Chapter 48
The Creatures
About a week later, the infantry division fought in a various regions across the country. James commended the assault choppers to support many battles. The kids at the institution evacuated to the bunkers along with other refugees in the city. There were orphans, robbers, beggars, prostitutes, professors, farmers and many others who tried to keep quiet inside the basement. The professors at the institution didn’t seem to like the idea of having peasant with him but as they all ate together, their temper got eased.
Karl called Veron and said he would not pursue Nina’s neck, Veron got mad and threatened to kill him, Karl scoffed hung off the phone. Karl was thinking about leaving the country, but he wanted to bring one student, Tyler, with him. So he went to the bunker, grabbed him and got out of the institution.
Veron was literally going mad, helplessly grabbing the fortune teller and Titto. Titto and the fortune teller abhorred each others, and their opinions were contrary to each other, which led to a no conclusion.
The piercing sunlight shone from the thick clouds to street full of puddles. Nina was complaining about the coffee at the bunker tasted like plastic and she misses Madam Wanda. She continued to make a good use of cloaking technology to take out Veron’s commandos. And then Captain Stein ran over the enemy over like a bulldozer. They won the most of the battle, almost seemed too easy to crush them.
Veron’s soldiers are complaining that Veron does not compensate them enough and just used them like a human shield. Many ran away screaming at the sight of Nina’s army. In the end, only the most ignorant and the cruelest ones were left.
At the time when the infantry units and the ghosts met on the battleground, the medics were running around here and there; infantry units were cheering and dancing. Stein was looking for Nina. One of the ghosts said she was at the half blown building right in front of him.
Nina was on the cloaking device, now playing with the chess stones amongst the ruins, grabbed the black knight. “So, the ghost will return… Veron will be scared to death, but he will not appear on the surface… then…” Nina took a white bishop.
“What move he will take?” murmured Nina. Captain Stein approached, frowning, looking at the chess stone moving by itself; Nina deactivated her cloaking device, Stein raised his eyebrows,
“Admiral, please don’t do that,” said Stein.
“Sorry,” said Nina.
“What were you doing with your cloaking on anyway?” asked Stein.
“It is fun when your hand disappears and things move,” Nina giggled.
“Admiral, Veron’s army is being wiped out,” said Stein.
“Yes, Veron is cornered, we can attack the underground facility soon enough,” said Nina.
“Is the victory near admiral?” said Captain Stein, hopefully.
“No, it is only the beginning. Prepare for whatever surprise Veron have for us, captain,” said Nina.
“But admiral, according to Veron’s generals, all the main bases are destroyed,” said Stein.
“Captain, did Veron ever try to contact us?” asked Nina.
“No, admiral, I’m guessing maybe he fled from this country.” answered Stein.
“…” Nina’s face got darkened. She sensed that something was very strange.
“Admiral? What is wrong?” inquired Stein.
“Tip of an iceberg…” Nina murmured, holding the black knight and observing it.
“Admiral?”
“I need to talk to those prisoners, prepare the chopper,” said Nina.
“Of course, admiral,” said Stein.
At Veron’s headquarter, Veron was extremely distressed.
“We are losing Emperor! They bombed our logistics and key commands and fleets! Emperor, you have to evacuate to the underground bunker,” Titto cried out.
“…” Veron suffered in silence, he is bowing down to the rock in his chamber.
“Well, we need more blood, you have to sacrifice your wife,” giggled the fortune teller.
“Shut it, you fiend!” shouted Titto to the fortune teller.
“Huh? You don’t think so? Maybe your neck will be put on the next sacrifice,” screeched the fortune teller.
“… Titto, release the creatures,” said Veron, with trembling voice.
“Emperor?” muttered Titto, little afraid. Looking at Veron, hoping that he heard it wrong. The fortune teller seemed to be confused, her red eyes blinking fast.
“There is no other way…” said Veron, shaking his head.
“Your highness… it will destroy everything,” said Titto.
“Now we made this for this purposes haven’t we? Release it!” shouted Veron.
“As you say Emperor, let us prepare for immediate evac. Are we… are we going to the island of riddles?”
Veron nodded, getting the fortune teller more confused. She was scratching her arm, fluttering herself.
“And you,” said Veron to the fortune teller. “You told me Nina is no match for me?”
“Well, of course Emperor! All you have to do is more sacrifice! More! More! MORE!!!” screamed the fortune teller, her eyes bulging out, Titto frowned, disgusted. Veron stood there, stared at the rock for a moment. He pulled out the pistol and shot the fortune teller’s head. The fortune teller made a weird screeching sound, the blood splattered on the wall. Her neck bent backward and she dripped massive blood from her head. She dropped on the floor.
“Liar,” said Veron.
Titto didn’t know what to say, he was amazed, didn’t believed what just happened.
“Bring Valentine and Melady… Let’s get out of here…” said Veron, with grief and sorrow, collapsed down on the floor. Titto startled and moved toward Veron, but he stopped Titto.
“Go!” bellowed Veron. Titto nodded and ran out the door, still shocked. He ran as fast as he could, pushing officers on the way. But soon, Titto stopped on the hallway, overwhelmed by tears, and sobbed on the hall on his knees.
In the wilderness, Alvin, Diana, Nancy, Tasha and Jake were exhausted at walking. Their eyebrows were heavy, every limbs sore, they walked like zombies. It was almost dark; Jake was making a weird noise, murmuring “stupid squirrels.” They didn’t even notice the beautiful sunset. After a while the moon came up, Alvin yelled “At last!” he saw the orange light, coming from behind.
“Ok, we might come too far, let’s go back a little,” said Alvin. Everyone leered at Alvin angrily.
When they approached the orange light, they could hear a wild laughter, Alvin said,
“Ok, now don’t panic,” said Alvin.
“For what?” asked Diana.
“Necessary procedures, no harm done,” muttered Alvin, grinning, staring at the darkness,
There were silence in the dark forest, Tasha and Jake were looking at Alvin, and Nancy was waiting on the spot. Soon, there were armed men came out from the bush, aiming a gun at them. Nancy almost fainted at the group of men.
“Who are you?” asked the young man.
“An old friend of Gilbert, I hope he didn’t die from overdrinking, would you be kind enough to escort to him?” said Alvin.
“… Check the weapons,” muttered the young man, alerted, still pointing a gun at Alvin. The man searched Alvin and took out his machine guns, and from the bag he took out the bullet belts. Six portable machine guns and one revolver came out from Alvin and two of the machine gun came out from Tasha’s pocket.
“Starting to plan a war, Mr.?” said the young man, pointing the gun at Alvin’s face,
“It’s a long story,” said Alvin, smiling.
“I see, let’s see to it then, follow me,” said the young man, putting the gun away and started walking. The other men followed with the stuff which Alvin brought, struggling due to its heaviness.
They walked toward the small wooden village. There were loud roar of belly laugh coming out from the large house. The young man knocked the door, but no one responded. The young man banged on the door. But
as no one answered, he banged it again, harder.
The door suddenly opened which knocked the young man on the floor. The huge middle aged man with a large head and the fuzzy hair appeared before them. He looked at Alvin, the big man’s face twisted when he saw Alvin, frowning.
“You son of a bitch,” said Alvin, grinning. The young man startled, stood up and tried to explain the situation, but interrupted by the loud roar of the big man on the doorway.
“Alvin Caravel! What a pleasant surprise. Buddy! We’re having a spaghetti night!” roared Gilbert, laughing and hugging him. Alvin heard his spine cracking. The young man stared at Gilbert, scratched his head and went down to join the other guards.
“Gilbert, you can put me down now,” Alvin muttered, coughing. Alvin stumbled as Gilbert put him down roughly. Diana, Nancy, Jake and Tasha saw the guards nodding at them as if they were apologizing for their hostility. From the door the smoke was coming out, Jake and Tasha frowned at the burnt smell. They came in, there were the group of people having party; the house was heated up.
“It’s our cook’s birthday! Happy birthday!!” Gilbert shouted, and everyone yelled happy birthday. “Our cook is really in a good mood! He got so drunk, he burned all the food! I just came in, you know! I’ve caught a biggest snake I ever saw in my life! I threw it to the cooks and they are cooking stew! Welcome!” shouted Gilbert, and howled at the men drinking, they howled back.
“Alvin, should we tell him that city got attacked?” whispered Diana, looking at merry men. She inched deeper into the room, little reluctant.
“No honey, he already knows,” answered Alvin.
“How?” said Diana.
“Well… I never brought him the good news,” Alvin scratched his head.
Gilbert went into the kitchen and brought the big pot of rich stew with a big nasty snake. “Anybody hungry?” asked Gilbert.
Jake and Tasha stared at the stew and shook their head. Poor Nancy bleached at the sight. The men were cheerful, most of them with red nose, drinking wines, celebrating.
As they were too tired to do anything, Nancy and children just went to bed after a hot bath. Alvin and Diana sat down with Gilbert who was really drunk. But Gilbert just fell into sleep in front of them.
Alvin held a glass of wine. His body was extremely tiresome and sore. Diana walked to the stair and looked at him from a distance and went upstairs. Alvin got up and followed her. When he walked into the room, she grabbed his head and started sticking tongue inside him. He was no longer thinking; he just let go everything. They just threw themselves in a bed and started moaning.
Early in the morning, the birds were chirping around. In rained gently and formed a mist. Alvin woke up and tried to find Gilbert, started asking the young men who were sober enough to tell him. They’ve said they’ve seen him at the in front of the tavern. Gilbert was sitting down at the log and yawning and stretching himself.
“Gilbert, we need to talk,” said Alvin.
“Woke up pretty early eh?” Gilbert chuckled. “Did your house got bombed again?”
“Well, not exactly but similar,” Alvin muttered.
“I’ve heard the news, your former boss declared the war eh?” he chuckled. “Who would have thought? That skinny little Nina.”
“Yes,” muttered Alvin.
“So? What are you going to do? Just wait until the war is over?” said Gilbert.
“Gilbert, you need to get out of Cassandra now,” said Alvin, abruptly.
“… What are you talking about?” said Gilbert.
“Pack your stuff, Gilbert, it is not safe in here,” said Alvin.
“Hold on, hold on, we? Run away? Like a little snitches run away from Veron?” said Gilbert, arguing.
“It is not Veron, it is something else,” said Alvin, with a concern and fear.
“… You are shitting me, what are you talking about?” said Gilbert.
“I can’t tell you now… All I can tell you is that it is related to Simard Polchinski. I’m afraid the event which took place at that night wasn’t a typical raid… So far Nina didn’t contact me, but soon she will. And I need you to leave this country and go to the Island of Riddles,” said Alvin. Gilbert choked, as if Alvin mentioned the worst case scenario; he stared Alvin for a moment.
“Island of Riddles?” chocked Gilbert, his eyes full of fear.
“Take care of my family Gilbert. Promise me that you will take care of them,” said Alvin.
“Of… Of course I will but…” muttered Gilbert.
“Promise me, Gilbert,” Alvin looked at him sincerely, grabbing his hand firmly.
“Ok… I promise... What are you going to do?” asked Gilbert.
“I have to find Nina, I have to warn her before it is too late,” said Alvin, and he packed few things. He took out his revolver and left it on the table in the room where Diana was sleeping. And he got out of there, without telling anything, just headed back to Nina’s base.