Chapter 43 - Is That Mana ?!
" We arrived at least . All this coffee is too sticky . It seems like that donkey likes sweet coffee . I must make sure to give repay him in the same way . " said Aria with scheming eyes while hurrying towards her room .
The driver was quite good , he was able to avoid the traffic easily . When they arrived at the hotel Aria hurried to go to her room . The elevator was full so she had to wait for the next one otherwise she had to go to the stairs .
' There are a lot of stairs , I won't be able to climb all the way to my room . ' thought Aria since her room was on the twelve floor .
She waited till the next elevator arrived and went in . Aria pressed the twelve-floor button and was waiting till the elevator would stop at her destination . Inside the elevator, there were five other people that were on different floors . The elevator stopped on different floors until there was only Aria and another person left . At that moment Aria received a message and took her phone to read it .
Bekora had written to her to come as fast as she could . Aria remained a bit surprised when reading it . She had left for about thirty minutes , what had happened during this short amount of time .
When the elevator stopped on the tenth floor the other person inside went out and Aria followed him while writing on her phone without even looking at the screen where the numbers of the floor appeared . Aria was so focused on the message that she forgot all about the other things .
' What's going on there that Bekora wants me to go there as soon as possible ?! ' thought Aria deep in thoughts . She was continuing to walk without realizing that she was on the wrong floor .
'' Wait a minute ! This isn't my floor ! Jeez I must have gotten it wrong . No wonder the way today seemed longer than yesterday . '' said Aria to herself and was about to go back to the elevator .
At the end of the corridor, there were some suspicious noises . Aria was a really curious person so she went sneakily to have a look . She hid behind an armor decoration . Aria wasn't tall so the armor covered her perfectly . When she started to look she noticed two men that were wearing black clothes , black hats, and black masks .
' These two look suspicious . ' thought Aria then opened the phone and left it ready at the contacts so that if something really was fishy she would make a call as soon as she could .
One of them entered inside a room while the other one was guarding outside . When the one who entered the room came out , he was holding a girl from her arm . That girl's complexion didn't look good . Although it was well hidden , Aria still noticed that one holding her had a gun at her back .
' I better call the police but ....by the time they arrive, it will be too late . They will have already taken her away . ' thought Aria and continued to look at them .
' That girl seems familiar...Where have I seen her before ?! ..She.....now I remember..she is that girl at the Kastijo company that acted as a secretary !!! In fact , she was an influential figure ....What was her name again ?.... Mana...I think . ' thought Aria while looking at them .
'' Go inside and search for the designs , she must have hidden it ! Hurry ! Turn everything upside down and find them or the boss will yell at us . '' said the person who was holding Mana .
'' Okay ! '' said the one that was guarding and went inside the room to search .
' If I don't act now it will be too late when the other one comes out of the room ! ' thought Aria and started to look around hoping to find a way to distract him .
At that moment Aria's phone started to ring , it was Ace who was making a video call .
'' Who's there ? '' said the man holding Mana .
' Damn Ace , what timing you have ! Stupid me I forgot to lower the volume ! ' thought Aria who hurriedly tried to shut her phone .
'' Come out ! '' said the man angrily .
Now it was useless since his attention was already caught . He started to walk towards her direction .
' Aria think fast !!! ' thought Aria and she noticed that her hair was stuck at the armor's shield .
' That's it ! '
Aria took the shield from the armor in a fast manner and headed towards the man . With a swift move, she lifted the shield with all her force ad hit him in his waist . He lost balance due to the pain and Aria took advantage of this to get Mana away . She pulled Mana towards her . Mana was breathing with difficulty , her cheeks were really red and she could hardly keep herself up .
'' Don't worry ! I will save you ! '' said Aria and noticed that he was about to shoot at her .
Aria hid Mana behind the armor and then took the shield again . Before he could shoot Aria hit him with the shield again , this time she hit him at the head .
'' I hope he isn't dead ! '' said Aria when she noticed that he fainted and his head started to bleed .
After she made sure he was harmless , she took the gun and went towards Mana .
'' We need to get out of here as soon as we can . '' said Aria and started to help Mana get up .
'' Ari....Aria ...the ...design ....'' said Mana with difficulty .
'' Ah Mana , we need to save ourselves first ! '' said Aria .
When she was about to get away with Mana the other man came . He noticed that his friend was unconscious and then looked at Aria who was holding Mana .
'' Stop there you ! '' said the man . He started to run towards them .
'' Eeeeekkkk ! We need to run , now ! '' said Aria and both started to run . Mana was holding herself by putting her arm around Aria's shoulders .
'' Aria.....designs...import..important . '' said Mana .
' That girl is drugged , they won't be able to run fast . ' thought the man in black with an evil smile .
Aria noticed that her breathing was getting worse as they were running . The man caught up fast and he was holding a knife in his hand . Aria turned her head back and looked at him . He had put a file around his waist .
' We aren't gonna make it to the elevator with Mana like this . I find it weird that there isn't any waiter on this floor . Anyway if I don't think fast he will capture us for sure ! ' thought Aria worryingly.
Ahead of her, there was a wall and two ways to turn . He was almost near them . Aria noticed a prickly vase . An idea came to mind and she left Mana in the ground .
'' Don't worry , just stay like this for a minute . '' said Aria . Mana nodded and then she went to take the vase .
The man noticed that Mana was laying on the ground and hurried to get her . He noticed that the other girl wasn't with her anymore and thought that maybe she had run away to save herself . He took Mana from the waist and put her on one of his shoulders .
' Why the hell are these guys so tall ?! It's impossible for me to hit him closely . Mana's head is near his , I'm afraid I will hurt her if I try to hit him from here . ' thought Aria .
When she noticed that he was getting away she took the courage and threw the vase with all her might , pointing it towards his head . Aria didn't dare to look after she threw the vase but when she opened her eyes to take only a glimpse of it she saw that luckily Mana's head was fine . She released her breath in relief and went to help Mana get up .
'' Mana , we need to hurry ! '' said Aria and took the file that was stuck in his belt .
Aria and Mana reached the elevator in time and soon arrived at the hotel's lounge . All the people started to stare at them . Aria was half drenched in coffee while Mana's clothes were dirty and with small bloodstains . The driver who was waiting outside noticed miss Mana from outside the glass door and hurried inside to help her .
'' Miss Aria , what happened ?!!! '' said the driver worryingly .
'' I will explain on the way to the castle . Bekora wrote to me that I need to go there as fast as possible . " said Aria then the three of them went outside and entered the car .