Chapter 20: Be a guard.

***third-person P.O.V.

they reached the place in 40 minutes. The journey was mostly silent as kar-el was looking outside the window the whole time.

They exited the taxi before walking toward the motel that Tania and her group were staying.

"How about giving them a call?" Kar-el spoke as he observed the 5 story building.

Tania shook her head before replying," I would have done that hours ago if I could but those bastards destroyed the sim card inside the phone. We could only hope that they are inside or we have to use reception to contact them. "

Kar-el casually nodded as he let her take the lead for the first time since they met. She stepped inside the building and walked toward the reception as kar-el followed her with 2 step distance.

She observed that the receptionist was different than the one from before.

"What can I do for you two?" The receptionist asked as she smiled professionally at both of them while observing that the teenage clothes were more expensive than the girl's.

" Are the guests in rooms 404 and 407 still in their rooms? " Tania questioned as she looked at the receptionist while leaning against the counter.

" I'm sorry ma'am but we can't disclose that due to our privacy terms and policies. " She still maintained her professional smile as she calmly answered Tania.

" You are not understanding, I am also staying in room 404. Because of some reasons, I wasn't able to follow them to here last time. they must be looking for me currently. " Tania replied to her as she tried to persuade her somehow.

" Wait a moment, please. Let me confirm it with our manager, please. I would be shortly back. " She told them both before she turned to find a colleague of hers so that the reception won't stay empty while she was away.

**** Kar-el P.O.V.

"excuse sir, there is a girl outside claiming to be one of the guests in room 404. What should I do?" I watched behind the wall the girl asking a guy that seemed busy doing something on a register.

"How much time do you think she will take?" Tania asked me to pass the time as she turned to me while leaning back on the desk.

"How would I know about that? It's not like I can see what is happening behind the wall." I

answered as I shrugged while gazing at the wall.

"Just say no, you should be able to handle things like that yourself. " The manager replied without looking at her.

She nodded as she turned to leave but something came to the manager because he stopped her.

"Wait, which room she say?" He asked as he looked at her.

" Stayed at 404 and 407 was booked by her friend too according to her. " She replied calmly as she waited for him to continue.

"A girl of Asian American descent of age around 22?" He asked as he got up to which she nodded.

" Okay, lead me to her. I was asked by guests from rooms 407 and 404 to inform them if someone like that appears. apparently, their friend went missing last night in a bar and they just left to visit the police center. " He told her as they walked toward the reception.

" This motel has a good staff " I muttered to myself which cause Tania to look at me questioningly as she was only able to tell that I said something but didn't know what.

"Nothing," I told her as walk to sit on a sofa in the side.

****Third-person P.O.V.

Before Tania could say anything, the receptionist returned with the manager in a toe.

"Are you by any chance be Tania? " He asked as he looked at Tania who just nodded.

" Your friends had just left for the police station to report about your sudden disappearance. How could we be of help? " He professionally asked as he leaned a little toward her.

"Could you please allow me to make a call? My own is out of service due to some reasons. " She requested with a pleading tone.

The manager nodded as he passed her the landline from the reception desk. She took it and dialed a number that rang a few times before being picked up. Tania calmly and swiftly told them that she was in the motel and the rest she would tell face to face.

After that, she thanked the manager as she returned the phone before walking toward the same sofa kar-el was sitting on and taking a seat beside him.

"I think my job should be over by now," Kar-el said as started to get up but Tania put a hand on his shoulder to stay on the sofa.

"Wait, where are you going now?" She asked confusingly as she looked at him.

"What's that got to do with you? Do I need your permission to go somewhere now?" Kar-el asked briskly as he shook her arm off him.

"Wait, at least listen to me. You need a job, right? Are you gonna show up at the job without a shower every day? or are you going to rent a motel room every day for necessities? My mom works for W.H.O. and because of it, She has to travel to different places that are full of people like what I encountered yesterday or worse. Why don't you work as a security agent for the group that my mom is part of? You are clearly not immature when it comes to dealing with people like that. You will be paid more than any regular job and you could stay at our home during breaks. Most of all, you would be given the freedom more than any other job except really the big ones. " She told him in a single breath as she tried to present it as a lottery of a century.

"Would your mom be okay with me staying at your house? " Kar-el asked calmly as he raised an eyebrow.

" First of all, You obviously need to pay for it. Second, you don't have to worry about that, Our house is big and there are already 6 people in our family. " She told him after she caught some breath.

"Okay, I will think about it. " Kar-el told her as he remained seated.

****kar-el P.O.V.

' Tbh, It's not a bad offer. Getting a roof above my head and a basement for my experiments is my next priority. The oy thing that is a problem was that I have to travel from time to time.' I thought to myself.

Before I could think of more things, Tania got up from the sofa as a group of three entered the motel.

She quickly hugged the two girls of said group and started to cry silently. The only male of the group quickly asked them to return to the room they were staying in so they won't disturb other people.

I too got up as I followed them with a little distance between the group and me.

The man was of African-American descent and seemed to be the father of one of the girls of the group. The other girl seemed to be of Indian origin.

******†*******†******†*******†*******†

Nothing beats cockroaches.