38 — Tyler
"Sooner or later
We will meet
I am sure
In a much better way”
Sooner or later — NX Zero
“ Mom, wherever you are, please help me. I need to save this girl, she is an angel .”
I pick up my backpack carefully and watch to make sure there is no one who can see me, at the risk of putting her life in danger, even more so. I listened, hidden, when the man said that tomorrow they would send her to another place, after getting money from her family. They won't give it back and I need it, and I'm going to get help.
My big problem is not getting to Manhattan, I can manage that, I have some of the money that people sometimes give me and I save it for when I need it, in an emergency, like in case I don't have anything to eat. The big question is will I be able to speak to anyone at that company she said.
How are they going to believe a boy like me?
But I'm not giving up, because I think she's expecting a baby. I didn't want to ask, because it could be her delusion, I saw when they injected something into her while she was sleeping.
I run to the subway station, wait a few minutes and get in. Now I just have to wait for it to reach its destination and find someone in time.
She said it was close to Central Park, here I am. I take out an old map I have and check the address she gave me.
Okay, I'm close.
No fear, Tyler, everything will be fine...
I just hope they don't send me to an orphanage after this. I will help, but let me continue as I am. Even though inside I will miss that angel, because around her I felt at home.
When I'm close to my destination, I bump into a lady.
— I'm sorry. — I ask, already trying to follow.
— No need to apologize, are you alone? — Your sweet voice hypnotizes me, I don’t respond. — Can I buy you a snack? I was just walking into this coffee shop.
— They won't let me in, but thank you. I need to go. — I refuse, even though I want to accept.
— Wait here, I'll bring you a snack.
— It's OK. — I accept, as my stomach has been complaining for two days.
She enters the place, I think wasting a few minutes with a snack won't hurt. I watch the street meanwhile, and see one of the bad men from the warehouse on the other sidewalk. I need to get out of here, he already saw me, when my mother helped them, and he will definitely recognize me.
I run towards the company, which is further ahead, just before reaching the entrance, I breathe again.
A strong man is there, he must be the security guard.
— Young man, excuse me. I really need to talk to a Noah Foster. Is it urgent.
— Hi Boy. Here, I'll take you to the receptionist, she can take the message, Mr. Foster isn't here.
— Wait, there's another name. — I'm looking for the paper I wrote it down on. — Gael.
— She will help you — he points to the receptionist — but he is also not at the company at the moment.
— All good. — frustrated sigh.
I follow where he showed me, I see some people looking at me crookedly, which I'm already used to, and the face of the lady at reception is no different. Damn it.
— Hi girl.
— We don’t make donations here. Please seek shelter.
— Girl, it’s not a donation, no. I urgently need to speak to someone named Noah or Gael. Is important.
— I'm sorry, but they're not there and, if they were, they wouldn't welcome you. I don't know where you heard those names. Now go away, it's not nice for the company to have a homeless person here.
—Listen, please, I came at the request of a girl, blonde with blue eyes. — Right then, I forget the name. — I need to ask for help.
— I won't repeat it. — She signals to one of the security guards.
— Okay, I'm leaving now.
When I'm turning around, I hit a wall, that is, a person.
Damn it! I'm Screwed.
— Hi, boy. Sorry, I think we bumped into each other. Are you well?
— Excuse me sir. I already asked them to remove this kid from here — the receptionist says, in a sickening voice.
— I'm leaving now, girl. I just really need to talk to one of them, I'll wait outside. — I try to avoid it.
— Calm down, kid — the man with the collision warns. — Who do you need to talk to?
— I don't want any problems, I'll wait outside.
— It's better, the security guards will accompany you — the woman opens her mouth and I'm already thinking about leaving my politeness aside.
— Natália, please bring a chocolate snack to my room. I'll go see what this boy needs.
— But, sir, people are watching.
— Don't question me, that's an order. And bring the snack yourself. — He looks at me affectionately. — Come on, little guy. Let's see what I can help you with.
— I just need to talk to a guy named Noah. Or Gael, because... — I am interrupted.
— Interesting, it's your lucky day. I'm not Noah, but I can help you.
I just agree and follow him throughout that huge, elegant building. Well, at least he offered me a snack and the opportunity to say what I needed to say.
I can't help but admire every detail, it's very beautiful here, whoever built this building has great taste. Architect, if I'm not mistaken, is the name of the person who designs buildings like this. I remember that, a while ago, I found a magazine in the trash that talked about this.
— Ready, friend. You can come in and sit down.
Wow! His room has a glass wall where you can see all of Central Park.
— Yeah... — I look at my dirty clothes. — I think I can stand.
— No. You can sit down. Your appearance says nothing about you. — This guy seems pretty cool.
I sit and watch as he heads for the door, turning to see what it is.
The girl at the reception is coming in with a cart full of delicacies to eat.
—Here you go, Mr. Novak.
—Natália, I’ll be brief. You will serve this boy, you will apologize for the stupid things he said to you and then go to HR. You are no longer part of the company.
— Sir, there’s no need. — What a mess I caused.
— It needs. Here, we treat everyone equally and she should know that, like you, the president of the company she works for, also lived in precarious situations when she was little. We do not tolerate this type of behavior here.
Natália doesn't even try to say anything, she serves me, asks for forgiveness and then leaves. This man is brave. There was no need to leave the woman without a job, does she have a family to support?
— Eat slowly, we’re not in a hurry, okay? — I drink some chocolate, but I remember the angel in danger, I can't waste time. — Can you tell me your name? — question.
—Tyler, sir. — I leave the glass on the table. — Well, I need to find Noah or Gael, who work at this company. Is it urgent.
— You found me, then. I'm Gael. Now, tell me what is so urgent you have to tell me?
— So, I need help getting the blonde angel out of the abandoned warehouse. That's it — I remember her name — Catarina, what she said her name was.
— As?! — he asks, as if I had found the solution to his problems, how crazy.
— Look, sir, I don't want to cause trouble, I'm just afraid of going to an orphanage, since they killed my mother. I live hidden in that shed and I saw when they brought her. I want to help, but we don't have time. They will take her somewhere else tomorrow.
— Okay, give me a minute. Eat, I'll just make a call.
Well, I think I found the right person. I'm actually going to have a snack, my stomach hurts from hunger, in the meantime, he walks away and makes the call, but I don't pay attention. Mom always said it was bad to listen to other people's conversations, unless it was something to help, or when we were in danger.
— Come with me. — I widen my eyes. — Don't worry, no one will send you to an orphanage. We just need to listen to you first, and then we'll rescue Nina. Are you okay, friend?
Well, I don't know where I'm going, but apparently they're in a hurry to find the girl.