Chapter 5 Towards the Unknown 3*

⋆ LILIBETH ⋆★⋆

My head is throbbing, and I'm having trouble breathing. I feel like I'm being lifted and hit, falling to their feet. In such a tight space, I bumped my side, and I don't even know what I hit. Opening my eyes, I look up to see the first guy telling the second one:

"Leave her alone, don't hit her again!"

The one who hit me bursts into laughter and responds:

"What? You mean you like this wild one? Because I saw what she did to you."

"Yes, what's the problem?" the first guy replies.

I hear the second guy, a rough-looking man who seems like a wrestler, telling someone:

"They're here."

Then, the first man shoots the second one in the right side of his chest. He falls on top of me, trying to strangle me. I hit him as best I can, but I'm weak. I scratch him, trying to get him to let go. The one who shot him grabs him by the arm, pulls him off me, and gives him two more shots to the stomach. He falls unconscious.

The black-eyed man looks at me and says:

"I let you hit me just because I like you a lot, beautiful. I'll see you later."

He blows me a kiss, winks at me with a mischievous smile, and leaves, dragging his apparent partner. I'm left on the floor, full of pain, scared, and barely able to move. I crawl towards Lale, who's crying and telling me:

"I'm sorry."

I take her hand and say:

"Don't worry, we'll get out of this."

Lale nods. The plane shakes violently, and we get scared, but it stabilizes again.

"Lili, are you okay?" she asks with a look of gratitude.

"Yeah, sweetie, but you owe me a drink or two," I reply.

She smiles. "Honestly, I'm a chicken; I don't even know how to argue with people. I'm very pacifist, but I get fierce when it comes to defending those I care about or myself."

We laugh together at these words.

"Lili, my brother is still on the line," she says. "He wants to talk to you."

I'm surprised, forgetting again that he's still on the line.

"Excuse me," I say, taking the phone.

"You're killing me, woman! Almost three heart attacks, one after the other," he says.

I laugh with some pain. "I couldn't respond to you like you wanted, as you've seen... or rather, heard."

Lale laughs. He sighs and says:

"Thanks, Lili. Please don't leave her alone. I'm informed that the plane has landed, and ambulances and a helicopter are there. They're going to take them out of the plane."

I respond with a simple:

"Yes, it's okay."

"Keep the phone so you can keep me updated," he says.

"Of course," I reply.

He hesitates, then asks:

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I just need water and two days of sleep," I say.

I hear some laughter, including his, slightly muted. Lale laughs.

"See you later, Lili," he says, savoring my name. I just say:

"Yes."

[10 minutes later...]

They arrive, asking for Lale Langham. Lale signals that it's her.

"Over here," I say. The young nurse asks me:

"Are you...?"

"No, her," I reply, pointing to Lale with my finger.

They take her, pull her out of the bathroom, and put her on a stretcher. She's scared.

"Hey, calm down. I'll be with you; it's a promise," I say.

She nods. They ask me if I can walk.

"Yes, with a little help," I say, and one of them assists me. My face contorts in pain as I walk and see the scene before my eyes with anger... Many people are crying, injured, others are unconscious... not sure if they're dead.

When we get down, there are cameras, ambulances, many people taking pictures and asking questions. I cover myself as much as I can; I don't like being on social media or in the news.

They take us to a very nice hospital. "I obviously didn't get on the helicopter." I arrived in an ambulance. They attended to us; they took me to a different place than Lale, but it doesn't seem strange to me because, from what I understood, she was poisoned, and I'm just bruised.

¡Two hours pass, and I don't know anything about her. I go to the nurse's station and ask how patient Lale Langham is doing. One of them responds, saying the young woman is better, stable, and they'll take her to a room in a few minutes.

"Come this way to wait for her," she says. I nod. Five minutes later, they bring her, and I watch from the door with a smile on my face to provide reassurance. She signals for me to come in, looking at me with a lovely smile.

"Lili, how are you?" she asks with affection.

"I'm fine, thanks. For being a heroine of a plane for the first time, I'm doing well," I reply, smiling again. Her face shows a mix of sadness and guilt.

"Yes, I owe you a drink," she says.

"Ha ha ha, oh yes, but I don't drink alcohol, maybe a glass of wine," I respond. We laugh out loud, and I hold my side, which hurts so much.

"Did you stay?" she asks with a look of disbelief.

"Of course, I keep my promises," I say with a smile.

"How are you?" I ask.

"I'm better now, Lili," she replies with a smile.

"Hey, is your family from Turkey or something?" I ask.

"Yes, my grandmother and mother, but they left the country many years ago. Now, I only have my grandmother left. My mother passed away four years ago, along with a dear aunt of mine," she says, her eyes filling with tears.

"Why did you ask?" she inquires.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you remember painful things. I asked because your name in Turkish means a flower called tulip," I explain. She looks surprised.

"How do you know that?" she asks.

"I love all kinds of plants. My mother knows a lot about them. I also like to look up names with meanings, animals, flowers... nature is just perfect," I say.

"Wow, I never imagined meeting someone like you. You're special; there's something about you that I don't know how to explain," she says, making me blush.

"Thanks, sweetheart," I reply.

"You have no idea how strong I am, Lili," she says.

"Oh, I know because it feels like it's reaching me from here," I respond, and she gives me a smile.

"Before we continue the conversation, I unfortunately have to leave. My sister-in-law Stefany is waiting for me; it's been over 3-4 hours, and she must be waiting for me at the airport. I have to go because it's my first time in this country," she explains, looking at me with amazement.

"First time, and this happens?" she says.

"That's right," I respond. She shakes her head.

"I want you to meet someone," she says.

"I can't wait any longer; I'm so sorry," I reply.

"So, how can I get in touch with you?" she asks.

"I don't have a number here, but give me yours," I say. She takes a paper and pencil from her wallet and writes her number and her brother's number with their names, respectively. I look at it and nod.

"I'll contact you tomorrow to check on you," I say, putting the paper in my pocket.

"Tell your brother that I won't forgive him for the way he spoke to me, accusing me of hurting you. He's a grump," I add, making her laugh out loud.

I say goodbye, unaware of what lies ahead...

⛧─•☾•✦•☽─•⛧

❀ LILIANA SANTOS ❀