In the stead of Lauren accepting the honor on behalf of her team, Director Shaw stepped forward to claim the illustrious award, representing the collective accomplishments and unwavering dedication of their esteemed agents. Lauren, for her part, opted to delay her ascent to the podium, choosing to observe the pivotal moment from a place of quiet contemplation.
"As we now shift our focus to the zenith of the evening's anticipation, I have the distinct privilege of announcing the recipient of the most coveted accolade of the night—the best security agent in our beloved country," the MC proclaimed with an infectious chuckle, setting the stage for the imminent revelation.
"With great elation, I am thrilled to declare that the winner of the esteemed title of Best Security Agent of the country is none other than Special Agent Lauren Turner, of National division of Intelligence" the MC proclaimed, a palpable sense of enthusiasm infusing his utterance, prompting a resounding ovation and thunderous applause that reverberated throughout the grand hall, an exultant admiration and heartfelt acclaim cascading in Lauren's direction as she gracefully made her way to the spotlight of the platform.
All eyes were upon her as she moved with an effortless display of grace, her every step a testament to her poise and elegance. Upon reaching the elevated podium, she received the prestigious award with a warm smile, her visage alight with a blend of humility and accomplishment that endeared her to the esteemed gathering, before turning to acknowledge the assembled audience as the evening's pinnacle of recognition was captured in a single, timeless moment.
As she cast a deliberate, sweeping glance across the faces of the attentive audience, delicately avoiding the direction where Damien and his companions were seated, she softened her expression into a subtle, poised smile, poised to offer her anticipated remarks.
Yet, before she could utter a single word, an abrupt flicker of darkness momentarily engulfed the room, prompting a collective gasps among the assembled guests. Within the fleeting span of that obscured darkness, an ominous deed was taking place—a swift and calculated act that left an unsettling absence in its wake as several individuals were found to be missing upon the light coming back few seconds later
"Rebecca!" Jerry's poignant cry pierced through the air as the shocking realization of her absence came to light. "Where is Director Shaw? He was sitting right there merely a moment ago," the Assistant Director of NDI voiced with palpable trepidation, his tone laden with concern and apprehension.
"Father," Lauren called out in growing exasperation, her gaze falling upon the vacant seat that, mere seconds prior, had been occupied by her father.
As sense of apprehension and concern went through the gathering, she bore witness to the mounting distress and unease that rippled through the assembled guests. Amid the disquiet, a haunting question lingered within her thoughts—could this be the result of the great evil foretold in the prophecies of the moon goddess, now unfurling before their very eyes?
Swiftly descending from the elevated platform, she moved with determined swiftness, her strides purposeful as she made her way toward the seat that had, until moments ago, held her father. There, splayed upon the polished floor, lay the phone she had carefully selected as a gift for her father on his fiftieth birthday. Retrieving the device with a mix of urgency and trepidation, she was met by the swift approach of the Benneth family.
"We will undertake every effort to locate your father; you have my word," Madame Veronica reassured her with a steadfast determination. "Together, in the help of others, we will initiate the search. For now, it is imperative that we secure the premises," she intoned with a calm resolve, willing herself to focus on the immediate tasks at hand, one step at a time.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I implore you to remain composed. Every effort is already underway to track and locate all those who are presently unaccounted for. I seek five individuals who will collaborate with our establishment to expedite the urgent rescue of these missing persons. Rest assured, we are resolute in our commitment to ensuring the safety of everyone present. I pledge that we will reunite each and every one of them with their families before the break of dawn.
However, for the present moment, I beseech your patience and understanding, as the entire estate is now under lockdown. I extend my sincerest apologies for any inconvenience that this may cause," Damien addressed the gathered guests with a composed and resolute demeanor, his words carrying a robust assurance that sought to reassure and console the besieged assembly.
After a brief interval, Lauren, accompanied by four Directors of Different agencies, met with Damien and the De Marco brothers, and together they entered the elevator, making their way to the CCTV monitoring room. As they stepped into the space, Damien inquired, "What updates do you have for me?"
"It appears that the assailants tampered with the CCTV footage, but we managed to recover it. Here are the faces of the perpetrators; there were approximately ten of them. They gained access to the hall under the guise of being part of the waiting staff," Anderson revealed, as he projected the visages of the ten individuals onto the expansive flat screen, the faces of those culprits boldly imprinted upon the collective consciousness of those in the room.
"Have you cross-referenced them through the facial recognition databases?" Lauren inquired with a sense of urgency.
"We have conducted searches across multiple international facial recognition databases, yet it seems that these individuals do not exist, as no matches were found," Anderson reported, his gaze shifting from Damien to convey the gravity of the situation they were facing.
"Let us review the moment of their entrance into the hall," Anderson announced, replaying the restored video footage. As they observed the scene transpire on the screen before them, the security personnel in the room found themselves astounded by the clarity of the footage, capable of capturing images even in the absence of light. Yet, what truly sent a shiver of bewilderment through the group was the almost fleeting entrance and exit of the intruders—their movements a blur of stunning and inexplicable speed.
"How can this be possible?" Director Fernanda voiced her disbelief, her countenance etched with incredulity as she struggled to process the unnerving scene that unfolded before their eyes.