Chapter 1401 - Morning News

In the morning…

Sarah woke up and the first thing she saw was Aiden's sleeping face.

She blinked and observed her surroundings which were definitely unfamiliar. When her eyes landed on three members of the army of Chaos who were standing further away and pretended not to see her, she realized that they are in the back house, in one of the larger rooms which has fifteen beds.

The bed they are on is narrow and not the most comfortable, but there are a pillow and a blanket, and she is in Aiden's embrace, and there is no place she would rather be. She snuggled closer to him and took a deep breath.

"You are awake?", Aiden's sleepy deep voice sounded close to her ear.

"Yeah…", Sarah responded and froze when she felt that Aiden's hand is moving lower over her back.

"There are people here.", she whispered with urgency when she realized that he is about to fondle her behind. Both of them are dressed up in uniforms of the army of Chaos, but still, it is not appropriate.

"It's under the blanket.", he said smugly.

Sarah bolted into a seated position. "I am awake. I will go and freshen up."

Aiden pouted and watched Sarah scoot off the bed. In the next instant, he pulled her back to lay next to him.

"I will behave. Give me five minutes.", he murmured while tightening his hug on her.

Sarah relaxed. "OK."

For breakfast, they had a buffet-style arrangement in the dining room and people would fill their plates and eat in random spots through the mansion. There is not enough seating, so they need to manage somehow.

Saran and Aiden went to the family room and during breakfast they watched on the television local news who blasted on repeat: "SHOCKING NEWS: Brant Dunn, a recent contender for a seat in the Senate was found tied up naked to the electrical pole on the Las Vegas strip. Less than a hundred feet away, Tyson Tufte, a young heir of Tufte corp. was found in the same condition. Both men had signboards around their necks which said that they are involved in exploiting victims of human trafficking. Each of them had thick envelopes with unknown content attached to them, but police is refusing to disclose further information… Bystanders told us that both Mr. Dunn and Mr. Tufte had numerous cuts over her bodies and that each of them had an envelope stapled to their scrotum… The press secretary for Mr. Dunn's campaign refused to give us a statement… The Tufte family is not answering our calls. We suspect that they are busy with the recent sharp drop in the stock value of Tufte corp. …"

They saw Meili come downstairs. She filled the plate with food and went back to her room without a word.

"Are those two people who came here last night?", Rosa asked Sarah and Aiden while gesturing toward the television.

Sarah responded with a small nod.

Stacy and Zoey told girls on the previous night that they need to be quiet because a customer (aka Tyler Tufte) is coming, and they also explained the purpose of his visit and that he is not the first one.

Aiden switched to another news channel that reported on the fire in the recreational area near Las Vegas: "The fire was isolated to one vacation home. Our reports confirm that it belongs to Brant Dunn, a politician who was found this morning tied up to an electric pole without any clothes on…"

"You did this as well?", Azra asked with her eyes open wide.

Sarah smiled.

Aiden leaned closer to Sarah and spoke only for her to hear: "If you are trying to dissuade them from joining us, you are doing a lousy job."

In response, Sarah pinched his waist playfully.

After this little update on the television, Sarah asked the girls how they spent the night.

Most of the girls looked energetic, and they said that they are doing great. Some of them were excited to see their families again.

Aiden told Sarah that he will follow up with Ernesto on the status of collecting the information and sending the girls home, so that Sarah can talk to girls.

A number of girls spoke with their families last night, and they are set to rejoin them. Aiden will work with Ernesto and the pilots to come up with itinerary so that they can take the most girls in one trip. Aiden hopes that the first batch can leave before lunch.

Sarah spoke with girls who are set to leave and reminded them not to talk about who rescued them. "If anyone asks, tell them that it was a government agency and that you don't know which one."

"You don't want the credit for saving us? I'm sure that my father will be willing to give you a reward for my safe return.", one girl said.

Sarah rejected the offer. "We don't need credits or rewards. We are able to do what we do because we operate in secrecy. If Akmal and his associates knew who we are, we would not be able to infiltrate this place and save you. By keeping our identity a secret, you are enabling us to save the next group of girls. Do you understand?"

The girls nodded in understanding. Well, it's not like the girls know who Sarah and Aiden are, and they don't even know that they are in Las Vegas.

Sarah thought about this and discussed with Aiden the idea to have two members of the army of Chaos with each girl. When they meet with the family of the girl who is being sent home, those two army members have a task to tell them that they are part of the secret government agency, but they told the girls that they are an underground organization because it's more exciting, and to hide their true identity. 

With all this confusing information, it will be difficult for anyone to figure out who is behind all this.

The talk with energetic girls went fine but Sarah had few more talks on her mind, and she decided to talk to Xiaohui first.

Sarah went with Xiaohui to the rooftop terrace. On one side is Las Vegas, and on the other is a fantastic view of the desert with badlands in the back.

"Are you OK?", Sarah asked Xiaohui.

"I will be."

"Are you worried about Meili?"

Xiaohui is not really worried, more curious. But she didn't want to clarify. "What will happen to her?"

"We will send her home as soon as possible."

Xiaohui frowned. "I don't want to go with her on the same flight."

"OK. You can go at a later time. Did you contact your aunt?"

Xiaohui shook her head, indicating that she didn't. "My Uncle travels a lot and my Aunt is busy with her two kids who are pre-teens. I'm sure that they are not missing me."

Sarah wondered why would Xiaohui say that. "Human heart does not have a limit to love. With every next child, mother's heart expands. Don't blame them for not being able to find you."

Xiaohui looked at Sarah with dejection in her eyes. "But she is not my mother. If her heart expanded, she would not send me to the boarding school. On holidays, they would say that they don't have money for me so that I can go and visit them. A poor girl in a school for rich kids. I was… lonely. And then this happened and Meili said that we are friends and I clung onto that. Not because she is rich, but because she saw me, as a person. Or so I thought."

Sarah can see that Xiaohui is disappointed in Meili, but that is not the topic of their conversation. "You don't want to call your family so that they know you are alive? Even if it's not your Aunt and Uncle, is there anyone else?"

"We lost the connection family should have a long time ago. And other than that, I have the school where I am ostracized. Would you want to call any of them?"

Sarah concluded that Xiaohui hit a low point. She really believes that her family does not care about her. "What will you do?"

Xiaohui shrugged. "How long can I stay here until I need to decide?"

Sarah exhaled. "There is no time limit. Think about it, and let's talk again in a few days."

Xiaohui didn't see a point in thinking about her current situation. She feels stuck without any options other than to return to her miserable life. "Think about what?"

"Do you want to change your life?"

Xiaohui looked at Sarah with her eyes open wide. Isn't this what Stacy said that Sarah asked her before giving her what Stacy called a new lease on life? Xiaohui had to confirm…

"Are you saying that I can stay by your side?"

Sarah smiled. "I am saying that I want you to think about what you want to do with your life. In a world where restrictions are set by your own imagination, what do you want to do?"

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