Chapter 10 A Wrong place at a wrong time

Celine reached the reception area but didn't see anyone.

"Hello, anyone here?" She called out.

But no one answered her.

"That's strange," she thought to herself as she moved towards the exit.

Suddenly,someone grabbed her from behind as she was about to open the door to the mall to go out.

She turned, and her heart started beating fast again as she noticed a gun pointed at her head.

Turning, she raised her hands up and saw two men with masks at the corner of the building also pointing guns at the cashier and attendants who were all piled in one

corner.

The man pointing the gun at her shoved her with a push to sit where the other customers sat on the ground, with another man pointing a gun at them.

Celine sat there quietly with others knowing that she was in trouble, entering the wrong place at the wrong time.

Looking around, she saw that they were robbers trying to steal money from the cashier.

By the way, they were nervous; she guessed they were teenagers trying this for the first time, but at the same time playing with guns.

She overheard some of the customers close to her murmuring about the guns the robbers carried,whether it was fake or real, but no one wanted to risk their lives to find out.

The robbers told the cashier to put all the money in the bag which she did.

One of them spoke out that they should sit still and won't be harmed.

Where was Ray hiding in all this coax? She wondered if he had come out by himself from the changing room she locked him into or if someone had opened the door for him.

She looked around to see any trace of him but she couldn't,

It's better she's here with the robbers than to be with Ray, she thought to herself.

She was so lucky to get away from him.

"Have you packed everything?" A voice spoke aloud, coming from the door of one of the rooms, it sounded familiar but was muffled as he was also wearing a mask.

The fifth robber looks much bigger than the rest of the robbers. Celine noticed.

"Yes boss,"one of them answered. The boss walked down to the cashier to check what was inside the bag. She suddenly realized who he was.

"My God!"

Her whole body became hot with apprehension as she recognised him; no one would know Ray better than her, especially the way he walked, dragging his feet like someone who was counting his steps.

This was so bad, especially for her, she thought.

She could not believe that Ray could stoop so low as to start stealing now.

She bent her head, praying he wouldn't notice her.

"Okay take some of the hostages. Let's move out."

As the robbers came closer, Celine bent her head more, still hoping she wouldn't be one of the hostages.

"Take that lady in the blue suit and the other two girls, I think they will do for now."

Celine was shocked as the robber pulled her up.

She looked towards Ray and saw him gazing at her intently.

The robbers pushed them to the other side of the building, but on reaching there, they found out that there was only one exit the mall had, and this was the front door, so they filled them up again towards the exit so they could escape.

Suddenly, they heard gunshots.

Bang! Bang!

The girls by her side screamed at the sound of guns and police sirens outside.

The robbers quickly moved them back as there was a commotion with the other customers; some of them were looking for where to hide when another gunshot was heard, this time in the shopping mall sounded so loud that everyone had to close their ears and squat on the ground.

"Everyone stay where you are, or I will shoot," the voice of Ray sounded so deadly and serious that no one dared to move.

They were all terrified out of their wits.

Celine looked up to see the robbers whispering to each other,

When they finished their discussion the one with Ray's voice came forward and pulled her up.

"Let's go!" he said harshly.

"I know it's you Ray," she replied, daring him to confirm his identity.

"Keep quiet!" He said with a hushed voice "and move."

Celine moved in the direction he pushed her to.

He took her to a room that was filled with clothes and items; it seemed that was the store in the mall.

Closing the door, he removed his mask and her breathing hitched.

She suspected right,

It was Ray behind the mask.

"Ray, how could you stoop so low as to steal?" She accused him, frowning at him.

"Look at what you have turned me to Celine," he said. "Do you know you have ruined my life?"

"How can you blame me?" she said, defending herself, "you chose this life for yourself, and I cannot be a part of it."

He looked at her, lacking words to say to her after her statement of defence.

"I am not here to argue with you," he said, "I just want to find my way out of here, as the police are here."

"How would you do that?" She chuckled, "the police have surrounded the place, and you need to be put in bars."

He glared at her.

"We shall see!" he said.

"I know you would be happy if I was in bars," he said mockingly.

"Sorry baby," he said with a grin, "it's not my time yet."

Celine marvelled at how confident he sounded but decided to be quiet.

He took his phone and dialled a number, wearing back his mask, and within a few minutes, one of the robbers came. Ray told him to take her hostage and that he was going to arrange for a car for them; the robber nodded and took her out of the room.

On her way out she turned back to Ray and pleaded with him to give himself up.

The harsh way he laughed out loud as she was pulled out of the room was enough to answer her pleading.