SHADOW OF VENGEANCE

Anomaly

Chapter 3

Anomaly

"Who are you?" Carlos asked, enduring the pain radiating from his back to his head.

"Are you okay?" The woman asked.

"You didn't answer my question."

"You're still not well." Then the woman called someone.

A man in white clothing, equipped like a doctor, came to examine Carlos. They discussed a few things, but the blonde-haired soldier couldn't hear clearly.

"We'll see." The doctor said, glancing at Carlos. Moments later, the patient lost consciousness again.

"He needs plenty of rest."

"Thank you for saving me." The mysterious woman shook hands with the doctor.

"He has nothing to do with you. Don't be too kind to him." The doctor added.

"Thank you. I'll contact you again if I need help." The mysterious woman escorted the doctor out.

Once the room was quiet again, the woman sat alone, watching television. She waited for Carlos to wake up so she could give him the prescribed medication.

She waited so long that she nearly grew bored in the silence. Besides watching TV, she sang and even napped in the chair. Finally, Carlos woke up, breathing heavily.

"Are you okay?" the woman asked again.

"Who are you?" Carlos blinked repeatedly. "Where are Maria and Ana?"

"I don't know who you're talking about."

"They're my wife and daughter."

"I don't know them."

"Tell me who you are." Carlos tried to sit up, but the pain in his arm stopped him. He removed the IV from his arm.

"Fool. You're still injured." The woman approached and pushed Carlos back onto the bed.

"Don't touch me. I don't know you."

"Calm down. Let's talk this through, okay?" The woman looked into Carlos's eyes.

"Fine." The blonde-haired soldier took a deep breath. His chest ached, accompanied by pain in his back and throbbing in his calves.

"Drink this." The woman handed him some pills.

"Medicine or poison?"

"If I wanted to kill you, I would have left you buried alive."

Carlos quickly swallowed the pills. His memory gradually returned—the events of being trapped in a tall building, Juan dying with his head destroyed, and jumping from the building before a massive explosion threw his body.

"So, you're the one who saved me?" Carlos asked half an hour later.

"Hmm," the woman replied briefly.

"Thank you." "Hmmm."

"What's your name?"

"Hmmm."

"Don't you have any other words?"

"Just call me Anomaly."

"Alright, Anomaly, how long have I been lying here? An hour or a day?"

"Three weeks." Anomaly clasped her hands together. The room was freezing.

"What?" Carlos sat up in bed, ignoring the pain. "You must be lying, Ano."

"What would I gain from lying? You've been in a coma for three weeks. If you don't believe me, check your watch on the table to your right."

Carlos immediately searched for the watch Maria had given him. It was still ticking, though its glass was cracked. Carlos checked the date. It was true; he had been asleep for a long time.

"Thank you for saving me, but I have to go. I'm already very late for my daughter's birthday." Carlos looked for his clothes.

"The wound on your back hasn't healed."

"I don't care, and don't think you can stop me."

"You'll need clothes to leave. Wait a moment." Anomaly stepped out briefly. She returned shortly with a new set of clothes for Carlos.

"Be careful. Fernando's men might still be looking for you. Don't get caught; I won't be able to save you again."

"Which unit are you from?"

"That's not important. Goodbye. Don't forget to take the medicine in the white pouch and finish it. After that, you need to see a doctor again."

"Alright, and once again, thank you—" As Carlos finished dressing, he turned around, but Anomaly was gone.

"She must be from another special unit. There's no way she knew about me so easily."

Carlos checked the room before leaving. Anomaly had left some money for him and his broken phone. The soldier exited the room, which was far from any residential area or public facilities. Carlos had only been walking for a short time when he felt excruciating pain in his back and calves.

A while later, he reached the roadside. Carlos hailed a taxi and asked to be taken to his home. The tall man was shocked by the long distance and the high fare the driver demanded. The money Anomaly had left was completely spent.

"Who is that woman, really?" Carlos muttered as he approached his home.

He walked slowly and cautiously. Carlos was worried that Fernando's men might be lurking around his residence, especially since Martin had openly mentioned his wife and daughter.

When he reached his house, Carlos knocked on the door, but no one answered. He thought Maria and Ana might be out. However, when he turned the doorknob, it was unlocked.

"Darling, I'm home. Sorry I'm late," Carlos said as he entered. "Ana, Papa's back. Where are you?" He then opened the bedroom door.

He was shocked to find his bed in complete disarray, even overturned. Ana's toys were scattered all over the floor.

"Oh my God, what happened?" Carlos's heart raced.

He searched for his wife and daughter in the kitchen, bathroom, living room, and backyard. But everywhere was the same—chaos.

Carlos tried to stay calm. He grabbed his broken phone and tried to call Maria. The phone rang, and it was in the house, but Maria was nowhere to be found.

"Where are you?" Carlos asked, massaging his temples.

Shortly after, there was a knock at the door. Carlos stood up and opened it. Two men in plain clothes arrived and asked him to come with them.

"Going where?" Carlos asked.

"To see your wife and daughter."

"Are they safe?"

"Of course."

Without any suspicion, Carlos followed the two men, as his mind was solely focused on his wife and daughter. The car drove a short distance to the Hospital Militar de Zona. Carlos asked why he was brought there.

"You said my wife and daughter were fine." Carlos pushed one of the men as they walked down the hospital corridor.

"We're just doing our job. Follow us, and our task is done." Without further ado, the man pushed Carlos back.

Driven by longing and curiosity, Carlos followed them. The three of them arrived at the morgue, and Carlos could no longer contain his anger.

"Don't mess with me!" Carlos pinned one of the men against the wall.

"Stand back."

"Carlos, meet your wife and daughter." The other man opened a drawer, revealing the lifeless bodies of Maria and Ana, covered with white sheets, their faces pale.