C501 A Call From Hanna

The following morning, Cipher ordered everyone to the forest. We needed timber for the wall, and there was no time to waste. Soldiers from both families gathered their tools and moved out in groups. Some carried axes, others brought ropes, and the rest prepared to drag the cut wood back towards the border. It was exhausting work. The forest was not close enough to make the task easy, and the timber we needed was heavier than some of the soldiers had expected. Every log had to be cut, moved, and prepared for transport. The work demanded cooperation, patience, and more physical strength than most of us had anticipated. But nobody complained for long. We were helping Cipher build a defence that might save our lives. Whatever our personal feelings about her leadership, we all understood the danger waiting beyond the border. After working tirelessly for few hours, Cipher finally stopped. "Everyone we have worked enough for one day, we will continue tomorrow." Everyone nodded.

By the time we returned, everyone was tired. The camp was filled with the sounds of soldiers unloading timber we currently made, discussing the next stage of construction, and arguing over how best to organise the work. Cipher was already speaking to several commanders, making sure the following day's arrangements were clear. For Pixel, the busy camp offered the perfect opportunity. She finally had some time to herself. She moved away from the others, took out her phone, and opened the voice-changing application I had installed. She had already prepared the recording she intended to use, and she had spent enough time thinking about the call to know exactly what she wanted to say. She was not going to give Samson much time to think. She needed him to believe the voice he heard. After checking everything one last time, she dialled his number. Inside the Gupta family's residence, Samson was occupied with his own affairs when his phone began to ring. He glanced at the screen. The number was unfamiliar. For a moment, he considered ignoring it. But curiosity won, and he answered. “Hello?”

Pixel kept her voice steady as the software altered it. “Father, it's me.” Samson froze. He knew that voice. Or, at least, he believed he did. “Hanna?” he asked, suddenly alert. “Hanna, is that really you?” “Yes, Father.” His expression changed immediately. The shock on his face gave way to relief, and he straightened in his seat. For weeks, he had been wondering about his daughter. Hanna had left the family, and her actions had created a dangerous situation for everyone. She was surrounded by enemies, Samson knew that being hidden away did not mean she was safe. Hearing from her now brought him a sense of relief he had not expected. “Where are you?” he asked. “Are you alright?” “I can't talk for long,” Pixel replied, making the call sound urgent. “This phone call might be traced.” Samson immediately lowered his voice. “Then tell me what you need.” “Can we meet?” He sat up straighter. “Meet? Of course. Where?” “Xxx Street.” Samson repeated the location quietly, making sure he had heard correctly. “When?” “In two hours.” “Alright,” he answered without hesitation. “No problem. I'll come.” Pixel allowed a brief pause before speaking again. “Please, Father. Don't tell anyone about this.” “I won't. Just be careful, Hanna.” “I will.” The call ended.

Pixel stared at her phone for a few seconds before lowering it. It had worked. Samson believed he had just spoken to his daughter, and he had agreed to meet her that afternoon. She put the phone away and walked towards Silver, who had been waiting at a distance. “The plan is ready,” Pixel told her quietly. “We'll leave in thirty minutes.” Silver studied her face. “Are you sure you want to go through with this?” Pixel met her gaze. “Yes.” Silver did not argue. “Alright,” Silver said. “I'll get the car ready.” They returned to their tent, collected what they needed, and made their preparations without attracting attention. Thirty minutes later, they were gone. Silver drove away from the border, keeping her attention on the road. Neither woman spoke much. Pixel sat in the passenger seat with her phone in her hand, checking the time and occasionally looking through the window. Silver glanced at her. “Do you want to talk about it?” “No.” Silver returned her attention to the road. “Alright.” A few minutes passed. “Pixel,” she said eventually, “I need you to understand something. Once we do this, we can't pretend it never happened.”

Pixel's fingers tightened around her phone. “I know.” “Do you?” Pixel turned to look at her. “Silver, my father is dead. Hanna took everything from me, and I have spent every day since then trying to figure out how to live with it. I'm tired of waiting for someone else to make things right.” Silver remained silent. “I know Cipher would never approve of what I'm doing,” Pixel continued. “That's why I'm not asking her for permission.” “And what happens when she finds out?” Pixel looked out of the window again. “I'll deal with that when the time comes.” Silver sighed quietly. She understood grief. She understood anger. But she also knew that revenge had a way of pulling people into decisions they could never take back. Still, she had agreed to help Pixel. She would not abandon her now. After roughly an hour of driving, they reached the area they had chosen for the operation. Silver parked approximately one kilometre from the Gupta residence, far enough away to avoid drawing immediate attention. They got out and checked their surroundings. The area offered a clear view of the road Samson would have to take, while the distance allowed them to remain out of sight of anyone travelling towards the meeting point.

Pixel took her rifle from the vehicle. She checked her equipment, settled into position, and began watching the road through the scope. Silver stayed nearby, keeping an eye on the surrounding area and the vehicle. They waited. Minutes passed. Then another half-hour. Pixel barely moved. Her eyes remained fixed on the road, and her thoughts were locked on the person she expected to arrive. She had imagined this moment countless times. In some of those imaginings, she had confronted Hanna directly. In others, she had pictured herself standing over the people responsible for her father's death, demanding answers. But none of those thoughts had prepared her for the quiet reality of waiting for a man who believed he was going to meet his daughter. Pixel tightened her grip on the rifle. She had chosen this path. Now she had to see it through. Back at the Gupta residence, Samson was preparing to leave. He had already collected his car keys and was checking that he had everything he needed when Darry entered the First Family's villa. Darry stopped in the doorway. He immediately noticed his older brother moving around with unusual urgency. “Brother, what's wrong?” he asked. “Where are you going in such a hurry?”

Samson answered. “I'm going to see Hanna. We'll talk when I come back.” Darry frowned. “Hanna?” “Yes.” Samson moved towards the door, clearly unwilling to spend any more time explaining himself. “Brother, wait...” But Samson was already leaving. Darry stood still, watching him disappear through the entrance. Something about the situation bothered him. He had spoken to Hanna only recently. She had asked for protection and had made it clear that she could not safely move around in public. She was supposed to remain hidden for a month, yet it had been only seven days since she had made that arrangement. Why would she suddenly ask Samson to meet her? And why hadn't she informed him? Darry shook his head, trying to dismiss the uneasiness. Perhaps there was a reasonable explanation. But the longer he thought about it, the more suspicious the situation became. Without wasting another moment, he hurried back to his own villa and retrieved his private phone, the one Hanna had used to contact him. He dialled her number. It rang several times before she answered. “Second Father?” Darry did not waste time with greetings. “You asked me for protection, Hanna. You told me that you couldn't trust anyone and that you needed to remain hidden. Yet you've secretly arranged to meet your father?”

There was a brief silence. Then Hanna laughed. “What are you talking about?” “Don't play games with me.” “I'm not playing games,” she replied. “Everyone is looking for me. Do you really think I'd be foolish enough to walk outside in broad daylight and arrange a meeting?” Darry's expression changed. “You didn't arrange a meeting with Samson?” “No!” Hanna's voice became serious. “Second Father, what is happening? Why are you asking me this?” Darry felt his stomach tighten. “Your father just left. He told me he was going to meet you.” For a moment, Hanna said nothing. Then her voice rose sharply. “What? Second Father, you need to stop him!” Darry stared at the phone. “Stop him?” “Yes! I didn't call him. I haven't arranged to meet him. Someone must be pretending to be me!” Darry remained silent, struggling to process what she was saying. Hanna continued, her voice becoming more urgent. “Second Father, are you listening to me? You need to find him before it's too late!” “Alright,” Darry finally replied. “I'll go after him.” He ended the call and immediately moved towards the door. But after taking two steps, he stopped. A new thought had entered his mind. What if I'm overthinking this?

He looked down at the phone in his hand. What if Samson has another reason for leaving? What if he's attending to something privately and simply doesn't want anyone asking questions? Darry had known his brother for years. Samson was not a man who explained every decision he made, and he sometimes kept his plans to himself. Perhaps this was one of those occasions. He stood there for another moment, caught between suspicion and doubt. Then he shook his head. “No. My brother wouldn't put himself in danger without a reason.” But even as he said it, he knew he could not afford to take the risk. He hurried outside.