself strong and stiff to assist to help others. But Iris was a fighter. She had her hardships of the life to train her.

"Not before I am assured of the safety of the girls" Ben said as he loaded his gun with another round of bullets that he picked from his car.

He called up the station "hurry up" he said in his authoritative tone "with the back up team." He filled his pockets with more bullets "I am not sure how many more to expect out there."

He announced on his phone "looking for another target, the contractor, main threat a strong head and we have no lead for the person."

'Oh shit! He can be there' Edwin felt nauseated at the thought of Iris being there only with three officers.

"Do you recollect the way where all other girls are? Are you in a position enough to guide me there?" Ben asked Stella in his serious cop tone.

Edwin opened his mouth with an apology to excuse Stella for she was not that strong and was vulnerable at the moment, fragile enough to help such a task.

But what Stella did was beyond his intrinsic belief and pride surged through his veins.

"Yes I will guide you to where girls are. We will get each of them rescued" determination glued in her accent and fearlessness shone in the blues of her eyes.

Hurriedly they followed Stella who was also proceeding as a new sway of energy had enlightened her to save the rest of the girls.

She even briefed Ben with number of guards and the kinds of ammunitions they possessed. The number of girls and the place how huge and covered and intimidating it was.

One could feel a scary shiver in her voice.

Edwin softly pressed the palms of her hand he was holding.

She looked back with the love that he was longing to see in her eyes. "I wish I could you home and hide your from all the evils of the universe." He said.

"we'll be home soon" Stella assured "our rooms be made of walls of peace, bed be constructed with flowers of love and let safety be carved on the woodens. Let the world be a wonderful place to live in.." It felt like she was saying a prayer

Once they reached there, hustling of bullets were heard.

Iris was helping girls with head bent and crawling on the ground she was taking them away from the doors.

Ben readied himself, he took his own sweet time to aim at one of the guys and once satisfied he aimed a clear shot hitting him right on the head.

The blood flew from one hole the bullet had passed through and next the guy dropped on the floor.

Stella went uncomfortable at the sight at first but at the next spur a realization hit her and a grin crossed her face.

She looked at Edwin and he nodded understanding the fact that the guy deserves to be killed.

He kissed her, "stupid me!" he admitted "but I am proud of this Stella who was so self reliant."

But before he could deepen the kiss the sounds of bullets which had now dropped down diminished but quickly Stella dropped his grip and scurried on the floor trying to help other girls out of the place.

Ben was attacked by other guy from behind whom he handled very bravely giving him hand to hand quick blows till he tumbled on the floor and then tied him with other pair of handcuffs that he had collected from the car.

Edwin too tried to help firing the gun Ben had given him earlier.

However with the panic and fast movements around he wasn't sure if he could aim it correct.

Soon there was a huge round of firing but it was nothing but a warning that the whole back up team had arrived followed by peaceful surrender of rest of all the Brent's men.

Once they were about to be taken to the vans to be further carried to the dungeons, Stella personally went on to hit one of the very hairy intimidating guys from them. "This is for assaulting Lizzie" she venomously spat and returned back to Edwin hugging him tightly and sobbed painfully.

Iris caressed Stella for a while and then she rushed towards a limping Ben.

"Oh Ben I am so sorry. I put you in to this. You are such a sweet friend." Iris said regretting about Ben's condition, her voice choked as she added "You shouldn't have.. I am sorry...." And hugged him tight she was not bothered about his bled shirt or the blood dripping from his wounds. She only hugged him tight as if fearing to loose him.

When her hands felt the warm liquid which was continuously flowing from his head, her eyes widened at the site when she followed the line of the blood, "F##k you are hurt, your head" she touched to sort out a way to stop the flow but it was too big a wound HELP she shrieked "somebody call the Medics"

She held him tight "Oh my god Ben... I am so sorry...." She cooed him, her eyes filled with pain

Once she deported Ben into the ambulance, Iris also fainted falling to the ground.

It was then Edwin realized that she was also shot with a bullet on her right foot while she was trying to save girls and was bleeding.

Help was rendered to her soon.

'''''''''''''

Iris had an ineffable feeling of security when she saw Edwin at the dockyard and once Stella landed into his arms, she was in peace.

She was no longer scared of death but the person accompanying Edwin made the grounds under her feet disappear.

By no chance could she see anybody else sacrificing their life and that too "Ben No! No ways!" she shouted, "you have always been a good friend to me.

She tried to stop him, even apologized him.

How can a person be so good to risk his life for others?

When Edwin held her in his arms she felt extremely comfortable in his presence and forgot all the pains and trouble she had been through.

It felt was a 'back home. feeling

Again she realized that it was only because of the sacrifice by Lizzie.

And she did not do it for her and Stella.

Iris wanted all the other girls to be free and safe too.

It did not take her much time to figure out that Edwin and Ben had taken legal help to locate us and therefore she was also supposed to do her bit.

She self assured that Stella was safe with Edwin and then she went with the cops to where all the girls were.

The scene there made her heart sink.

Brent had increased the security. Lots of guards were now standing in and out of the arena with the huge door now kept open.

All the girls; few of them who were carefree earlier had terror furnished on their faces as few of the guards carried their guns as they moved to and fro among the girls.

Shit! This was only because the three had managed to skip away.

Now getting the other girls rescued was quite tough a task.

The officers who had joined her slowly paced themselves asking her to stand in the corner to be out of the vision.

They attacked one each from behind locking their mouth from behind with their palms and then twisting their neck or crossing a knife through their neck, so none of them were alerted.

Soon one of the guards got to see one of his mates lying on the floor with blood pouring out from his slit neck.

He quickly scrutinized the area shooting at one of the officers who narrowly escaped. Soon there was open air firing. Fearing that either of the girls might get hurt as the bullets violently went through behind the boxes as both the officers and the guards nestled themselves

"BEND DOWN" Iris shouted at the top of her lungs.

Panicked girls immediately followed her words lying flat on their stomach on the grounds.

They were aware and alert of such a thing.

There was rapid fire of the bullets all around. Iris waited there but couldn't risk any of the girl's lives any longer so decided to man up.

Iris crawled on her stomach and reached the group of the girls.

She pulled them with their hands. Fortunately she did not have to add much pressure as they understood and followed.

Iris tried to cover them with her body lying on top of them as they crawled to avoid casualties to anybody other than her.

One by one Iris led them to a safe place.

Once she was confident she tried to take two girls together trying to protect them under her surveillance.

Soon other girls joined to help themselves and crawled on their own to move out of the visible danger zone.

When one of the guys noticed that a lot of girls were missing, he went to check them personally, slowly dodging the bullets that were being fired from both the ends and all the corners.

He eyed on the girl with whom Iris had verbal fight to mislead the guards and run away.

The guy stood aiming with his gun ready to fire at her. She was at a little bit of distance and Iris's eyes were traveling between the guy with the gun and the girl who was crawling to move out of the place unaware of the danger that was tracing her.

When Iris found him pulling the safety and ready to trigger, she jumped on her. And the bullet hit iris on her calves.

This act of the guy invited one of the officer's attentions, who shot him dead at an instant as his huge body fell forwards on the floor.

The squeaky and furious girl was now looking empathetically at her.

Iris internally rejoiced at saving a life add on winning a friend

She continued with the task.

Her leg was paining but it was like an adrenaline had been pumped into her veins that energized her to help all other girls.

Soon the firing of bullets outnumbered and was followed by an announcement that the place was under the police custody.

A huge errand of silence now prevailed for a short duration which was followed by happy shriek of all the girls who were dancing and rejoicing being safe of the so long prevailed danger.

Iris stood up which she barely could for the pain had multiplied in her calves.

But later when she met Ben who was severely hurt covered with dust and probably his own blood, she felt like killing herself at an instant.

'It was better if I lost my life instead of my mother so none other would have been in trouble.' She thought

She hugged him, kissed him and apologized to him multiple numbers of times very well knowing was not enough.

He too clung tightly to her.

Iris could feel his pain as he held her tightly 'the stiffness that acerbates you when you are fighting against the pain.

But when Iris felt the warm liquid on her fingers, she shifted to look at the direction of the flow of the blood.

Iris couldn't believe what she saw, his head was sliced from a corner and the blood stream flowed from it.

The sight of cloggy muscles that were contracting inside and one could only imagine the pain that he was suffering.

The sufferer would have been worst.

How could he still continue to fight the goons when he himself was hurt so badly?

It was like his pain was transferred into Iris's guilt and her head started throbbing like millions of needles were pierced into it.

Iris shouted "Help, some medics, any ambulance that could take him to the hospital for the treatment. 'God bless! please! he should be okay'" she shouted.

Iris could feel his pain, as her body was also getting numb once Ben was placed on the gurney and ported into the ambulance.

She wished like crying, begging god for the wellbeing of Ben. "Why did he do it? And it was all because of me."

Her tears had clogged her vision and then.....

'''''''''

The circumference of her nostrils widened as she could smell the faint hospital medicines and chemicals.

Iris felt some kind of piercing on my legs.

"Oh shit! Hospital. What am I doing here? Last time I was in a hospital for my dad. My dad! Is he okay?"

Iris tried to lift herself up to survey and found a doctor examining her.

"Miss..." then he looked at the board hanging across the bed reading and continued "yeah.. Miss. Iris. How are you doing?"

Iris licked her lower lip trying to hydrate them. "Feeling a little sore and weak. How's my dad?" she asked vehemently.

"I am sure with a brave daughter like you, he is going be absolutely fine and yes proud too" the doctor said as he softly tapped on her shoulders appreciatively.

Iris closed her eyes to breathe when suddenly I felt a slight ache in her heart.

Something was hurting and bothering her.

She tried to think.

One of the nurses's offered her water.

Iris quickly grasped it still lying and half erect on her shoulders.

Iris tried to recollect last time when she had water.

"Water.... I saw... water... liquid... touched my fingers... BLOOD!!!!" she shouted

Realization hit her like a wave hitting violently the rocks on the seashore.

"Ben was bleeding. Is he okay? How is Stella? and Edwin? And all other girls? Were they rescued? Are they safe? And Ben he was badly injured. Did he survive?????/......" she asked but the nurse stood still clueless

Iris threw the glass of water hearing to the crackling sound and ignoring the grumbling of the nurse who was so polite mere seconds ago and tried to rush out of the white walls of the room, but as soon as Iris stepped down from the huge hospital bed, she fell, tumbled on the floor, excruciating pain culminated all over her body, starting from right calve and flowing upwards downwards draining her from all the energy and constricting her effort to stand and go reach to check if Ben was alright.

The same nurse came to help as she lifted her with the help of another ward boy.

Edwin and Stella also entered the room, their faces deteriorated and still stressed; Stella had her locks stuck all over her face, few bruises and blotchy eyes.

"Iris you okay?" she asked in a musical note and worried voice.

Iris pushed the nurse away caressing Stella's beautiful face and smiling wholeheartedly, a triumph feeling surging through her, "You are okay. We fought. We did it?"

"Yes! We did it" she exclaimed now tears flowing from her beautiful blues as she repeated, "We did it! We did it!'

Soon Edwin joined as he hugged Stella dissolving her lean figure into his strong masculine arms and his other hand on her shoulder.

He left Stella and hugged Iris

Iris could feel the wetness where his head stayed, she knew he was hiding his tears.

Very softly he uttered "I am so happy Iris. You are fine. I was so scared. I am so glad to hear your voice. You are fine." And he started sobbing.

"She needs rest" the nurse shouted throwing her hands in the air.

Too much melodrama for her....

Edwin was helping Iris on the bed and Stella stood looking at her lovingly.

"NO" Iris yelled to the trio's disappointment. "Ben.... Where is he? I want to see him. Is he alright?"

"Who?" Edwin asked simply as if he knew what Iris was talking about but wanted to take his time to answer.

"Ben.. Please tell me he is okay." Iris plead.

Edwin and Stella silently looked at each other before Stella nodded at Edwin as if directing him 'I'll handle.'

"He is at the theatre being operated. Come let us help you on the bed. You too need rest." Stella said cooing her like a baby, facts that she was hiding from her was clearly visible from her face.

"I won't relax till I see him personally" Iris insisted like a stubborn child.

The nurse came to help but Iris pushed her hard.

Edwin intrevened "You can see Ben but you have to promise that you'll rest once I take you to him"

Iris agreed immediately. The nurse disagreed but Edwin with his strong influences arranged for a wheel chair and was taking her to Ben.

Edwin and Stella helped her into the wheel chair; the agitated nurse stared at them from a distance not happy with the fact of Iris leaving the room after an immediate operation.

Edwin pushed the chair out of the room taking her from the corridors to the theatre room, Stella walking besides supportively.

"Iris" Edwin said politely like training a little kid before he goes for his first dental appointment "There is a lot you don't know but for now first things first." Edwin took a deep breath and took a long pause.

"Edwin you know I can absorb more than life has to offer" Iris said not able to contain the fear that was defying her.

"Ben is critical as he is been operated by a neurosurgeon and his chances of survival rests with the Lords" he said with a pressed voice, he himself hurt about the situation.

Iris was left in wondering why it means to affect him so much. He hardly knew Ben and she never discussed about Ben with him.

"Go!!! No!!! Let me go inside!...." a girl was crying and hauling outside the operation theatre.

One of the nurses held her; restricting her to enter the forbidden room.

"Why don't you understand? It's our anniversary....it...was not supposed to be like this." The girl spoke in between her hysterics.

Stella reached to her. She is such a sweetheart. She could never see others in pain.

She hugged her and wiped her tears.

"Tell us who are you? And whom do you want to see?" Stella asked as she rubbed the girl's back in circles.

Edwin closely stood besides Iris, his finger moving softly on her shoulders trying to comfort her.

He seemed to be uneasy because of Iris's pain but his ears glued to the girl talking with Stella.

The girl took a deep breath as she continued her intermediate sobs.....

"I... I am here for Ben and I am Vanissa, his girlfriend...

'Contemplated with my love in my arms I need nothing else.'

Stella's face was pale and tired with all the crying and the encounters she'd been through but Edwin held her in the security of his arms. There is hustling of bullets everywhere.

The back up team wass yet to arrive and Ben was fighting the battle with couple of his team mates.

It was difficult to handle Iris earlier for she was not letting Ben go.

She was not adherent to the fact that Ben is a cop and his friendship was only a pretend.

Instead she hugged him tight begging him, "Please don't risk your life for a scum bag like me."

She cried articulately for the loss of Lizzie 'They have already killed Lizzie," she tried to hold Ben "She was such a brave warrior but Ben; I do not want to take a chance and loose you."

Ben for a moment melted in her arms as he lovingly caressed her head and guiltily hugged her.

This compassionate expression was soon replaced by his stern and strict cop attitude.

He directed Edwin to take hold of her as he moved ahead to catch the guy who's picture he had got sketched.

Ben chased him to and fro behind the boxes trying to escape from the bullets coming from the formers gun.

Once satisfied with the exhaustion of the stock of bullets from the intimidating guy Brent, Ben openly followed Brent.

Brent climbed the heap of boxes and was followed by Ben who too climbed the boxes. Brent threw some picks of brick kind of things at Ben and Ben sometimes ducking and sometimes taking the blow courageously followed the evil.

We could see the blood flowing from his head and his hands, his entire body was covered with blood now and the shirt that he wore in the morning was now crumpled and stained with brown and red.

While Stella stayed wrapped in the comfort of Edwin's arms, Iris volunteered to guide the other three officers to the arena where other girls were kept.

Edwin stood there where Ben was fighting Brent if he could be of some help. Stella was not in a position good enough to be taken to the arena.

The view of the fight between Ben and Brent was not clear but one could still manage to see two figures around on the top of heap of boxes, which was almost 20 feet higher, and Brent was throwing huge stone kind of things at Ben.

Edwin could see Ben struggling as he tripped and crippled before he finally reached Brent.

Once Ben was in a comfortable position he shot a bullet at Brent's feet and one at the shoulder.

He wanted to keep him alive. Next after a lifetime and more, Ben came down with a hand cuffed Brent following him along with the trail of the blood, his own blood, Ben's blood. Though Brent was also bleeding with two blood shots, but the trail of heavy flow of blood was that of Ben's.

Ben hastened to the vehicle they had driven into and tied Brent with his cuff to the rod of the vehicle meant for the purpose. He quickly plucked the keys from the ignition, securing it in his pocket and turned to Edwin.

It was then his realized that his half head has been completely meshed up and all you could see was a loaf of skin hanging from his head and a slim line of red liquid flowing from it.

"I think you need paramedics" Edwin offered to assist him as he let Stella be on her own, not leaving her hand for a millisecond. But she could manage to stand on her own.

He felt proud of his delicate Stella.

Though what Iris was doing was beyond imagination for she held herself strong and stiff to assist to help others. But Iris was a fighter. She had her hardships of the life to train her.

"Not before I am assured of the safety of the girls" Ben said as he loaded his gun with another round of bullets that he picked from his car.

He called up the station "hurry up" he said in his authoritative tone "with the back up team." He filled his pockets with more bullets "I am not sure how many more to expect out there."

He announced on his phone "looking for another target, the contractor, main threat a strong head and we have no lead for the person."

'Oh shit! He can be there' Edwin felt nauseated at the thought of Iris being there only with three officers.

"Do you recollect the way where all other girls are? Are you in a position enough to guide me there?" Ben asked Stella in his serious cop tone.

Edwin opened his mouth with an apology to excuse Stella for she was not that strong and was vulnerable at the moment, fragile enough to help such a task.

But what Stella did was beyond his intrinsic belief and pride surged through his veins.

"Yes I will guide you to where girls are. We will get each of them rescued" determination glued in her accent and fearlessness shone in the blues of her eyes.

Hurriedly they followed Stella who was also proceeding as a new sway of energy had enlightened her to save the rest of the girls.

She even briefed Ben with number of guards and the kinds of ammunitions they possessed. The number of girls and the place how huge and covered and intimidating it was.

One could feel a scary shiver in her voice.

Edwin softly pressed the palms of her hand he was holding.

She looked back with the love that he was longing to see in her eyes. "I wish I could you home and hide your from all the evils of the universe." He said.

"we'll be home soon" Stella assured "our rooms be made of walls of peace, bed be constructed with flowers of love and let safety be carved on the woodens. Let the world be a wonderful place to live in.." It felt like she was saying a prayer

Once they reached there, hustling of bullets were heard.

Iris was helping girls with head bent and crawling on the ground she was taking them away from the doors.

Ben readied himself, he took his own sweet time to aim at one of the guys and once satisfied he aimed a clear shot hitting him right on the head.

The blood flew from one hole the bullet had passed through and next the guy dropped on the floor.

Stella went uncomfortable at the sight at first but at the next spur a realization hit her and a grin crossed her face.

She looked at Edwin and he nodded understanding the fact that the guy deserves to be killed.

He kissed her, "stupid me!" he admitted "but I am proud of this Stella who was so self reliant."

But before he could deepen the kiss the sounds of bullets which had now dropped down diminished but quickly Stella dropped his grip and scurried on the floor trying to help other girls out of the place.

Ben was attacked by other guy from behind whom he handled very bravely giving him hand to hand quick blows till he tumbled on the floor and then tied him with other pair of handcuffs that he had collected from the car.

Edwin too tried to help firing the gun Ben had given him earlier.

However with the panic and fast movements around he wasn't sure if he could aim it correct.

Soon there was a huge round of firing but it was nothing but a warning that the whole back up team had arrived followed by peaceful surrender of rest of all the Brent's men.

Once they were about to be taken to the vans to be further carried to the dungeons, Stella personally went on to hit one of the very hairy intimidating guys from them. "This is for assaulting Lizzie" she venomously spat and returned back to Edwin hugging him tightly and sobbed painfully.

Iris caressed Stella for a while and then she rushed towards a limping Ben.

"Oh Ben I am so sorry. I put you in to this. You are such a sweet friend." Iris said regretting about Ben's condition, her voice choked as she added "You shouldn't have.. I am sorry...." And hugged him tight she was not bothered about his bled shirt or the blood dripping from his wounds. She only hugged him tight as if fearing to loose him.

When her hands felt the warm liquid which was continuously flowing from his head, her eyes widened at the site when she followed the line of the blood, "F##k you are hurt, your head" she touched to sort out a way to stop the flow but it was too big a wound HELP she shrieked "somebody call the Medics"

She held him tight "Oh my god Ben... I am so sorry...." She cooed him, her eyes filled with pain

Once she deported Ben into the ambulance, Iris also fainted falling to the ground.

It was then Edwin realized that she was also shot with a bullet on her right foot while she was trying to save girls and was bleeding.

Help was rendered to her soon.

'''''''''''''

Iris had an ineffable feeling of security when she saw Edwin at the dockyard and once Stella landed into his arms, she was in peace.

She was no longer scared of death but the person accompanying Edwin made the grounds under her feet disappear.

By no chance could she see anybody else sacrificing their life and that too "Ben No! No ways!" she shouted, "you have always been a good friend to me.

She tried to stop him, even apologized him.

How can a person be so good to risk his life for others?

When Edwin held her in his arms she felt extremely comfortable in his presence and forgot all the pains and trouble she had been through.

It felt was a 'back home. feeling

Again she realized that it was only because of the sacrifice by Lizzie.

And she did not do it for her and Stella.

Iris wanted all the other girls to be free and safe too.

It did not take her much time to figure out that Edwin and Ben had taken legal help to locate us and therefore she was also supposed to do her bit.

She self assured that Stella was safe with Edwin and then she went with the cops to where all the girls were.

The scene there made her heart sink.

Brent had increased the security. Lots of guards were now standing in and out of the arena with the huge door now kept open.

All the girls; few of them who were carefree earlier had terror furnished on their faces as few of the guards carried their guns as they moved to and fro among the girls.

Shit! This was only because the three had managed to skip away.

Now getting the other girls rescued was quite tough a task.

The officers who had joined her slowly paced themselves asking her to stand in the corner to be out of the vision.

They attacked one each from behind locking their mouth from behind with their palms and then twisting their neck or crossing a knife through their neck, so none of them were alerted.

Soon one of the guards got to see one of his mates lying on the floor with blood pouring out from his slit neck.

He quickly scrutinized the area shooting at one of the officers who narrowly escaped. Soon there was open air firing. Fearing that either of the girls might get hurt as the bullets violently went through behind the boxes as both the officers and the guards nestled themselves

"BEND DOWN" Iris shouted at the top of her lungs.

Panicked girls immediately followed her words lying flat on their stomach on the grounds.

They were aware and alert of such a thing.

There was rapid fire of the bullets all around. Iris waited there but couldn't risk any of the girl's lives any longer so decided to man up.

Iris crawled on her stomach and reached the group of the girls.

She pulled them with their hands. Fortunately she did not have to add much pressure as they understood and followed.

Iris tried to cover them with her body lying on top of them as they crawled to avoid casualties to anybody other than her.

One by one Iris led them to a safe place.

Once she was confident she tried to take two girls together trying to protect them under her surveillance.

Soon other girls joined to help themselves and crawled on their own to move out of the visible danger zone.

When one of the guys noticed that a lot of girls were missing, he went to check them personally, slowly dodging the bullets that were being fired from both the ends and all the corners.

He eyed on the girl with whom Iris had verbal fight to mislead the guards and run away.

The guy stood aiming with his gun ready to fire at her. She was at a little bit of distance and Iris's eyes were traveling between the guy with the gun and the girl who was crawling to move out of the place unaware of the danger that was tracing her.

When Iris found him pulling the safety and ready to trigger, she jumped on her. And the bullet hit iris on her calves.

This act of the guy invited one of the officer's attentions, who shot him dead at an instant as his huge body fell forwards on the floor.

The squeaky and furious girl was now looking empathetically at her.

Iris internally rejoiced at saving a life add on winning a friend

She continued with the task.

Her leg was paining but it was like an adrenaline had been pumped into her veins that energized her to help all other girls.

Soon the firing of bullets outnumbered and was followed by an announcement that the place was under the police custody.

A huge errand of silence now prevailed for a short duration which was followed by happy shriek of all the girls who were dancing and rejoicing being safe of the so long prevailed danger.

Iris stood up which she barely could for the pain had multiplied in her calves.

But later when she met Ben who was severely hurt covered with dust and probably his own blood, she felt like killing herself at an instant.

'It was better if I lost my life instead of my mother so none other would have been in trouble.' She thought

She hugged him, kissed him and apologized to him multiple numbers of times very well knowing was not enough.

He too clung tightly to her.

Iris could feel his pain as he held her tightly 'the stiffness that acerbates you when you are fighting against the pain.

But when Iris felt the warm liquid on her fingers, she shifted to look at the direction of the flow of the blood.

Iris couldn't believe what she saw, his head was sliced from a corner and the blood stream flowed from it.

The sight of cloggy muscles that were contracting inside and one could only imagine the pain that he was suffering.

The sufferer would have been worst.

How could he still continue to fight the goons when he himself was hurt so badly?

It was like his pain was transferred into Iris's guilt and her head started throbbing like millions of needles were pierced into it.

Iris shouted "Help, some medics, any ambulance that could take him to the hospital for the treatment. 'God bless! please! he should be okay'" she shouted.

Iris could feel his pain, as her body was also getting numb once Ben was placed on the gurney and ported into the ambulance.

She wished like crying, begging god for the wellbeing of Ben. "Why did he do it? And it was all because of me."

Her tears had clogged her vision and then.....

'''''''''

The circumference of her nostrils widened as she could smell the faint hospital medicines and chemicals.

Iris felt some kind of piercing on my legs.

"Oh shit! Hospital. What am I doing here? Last time I was in a hospital for my dad. My dad! Is he okay?"

Iris tried to lift herself up to survey and found a doctor examining her.

"Miss..." then he looked at the board hanging across the bed reading and continued "yeah.. Miss. Iris. How are you doing?"

Iris licked her lower lip trying to hydrate them. "Feeling a little sore and weak. How's my dad?" she asked vehemently.

"I am sure with a brave daughter like you, he is going be absolutely fine and yes proud too" the doctor said as he softly tapped on her shoulders appreciatively.

Iris closed her eyes to breathe when suddenly I felt a slight ache in her heart.

Something was hurting and bothering her.

She tried to think.

One of the nurses's offered her water.

Iris quickly grasped it still lying and half erect on her shoulders.

Iris tried to recollect last time when she had water.

"Water.... I saw... water... liquid... touched my fingers... BLOOD!!!!" she shouted

Realization hit her like a wave hitting violently the rocks on the seashore.

"Ben was bleeding. Is he okay? How is Stella? and Edwin? And all other girls? Were they rescued? Are they safe? And Ben he was badly injured. Did he survive?????/......" she asked but the nurse stood still clueless

Iris threw the glass of water hearing to the crackling sound and ignoring the grumbling of the nurse who was so polite mere seconds ago and tried to rush out of the white walls of the room, but as soon as Iris stepped down from the huge hospital bed, she fell, tumbled on the floor, excruciating pain culminated all over her body, starting from right calve and flowing upwards downwards draining her from all the energy and constricting her effort to stand and go reach to check if Ben was alright.

The same nurse came to help as she lifted her with the help of another ward boy.

Edwin and Stella also entered the room, their faces deteriorated and still stressed; Stella had her locks stuck all over her face, few bruises and blotchy eyes.

"Iris you okay?" she asked in a musical note and worried voice.

Iris pushed the nurse away caressing Stella's beautiful face and smiling wholeheartedly, a triumph feeling surging through her, "You are okay. We fought. We did it?"

"Yes! We did it" she exclaimed now tears flowing from her beautiful blues as she repeated, "We did it! We did it!'

Soon Edwin joined as he hugged Stella dissolving her lean figure into his strong masculine arms and his other hand on her shoulder.

He left Stella and hugged Iris

Iris could feel the wetness where his head stayed, she knew he was hiding his tears.

Very softly he uttered "I am so happy Iris. You are fine. I was so scared. I am so glad to hear your voice. You are fine." And he started sobbing.

"She needs rest" the nurse shouted throwing her hands in the air.

Too much melodrama for her....

Edwin was helping Iris on the bed and Stella stood looking at her lovingly.

"NO" Iris yelled to the trio's disappointment. "Ben.... Where is he? I want to see him. Is he alright?"

"Who?" Edwin asked simply as if he knew what Iris was talking about but wanted to take his time to answer.

"Ben.. Please tell me he is okay." Iris plead.

Edwin and Stella silently looked at each other before Stella nodded at Edwin as if directing him 'I'll handle.'

"He is at the theatre being operated. Come let us help you on the bed. You too need rest." Stella said cooing her like a baby, facts that she was hiding from her was clearly visible from her face.

"I won't relax till I see him personally" Iris insisted like a stubborn child.

The nurse came to help but Iris pushed her hard.

Edwin intrevened "You can see Ben but you have to promise that you'll rest once I take you to him"

Iris agreed immediately. The nurse disagreed but Edwin with his strong influences arranged for a wheel chair and was taking her to Ben.

Edwin and Stella helped her into the wheel chair; the agitated nurse stared at them from a distance not happy with the fact of Iris leaving the room after an immediate operation.

Edwin pushed the chair out of the room taking her from the corridors to the theatre room, Stella walking besides supportively.

"Iris" Edwin said politely like training a little kid before he goes for his first dental appointment "There is a lot you don't know but for now first things first." Edwin took a deep breath and took a long pause.

"Edwin you know I can absorb more than life has to offer" Iris said not able to contain the fear that was defying her.

"Ben is critical as he is been operated by a neurosurgeon and his chances of survival rests with the Lords" he said with a pressed voice, he himself hurt about the situation.

Iris was left in wondering why it means to affect him so much. He hardly knew Ben and she never discussed about Ben with him.

"Go!!! No!!! Let me go inside!...." a girl was crying and hauling outside the operation theatre.

One of the nurses held her; restricting her to enter the forbidden room.

"Why don't you understand? It's our anniversary....it...was not supposed to be like this." The girl spoke in between her hysterics.

Stella reached to her. She is such a sweetheart. She could never see others in pain.

She hugged her and wiped her tears.

"Tell us who are you? And whom do you want to see?" Stella asked as she rubbed the girl's back in circles.

Edwin closely stood besides Iris, his finger moving softly on her shoulders trying to comfort her.

He seemed to be uneasy because of Iris's pain but his ears glued to the girl talking with Stella.

The girl took a deep breath as she continued her intermediate sobs.....

"I... I am here for Ben and I am Vanissa, his girlfriend..."