"Solei! Solei, please, wake up, baby. Wake up. Solei!"
I first felt intense pain in my shoulder and leg. When I tried to open my eyes it was only then that I felt the repeated tapping of someone on my cheek as I heard her screams.
"Baby, please! Wake up! I'm here. I'm here. Wake up, please, Solei. I'm begging."
Hector?
My chest throbbed. When I finally opened my eyes, Hector's sweaty face was exposed to me and it was still full of wounds. There was a hint of concern throughout its expression and it seemed to clear suddenly when he saw me awake.
"H-Hector ... what happened?"
"Fuck! Thank God, you're alive. Come on, we need to get out of here now!" He shouted and tried to lift me so he could lift me.
Then I just remembered the loud explosion that happened all over the place. Eventually, the upper part of the area collapsed. I’m sure the whole Hacienda Lazaro was ruined!
"Vera? Sir Anton? Where are they?" I asked him as soon as he could lift me up.
I looked up at him. Just now I noticed his big cut on the cheek and even blood was dripping from there. I wandered I think all around. Twitter quickly enveloped me when I saw how devastated the whole place was. I even saw the upper ground. It was still smoking and the others were on fire.
"What happened? What did you explode?"
"It was Black Guerilla, Ares' group. They planted a bomb all over the Hacienda including the underground. Anton found it too late. Everything exploded," he sighed in response to me, and in a few moments we were out.
When I looked all around my forehead furrowed. This is not a part of the underground anymore. We were already in the woods and the Hacienda was only a few steps away. The mansion is gone because it is on fire and a large part has collapsed. I suddenly remembered the whereabouts of my daughter and Erika.
"Amari!" I shouted and quickly looked around the hut.
It was far from where we were but I could see the crowds there. I even saw my daughter so I almost had a heart attack.
I quickly clung to Hector. "Si Amari!"
"Don't worry. Black Lotus is on its way to pick them up and transfer them immediately to the city. You need to go with them, Solei. This is very dangerous for everyone!" He said that what is being referred to is his entire group.
I turned to him quickly. "What? Why just me?"
He averted his eyes and seemed to be looking around. When I followed his gaze there I saw Sir Anton, Rusty, and Vera. He was accompanied by five other men and all of them were carrying guns. I turned my gaze back to Hector and violently grabbed his arm.
"What's happening? Is this the big thing Vera was talking about earlier? There's going to be a war here and you're going to leave? Why, Hector? I don't understand!" The rope of my patience finally broke.
Hector cussed and tilted his head to look at me. "You're not going to involve yourself in this war, Solei, so go back home as soon as possible!" He told me emphatically.
"Ah, so, there will be a war here. And you don't want me to be involved in this war. Suit yourself — ah!"
I couldn't continue what I was about to say when I just felt the pain of my leg wound. I bent down and glanced at it under my dress. It was bleeding inside. The bruise was so big that it was starting to numb with so much pain.
"Come on, you need to get out of here."
"Bring me down!" I emphatically commanded him that he was shocked. "I'm not going back home without you, Hector, so take me down!"
His jaw tightened. He was about to speak but suddenly Vera came and I immediately helped him get down from Hector's arm.
"Let her be, Apollo. She's suicidal anyway," he said and looked at me further. Like Hector, he also had a large wound on his face and his shoulder was still bleeding because of the large cut he had there. I can see that because it's just covered.
"What are you talking about? You can't be here, Solei—"
"Apollo! We're running out of time. The chopper is on its way to pick up your daughter and the others. They can also see the location of Black Guerilla. They are heading on this way!" Sir Anton yelled at him.
Hector let out a crisp cheap again and turned to me. He stared at me for a long time and I could see how much he was suffering because of the situation. I hardened my expression until he violently sighed and cursed again.
"No matter what happens, don't ever leave me," he said firmly and took my hand.
"Here, Ana. Protect yourself in case ..." Vera said and handed me a rifle. I stared at it before I finally accepted. I was surprised for a moment when I realized it was heavy.
"Can you walk still?" Hector asked me softly. Sir Anton began to run towards the hut where my son and the others were.
I glanced at the large wound on my leg. "I can't feel it though," I shrugged in response to him.
His forehead furrowed for a moment and he even circled me. He seems to be extending his patience even more to me.
"You're so damn annoying." I even heard him whisper before we finally walked.
As soon as we reached the hut we ran to Amari who immediately hugged the two of us. Next, I heard it whisper but I couldn’t understand what it was.
"Daddy ... mommy ... are you okay?" He asked in his small voice. We faced her and I couldn’t help but kiss her hard. I bit my lower lip to prevent my tears from flowing.
“Mommy’s fine, baby. We're fine. Don't worry, okay? For now, you need to go with Aunt Erika. ” I sympathize with him
His forehead furrowed before turning to Hector. "Daddy... why?"
It seemed like my heart was stabbed so I couldn't speak anymore. Before Hector could even explain the chopper suddenly arrived. As soon as it landed on the wide ground the others boarded one by one so I turned to Hector and nodded.
“Mommy and I will follow okay? We just need to fix something. You're a big girl, aren't you? Are you listening to daddy? ” Hector asked her.
I bit my lower lip and hugged him tightly again before Erika finally picked him up.
"Please... take care of her," I told her.
“Be careful, Ana. Come back. Whatever happens, come back, ”said Erika so I cried for a long time before turning to my son who was still confused.
“We will be back. Promise. ”
That was the last thing I said before the chopper finally flew again. I just stared at it until we heard a series of gunshots and a few shouts.
"Apollo!" It was Ares' voice, singing Hector's name. I don’t know where that comes from.
I turned to Hector. Sir Anton suddenly disappeared as Vera ran towards the haystack while cocking her gun. My heart pounded and I looked at Hector who was staring somewhere. He seemed to be looking for where Ares' voice was coming from.
"W-what should I do?" I trembled to question him but I immediately cleared my throat. He did not turn to me.
“Stay close to me, Solei. If you can't afford to use the rifle let me protect you. Let's go! ” He said immediately and quickly took my hand so I became alert.
We ran towards the hayloft. We just kept running as I saw a few men also carrying guns. Those were none of the ones I had seen with Sir Anton before. They are probably the Black Lotus.
As soon as we stopped we went into the woods. Quiet and wild there. I tried to roam my eyes around but I can't see anything. Until something suddenly exploded and it went straight to the tree behind us so my eyes widened. I quickly looked at it and I could see the bullet penetrating it. It would have been a little bit in my head!
"Hector—"
“Sshh, it’s just a warning. Don't be scared. I'm here, ”he interrupted me and squeezed my hand. "They can't do anything to you as long as I'm with you."
That was the only thing he said to me before we acted again. We quickly left that post and moved to a more secluded part. But before we could get there we were separated again by the explosion! I felt intense pain in my shoulder and head.
I checked my body for pain. My whole body was in excruciating pain. This was the second explosion that hit me exactly and I don’t know if I’ll survive the next one. I cracked my head while my eyes were closed. I can feel my own desperation. I want to cry because I seem to have no choice but to fight alone. I can't even find Hector anywhere! It suddenly disappeared around because maybe in the distance where I was kicked, I had disappeared from our place earlier. It's either I will be able to come back home alive or I will be dead meat here.
I slowly got up. I tried not to bear the pain in my body due to the fall and my wounds. I looked all around and my eyes caught the rifle that Vera had given me so I immediately took it.
It's funny how when things are getting better — you wanted to be alive and live a peaceful life — that's when it is taken away from you.
I close my eyes firmly and opened them again. There I heard the footsteps of dry leaves. Fine
My loaded assault rifle is aimed as I stood up and as soon as my eyes saw the men I was sure were members of the Black Guerilla, I shot them fatally. The three fell so I immediately hid in the big tree that was there. I could not speak for a while because I could not believe what I had done. I just killed three people. I never thought I would be able to use a gun like this even though what Ares taught me before was very small compared to it. Fuck! I just killed three people!
The surroundings became quiet again but that was only for a few minutes. I heard a series of gunshots and explosions in the distance. I bit my lower lip. My eyes caught the flow of my blood from my shoulder. I quickly tore the hem of my dress and tied it there then immediately stood up as well.
I was then met with four men who immediately shot me! I was hit so I quickly moved my position and then fell down while also shooting. I knocked down one. I reloaded fast and then fired again. I knocked down three again so I moved quickly and tried to get away from that place.
But just a few steps later I was shot again so I quickly fell down again. I fired back at them and next I heard the laughter of someone.
"Anastacia Solei." I heard Ares. It was so sarcastic that it seemed to still scare me. He is in front of me!
“I’m still surprised that you’re capable of killing my men. Do you know how to use guns? ” He added.
I could feel well where his voice was coming from. That’s not far but neither is it close. I looked all around as I hid too much but I could see nothing. The shooting still continues from a distance.
I know what he's doing. He's trying to make me answer his damn question so that he can finally find my location. Does he think I'm stupid?
“I guess I really thought you so well back then. I was one of a hell of reliable boyfriends for you, weren't I? ” He continued. I could no longer recognize his voice because it was full of evil.
I bit my lip as I reloaded my rifle and prepared for whatever would happen.
Damn him! By the time I see him, he will be the first one I will shoot in the head!
I began to think of what to do and ignored what he said. Moments later I heard the rustling of leaves in my other direction so I quickly turned there and immediately pointed the rifle I was holding there. Assuming that this was Ares and that he was always close to me, I could feel my heart pounding because of the extreme nervousness.
“Anastacia! Where the hell are you? Don't make me find you because I won't make the mistake of blowing up your skull! Stop pissing me off! ” Ares shouted so I realized he wasn't the one I was waiting for to show up.
I didn't bother to listen to that. Sometime later, the lush vegetation crackled again and Vera peeked out in a flash, startled by the rifle pointed at her.
“Whoa, there! Stop pointing that fucking thing at me, Ana! ” She whispered loudly so I immediately put it down.
“What are you doing? Why are you here? Where's Hector? ” She asked more and slowly approached me.
"We're separated."
“And you shot the Black Guerilla personnel I passed? How? ” She asked immediately.
“I know how to use guns but not this kind of gun. Ares thought me back then, ”I explained to her. She stared at me for a moment and nodded.
"I see. You're really freaking me out, huh, ” she said and looked in front of her.
“I saw Ares behind that big acacia three, only two were with him. We have a good chance of getting out of here and going to Anton and Apollo. Be ready, ” she told me seriously so I was alarmed.
I looked at the big acacia tree she said. I stared at it for a few more minutes until I saw a protruding head so I immediately shot it. Vera was shocked. The man immediately fell down. I was even disappointed because Ares wasn’t the one I hit.
“The fuck! Are you that skilled? That was a headshot! ” She yelled at me and hit my wounded arm so I gasped and pushed her.
"You're hurting my wounds!"
"I'm sorry," she laughed. "In the count of three, run as fast as you can."
I nodded and prepared myself.
"One!"
My eyes rolled when Vera started running so I ran too. Bullets rained down again so we immediately fired back at them as we ran away.
"Shit!" Vera hissed. When I looked back at her, I saw her bleeding shoulder.
“That fucking Ares! I will fucking kill you! ” She shouted and fired again.
"Solei!"
When I heard that shout I automatically turned to the source of his voice. As soon as I saw him I immediately lost focus.
"Behind you!" Hector continued to shout.
Before I could look back, the bullet had penetrated the right side of my chest. I immediately collapsed and cried out in great pain. Roared again because of the shooter and then disappeared. Then I heard Hector's voice picking me up quickly.
“Damn you. I was looking for you everywhere! Fuck it! ” He screamed and pressed against my chest. I winced.
“I-I'm fine...”
“She’s fine, Apollo. She killed a lot of Ares' men. If I were you, I won't underestimate her. ” I heard Vera say so I laughed.
“Are you really...” Hector couldn't continue that so I just nodded.
"I-I'm thirsty..." I said and clung to his arm. “I lost you but I can protect myself. Am I a good wife then? ”
It grinned. His jaw tightened and he cursed again. Later he had something taken out of his pocket. I just saw a stalk of red rose in his mouth. He bit it. He slowly bent down and crushed me with a kiss as I could feel the rose stalk in his mouth.
"You're the best wife, baby..."
“Really? In this situation really?! ” Vera yelled.