"This is a breaking news update from Austin. We have just received reports of a high-speed car chase unfolding on Highway 8."
"Authorities are urging everyone to avoid the highways as the situation is further complicated by what is believed to be a potential terrorist attack."
"Stay tuned for more information as we work to bring you the latest updates on this developing story."
News agencies around Austin made reports on live tv as well as the radio.
The people in Austin however didn't take this seriously as they believed it to be a hoax.
As for the ones that did take it seriously, they started praying for the well being of their loved ones.
Back at Alex's home, Josh, Janet, David, Isla, and Melissa were sitting in the living room when they got news of this.
"Honey, I am so worried. Isn't Alex in the hospital? Give him a call, ask him to not go out." Janet said to Josh.
Josh nodded and tried to call Alex. As he called, the phone began ringing and he heard from the other side:
"Halo?"
Josh was confused. This wasn't Alex's voice. "Who am I speaking to? Where is Alexander and who's on his phone?"
"Sir, I am a taxi driver. Mr. Alexander left his phone with me and went somewhere else." Carl answered honestly from the other side while driving his taxi.
"He did what?" Josh was surprised.
"I am sorry, Sir. I would need to cut the call as I am driving. This phone is safe with me and Mr. Alexander can come pick it up anytime." Carl said and cut the call as he was busy driving.
Josh had a dumbfounded look on his face as he stared at his phone.
"What happened?" Janet asked, concerned.
Everyone turned to face Josh, curious to know what just happened.
Josh looked at her and said, "I didn't think our boy was this careless, Janet. He lost his phone in the taxi and it was the taxi driver who picked it up."
"Argh…" Janet rubbed her temples. "Josh, didn't I tell you yesterday that Alex didn't have his phone with him? I was asking you to call at the hospital, not on his phone!"
Janet was seriously so done with her husband.
"Oh." Josh realized his blunder and apologized. He then went to dial the hospital's number, but then felt a problem and said, "which hospital is he in?"
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Oof." Janet was getting frustrated.
"Mom, wait, let me see if I can connect with husband." Melissa came in a clutch and said.
"Please." Janet said and looked at Melissa with some hope.
"How can Alex forget his phone?" Isla commented.
"Don't ask me, Isla. Even I have no idea." Janet shook her head and said.
"I wonder what sort of work he has…" Isla put her thoughts out loud.
"He's a neurosurgeon, honey. He must be stuck in the OR. Brain and spinal cord operations are time consuming and long." David answered his wife.
Isla sighed. "Poor Alex."
Melissa in the meantime failed to connect with Alex. She put her phone down and said, "I can't reach him. The last time he called saying he was in the hospital, it was done through a stranger's phone."
"Oh god…" Janet was really worried now.
She joined her hands and started praying for Alex.
Watching that, Melissa thought, 'it's gotten really noisy with so many people praying. Being in the mortal world with a mortal body, I can't even ignore the prayers properly.'
She then chuckled and thought, 'Whatever the case, I hope husband realizes Fi-chan is his wife soon and gets her on his side.'
***
ZOOM!
The Air Force arrived at the scene of the car chase and and right when Nicole had a breath of relief, her and Alex heard on the radio:
"BREAKING NEWS: THE EL VIZAN TERRORISTS HAVE HIJACKED A PLANE FROM THE AUSTIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT!"
Nicole clicked her tongue and immediately dialed another number.
As the call got connected, Nicole yelled, "Z, what in the fuck is happening!? Has national security become a bloody joke to everyone!?"
"Ma'am, it was a major surprise for us as well. We believe some Blesseds were working and let the terrorists bypass the airport security. We are sending troops ther—"
"NO, YOU FUCKING AREN'T." Nicole shouted and Alex looked at her with an expression that read, 'damn, calm down.'
Nicole didn't see Alex's expression and said, "they're all going to come target me here. Make the Air Force take down the planes they hijacked."
"But Ma'am, there's civilians—"
"Get the Blesseds to help us or shoot down the plane and let the civilians die."
"But—"
"Z, do you want the FUCKING DIRECTOR to die instead of the civilians? The Chief of Staff won't be happy and neither will be the President." Nicole cursed.
"I am sorry, Ma'am. I'll take an immediate action now." Z replied and hung up.
"Miss Nicole, relax. You shouldn't get angry and raise your blood pressure." Alex warned her.
"Doctor, we're in peril and you're asking me to calm down?" Nicole maintained her cool and replied. If it wasn't Alex saying this and someone else, she would've lost it.
"Yes, I am." Alex replied calmly. "Your adrenaline is high and your logical reasoning is limited to fight or flight. Calming yourself down is the best thing you could do to get out of here as fast as possible."
Nicole felt it made sense and didn't argue with Alex on this. She took a few deep breaths and drank some water.
The armoured vehicles behind were kept busy by the various police cars and Alex got some time to think.
He was getting unnecessarily, this meant that some wife of his was at play here.
It definitely wasn't Melissa since she was probably at home, busy handling his parents and the guests.
Who else could it be, he had no idea…
'Wait a second.' Something suddenly clicked Alex.
"Nicole, can I have your phone?" Alex said suddenly.
"Oh, we're on normal names basis now?" Nicole said and chuckled. "I thought you would never drop the formalities."
Alex only now realized he called Nicole without the prefix Miss in hurry. But it was alright and didn't matter much.
Nicole gave him his phone and Alex dialed Melissa's number.
In a few seconds, the call got connected and Alex asked Melissa to get away from everybody and talk to him in private.
Melissa was in a mood to flirt when she was all alone on call, but Alex was in a pickle right now and couldn't flirt back.
"Can you tell me who all are at home right now?"
"Sure." Melissa didn't feel bad for Alex not flirting back with her and answered whatever he asked.
From her, Alex realized Nix wasn't home and had gone outside for work.
Although this didn't say or confirm anything, it still raised quite some suspicion.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmA really comfortable feeling would always creep up within Alex when he was with Nix. This never happened with anyone else other than Melissa.
This was the biggest thing that made Alex think Nix may probably be his wife.
Now, she wasn't even home when everyone was hanging out together.
Add to that, she had also mentioned about going to work yesterday after lunch.
Alex was then attacked.
It was the same case now as well.
With a lot of things leading to Nix, Alex planned to confront her the moment he saw her when he was home.
"What did you find out, doctor?" Nicole asked when Alex hung up the call.
Alex shook his head. "Nothing, just checking up on my family. Who knows if I would even be alive in the next hour."
Nicole laughed and patted Alex's shoulder. "You're with me right now. You're in the most secure place one could be. Just wait and watch."
"Well, I hope you don't go on a cursing spree again." Alex joked.
Nicole chuckled. "That, I can't guarantee."
The El Vizan terrorists that hijacked the plane were under control after a while due to a few Blesseds from the army who went on the scene.
The armoured vehicles were causing a lot of damage to property and life were shot down by the Air Force jets.
It was all going good but then a few suicide bombers appeared out of nowhere on the road and ran towards Alex and Nicole's car.
It was a tense situation and they would explode anytime, taking Alex and Nicole's life.
"FUCK." Nicole shouted looking at them come close.
There was no time to reverse and drive away as a few bikers with AR-15s entered the scene.
"It seems there's no other choice." Nicole said under her breath. "Take off your seatbelt, doctor."
Alex did as she asked.
Nicole immediately jumped on Alex once he took off his seatbelt and kicked the side door open, eventually jumping out with him.
BOOOOOOOOM!
The car clashed with the suicide bombers and exploded while the bikers were swept away in the impact of the explosion.
Alex felt nothing but darkness for a few seconds and then…
"Are you okay, doc?"