Magee's Missing!

He stayed peacefully behind the tree and estimating his next move. More than a year ago, he saw how Magee hid under the holes that directs to her bedroom so George followed the track to get inside the room without passing or crossing the barbed wires. But something he has heard like a bell that rang thrice. It was coming from the barracks. In a while, he saw some uniformed men getting out of the hole as he crept underneath. Without further delay he quickly opened the floor's square hole and moved upward to Magee's mini library and prepared his dagger upon hearing some footsteps approaching. A little while, he slowly emerged inside the mini library and hid himself behind the door after seeing that it's open. He has heard people's voice chatting but in no particular meaning to him as he's always alienated with the language. Outside was a rumbling sound of metals and trucks passing nearby. He was astonished by the mobility of soldiers around and the noise from the barracks was irritating to him.

" What are they doing?" He whispered to himself.

Then a strong banging of the entrance door echoed the entire house

and set of footsteps drew closer to his place that dramatically on the doorway and estimated two feet away from his location. While confused of that intense calmness, several soldiers around were running and just outside the house, waiting for a signal. This in a way speculate the lieutenant and the crisis did not tempt him to surrender but he unpinned the grenade, threw it at the doorstep and slid towards the hole beside him and a deafening blast created a fuss that diverted the attention of everyone to the burning house. George then used the fire and smoke as his shield to take an exit and thought that if he gets back towards its end, he surely be trapped and soldiers may have plan of his captivity and knowing the lieutenant's wife was taken, and so as bait. With that quick analysis, he climbed to one of the ceiling and grateful that its a rotten portion so he got out till on top of the roof and has the difficulty of breathing due to smoky air. In spite of that struggle, he overheard a sound coming from nowhere, some gunfires; and the place was even raining with stones. He speculated that its coming from his friends. By and by, as he tried hard for a escape out of the night sky, protecting himself from the fire booming around, he noticed that there's 2 sacks of rice hull piled up on an open cart so he was able to go near it as the soldiers were busy reciprocating to the gunfires from the southeast. When he got the chance, he unpacked the two sacks of rice hull and lay down at the bottom of the cart and he settled himself quickly while pulled back the two sacks above him and began to plan what to do next. Till he has heard running footsteps toward him, around two to three men. His heartbeat increased while holding his dagger. However, the cart started to roll down from a flinty ground going down the bamboo gate, then someone opened it so the cart can get out on a small alley. Someone pushing the cart was very noisy and a serial chatter but not a thing that he understood from any of the conversation. After estimated 15 minutes, the lieutenant still hears the gunfire from Sr. Sibal's house and then in a little while, the cart was delivered beside the barracks' dirty kitchen and then on, the two soldiers have stopped and walked away. Suddenly, someone drew closer and started to carry the first rice hull sack and lean it on the braided bamboo wall,gets back to the second sack but George apprared like lighting and twisted the person's hands while the slant dagger was almost unplug on his side.

" Shh...I'm not an enemy but part of the insular and commonwealth...If you've known the markings, I'm on its advocacy; and work for the freedom you are praying for." The lieutenant whispered with sweats all around him. The mam replied and was shaking.

" Please help me...get out of here. I've got a new name here Arnick but by birth I'm Bastian. Do...do you know my brother, Dr. Amado, his lover...was our boss, senorita, Dr. Lucia. She's in Daba the last time I saw her and with the camp he's serving...and..." Arnick stopped when George put down his dagger and right away got back hiding under the sack when he'd heard some footsteps coming. This time, he just quickly cover himself with the first sack of rice hull.

" Arnick! are you done? let's serve the dinner now, there are injured soldiers in the next room and go feed the prisoners. Careful with the beautiful lady, she's ...you know. Hey! why you're seemingly in shock, come on! I'll go serve for laundry now, just leave me some viand and extra rice."

When Arnick's companion left, Arnick immediately pushed the cart in the corner together with the piled up of sacks.

" Sir...I feel that the liberation is just today. You gave me hope. I..I served here after the first attack of a brave troupe a year ago and.."

" It's us...with uncle Amado. He's good in helping us in this fight and treat injuries of the troupe and even had performed surgeries. He's just fine but Dr. Lucia's ...dead.

"Oh my...Oh. God, how is he coping? Wait...you called me uncle? Why?" Arnick smiled.

" It was difficult for him to accept Dr. Lucia Perez's death, but he tried to move on. So..so...yes, you're my uncle. I'm Iná Lolita's son with Chuck. So complicated, huh." " George paused for a while.

" Ah...okay I got it! Its okay, I'm happy to see you around as a family too.

" I'm also here for my wife. She's taken by the soldiers and I feel she's here. That man just came in maybe knew my wife's whereabouts now. Please help me and I'll help you and if possible the rest to get out of here too."

" Hmm...it would be too difficult, Sir. We're surrounded by soldiers."

" Hmm...no worries. For now, please help me find out my wife and tell me if which prison cell she's right now. Please, Arnick."

" Alright, Sir, I'll do that."