Chapter 25: You were always welcome!

We think that forgiveness is weakness, but it's absolutely not; it take a very strong person to forgive.

- T.D. Jakes


Mikhail's Journal 03.10.2010

Choosing your friends and knowing which ones are true friends is never easy, you just have to gamble by giving them your trust. This was a foolish course of action I took, giving someone my whole heart only for them to abuse it throw it away like it was refuge. My grandma (including Matt) was the only one who I could ever give my whole heart to and turn to for guidance. She would always try to teach me the power of Christianity and appreciate the love of God and to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. It always perplexed me how Jesus could forgive those who abused him and collaborated in killing him. He was betrayed by friends including his disciples who were his closest friends. The one who sold Jesus out was Judas, a name everyone associates with as a traitor. I even compared Matt to Judas, despite knowing he didn't betray me for 30 pieces of silver, but peer pressure and a girl. I do question what if Jesus met Judas again would he ever take him back as a friend. My grandma told me that as a follower of Christ, it's not my duty to play judge, jury and executioner, but it is my duty to forgive not matter how wicked a person is or what this person's motives were to do something so heinous.

Sitting in a cell betrayed by those who called themselves friends, I really did feel like Jesus Christ, except it was a luxury sitting in a cell and not nailed to a cross. This was my ultimate test whether I understood the power of forgiveness and what it means. Those who betrayed me would stand trial and be at my mercy, would I show them mercy or would I send them to their redemption?


"Rise and shine Mikhail, it's time we had a little chat," omitted a loud voice that rung my ear drum.

My head was pounding and my mouth tasted like sour milk. I slowly opened up my eyes and could see standing in front of my cell peering at me was a face I wasn't happy to see, it was Rory.

"What, why am I here?" I asked, hoping I'd get a clear explanation.

"Good question, but before I answer I must say that it's nothing personal believe it or not," said Rory in a calm manner.

"Then what is this all about? It's not because I let you down at the talent show?"

"Oh please Mikhail, you think I'd still be salty over a cash prize? No it's nothing trivial like money, but rather the fact you abandoned us."

"Rory please, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings and let you and the others down. I was just going through a very tough time and needed to break away for a while."

"Mikhail please moi-ya droog," soothed Rory, "I got over that a long time ago. When the dead come back to life and want to eat you, that becomes a more serious issue and a desperate situation... Look enough of the moralities of the situation, so I'll get straight to the point. Our dear friend Marc Antony has promised us peace and prosperity, all he wants in return is you."

The name I loved hearing so much beyond the lips of those who mean betrayal. It made me sick to my stomach knowing I was interacting someone who was willing to sell me out to my nemesis, kind of like Judas sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. The only difference was I was the one who betrayed Rory and his friends who opened their arms to me, but never to the extent which would result in death.

"Rory do not do this. You can't trust Marc Antony, he will betray you too."

Rory smiled and his pale blue eyes twinkled, as he dismissed, "Well for what he's done for us so far such as providing us with weapons, food and other means of support, I think I can rely on him unlike you."

I looked passed Rory's shoulder and could see Madison and Travis spectating the scene without saying a word.

"What about Madison and Travis? What about them?"

Rory turned his head to look and them before turning back to me and answer with a smug sanguine smile, "Oh them, don't worry. They'll be joining you when Marc Antony comes."

"You're making a big mistake Rory, a very big mistake. People are going to die," I warned to no avail.

"Maybe, but at least it will be a few to save the many... So enough talking about Marc Antony," disregarded Rory, who turned his attention to left as he looked down and grabbed what I saw was a plate of food with a metal spoon on it. "It's going to be a long time before he gets here. Why don't you just try to relax and eat something?"

Rory pushed the tray through the wide narrow slit of my cell door. I slowly approached my cell door to retrieve it, but I had something else in mind as I look and smiled at Rory's feigned smiling face. When I was close enough, I placed my hand on the metal spoon, then I brought up my hand and struck under the tray spilling the contents on the floor. This commotion stunned Rory as I grabbed him by the collar and slammed his head against hard solid metal. I turned his back against the cell door, got him in a chokehold and pressed the pointy end of the spoon handle into his neck.

"Let me out of this cell now. Nyet, let Madison and Travis out too or I will ram this spoon into your artery," I growled, hoping he would yield and give into my command.

Then I heard that familiar noise again, the one that would render me vulnerable to any attack. I could only sense the noise was coming from my left. The noise got louder as Laura appeared in my sight holding the device. Rory broke out of grasp and pushed me to the floor as Laura turned the device off, enabling me to take control of my body again.

"You fool Mikhail, now do you know why I trust Marc Antony more than I ever trusted you? Marc Antony told me all about and that you're a loose canon. It was a good thing he gave this so we can keep you on your knees like a good little doggy."

"You are dead Rory, you are all dead," I snarled, boiling with rage knowing what Rory and Laura have coming for them.

"Yeah well whatever, enough about who's going to die. Eat your food," ordered Rory, walking away with Laura, but turning back to look at me one last time, "Oh and by the way since you made that mess on the floor, you can eat it off the floor like a dog."

I watched the two former friends walk down the hall and disappear into the sweet regions of freedom. Reluctant as I was to eat food off the floor, I knew how important survival was and where hygiene was out of the question, as I dropped to the floor and ate the morsels of food on the floor.

"You shouldn't have done that Mikhail, you just made the situation worse," intervened Travis, watching me eat food off the floor like a dog. The first thing that struck me different when I looked at Travis was he had only one leg as one trouser leg was knotted.

"I was trying to get us out of here. It would have worked had it not been for that thingy," I retorted.

"Yeah what was that thing and why does it affect only you?" questioned Madison.

"I don't know. All I know it disables every muscle in my body and makes me forget what happened," I answered.

"Well Mikhail I hope you have another plan to get us out of here," said Travis.

"I do, just got to think. Taking hostages is out of the question. Just got to think and wait for the opportunity to arrive."

"You got to think Mikhail, because something tells me we don't have much time left," concerned Madison.

I then did the first thing any captive locked in a constricted cell would do, inspected the cell door and how it would open. There weren't any hinges in sight so it could only mean the door slides open. I looked at the other cells including the ones where Madison and Travis were incarcerated in and saw there was no keyhole, so it meant a key wasn't required to open the cell door. Before I could determine how the cells opened, footsteps slowly clomped down the hallway. My first suspicion was a guard on duty to inspect the cells and confirm the prisoners were still alive and not planning escape. However when the footsteps got louder and the pursuer showed his face, it was someone I was not expecting to see and didn't have the pleasure of seeing, it was Rico. Yes Rico, the nuisance who always rained on your parade and was there to cause trouble. How did he survive Marc Antony's assault? He was in one of the trucks last time I saw him. Maybe he got out somehow or unless my suspicions about him were correct.

"Dobreeya Ootra Mikhail," greeted Rico, smiling maliciously, "How's my droog?"

"Rico, you... how did you... you're alive, but how?"

"Oh your old friend Rico doesn't die so easily."

"I don't recall us ever being friends, ain't I a little too old to be your friend?"

Rico fabricated a sad face and mumbled, "Oh Mikhail you insult me, is it because I'm a kid you don't want to be friends with me?"

"Well you're not exactly an alter boy are you?"

"Oh and here I was about to console you before your death sentence."

"Death sentence?" I perplexed, knowing death was the likely outcome.

"Yeah have you not heard? Marc Antony is coming tomorrow to carry out the execution."

"Wait how would you know all this?" I asked, even though I should already have figured it out by now.

"Isn't it obvious? Marc Antony is my old chum and I'm his associate. Oh and before you ask, yes I have been spying on you and Alicia. Why did you think I took a picture of you and Alicia kissing? Now Marc Antony knows that you and Alicia are lovey-dovey."

"Rico," shouted Madison, banging on her cell door, "Where's Alicia, where's my daughter?"

Rico slipped a cigarette in between his lips and spun like a ballerina to face Madison.

"Relax Mrs Clark, your daughter is safe and sound. I wouldn't worry about her. She's getting awfully close to Josh, she must have forgotten about Mikhail or doesn't even give a shit about him anymore."

"Rico please, let me see my daughter," begged Madison, looking sad as if she was about to shed tears.

"Oh you'll be seeing her soon," said Rico, taking steps towards Madison's cell, "Not in one piece of course." Madison exploded into rage and tried to grab Rico as he cunningly backed away. "Whoah whoah whoah have we got us a wild one here. Maybe what you need is a cigarette, it will calm down your nerves." Rico held Madison a packet of cigarettes. Instead of Madison graciously accepting a cigarette, she spat at Rico as he artfully dodged the projectile of saliva. "Wow someone has their knickers in a twist."

Rico lights a match with his tumb nail and lights his cigarette as he walks in line with Travis' cell.

"You wont get away with this Rico," growled Travis.

Rico placed one foot on his other and spun 90 degrees to face and look him straight in the face. He took a long drag of his cigarette and blew the smoke in Travis' face, which made him choke.

"Want a bet mate?" teased Rico.

"Hey leave Travis alone, Rico," I shouted to get Rico's attention.

He swung his smug confident face towards me.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to interrupt others having a conversation?" gibed Rico, not having any regard he was close within Travis' reach. Travis grabbed Rico from behind by his jacket and tried pulling him in. Rico wittingly dabbed his cigarette on Travis' hand as Travis responded to the pain and released Rico from his grasp. "Travis you naughty boy, you can't go around touching kids, especially when one such as myself doesn't like it."

"You're no kid Rico, you're an adult trapped in a kid's body," I chided.

Rico didn't respond, he spontaneously whipped out some big, long and metallic object. It was a revolver, one too big for a kid like him, but one big enough for me. It didn't take me long to identify that the revolver in his hand was mine. He must have helped himself to my equipment and supplies when I wasn't looking.

"Going to have to kindly ask you to back away, Mikhail," threatened Rico calmly with the cigarette dangling in his mouth. I complied by taking small steps back and allowing Rico to drape himself over the bars of the cell door. He dangled his arm with the revolver in his hand, while he took the cigarette out of his mouth so he could proper communicate. "Now let's talk like mates," proposed Rico as he blew a massive cloud of smoke, he literally created a smoke screen. "Marc Antony is coming tomorrow and if he wants you dead, you are dead. I'm sorry but there's nothing I can do about it."

I didn't know what to say about that. Surely Rico could disobey Marc Antony and do the right thing, but I don't think it's something he's willing to do on his own accord.

"Look if it makes you feel better and it maintains our friendship," placated Rico, as he removed the single round in the revolver cylinder, slid the revolver towards me and placed the round on one of the horizontal bars of the cell door. "If you want to kill yourself before Marc Antony does then be my guest. Don't think about using it to shoot the lock off the cell because it's electronic."

Thank you for the tip Rico, now I know how the cell opens, I thought to myself.

"Oh and by the way," Rico pulled my walkman, "You like music." Rico placed the walkman down on the floor against the bars. "Why not listen to some tunes for comfort before you meet the grim reaper?" suggested Rico as he turns to exit the holding cells, but halts and turns to look at me one more time. "Oh and one more thing," Rico pulled out a cigarette packet and rattled it to indicate that there were still cigarettes in the packet. "Why not have one last smoke?" Rico threw the packet in the middle of my cell and dug into his pocket to pull out what looked like my lighter. "Feel free to use a light, I prefer matches. Matches preserve the flavor while indulging that first puff of a fresh cigarette." Rico flicked his unfinished cigarette at me, which I'm sure he intended to hit me with it. I nimbly grabbed it with my fingers. Rico raised both his thumbs and smile as he took leave. When he was out of sight, I crushed the cigarette in my hand, enduring a light burn and having hot ash in the palm of my hand. I threw the crumpled cigarette on the floor and retrieved the items Rico left for me. Although I should be grateful for Rico bringing me a few things I cherished, I knew his intentions were not good and he was going to enable my execution.

"So have you thought of an idea how to get us out of here, Mikhail?" asked Travis.

I then thought back to what Rico informed me about the cell being electronically locked. The switch to unlock the cells was more than likely out of reach so the only option would be to break through bars, but how. While inspecting the lighter and smelling the fuel and inspecting the large smeared stain of black ash on my hand gave me an idea.

"I think I know how," I responded to Travis with an insuring smile.

What I was about to carry out was a very risky and dangerous procedure. I wasn't so sure of it myself, but it was better than waiting to die. Back in my days of training did I learn a bit about chemistry. We were taught how to mix herbs, minerals and even chemicals for medicinal or ballistic purposes. You probably know what was coming, yes I attempted to make nitroglycerin. How I was going to make it I didn't know, it's been a long time since I ever made an explosive from scratch. I had nearly all the ingredients to make nitroglycerin, of course I'm not going to reveal all the ingredients and how I attempt to make it because I strongly recommend not to.
One of the ingredients was soap, which I was able to obtain from Travis when I told him of my intentions, which he was skeptical towards, but was willing to comply. If there's one key ingredient I had in my possession that I was lucky to have, it was sulfuric acid. How I got the sulfuric acid? I had a battery in one of my pockets. Lucky it wasn't confiscated when I was incarcerated. Getting the acid out was no easy task, it did have to involve a bit of brute force, which could have risked getting acid on my skin.

I set up my own mini lab with all the materials and equipment required. Makeshift containers for each substance, my lighter to use as a bunsen burner and a metal spoon to heat up one of the compounds. Madison and Travis volunteered to remain silent while I was mixing, because it was a delicate process and I really needed to concentrate.

After creating the mixture, I decided to let it cool over night before adding the nitric acid. Nitric acid was the last additive needed to make the mixture explosive. Luckily the holding cells had no heating, which meant that during the night my cell acted like fridge. Just what I needed to chill the mixture and be ready to add the sulfuric acid the next day, the day I bust out or should I say blast out?

I spent the rest of the night listening to music, which helped me keep my mind at ease and control of my anxiety. One tape that was already in the walkman was the album Rumors by Fleetwood Mac. I consider Fleetwood Mac to be a band with an interesting history. The band suffered many internal conflicts, departures, reforms and personal issues, even a temporarily disbandment during their run, but managed to survive and accumulate commercial success and critical acclaim. The more I think about their history I always compare my relationship with Alicia and how I let down Laura, Rory and the rest of the gang. I might even go as far as comparing Alicia and I to Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, who were a couple and a music duet who were asked to join the band. Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joining the band did mark the band's rise to fame, but at the cost of broken hearts. Stevie and Lindsey's relationship ended and also John and Christine's (who were also members) marriage came to an end. Following these tragic events the band released their album Rumours, which I would dub as a masterpiece. "Go Your Own Way" is a track on the album I could strongly relate to, it made me reflect on my current situation with Alicia. It seemed that Alicia will move on when I'm dead and I had to accept it, kind of like when Lindsey had to accept Stevie wanting to break off the relationship despite how much he still loved her. Not all of the songs on the album are melancholic, but rather upbeat and jaunty like "Second hand News", "Don't Stop" and "I Don't Want to Know". Another track I think describes the band's determination to stay together is "The Chain", which was written by all members of the band. I like how the song begins with a catchy beat and the harmonious yet adamant vocals kick in. I love how the lyrics elucidate about wanting to put their negative emotions and tensions aside and continue to make music together. It was the band's biggest strength that despite their creative differences and emotional turmoils they had a passion for one thing and that was music. The same could be said about Alicia and I, including her family, we wanted to stay together as a family and survive and that's what I was going to do.


I was awaken by a large metallic clang on my cell door and a familiar voice that echoed and rung my eardrum, "Rise and shine condemned one, our friend is here." My eyelids were heavy and I could vaguely see standing at my cell was Rory as a blurry figure with a red glowing outline. Next to Rory stood a man in black with a mask and armed with a high-tech automatic weapon. Immediately did I identify this heavily armed goon to be one of Marc Antony's henchmen. This confirmed that he's already arrived and he didn't come alone. The cell door slid open automatically accompanied by a loud honk resembling that of a goose. "On your feet now and come and meet our guest, he doesn't like to be kept waiting," demanded Rory, looking smug as hell and confident he could get away with his crime. I hesitated and realized that I wasn't going to need to blow my way out of this cell, I slept too long and I missed my chance to get Madison, Travis and myself out of here. It looks like I was going to be brought outside, meet Marc Antony one last time and probably be executed by firing squad. Rather than be carried out, I stood up and walked out of the cell with a goon behind me aiming his weapon at my back. Straight a head of me standing near the exit of the holding cell was another armed goon. This made escape impossible and if I did attempt to rebel, I would be showered with bullets. It felt like I was on death row and it was time for my execution, no last meal or a chaplain to comfort me, just take that long last walk and meet my executioner. I was scared like anyone would be, knowing this was it and I was going to die, knowing I had failed to protect Alicia and her family.
I walked out into the bright warm sun and felt the cold air on my skin, the only thing that brought me some comfort and abated my fear that I was going to die. Most death row inmates who were about to face execution wouldn't get the privilege of dying in a beautiful setting such as this, they would be escorted into a small room where they would see their audience behind a glass panel as they are strapped down and awaiting death.

"Get in," ordered the goon as we approached a small four-wheeled Willys MB jeep, big enough to fit four people.

At gun point I was sat in the back of the jeep with the goon sitting in with me, well disciplined and sidearm pointed at me with finger tightly around the trigger. Rory sat at the front and rested his arm on his side of the car, like he was going for a nice luxurious drive in the open air. We drove down the empty quite road and over the bridge, taking us into the non-residential side of town, where I expect to see the circus in town. There as I expected I saw almost the whole townsfolk and more goons dressed in black kevlar armor, masks and armed to the teeth. The one who stood out in the ground was the one not dressed in black, but an orange fur coat (didn't want to think what animal suffered to make that coat), shaved head and expensive steel-rimmed sunglasses. Marc Antony really did know how to shine in the crowd and win over an audience.

"Get out," ordered the goon, gesturing with his head and not with his gun.

I complied and hopped out of the jeep and took casual steps towards Marc Antony. Along the way I saw Laura who didn't greet me or smiled, just looked at me with a neutral expression. Obviously trying to masquerade the guilt of betraying someone she called a friend. Then to my surprise I saw something far more pleasant and which dulcified the intimidating scene with Marc Antony's henchmen positioned in the crowd, it was Alicia. She stood with the other residents being the most dazzling and captivating out of all the other faces I had no eyes for. Her hair blew gently in the wind and her blazing eyes looked at me and I could see the look on her face as if she recognized me. She didn't smile or speak, her lips separated as she expressed shock to see me being held at gunpoint. It really did feel like I was Jesus being whipped and forced to carry the cross and Alicia was Peter in the crowd denying ever being associated with me, even though no word left her lips. It didn't take long to understand that Alicia didn't want to get involved and risk her own life, but I could see she had remorse for the situation I was in and hint I was going to be executed in front of her.

Marc Antony was talking on a cell phone (probably a customized cell phone that acts like a walkie-talkie) as he turned to face me temporarily and ended transmission informally, "Roger, peace out." Marc Antony flipped his phone shut, pocketed it and turned to face me. "Mikhail, just the man I wanted to see. I hope you enjoyed your stay in your luxurious 5 star hotel," bantered Marc Antony with a complacent smile.

"It wasn't a 5 star resort, but I slept like a baby thank you," I joked, which made Marc Antony laughed in response.

"Oh man you Russians sure do have a good sense of humor. It's too bad you are leaving us today, we sure are going to miss you."

The scorn I had for Marc Antony brewed in me like simmering water in a pot, I was trying to keep my cool by maintaining a sense of humor. Maybe I can buy myself time, even postpone my execution and give him reasons to play with me a little longer.

"Well what are you waiting for then Mr Hotshot, why don't you just kill me now and get it over with?"

"You know Mikhail? You are right," gibed Marc Antony as he then whipped out his flashy custom Beretta and pointed it as my head. "I could kill you right now. It would be soooo easy."

"Well then do it why don't you," I provoked.

"Oh I will."

Marc Antony's face and tone then changed into anger and he conveyed a lust for murder as he took steps towards me to press the gun against my forehead.

"Then do it."

"I'm not joking I will pull the trigger."

"Go on then."

"Your brains will fly out of your skull and splatter on the floor."

Marc Antony and I were now in competition who was more angry. Despite he was still wearing his glasses I could see the anger in his eyes and hear the heavy breathing through his nostrils. I knew he was tempted to pull the trigger, but I could tell that my quick and painless death will not bring him satisfaction so I threw the biggest insult at him to prove myself right that he wouldn't pull the trigger.

"Do it you pussy."

Marc Antony's arm tensed and he sealed his jaw and pushed his lips together until his mouth became a horizontal slit. He then dropped his arm and threw his head down to look at the floor as he let out a huff. He looked back up and me with a smile and humorously whinged, "Mikhail why do you have to be such a killjoy? It isn't any fun killing those who don't beg for their life." Marc Antony then aimed his gun at my knees, "Maybe if I put one in your kneecap you wouldn't act so macho would you?"

As much as I knew a bullet in the knee would be one of the most painful places to receive a bullet, I further provoked Marc Antony and immediately imagined what it's like to feel a bullet in the kneecap.

Marc Antony's finger tightened around the trigger and a flame did spurt out of the muzzle of the Beretta, but it didn't make a noise. The flame flickered bright and had a short range, then it occurred to me before Marc Antony placed a cigarette in his mouth and lit it that it was in fact a cigarette lighter. Marc Antony ripped the cigarette out of his mouth, leaned towards me and slowly blew the smoke in my face.

"What's wrong Mikhail, didn't get your first morning cigarette. Well good news for you," cheered Marc Antony, gazing up at the sky with the cigarette in his mouth pointing up in the air. "The morning is too young for an execution, so I'm going to led you live a little longer," Marc Antony turned to look at Rory, removed his sunglasses and ordered, "Take him back to his cell."

Rory looking baffled draws his eyes together with wrinkles on his forehead and asks, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah I'm sure. I think before we indulge ourselves with an execution we are going to have a party, I've got a nice surprise for you."

Rory then dropped the frown and embellished a jovial smile.

"Oh okay then, I can break out the beers I've been saving."

"No no no that won't be necessary, I've got champagne. Dom Pérignon, the good stuff," grinned Marc Antony.

"Well okay then," reacted Rory, hearing his stomach rumbling with excitement, "Take Mikhail back to the cell."

The look on Rory's face was of smug-satisfaction, the one look I hated to see on anyone's face. He didn't express one ounce of sympathy for leaving me out, it was as if he was tasting karma for me letting him down and he was savoring it.

As the henchman stepped at my side and drew their weapons at me, Marc Antony nimbly threw out his arm in a very bizarre way. It was if he'd been training in some sport which required the use of his hands. Then I noticed his hand was gloved while his other hand was not. What left an unforgettable image in my mind and made me reflect on what I just saw was his hand rotated 360 degrees and he flicked out his fingers faster than any other human could. Marc Antony then turned his head to look at me with his real eyes and flash his pearl-white teeth.

"Sorry Mikhail you're not invited to the party, restricted invitations only," teased Marc Antony, "Perhaps we can offer you a last meal request."

"No thank you I can do without," I retorted.

"You sure because we're not in Texas?" offered Marc Antony.

"When I'm about to be executed I kind of lose my appetite."

"Okay as you wish Mikhail."

Without causing any trouble, I compliantly walked back to the jeep with not a goon jumping in the back with me, but Laura who now suddenly had that hint of remorse knowing she was facing the one who she betrayed. As the jeep drove away and I looked at Alicia who was looking back at me looking maudlin and concerned about me, Laura tried to engage in conversation with me.

"Mikhail, please don't take this so personally. I tried to reason with Marc Antony, but I don't want to put other people's lives in danger," reasoned Laura.

"Nyet Laura, I understand. It's the least I could do for letting you down," I reciprocated.

"What do you mean?"

"Rory still being sore at me for ditching you all at the talent show."

"Mikhail no, Rory doesn't hate you for that."

"Oh really, have you tried talking to him about it?"

"Mikhail please understand, I wanted it to work out for all of us. Marc Antony has did everything for us and the least we could do is give him what he wants. Your sacrifice will not be in vain and you will venerated as a hero."

"Wow I feel honored."

The thought of being honored and remembered as a hero really did make me feel like Jesus Christ. The messiah sent by god to die for everyone's sins. However I wasn't Jesus Christ and I wasn't here to die for everyone's sins. I was just a knight in shining armor sworn to protect the one he loves and her family, who also has the will to do what he deems righteous.

Once we arrived back at the police precinct I was escorted all the way back to the cell. Laura was compassionate enough to tag long with me, maybe it was her way of diminishing the tension between us and earn my forgiveness.

"You want me to bring you anything Mikhail, some food or a drink perhaps?" offered Laura.

"Nyet, I'm fine thank you," I answered.

"You sure?"

"Da I'm sure."

"Okay, suit yourself," said Laura as she walked away from my cell in confusion.

It was probably better that way. What can possibly be said after leaving someone to the mercy of death knowing you had a hand in it? However it didn't matter now, what mattered was I now had the chance to put my escape plan into action. Food was on my mind and the idea of a last meal did appeal to me. Maybe draniki with sour cream and chopped chives for the main course and blini for dessert with a nice hot black tea to wash it down with. However I had bigger things other than food on my mind.

I did question whether my cell was searched while I was out of my cell? Only one way to find out as I checked under my bed where I hid the mixture and accessories. To my relief they were still there, shrouded in darkness and ready to begin the final phase of making an explosive. With precaution I added the nitric acid into the mixture and watched it seethe and give out a vapor that I tried not to breathe. With the mixture now explosive I knew that it was now or never, I had to take the dangerous approach and see whether it was explosive or not. The last thing for me to do was attach the explosive to the cell door. I achieved this by sacrificing my socks to tie the container to the bars. It was strenuous and nerve-racking because if I dropped it the vial would explode and have killed me. With the explosive in place, I only needed a detonator and the best option I had was a single bullet in my trusty revolver.

"Take cover and you might want to cover your ears, unless you want to go deaf," I warned Madison and Travis as I gave them time to back away, grab their pillows and use them to cover their ears.

I backed away from the cell doors as far as I could, grabbed my pillow and sat on the floor. With the pillow over my head and pressed hard against the wall with my over hand cover the other ear with my pillow, I used my other hand to aim my revolver at the vial still tied to the bars and gave Madison and Travis the warning.

"Fire in the hole."

I squeezed the trigger and the gun jolted in my hand and at the same time the brightest flash and most thunderous sound knocked me sideways onto the floor. Feeling dazed with my sight a blur and my ears ringing, I could smell smoke that stung my nasal cavity and esophagus, it made me cough and splutter. I regained focus and felt my strength returning as I crawled my way towards the contorted metal bars that now provided me a big enough opening. Walking on my hands and knees (which thankfully weren't affected) I could see the metal bars were burning hot yellow and I could see on the left that the explosion took a large chunk of the wall with it. I came across little fragments of concrete, even a large piece of concrete large enough to fit in my hand, just what I needed to use as a weapon should a guard come to investigate. Before I could check to see if Madison and Travis are still alive, I could hear the sound of coughing and spluttering and pair of legs appear in view. The smoke provided me with enough cover to administer a sneak attack and take out the guard, but I would have to be patient and stealthy otherwise he could get nervous and give me a face full of lead. I remained crouched and slowly moved closer to the pair of legs that took small steps and paused along the way, mainly because the guard was choking and didn't learn in school that you crawl on the floor during a house fire. Readying the rock in my hand I threw the rock as hard as I could against the guards knee cap. He yelled in pain and leaned forward revealing a long barrel of a rifle. Quickly and cunningly I maneuvered behind the guard and placed my arm around his neck. I then used my other hand to press the back of his head into my arm pressing firmly into his neck and cutting off his blood supply to his head. He stopped squirming and kicking his legs and submitted to the chokehold and was rendered unconscious. Laying him gently on the floor I flipped him onto his belly and found a keyring with an assortment of keys.

"You did it Mikhail. I knew you could do it," praised Madison as I looked up and was happy to see she remained unharmed from the blast.

"Madison are you okay?" I asked.

"I'm fine Mikhail, are you okay?"

"Da, just a little shook up from the bomb blast, but I should be fine."

"Are you alive Travis?" asked Madison raising her voice a notch just to get Travis' attention."

"Never better Maddy, I thought we were going to die," responded Travis.

The smoke had cleared and I could see the operating panel for the cells were. It had a little keyhole as I studied the shape of the keyhole and determined which key on the key ring was the right one. I tried the small key and it fit perfectly. After turning the key the red bulb lit bright red as I then pulled down the levers that opened Madison and Travis' cells. Madison ran out of her cell and hugged me in gratitude. Travis came rolling out of his cell in his wheelchair and retrieved the guards rifle.

"We got to get out of here, but first we need to get ourselves armed," I suggested.

"Yeah I'm with you on that one, Mikhail" agreed Madison.

We both found the armory where I recovered most of gear and luckily found .357 magnum rounds and 7.62mm. After I was now armed and dangerous, a surprise visit entered the armory. It was Laura, who looked happy and relieved to see me out of the cell."

"Mikhail," exclaimed Laura.

Madison drew a M1911 colt at Laura's head and threatened, "Don't you move bitch."

"Don't shoot, I came here to get you out of here," claimed Laura.

"Great performance," scoffed Madison.

"Madison, lower the gun," I calmly ordered.

Madison lowered her gun and holstered it still keeping her eyes fixed on Laura.

"I can get you both out of here. I have a convoy which you can use to escape," announced Laura.

"We are not going anywhere without Alicia. Where is she?" asked Madison, placing her hand on her holster, with the probable intention of using it to interrogate Laura.

"Alicia yeah, she's with the others at the party," revealed Laura.

"Good then let's crash the party," said Madison heading out the armory trying to squeeze past Laura.

"Better not, Marc Antony and his men are there. It would be suicide," warned Laura.

Madison paused, turned to face Laura and get in real close to enunciate, "Listen drama queen, I may have been your school counselor, but I am a mother of two. You probably don't know what it's like to be a mother, but let me tell you how far she would go to save her daughter."

"I get the picture," shuddered Laura.

"Okay Laura, let's see those wheels," I requested, grabbing my AK and RPG and slinging it over my shoulder.


Laura led us to her vehicle outside which was an old Toyota pickup truck, just the perfect get away vehicle. Other than this wasn't an escape, it was a rescue mission. Madison sat in the front while Laura drove, obviously wary of her. Travis and I sat in the back and kept a close eye and listened for any signs of human activity.

Laura drove slowly and silently down the road and over the bridge where I ordered Laura to pull over. I dismounted the truck and equipped my directional microphone and pointed it farther down the road, retracing my journey when I was transported to meet Marc Antony. Quickly I picked up lively and festive chattering and laughing, even the clinging of glasses, really must be a party going on.

"This way," I commanded, expecting Madison, Travis and Laura to follow.

We found the tallest building that was 30 feet from where the party was taking place, the perfect observation post and to remain undetected. I whipped out my binoculars and observed the party that was happening below on the open street. It really was a party by the looks of it. There was chatting, drinking, food and music, just what a party needs. The music that played was a hiphop track with a lot of bass lines, just the type of music I expect from an African American like Marc Antony to play, especially how he dresses like a divine posh black celebrity. The goons served and acted like waiters (even with their masks on), carrying trays of champagne and finger food either wrapped in seaweed or skewered on toothpicks. All the townsfolk were happily chatting with each other and drinking fine champagne and eating the exotic looking finger food. I panned to the right and suddenly saw Alicia standing in her quiet space looking concerned. Couldn't blame her, she was in the presence of Marc Antony and his goons and is expecting a reprisal for nearly amputating him with a sniper rifle.

"You stay here Travis, I'm allocating you the position of sniper. I just hope you know how to use that thing," I ordered, handing Travis my SVD sniper rifle.

"Mikhail, if I can handle a shotgun, I sure can handle a rifle," shrugged Travis.

"Good man tovarish," I responded, tapping Travis on the shoulder as he lay on his belly holding the rifle with the scope at his eye.

"Watch your back," bid Travis as I just smile and headed off the rooftop to pursue my objective of rescuing Alicia.

"Wait Mikhail, I'm coming with you," entreated Madison.

"Nyet Madison, it's too dangerous. I can handle this."

"No Mikhail. Alicia is my daughter and I'm coming with you whether you like it or not."

"Okay, but on the condition you follow my instructions," I approved.

"Fine whatever you say, tovarish," gibed Madison in her best pronunciation of my language, as she pulled out her M1911 colt and proceeded to climb down the ladder before me.

"I'm coming too," insisted Laura.

"Nyet Laura, stay here and protect Travis," I declined.

"No Mikhail, I can help you retrieve Alicia. Trust me I'm your best hope," persisted Laura.

I thought hard about Laura's offer and considered the offer to be most affective if I am to get Alicia out of here so we can escape Marc Antony and flee to Montana.

"Okay come with," I consented.


Approaching closer to the party and remaining undetected, I had my AK at the ready with an RPG strapped on my back armed with only one warhead. I was armed and dangerous and ready to fight Marc Antony and his goons, but I wanted to avoid friendly casualties, because I know not all of them would be hostile. The procedure was to get Alicia and get out while avoiding detection. Engaging in combat was the last thing we wanted.

I took another look through my binoculars and pointed to exactly where I saw Alicia last and she was still there, but this time she was standing next to Josh. She wasn't looking at him and I could see he was chatting to her, looking at her with flirtatious eyes. I just hope he won't be an obstacle when Laura does what I hope she will do and lure Alicia into a secluded place where Madison and I can retrieve her.
I maneuvered at the back of the buildings so I could remain undetected and be ready to reclaim Alicia after Laura brings her round the back. Waiting patiently with Madison behind the building where we could see Alicia with her back turned at the other end of the alley, we saw Laura interact with Alicia. Ready to seize Alicia once she came round the back, Madison and I held position and listened carefully as we heard Alicia and Laura's voices approaching. I grabbed Alicia from behind and covered her mouth to stop her from screaming and Madison appeared before her to calm her.

"Alicia it's mummy, you're safe now baby," soothed Madison.

"Mum," exclaimed Alicia tearfully.

Madison and Alicia hugged like mother and daughter, overjoyed to see each other and know they are alive. That reunion was short lived as I heard a chipper voice coming down the alley. It sounded familiar, a young man around my age and someone I held distain towards for trying to get close to my girl. It was him, it was Josh. At any cost he had to be incapacitated otherwise he would without a doubt raise alarms.

"Hey Alicia what are you doing round the back here, taking a leak?" wondered Josh.

Josh came round and stumbled across Alicia, Madison and Laura. Before he could react I grabbed him, slammed his head against the wall and threw him on his back. While he was down on the floor I implemented Nami Juji Jime, basically a cross-armed chokehold. This was achieved by me putting pressure on the carotid artery with my arm and using the other hand to increase pressure and stop the blood rushing to his head. He quickly lost consciousness and was rendered unconscious. I looked up to see Madison and Alicia appearing stunned, probably disapproving how I handled Josh. Part of me will admit I wanted to go rough on him as payback for trying to steal my girl from me, but the other part was just my instincts as a soldier.

"Laura report to the party I repeat Laura report to the party," boomed loudly Marc Antony's voice over a megaphone.

Hearing his excessive loud voice made me want to vomit, I could see it was enough to send shivers down Laura's spine. Laura reluctantly headed down the alley only to briefly turn back to look at us. She threw me the keys to the Toyota and implored, "Quickly get out of here."

I watched Laura take that fatalistic walk down the alley and had a strange feeling overcome me, it was an epiphany, one that would put my own life at risk. It became clear that Laura had indeed proven herself to be redeemable. Her true intention was to save Madison, Travis, Alicia and myself and get us out of here. My respect for Laura and compassion I had for her as a friend was restored and I felt it in my heart to save her from what I feared her redemption. I wasn't going to allow Laura to pay with her life, I knew what I had to do and once I decided, there was no going back.

I threw the keys over my shoulder for Madison to catch them, turned round to face Madison and Alicia with a smile and conjured, "Get yourselves and Travis out of here."

"Mikhail," baffled Madison's voice behind me.

"Mikhail wait," pleaded Alicia's voice behind me. Just what I wanted to hear from the woman I still deeply loved, knowing that I might not see her again now that I'm walking into the lion's den.

I jumped up to grab the ledge of the roof with my hands, used my foot as support and pulled myself up onto the roof. Now having the element of surprise to my advantage I prowled on the roof and observed the party below. The guests had stopped socializing and were looking at Marc Antony who was standing on his humvee with his guards by his side.

Marc Antony held up his glass of bubbly champagne high, tapped his glass with his fingernail and toasted, "Your attention please. A toast to Rory, Laura and all you residents of Salmon, funny or even fishy name for a town I know." Everyone laughed at Marc Antony's witty joke. "For your cooperation and contribution I don't think I can repay you other than give you a well earned and deserved present." Marc Antony pulled his cellphone to his ear and ordered, "Wheel her in boys."

Suddenly the sound of an engine was heard in the distance, which was driving backwards and making a repetitive beeping noise. It was a white lorry with a large long metal container approaching. The lorry halted as it passed Marc Antony and closer to the people all gathered round. Marc Antony walked to the side and leaned against with his elbow.

"What's inside the lorry?" wondered Rory.

"I'm glad you answered that my friend. Why don't we open it and find out?" smiled Marc Antony as he stepped back gesturing with his hand and adding a whistle to signal his men to open the back of the container. Two of Marc Antony's men opened the container, which revealed nothing but a black void, but then a ramp was pulled out and settled on the ground.

"Okay so you want us to go in there and grab whatever's in the container?" questioned Rory.

"Oh no no Rory, no need to get anything. It will come to you, just you wait," chuckled Marc Antony menacingly. Unexpectedly Marc Antony got out a switchblade knife, cut vertically down his finger and flicked a line of blood in front of the ramp.

This gave me chills and a bad feeling of what's to come. Knowing there was something lurking in the darkness of the container and Marc Antony drawing a line of blood pointing directly in the container can only mean something sinister was to come. Footsteps echoing from within were heard and I could see there were shadowy figures emerging from the entrance of the container. Only when they stepped into the sunlight did their visage resonate an old nightmare, the toughest foe I ever fought and knew I would be fighting them again, it was those cyborg walkers.

"What are these things?" baffled Rory.

"The new super soldier, our means to achieve total victory and vanquish our enemies," elucidate Marc Antony.

"They look like walkers," said Rory.

"Indeed they are, but these are walkers with a purpose. True walkers are our enemies, but these ones are our friends. Don't worry they don't bite, not unless I command them to," joked Marc Antony as he pulled out another small looking gadget. "Oh and that reminds me, it's feeding time and you're the main course."

Marc Antony pressed the button and the cyborg walkers sprung into action. Their eyes glowed bright orange and they snarled and bared their teeth. Rory staggered back in fear as the cyborg walker lashed out on him and sunk his teeth deep into his Rory's arm, tearing a huge chunk of flesh from his arm exposing the bone. Rory screamed in pain and the observers screamed in horror and the group of cyborg walkers dispersed and more came out of the container. The observers scattered and ran as they were being pursued by the cyborg walkers who chased them with peak mobility and speed.

"Did you get that?" asked Marc Antony, turning his head towards the guard holding a camera. He gave his boss the thumbs up as Marc Antony turned back to witness the massacre his cyborg walkers were participating in.

Impulsively and dauntlessly, I jumped off the roof and down onto the ground.

"MARC ANTONY," I yelled, as I ran towards him and aimed my gun at him.

"Mikhail, so glad you could join us. Sorry you missed the party."

"The party is over for you."

"Oh on the contrary, it has only just begun."

A shot broke out from far away and simultaneously Marc Antony's right hand blocked the side of his face. He clenched his fist with smoke rising in between his fingers. Smiling brashly he opened up his hand and out fell the rifle bullet. He manifested his still intact hand, only burn marks and tears on the glove he was wearing.

"Sorry Mikhail, love to stay, but I got to run. Enjoy the party," smirked Marc Antony, turning his back on me and skillfully jumped down the sunroof of his humvee and out of my sight. His goons still hand their guns on me and slowly started to withdraw to their vehicles with one goon on an armored vehicle manning a turret. This would have been the perfect opportunity to kill Marc Antony by putting a bullet in his back, but I knew his men would retaliate and open fire. Even when they drove away in their vehicles I could have fired an RPG, but I knew that would have also been a bad idea. A machine gun turret with a high rate of automatic fire would not miss a rocket propelled grenade. At this point I knew it was the ideal strategy to focus on the cyborg walkers and try to save as many people as I could. There were 10 that came out of that container as far as I recall, but where could they be was the question? Do they hunt in a pack? Do they have a strong sense of smell?

"Mikhail," called Madison running up to me with Alicia.

"Madison, I thought I told you both to get out of here," I scolded.

"Mikhail we are not going anywhere without you. You are family and family sticks together," insisted Madison.

"Okay, but please be careful."

Madison nodded in agreement and out of nowhere a cyborg walker jumped on Alicia's back. Before the walker could sink its teeth into Alicia's supple shoulder, she somersaulted onto her back lying on top of the walker who was unable to reach Alicia's flesh. Agilely she rammed her knife directly into its skull. The cyborg walker's growl diminished until his body wilted and become lifeless. Alicia got back on her feet and saw two cyborg-walkers confront her. I was about to scramble their brains with a 357 magnum round, but after Alicia decided to take them on, I hesitated and watched her in action. Alicia delivered a punch in the cyborg walker's chest that sent him staggering back. The other cyborg walker drew closer to attack Alicia and she kicked him in the knee joint, crippling him and rendering him to his knees. Alicia then brought up her knee and his face was gazing at the sky, if this was a real human, this would have resulted in death. The other walker crept up behind Alicia, but Alicia sensed him and placed her hand over his eyes and bent his head back exposing underneath his chin. She then skewered him under his chin. The last remaining active cyborg walker got back on its feet and Alicia with her knife still in the now dead cyborg walker's chin, threw him like a boulder. The walker went flying (with its feet not even touching the ground) and crashed against the walker making him hit the wall behind him. Alicia then threw her knife with perfect dexterity into the walker's head killing him. After Alicia retrieved her knife she looked back at her mother and me. Madison looked shocked to see her daughter fight with extraordinary skill against three high tech customized walkers. Alicia just smiled with sweet conceit and wiped the blood off her knife.

"We need to find the last seven walkers," I suggested.

"There's seven of those things?" worried Madison.

"Da, if we are going to have to take them out we need a solid plan. Have you ever fired an RPG?" I asked Madison, taking the long baneful looking weapon off my back and handing it to her with the loaded warhead pointing up.

"No, but I'll give it a try," answered Madison sounding skeptical about using a weapon that causes massive destruction.

"It's easy. You rest the wooden part on your shoulder. You grip with one hand here and you grip with the other hand here. Here's the scope and when you are ready to shoot the trigger is right here," I instructed Madison, pointing out each part of the weapon and showing her how to hold it.

Madison took the weapon and practiced holding it and aiming it.

"How are we going to kill them all in one shot?" questioned Alicia.

"Easy, we are going to funnel them in between two buildings where your mum will fire the rocket and the blast should be enough to annihilate them. Your job is to protect your mum while I go and lure the walkers to come here where they will fall right into our trap," I briefed.

"Do you want us to come with you?" offered Madison.

"Nyet, you stay out in the open so you don't get ambushed. I'll bring them here and we run into alley and take position."

I gallantly ran down the road to search for the cyborg walkers scattered around the city. Before I separated from Madison and Alicia I'm certain I could hear Alicia take a few steps towards me as if she had something to say. Was she trying to tell me to be careful or did she want something else? Whatever it was it was going to have to wait, people that were still alive needed my help and I wasn't going to allow more people to die. How was I going to find the cyborg walkers and was I going to find all remaining seven? Out of all this searching aimlessly I hoped to find at least three or four, because using an RPG warhead on two would be considered a waste. My best lead was to follow blood trails, which I did find, but they lead to already mangled and bloodied corpses.

With luck I came across the longest trail of blood that lead into a junction where the houses were farther apart and I could hear gnarly sounds as if some fierce animal was gnawing at human flesh. Could this be it, was I going to find a group of cyborg walkers all together feasting on human flesh? If so then it's a good thing these new manufactured strain of walkers weren't disciplined soldiers.

In order to lure these walkers and get them to sense me was to cut the side of my hand, which meets my pinky. This sent only a trickle of blood down my arm so I wouldn't lose blood and feel my strength wane. As I got closer to where the noises emanated from I found a group of four cyborg walkers lavish on corpses like a pack of wolves. I got out my spade and tapped repeatedly against a lamp post, which got the walkers' attention. They looked up at me with blood smeared on their faces even one with a chunk of flesh and skin in its mouth. I manifested my bloodied arm, which subsequently got the cyborg walkers onto their feet and I knew it was time to run. Suddenly out of nowhere another cyborg walker leapt at me like a wild animal and I swung my spade with the flat end of the blade hitting him in the face. Relieved to have five cyborg walkers on my tail I ran back to Madison and Alicia, hoping they were still alive and didn't encounter any attacks during my absence.

Running down the road without looking back, but hearing the gnarly sounds of cyborg-walkers chasing me, I see Alicia and Madison standing in the middle of the road looking right at me.

"GET INTO POSITION, THEY'RE COMING RIGHT FOR US," I yelled at the top of my voice with a sore throat I got from all the running.

Madison with the RPG still in her arms tailgates Alicia in between two buildings. Giving a RPG to someone who has never fired one probably didn't seem like the brightest of ideas, but with someone like Madison I'm willing to trust her with a big gun. Just hope she's not too close because the chances I could sustain injuries from the blast or even die are very likely.

I ran into the alley where I saw Alicia and Madison were at a reasonable distance to not get caught within the blast radius. This was it, time to face the second explosion. Just hope I won't lose my hearing.

"TAKE THE SHOT, TAKE THE SHOT NOW," I screamed.

Madison nervously raised the RPG and placed her eye at the scope. The rocket flied towards me and quick as a whip I slid under the rocket and rolled on the ground, then covered my ears and head with my hands hoping to protect myself from the blast. There was a tremendous explosion and I could feel the scorching heat burn the skin and singe the hairs on my arms. I looked at the flames that burned my eyeballs and could see human remains on fire, which confirmed that the group of cyborg-walkers have all been eradicated. I turned round to face the other side and saw Madison and Alicia smiling at me looking relieved to see I'm still alive. They ran towards me and helped me back onto my feet.

"Mikhail are you okay?" asked Madison teary-eyed.

"Da."

"I thought we lost you," sniffed Madison, holding my face.

I looked at Alicia to see her smile at me. Seeing her smile brought back the happiness I felt before knowing she was my girl. This was the glimmer of hope that Alicia and I will reconcile once we get out of her and reach Montana.

Just when we thought we could pursue to find survivors, gather supplies and get out of this ghost town, a long cyborg-walker snarls at us with a wide open mouth sullied with blood and strands of flesh stuck in its teeth. Before I could grab my weapon the right side of the cyborg-walker's head exploded and its brains splattered on the ground. It fell to ground with a gaping hole in its head. It didn't take me long to figure out it was a gunshot and where the shot came from.

I got out my walkie-talkie, pressed the button and communicated, "Travis, was that you?"

My walkie-talkie responded and Travis' voice echoed out of the speaker, "Yeah Mikhail, that was me. You should really keep your guard up. Can't protect you all the time."

I laughed and reciprocated, "Okay Travis, we're just going to look for any survivors, grab some supplies and continue our journey to Montana."

"Sounds like a plan. Over and out," approved Travis.

Madison, Alicia and I separated on our search for survivors if there was any and they haven't all been eaten. The first survivor I came across was Rory who lay in the middle of the road. His body was mutilated with his innards exposed. His face was pale and he was coughing blood. When he saw me approach he stuck out his arm.

"Mikhail... you were right about Marc Antony... he was... no good," gurgled Rory.

I looked down at Rory still seeing the same person who ordered my incarceration. As tempted as I was to rub it in his face and tell him how wrong he was, I couldn't help, but feel pity for him for his suffering.

"Kill me Mikhail," pleaded Rory.

I knew Rory was going to die and anytime soon with the amount of blood he had lost, but I hesitated about killing someone out of mercy even if it would prevent reanimation. I was a soldier (supposedly) and I would only kill in the line of duty or in self defense, but out of mercy, it kind of goes against my religion. It was my obligation as an Orthodox Christian to abide the sixth commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' even ironically I attempted suicide and that's considered a grievous form of murder according to the bible.

"Mikhail please," wheezed Rory.

Not exchanging any word with him or pointing a gun at him and grant him a merciful death, I just watched as he took his last breath and passed away. His eyes remained open and his chest stopped rising, indicating that he was indeed dead and it will only be a matter of time before he turned. Knowing he was already dead and would come back to life as a walker, I pulled out my makarov and put a bullet in his head. Seeing Rory now dead and staying dead gave me closure and the power to close the door on Rory and end the whole affair.

As I was about to move on and continue to look for any survivors a loud high-pitched sound rung in the air, it was enough to hurt my ears and feel nauseous.

"Congratulations Mikhail, you've whipped my boys pretty good. Didn't think you, your bitch and her mummy could surpass my super soldiers. Ah well, guess they still need to undergo some modifications, but it doesn't matter now. No more games Mikhail, this time you die and this time... no mistakes."

I heard a noise in the distance and perceived it to be a sign of what enemy was approaching. It wasn't traveling on the ground, but up in the sky. The thumping of propellers got louder and the tiny spectacle I saw from above got closer and closer. It was a helicopter, not a rescue one but one deployed for combat. It wasn't a Russian attack helicopter, but an American AH-1Z Viper. This advanced attack helicopter in the US military's arsenal traveled at a high speed and packed a lot of firepower, such as missiles and rockets, even gatling guns. Even with the weapons I had couldn't put a dent in its armor. What I needed was something heavier and ballistic, like an RPG. Unfortunately I didn't have a RPG, I used it to eradicate those cyborg walkers.
The Viper opened fire by spraying the sky with missiles that rained on the ground and turned buildings into ruins. This made me panic and fear for Alicia, Madison and Travis, hoping they weren't dead already from the first flurry of missiles.

Badly equipped to take on the Viper, my only strategy was to link up with Alicia, Madison and Travis and just get out of her. Evading the Viper was possible, but trying to give it the slip was no easy task. The outskirts of town were open terrain, so trying to escape on foot or on wheels would render us vulnerable and open to the viper's attack. Before I could think of an escape plan I heard Madison's voice above me, which prompted me to turn my head to see her standing on a roof.

"Use this," said Madison, dropping a long crate onto the ground.

Before I could command Madison to take cover, she disappeared into a cloud of smoke, leaving me to open the crate to reveal what was inside would increase my chances against the Viper. It was a PKM, the heavy machine gun I chose to leave behind when Marc Antony ambushed me. The PKM had a box magazine loaded with 7.62mm incendiary rounds, more than enough to take down the Viper. I had to be careful and strategic if I'm able to land enough hits before it makes mincemeat out of me. Waiting patiently for the Viper to be at the right altitude, range and facing away from me, I would then jump out into the open road and aim at its tail. I squeezed the trigger and experienced the full automatic fire of a PKM and how hard it was to control the recoil and keep my aiming steady. Bullets struck the tail of the Viper and the Viper responded by rotating to face me and I knew it was time to find cover. I ran down one of the alleys in between two buildings, which was narrow and provided me shelter against the Viper's machine gun fire and avoid detection. There were a couple of rockets that went off above my head and I only received a face full of smoke and dust, but no critical injuries. I waited until the Viper had calmed down and resumed searching for me. Luckily there was smoke to provide me camouflage so I could emerge and resume attacking the Viper. The Viper started to smoke, which indicated that the incendiary bullets worked their magic and a few more bursts and the Viper will be a descending fireball.

The Viper having sustained a considerable amount of damage and was already smoking like a chimney, started to get more aggressive and proceeded to launch missiles, rockets and even bullets aimlessly in the hopes of liquidating me in the frenzy. I was already starting to panic and feel fatigued from all the running around and trying to avoid a frontal attack. Taking shelter in a still intact building where I could have a short break, drink some water and take a breather, I knew I had to finish the fight. There were lives at stake including Alicia's and Madison's and time was a factor if I wanted to get out of here alive and walk into the sunset with my family. I briefly thought about my future with Alicia as my wife and Madison as my mother in law, thinking about a happy new life where I could stop fighting and live peacefully and harmoniously with Alicia. This was exactly what I needed to give me the incentive to stand up, ready my machine gun and face the monster who is the obstacle I needed to eliminate if I ever wanted my future with Alicia.

Feeling the bravado and the hype, I ran dauntlessly outside and pointed my machine gun in the direction I perceived the Viper to be. There I stood in the middle of the open road with the Viper facing me like a set of angry floating eyes ready to charge at me. It felt like a joust, where we would charge at one another and there could only be one standing. Wasting no time in pulling the trigger and throwing whatever amount of bullets I had left. The Viper returned fire and its machine gun turret blazed and spat bullets at me, which kicked up dirt on the ground and narrowly missed me. I was running towards the Viper and disregarded any bullets flying at me and if one was ever going to touch me and rip me to shreds. Letting out an angry roar I continued to shoot till I was empty. Then I saw a window of opportunity, which was the windshield. I aimed at the windshield and I'm certain I saw the glass crack with spider like webbing and a splatter of dark red blood splatter on the glass. The Viper stopped facing me head on and started to veer to the right. With the engine dying down and the Viper spinning around uncontrollably it finally crashed into one of the buildings with the blades ripping the wall like paper. It then exploded into a giant yellow ball of fire.
I looked at the burning wreckage with pride and joy and could then see my future in flames of victory. The Viper was destroyed, I was still alive and now it was time to get out of this hell and say hello to heaven that lay over those mountains.

"Mikhail, you think you've won just because you took down one of my choppers?" boomed Marc Antony's voice through a speaker, "Well you haven't. You can say hello to your dear Matt for me."

Before I could react to Marc Antony's inauspicious and malicious words and comprehend why he mentioned Matt, I simultaneously heard a gunshot in the distance, a body jump past me, a spray of blood in my face and something sharp and hot in my stomach. Pain surged all over my body and I couldn't move. My knees gave in and I crashed on the floor in front of another body whose face I recognized. It was Laura, she took the bullet for me, but I had also received the same bullet. She had a hole in her chest and blood was pouring out of her gunshot wound and blood was leaking from her mouth. Looking at her in her pale face with her eyes still blinking, she smiled admiringly and moved her open palm closer to my face as if she wanted to touch me.

"You were always welcome Mikhail," cooed Laura before her eyes stopped blinking and rolled to the ground, clearly indicating she's dead. Looking into Laura's unresponsive eyes, I couldn't help, but feel sorrow for the friend who initially betrayed me and then did all she could to redeem herself. I couldn't cry or do anything because I was going into shock. All I could feel was the worst pain imaginable and being completely immobile. Madison called my name and ran over to me and flipped me onto my back and hovered over me. I couldn't feel Madison's hands on my face as she tried to keep me alive and telling me not close my eyes. Unexpectedly I saw a helicopter fly over Madison's head.

Alicia also knelt beside me and looked at me while crying my name. Instructing her mother to push her hands down on my gunshot wound to stem the bleeding, Alicia took my face into her hands as tears strew down her face.

"Mikhail, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for everything," cried Alicia with rivers of tears steaming down her cheeks.

Alicia moved her face close with mine and closed her eyes. I knew she kissed me, but I couldn't feel her lips on mine. Despite not indulging in her soft lips again, I found myself at peace with the satisfaction I have saved Alicia and Madison and I was going to die happy. I just hope that helicopter was friendly, otherwise it would have opened fire. Wanting to keep my eyes open and see Alicia's beautiful face, my eyelids started to get heavy and were closing, marking this second time I thought I was going to die. At least I got to see Alicia one last time and experience one last kiss before I would depart this world. Hopefully I would see all my loved ones who have departed and are waiting for me at Heaven's gate.

To be continued...