CHAPTER 121: TO SERVE AND PROTECT

I am extremely apprehensive and terribly terrified for my fiance’s safety. Penelope had been radically hard-headed and blindly closed-minded since the time her daughter had been abducted, which sickened me deep down to my very core. If only I could lock her down and forbid her not to push through with her smartless move, I would have done it already. But knowing how stubborn she is, especially now that it was Michelle who is at stake, I doubt if I could control her or even persuade her to listen to me and give my suggestion a second thought.

As minutes pass by until the time of her meetup with those dubious and heartless criminal approaches, I am sweating like a pig under a very hot and deserted wilderness. The nervousness I am experiencing now about this imminent event made me restless as fuck. I know and so positively certain that the outcome of this meetup wouldn’t be favorable to Penelope. I have this enormous gut feeling that these merciless people will screw her up right after they grab a hold of the ransom money. God forbid, but that’s my hunches.

It was precisely three hours before the sudden death, as I called it, but Penelope still hadn't left her room from the time she went inside just after we had our lunch together. None of us knew what she was doing inside her room, because she locked herself in. I tried twice, knocking at her doorstep, but there was no response from her. So I had no other choice but to be with the soldiers here outside the front garden. 

General Lombard was already designating his men’s position at the All-Star Arena. His chosen few, his most reliable and trustworthy soldiers, would be in-charge of keeping a close eye on Penelope once she enters the arena. I, on the other hand, would stay with the General inside a civilian patrol vehicle. 

As much as I desire to see Penelope up close and personal as she delivers the ransom money to these crooks, General Lombard prohibited me to indulge myself physically as the operation proceeds, which even pisses me off. All I could ever do outside the said arena is to patiently wait and pray while these heroic men do their jobs, which for me was the hardest task to do. 

The feeling of uncertainty, the guesses and the speculations, plus the botheredness knowing that the woman you mostly love is in a very dangerous and life-threatening situation, no man in his rightful mind would be at ease. 

“As tactically and meticulously planned, all of you will be at the arena in sixteen hundred hours! Be at your designated posts! You all knew the protocol, we are not amateurs here! I have full faith that we will come out victorious in this mission as always, soldiers! Make no room for errors, men! We must retrieve the child and secure her safety, same goes with Miss Hunt. Am I clear?” 

“Sir! Yes, Sir!” The group of nonuniform soldiers exclaimed valiantly. Their spirits are all perked up, ready to tackle anyone who will come their way and more than determined to execute the plan the way their General wanted it to be, which slightly lessens my anxiety a bit. 

“Miss Hunt mustn’t be alarmed that we’re tailing her, although I already had a feeling that she knew, but it’s better if we stayed low until she gets inside the premises. God be with us, men! Remember, we are here to serve our country no matter what the odds seem. We made an oath that we will die for this country if the situation calls for it!” 

“Sir! Yes, Sir!” 

My entire body hair raised at the braveness of these people in front of me. Everybody is willing to die just to do what they oath themselves to do, and that is to serve and protect. 

I may not be a soldier like this crowd of heroes, but our virtues and goals are one. I had sworn to the late Alexander Hunt that I will be of service to his daughter and protect her at all cost. Now is the time where I can put those words into action. Just like these noble and brave soldiers, I too, am willing to die for the sake of the woman I love and her beloved offspring. I may not be as skilled as these soldiers, but I know in myself that I can and will do everything to see to it that Penelope and Michelle will come home safe and alive. 

I just need to sneak through General Lombard tonight and be inside the arena. Although I was instructed to stay behind and not to interfere, I simply couldn’t just sit and wait. Every minute as the operation proceeds will kill me. So, regardless if what I would be facing, there’s no fucking way I will let Penelope be on her own later this evening. 

***

My mind has been restless and untiredly circulating since I woke up this day. Actually I just took short naps the night before and was wide awake even before the sun started to appear. I am severely frantic, because today is the day where the said meetup will take place. 

I want to give myself an assurance that all will be well and nothing bad will occur to neither me nor Michelle, but I know in my heart that those are simply wishful thoughts. Something bad will happen, I can feel it in me. I am certain that my most feared moment has arrived and that is today. 

As much as possible, I don’t wish to die yet, not at this point and not at this very young age of mine. But just like what I told everyone else, I will fight until my very last breath just to see my precious little daughter safe and alive. I’d rather sacrifice my life in order to secure Michelle’s. God be with me, but I will make it happen tonight, come hell or high waters. 

Since All-Star Arena wasn’t far from where this mansion was situated, I am planning to leave here an hour and a half before seven, so I could still have time to gather every strength I need to make it through this pithole. 

As I embraced my daughter's picture at my chest and was bracing myself for the greatest obstacle I would be facing in my entire existence, my mind silently uttered a heartfelt prayer with hopes that God would hear me and grant me my request. 

‘Dear Father God, I give you this day. You knew my heart’s desire. You know so well how I desired to be with my daughter until she grows up and see her through life, but if tonight is my last minute here on earth, please keep my daughter safe and alive. Protect her at all costs, Father God. Give me the strength to face these evil doers and grant me the courage I need to make it through. I laid everything in Your loving hands, keep my Michelle safe. In Your son's mighty name, Amen.’