Chapter 33
Rachel
Nina dreamed about her childhood. She crashed the window and grabbed the loaf of bread begin to run. There were angry shouting, gun shots and screaming. Nina went into the crowds, gasped for an air.
She rushed inside some fish shop, sprang in the air and went over the counter. The owner, who was slicing a fish, looked shocked. She, rubbing her back, got up quickly and gushed toward the owner.
“You got a gun? Do you have a gun!” said the girl, desperately grabbing his collar. The owner frowned and pushed her. She fell on the ground.
“Who are you?” said the owner, curling his bushy mouth. “What are you doing in my…”
At that time the gun roared, and blasted the vase on the counter. The owner bellowed in anger and ducked, laying flat on the floor. She looked around and saw the gun handle next to the safe. She crawled there and grabbed the gun slowly.
“Come out you snitch!” said the man who just entered the fish shop. He pulled the trigger again; the picture on the wall crashed and fell.
Nina clutched the shotgun and checked the barrel. It was loaded. The owner looked blue. Nina glimpsed at him, reached toward his pocket and took out the cigarette. She, smiling, tapped his dumbfounded face. The man was slowly walking toward them; he pulled the trigger again, hitting the cashing machine. It rang loudly and became pieces.
Her heart pounded fast. She quickly lighted up the cigarette, made a deep swallow and cocked the gun.
Suddenly she blacked out, the sceneries changed in her dream. She was now on the cold, dark and rusty room, looking at one woman who was in chain. The woman looked like she’s from some lunatic asylum; her hair was messed up, clothes torn apart and there were many scars on her wrist. Nina too was tied on the floor.
One man entered the room and sniggered. He was carrying a bat, he walked toward the woman. He first shouted at her to answer his question. When the woman started shrieking and shaking her head, he started beating her up. Nina was screaming at him to stop, but she couldn’t move. The searing pain burned in her heart, pumping blood. The man leered at Nina, walked toward her and kicked her stomach. She groaned in pain.
Laughing, the man went back to the woman and started bashing her feet. The awful screaming continued. After a while, the man looked bored. He snorted and grabbed the woman’s hair and gazed at her bruised face.
“Come on, laugh, the world doesn’t know you exist,” said he. And he backed up a little, raised a bat and swung it straight down. Nina heard the neck crack. Like a slow motion the woman fell down with a chair.
Nina started screaming and wailing. Her eyes… her eyes stared at a blank space.
She woke up, gasping for breath. She grabbed her forehead. She realized she was still inside Ricky’s bunker. Her soldiers were still sleeping, majority were snoring very loud. Nina looked around and saw Stein, Michel, Paul and Sarah next to her.
Stein’s face was finally eased from the rigid form. Nina smiled at him and lay back on the bed again, staring at the ceiling.
Next day, after breakfast, Nina went to see Ricky. Ricky was just getting out from the conference room after a fierce debate on whether or not they release the creatures.
“Refugees? Rescue mission?” said Ricky, amazed. “You mean you want to go out there again?”
“Yes, please. Let me bring them home,” said Nina.
“From my understanding, you are not even sure they are alive,” said Ricky, frowning. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes,” said Nina. The officer who was hearing the conversation interrupted them.
“But sir, if she inform something to the enemies then…” said the officer.
“The gate is pretty safe, officer, unless they attack with the nuclear bomb, it will hold,” muttered Ricky.“No worries, the bunker is safe. If you want to go, Nina Polchinski, then you may go. Just knock on our door; we will open it for you.”
“Thank you so much,” said Nina.
“You are either brave or crazy,” chuckled Ricky, glimpsing at the conference room. “Good luck to you, Ms. Polchinski. Perhaps I don’t have to release the creatures after all.”
At this, the officer raised his eyebrows and looked at Nina with a doubtful face. Nobody among the villagers really wanted to destroy the island.
Nina was excited that she may able to save the rest.
“How can I get to the surface?” said Nina.
“Talk to this guy,” said Ricky, pointing to the officer. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Nina wasn’t planning to ask anyone to come with her; there was no need anyway. All she needed to do was to get to her base and bring them here.
‘They will be safe in here,’ thought Nina, beaming with hope.
Nina charged the cloaking devices and strapped them on. During the lunchtime, when her army busily ate, Nina packed lightly and went to find the officer whom Ricky pointed to. But when she was walking on the corridor, Sarah appeared in front of her. She was with Paul and Michel. Nina stopped.
“Admi… I mean Nina umm,” said Paul, coughing awkwardly. “Are we getting our Captain…?”
“Nina, my baby girl. Don’t leave us,” said Michel, pushing Paul. He hugged Nina and started kissing her cheek, traumatizing her. Sarah hit his head with the fist.
“I’m sorry about that Nina,” said Sarah. “But I can’t let you go.”
“…” Nina leered at Sarah.
“Why? You want to lose your family again?” frowned Sarah. “Me, and these crack heads, are on your side, you gumdrop.”
“No,” said Nina, shaking her head.
“Why? You are not our boss anymore, I am saying this as a friend,” said Sarah.
“I can’t bear dead friends anymore,” said Nina, trying to go through. “I’ll go insane.”
“Since when were you sane? Come on, what are you afraid of? I bet that little heart already died inside you.” said Sarah, blocking her.
“…” Nina felt her heart beating madly as if the bomb just went off.
“I had enough,” said Nina, wincing, fighting the pain inside her heart.
“…”
“I’m sorry,” said Nina, try to walk through them; but Sarah, Michel and Paul continued to block her way.
“Move!” said Nina. “That’s an order.”
“No,” said Sarah.
“Move!” shouted Nina.
“Seriously what is with you?” said Sarah. “We have to say good bye, just about to anyone whom we ever knew. Come alone and leave alone, such a humbling theme we’ve got there ain’t it? But come on, we love you, since you haven’t noticed. And we are not going to let you leave us.”
Sarah tapped Nina’s shoulder. Nina broke down; she was shaking on the spot.
“I hate you,” cried Nina.
“Yeah yeah, I know,” muttered Sarah and hugged her.
Later that day, Ricky visited Glock’s place. When he got there, Glock was with Molly. Ricky wanted to reinforce Nina Polchinski with some of the hunters to guide her. However, he didn’t want to destroy the young love starting in Glock’s life. Ricky instead went to Seth, the head of the hunters’ club.
Ricky was already mad at Seth for not keeping track of the list of members. They discussed the matter for a while. But Seth didn’t like the idea of helping Nina Polchinski.
“Come on Ricky,” said Seth. “The island is a mess. You can’t fix something like this.”
“I don’t want to destroy the island, Seth,” said Ricky. “If we could just help Nina Polchinski to grow, then the island will be in peace.”
“Ha! In your dream,” sneered Seth.
“She destroyed Veron Komer,” said Ricky. Seth chuckled, leaning back on his chair.
“I heard about the girl, yes, pretty impressive,” said Seth, his eyes bulging out. “But can you really trust her? The fact is that you have collaborated with Veron. I mean, to her, you are just a bastard like Veron.”
“We can keep it under control,??
? said Ricky, firmly.
“I’m surprised that you came here, Ricky. You should’ve have gone to Glock first. He was eager to be out in the wilderness you know. Ever since your friend’s daughter got out of the village,” said Seth, chuckling.
“Yes, perhaps I should have,” said Ricky, thickly.
“Well, not like you, I don’t trust her,” said Seth. Ricky looked at him angrily and stood up.
“From now on, I release you from all duties, Seth,” said Ricky.
“Wait, wait, what?” said Seth, laughing.
“I said, you are no longer the head of the hunters’ club anymore,” said Ricky.
“Is this a joke?” said Seth, angrily.
“I’m afraid not, Seth,” said Ricky.
Seth silenced, observing Ricky’s rigid face.
“Well, thank you very much,” muttered Seth and stood up. He pulled out the badge which he was wearing and put it on the table. Without looking at Ricky, he went out the room.
Ricky decided to go to Glock tomorrow, as it was late at night. He went to the elevator and went further down to his room. When he got to the room, his daughters were already at sleep.
Ricky sat down at his desk. He was looking at his wife’s photo in the room. He felt stupid. Maybe she appears in his mind whenever she wanted to. She is saying hi to him from his memory. She stayed in his heart for too long. Something he tried to forget but failed to do so. He remembered her saying to him,
“Time is flowing fast, yet no one cared. We became lost, drifted away and tangled away. Dangerous yet seductive, oh your beautiful eyes. Sweet, sweet love, come closely and hold me tight. Dance with me in this wretched place, where tear dried up on the cracked soil. Put your arm around my waist; with you, the world can be beautiful. Don’t go, don’t go stranger.”