Several buses were arriving at the station, it was almost dark, one of the last buses had arrived in the capital. The logo of the travel company Lincox SAC had been hidden for good reason as if they were trying to censor themselves.
Although outside the station some reporters were waiting to see if the victims of the train crash near the Rivas station, everything was treated discreetly.
In reality, of the number of survivors, there were only about twenty who came in both buses, the rest were in hospitals or had been picked up by their relatives; among those who arrived in Madrid, there was a group of five young people who left without the need to carry their suitcases, as the service, because of the problems, gave them accommodation in a five-star hotel for another week in the capital.
Incredibly, it seemed that many of them no longer wished to have any relationship with that company; therefore, they left according to their decision.
- Well, I guess this is the end... it was nice to meet you, people. - commented Daniel.
- Yes, I hope we can meet again in the future ... this experience was crazy, maybe we will see it as a joke for the next one. - commented Glen.
- Actually, I think I will give up traveling for a while ... now I have a trauma with trains. - added Daniel.
- Come on, man; don't say that.
- Well, leaving aside how bad it got, I thought the rest was entertaining. - commented Renato.
- Entertaining? - wondered Glen and Daniel.
- Yes ... actually it was a nightmare ... especially with that mons-....
- Leave it there... I don't want to hear about it..." commented Glen.
The young men sighed.
- Well, I wish you all the best. Goodbye. - Liam had commented coldly as if he wanted to leave immediately.
All the young people saw that in reality that attitude was because of a group of people that could be seen in the distance who raised their voices calling the boy. Of that group, an older man, a woman and a man in his early 30's who looked quite emotional stood out. They were all dressed formally.
- Oh, I see you're expected. Well, let's not drag this out. - Glen commented.
Giving each other last words, Liam withdrew first and looking away they watched as that group of men who were being held by the officers on entry pounced on the little boy as he went to meet them.
- Who knew? Behind all that bad-tempered attitude, there really are people who love him. - commented Renato when he saw that scene - Well, I'm leaving too... take care of yourselves.
The young man left too.
- Well, that being so, I'll see you. I think we will meet again in the future, although it is a pity that we have not been able to share contacts ... if there is a chance, let's keep in touch ... Ah, right! Take good care of your wife, Aren! - Glen commented as he walked away.
In the end there were only two men left. Actually, there were three people, only one of them stood apart in the station seats.
- Well, I hope you're doing well, Aren. We were the first to meet and the last to say goodbye ... it was a pleasure. - Daniel said.
- Nice to meet you too. - Aren commented.
The white-haired man left. Meanwhile, Aren watched them all go their separate ways and, in his serene face, he seemed to show an expression of nostalgia; however, now he had a new problem to deal with.
- Shall we go? - the young man heard the voice of a woman who seemed to have appeared behind him.
The young man turned his gaze to look at a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes wearing a light dress; looking closely, he could notice how the woman was shivering a little from the cold of the night.
- Yes, but first let's get some clothes.
The woman nodded silently, somewhat embarrassed.
Coming out of a clothing store near the station, the young woman looked happy, as she was wearing warmer and more aesthetic clothes along with a long dark brown coat. On the other hand, the young man looked somewhat pensive.
"Well ... I lost most of my money on the train ... I spent what was left on clothes ... Now what do I do? ... I should look for a job, I think. But mostly ... how do I get out of this one here."
- If you think of abandoning me, I'll report you for abuse. - the young woman suddenly commented.
Aren was taken aback not by the threat, but by the fact that the woman seemed to know what he was thinking.
"Is this the famous sixth sense that women have? ... Well, you screwed up, since I have more than ten," Aren thought.
However, another thought came to his mind.
"I ... Why am I thinking like this? Lately I've noticed that my personality has changed quite a bit... this is strange."
That male's thoughts were interrupted by the young woman's next words.
- I would like you to remember what I proposed to you on the bus, I would like you to accompany me to the house of some relatives. If nothing bad happens, I will reward you for everything you have done.- Emily commented in a determined voice; however, Aren seemed to notice something.
The young woman's body was shivering and it was not because of the cold, but, just as Aren had thought, the trauma was setting in, in a way that counteracted the happiness the woman had felt at being healthy.
The impending fear and anxious thoughts slowly took over the woman's body.
However, a caress on the head and warm words calmed Emily's troubled heart.
- All right, I'll accompany you until we reach your family, but for today let's find a place to rest.
A slight smile appeared on the young woman's face.
Inside a really luxurious hotel room, the pair were having dinner.
- It's good that the station accepted your request for hotel service again, isn't it? - commented Emily.
- Yes.
- We can stay here for a week, but I don't think it's necessary. On the other hand, how did you manage to get me on the bus they were going? As far as I know, that bus was a private one, I think.
- ... I have my methods ...
The young woman smiled a little.
- Well, I won't ask any more about that. Now, changing the subject, I must see how to communicate with my uncle. I need them to know that I am well ... or at least, physically. - changed the atmosphere as I said these words.
- You can call them using the phone we have here and tell them to pick you up. - Aren was referring to the cordless phone that the room had as a free service.
The young woman sighed.
- It's not that simple ... as I had told you, it seems that I was kidnapped for almost five months ... do you think that calling them and telling them that, I am their missing niece and I want them to give me shelter, is something credible.
- Well, do you have a better plan?
- ...
The young woman kept thinking, but couldn't seem to find a reasonable or feasible alternative; meanwhile, Aren finished eating.
- And if you tell them to meet you somewhere where there is good security and send their trusted servants to check that what you say is true ... that way they will not believe that you are deceiving them.
The idea did not seem to be bad, but now it was necessary to fix the meeting place, besides who could recognize the daughter of the Marquis Gutierrez.
- Now that I wonder, you claim to be the only daughter of a former marquis, but I have not seen people recognize you.
The woman stared at Aren.
- That's because all my life I've been reserved...I don't tend to show my face in public places.
- But, I suppose, at least some servants in your uncle's house, they will know you won't they?
- Yes, you're right... well, let's do it. - commented Emily with determination.
Inside a mansion that on the outskirts had a large and beautiful garden being illuminated by lanterns and, the entire grounds being trellised, boasted a large stone gate and, at the top, an emblem.
The sudden sound of a telephone of antique design, but with modern functions, rang throughout the room. A butler of that mansion approached to answer it; however, the appearance of another man of somewhat portly, but tall build prevented the servant from answering.
- Don't worry, Charles. I'll take care of this.
- As you wish, sir. - said the butler.
The man picked up the phone and, as he saluted, heard a familiar voice that shook him.
In an establishment that appeared to be owned by a single main tenant, a young man with an eye patch was in a room watching the news about the cases that had happened in Luesia. Apparently, the series of kidnappings had diminished, but they were still happening in that small town.
- That place ... it seems that they have removed the images of the couple they found guilty ... - commented a butler who was preparing tea.
- Yes ... although you can't always trust what the news says, it seems that the culprits found guilty were really innocent. Also, they say that the head of the DIS of that city disappeared... some say it was another victim. - added another butler who was older.
Suddenly a maid came in and brought dinner, that woman placed the plates in front of the table of the patched boy.
- Do you want to change that? The young master has survived a disaster and you only post that kind of news.
The two butlers remained with their heads down.
- Enough ... don't worry about things like that. - commented Liam.
A rather intimidating smile appeared behind the boy, which made him shiver.
The two butlers were somewhat intimidated and turned their eyes away.
- Oh, it seems that the little lord is quite well enough to say something like that, so why don't you tell us how you came up with the idea of escaping to travel alone to the capital? - commented the maid in a rather commanding tone.
Liam seemed to cringe at being in the presence of his maid who looked like his mother.- Ralph! - Liam exclaimed.
- Tell me, my lord!
- Change the channel.
- Y-Yes, as you command.
Everyone having calmed down, the young sir asked a question.
- Did you find out about the ARET entrance exam?
- Yes, sir ... it will be in a week's time ... it seems that this year's placement will be different. Here is the latest news.
The butler known as Ralph handed Liam some papers.
- Fuencarral-El Pardo? ... quite a large area ... What are they planning to do? - Liam muttered.
In another room of the hotel where Aren and Emily were staying, a young man was lying on a wide and fluffy bed while eating some snacks and watching TV.
- Well, I've got a week's vacation and then it's off to look for a job.
Later it seemed that the expression on his face changed to an inexplicable seriousness.
- Sotomayor? That's what Renato said... Who are they? - Glen muttered.
After spending a couple of minutes thinking, he cleared his mind and began to hum a few words.
- Mi primera chamba ...