A/N: Hello one and all…
I'm sure that we have all had a great time with this story, so before we continue, I'll use this time to…
Thank all of my inspirational stories, from which I draw my ideas from. It includes the films: Troy, Scarface, Beauty and the Beast (for obvious reasons), the Law and Order series, Lord of War, Full Metal Jacket, Stickpage and many others…
But most especially critical was Tony Scott's: Man on Fire Starring Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning. Let this story be a dedication to the life and great work of Tony Scott (1944-2012).
I would also like to thank Walt Disney, the creators and owners of Hannah Montana and the U.S. Marine Corps (Semper Fi boys), and most especially YouTube.
This chapter will be the most violent and gun crazy. Why? The guy in me wants to finish this chapter off with a bang…well a bang, as well as a boom, bam, kaboom and…well you get the idea
GFMarshall
Miley's Ranch House
Master Bedroom
2:15 a.m.
Invasion imminent
Theo's POV:
My senses had just gotten back to me, after overcoming the shock when I hear my phone receive an text message from the family…
Father paid in full. Both of you are free. Good Luck.
I sprint to Miley's side. She was turning, as if waking up. Apparently she's near done her nap.
I shake her awake.
"Wha…" she startles awake.
But I silence her with a kiss.
A deep one that she's only more than happy to reply and continue with, yet at the same time is confused with.
Miley's POV:
Teddy jerks his head away, just as I started to deepen it.
I look at him really hurt, but I see his face…
He looks more scared than ever before…
I prepare myself for the worst knowing that he needs me now more than ever.
He gives me a look, and I get out of bed and walk with him out of the room making our way through the house.
"Teddy?" I start.
The tears that manage to trickle down his cheeks just break my heart…
"Miley, you're free"
"Free?" I ask again.
I never thought it would be possible to have such a glorious word mean such doom for me.
"Teddy…" I try as I feel myself going from shock to pain…
I understood what he meant, but I refused to believe it…
"Miley, you're free. The ransom's paid off. One way or another you're free…"
My heart sank.
"No Teddy! Don't…" I scream not really sure of what he meant.
Then Teddy told me the truth about what is going on. He still loves me and wants to stay with me but…
"I just got off the phone from Tom. Really bad people who don't exactly approve of our kind of relationship were hired by Luanne before we could get to her. We have to escape…" I said with a nonsensical dramatic flair that's out of character for me, but one that is really needed in order to really wake Miley up.
Stunned straight I listen to him some more, yet not really believing it.
"Miley, whatever happens, you'll be free, but it doesn't mean that you'll be alive. So you have to trust me," he ended loudly.
I know there's more so I just listen.
"Miley, I know you can escape. It's your only hope. These guys show no mercy and are armed better than any gang in America. You hold out and win with them. You have to escape. I know you can do it. I believe in you….you've seized your life back and I can never be more proud of you than I am now…"
Miley was now grateful and confident. Theo believed in her.
"Teddy?" I try, but he just keeps going.
"Miley, I have to tell you something…Your father loves you and he's coming here…and if you follow me carefully you can win this...your father will be your way out. Win, lose, or draw you'll be safe with both her father and the police will come for you too."
"Teddy…" I try again…
"But we have to act fast. They'll all be here very shortly. We have to get all my equipment here and use them. I've been planning a way out that you can use…"
But this time I had to stop him because the things he said all had a common theme that I thought was unacceptable.
The fatal question.
"What about you, Teddy?" I ask.
All this time Teddy just keep talking about me. For my sake, but what about him?
He looks at me silently…
"Do you trust me, Miley?"
"Always" I reply.
We then continue walking and preparing, knowing that it was just a matter of time now.
Theo's POV:
I'm pulling out all the stops on this one. I have to.
Skinheads were so brutal, that it instilled enough into Dad that wanted an alliance to bring peace and cooperation, if for the very least, they won't devastate his family.
Yet the only thing that truly devastates me is Miley. She loves me so much that she can bear to lose me. But the harshest reality was that win, lose, or draw, I lose her to the Tennessee cops. That will be the best thing that could happen to her. She'll be protected, but she'll be taken away from me.
You have no idea how I envy any other couple right now. All they had to do was call 911 and they'll be safe. The problem was that, we had to be safe, yet keep either of us out of trouble of the law. Tell me, how could we have done it with the police?
We were on our own, and soon I could be without my Miley.
The only thing from preventing this devastation is my heart. For once my heart agreed with me that I had to love Miley enough to let her go on her own. For now. At least I hope.
I would die inside. I don't know how I would get back to Miley, and that's assuming I beat the odd and actually pass the gangsters alive. I probably wouldn't.
I mean what are my options?
Unlike Miley, I would be a criminal, and I am a criminal. Despite all of this, I don't forget just how many laws I've broken. How many times? Turning myself in would mean prison. Prison would be just like death, Miley would be taken away from me, and I wouldn't survive. There isn't a prison the America that isn't influenced by at least one allied Skinhead gang member. So I'll be marked for death. I wouldn't survive a week.
Yet, I remember what Miley's mother told me. How it wasn't our time yet. Yet she meant it then, when I was thinking of the order to kill Miley and when I was ready to kill myself.
Did she mean that now?
It could very well be my time now.
Yet I defy you stars, creations and creatures of heaven, if any of this means that Miley won't make it.
But now I have to focus on escaping.
Miley comes in and place the bag on Theo's bed.
"Miley, we have to work quickly…"
She nodded as she helped me get the guns out.
"You don't know how to make knotted rope out of bed sheets…"
But Miley stopped Theo cold…
"I do!"
I look at her in disbelief.
"You do?" in a surprise that couldn't have come at a better time.
She nodded.
"Wh…when I was still with Jake…I had to sneak out of my room lots of times, to parties and things. Dad ground' me, I snuck out. Half the time I was supposed to be grounded, I got out,"
I look at her in amazement while impressed. That bad girl.
"Miley, use the master bed room sheets (it's the largest bed, thus the longest sheets) and do it."
Miley nods and rushes out.
Soon enough the things we need are now being strewn out on my bed…
(A/N: See outside sources)
(Now Miley's) AK-47 Assault Rifle. Armed with 30 rounds (bullets) of Rock and Roll.
A U.S. Army issued M16 Assault Rifle with a grenade launcher and several projectile High explosive (kill) grenades…and with it a drum magazine, not just a boxed one (like Miley had). I knew I would need every single bullet in that 100 bullet drum.
Yet there's more:
I also got out my old silenced Streyr TMP. I knew exactly how to use this, since I only had a half clip left, before I'd have to ditch it.
I had also reloaded my newer Glock 9mm and Ryan's 9mm gun. I shoved the guns down the front of my pants. The other I shove in the back.
And my last firearm was my sniper: the Dragunov. I spend the most time configuring the scope to my eyes.
Along with these firearms I had a thick steel pipe and nearly invisible clear fibre wire.
But lastly and most importantly I had in my possession: 3 previously used LAPD Kevlar 'Bulletproof' armoured vests, as well as arm and leg protection for one person.
I rush back out my room and into the master bedroom.
I look at Miley who was well on her way with the 'rope'.
I give and explain to Miley how the vests and the arm and leg protection worked.
Yet there are two vital things I have to leave out for now.
But the first thing…I can't tell her until the very end….
Yet it's the second thing that I'll have to put my trust in God…and I still can't tell her about, when it comes to my armour.
You see, it's almost guaranteed that the vest won't do much for me. Miley's gonna wear two vests with arm and leg protection, giving her more protection, while I wear only one vest protecting only my chest.
But it's almost guaranteed that all of the gang's guns will be military assault rifle grade armour piercing bullets. And there gonna unleash it all at once simultaneously and mercilessly, with the gang working as a pack.
All at me.
It better be all at me, or else Miley'll be targeted.
All the armour has to go to Miley, because may she have to deal with the sentries, who will be waiting for her when she sneaks out the back.
I give my armour a 50 chance of actually stopping the steel core armour piercing bullets, and assuming it can the ceramic plates inside are rigid and shatter, so they can only provide protection for 2 or 3 hits at the most.
And here I was going to face an army's amount of armour piercing bullets.
When I finish with the guns, I set up the fibre wire and get Miley and I into position.
I pull out my rosary and recite a shortened version.
Asking for the greatest strength, in this, my greatest time on need.
Flashback: Ten minutes ago:
"You did this a lot?"
"I did…overseas."
I look at her…
"They come to take the woman that I love away from me…"
Miley smiles and continues.
"I'd be scared to go to battle…all that time…waiting…" Miley said.
I realize that out of all the times that we had brought each other through, this was the only one where we're anticipating it. All the times before, there were never any warning and we didn't have time to contemplate like we do now.
"So was I" I answered very honestly.
Miley looks up at me surprised and in amazement…
"But…you're a veteran soldier; you have been in so many."
"And every time I waited…I was scared" I continued for her, "All men are afraid in battle. The coward is the one who lets his fear overcome his sense of duty. Patton said that"
With that Miley understood and offered me her body. I pull her into a deep and warming hug- the last, best, and only truly humanitarian comfort that I may have left.
Zero Hour: 3:00 a.m.
God be with Miley and Theo.
It is all dark and quiet inside the house, with the exception of one window, with everything and everyone fast asleep. Well that is every law abiding thing and person was asleep. Like clockwork, shadows began to be visible, scurrying around like the rats they were (A/N: Solely because they're a criminal gang group, I assure you).
And just like Theo had predicted, there were three men at the back, near the further edge of the back yard, just outside the property fence. They didn't have to climb it, all they did was waited with their Uzi's and machine guns shoved through the holes in the chain linked fence, able to provide a multiple wall of crippling gun fire to whomever gets into their line of sight.
And in the front, parked a convoy of graffiti tagged muscle cars, three in total, with its occupants itching in anticipation.
None of the members expected anything more than a simple job. A man and a woman against 18 hardened hate filled criminals.
Thinking this way, they sent three in, thinking they could make this work even quicker.
The three men scurried to the door. The first was armed with a Tec 9 and a sledgehammer; the other two behind him were armed with Mac 10 Uzis.
If you hear, really quietly you could hear them pumping themselves up and swearing.
They remembered that 'Iris' told them to rape Miley if they could. Since they were so hard up, they wanted to kill her protector first, and if possible have their way with Miley.
The first man swings the sledgehammer.
WHAM
The door is violated and budges.
WHAM
Almost
WHAM
Done.
The men rush in with their d-ks leading the way.
All is pitch black in the first floor and in the house, except for a yellow lit bedroom that they could see on the second floor.
They walk three steps further when they catch someone coming out of the room, walking out the door and stopping to meet them.
It was Miley.
Completely Nude.
They rush forward more steps to get a clearer and clearer view, not noticing that the study right beside them had its door wide open. About to raise their guns, they scramble to get a better view with stupid grins appearing on their faces.
They slow down to drink Miley up, happy they caught her 'ready' for them.
The first man sees Miley's face, but realizes she's smiling.
...Really bad move.
"...this isn't right!" the first man snapped.
Less than 3 seconds of distraction meant…all three walked right into Teddy's line of sight.
…
Rat tat tat tat…
Rat tat tat…
Rat tat tat tat Ting
Was all that was heard as Theo shot all three sequentially and individually in the head with a burst fire for each.
The moment bullets were unleashed, Miley rushed back in to throw back on her clothes, ecstatic that it worked. She gave Theo critical time, so vital for what he just did.
3 down.
He ejected the empty cartridge out and ditched the gun before rushing out of the open, pitch black first floor study and up to the second floor.
Miley puts on her panties and skirt in a single move and does the same with her sports bra and shirt.
Wearing a red shirt, black leather pants, a black leather beret, a black leather satchel, and soon to be armed with an AK-47.
She amazingly looked like what Patty Hearst looked like in popular culture.
Exactly like her, down to the last detail.
(A/N: Outside Source Read up on her if you don't know who she was.)
Time was of the essence.
The rest of the gang parked outside would soon come in and confront Theo.
Miley and Theo rushed out into the halls and into the master bedroom leaving the door open, while still working in the dark.
But Theo wasn't done yet.
Without stopping, he swiftly took his Dragunov sniper rifle with one swing and marched to the bathroom.
Setting up the surface that he would use as support, he took off the cover of the scope and refocused it for the last time, while searching for what he was looking for.
Just as he thought, they were there. The three guys at the opposite of the fence.
Theo zoned into his 'killing mode' (military technique), regulating his breathing before…
"BANG, click clock (manually cocking the rifle, reloading another bullet)"
…
"BANG, click clock"
Theo could see the third person about to run away in exasperated fright when…
"…BANG"/"Goodnight" Theo said under his breath.
3 more dead.
But Theo took absolutely no pleasure in this. The goodnights was a habit from his time as a designated marksman while on deployment.
He then rushes back out, taking his ejected the magazine and throwing it into the toilet before closing the lid on the toilet.
Theo's POV:
As I help Miley finish up packing her stuff, I'm almost in tears, for what I will have to reveal next will devastate both of us.
I watch as Miley finishes slinging her AK-47 over her shoulder and pocketing her revolver.
I hurry her to the bathroom where I quickly tie the 'rope to the sturdy bathtub handle.
"Remember, shoot strong and in burst…stay in alert…watch your aim….seize control…keep you head up, instincts clean and pure, and kill anything that threatens you…"
Miley swings her body out the window as I hold her as she tries to grip a knot with her legs.
Suddenly single flashlight appears on the first floor, then disappears.
"S—t!" I swore spotting the light.
That was a check-up guy. He rushed out when he saw the dead three.
Now they were coming. All of them.
It was a hard thing to do. Intentionally push Miley onwards so that she'll get to the safety of the SUV faster.
…All without sending her off a loving goodbye.
But before I can tell her the truth…
"Wait, Teddy! I don't think it can hold both of us. I can feel it ripping and it's holding only me. It might not even survive your weight, much less both of us," Miley frantically tried.
This was true, Miley still had quite a distance down before reaching the balcony roof, she had to use the rope.
Now is the time. I have to tell her the truth.
"Miley, I promised myself that I would never leave you because I love you," I started, "but asking you to stay (with me)…(a longish dramatic pause) would be asking you to die.
You see the plan that Miley is ready with is that: she will escape out the bathroom window and onto a small and hidden balcony roof. Then it would be a hidden part of the enormous field that was the back yard and then she will drive my SUV onto the drive way, instead of onto the street. She would only drive to the opposite side of her massive yard where, with God's grace, she'll go just far enough to meet her Dad, who will be waiting with a 4 wheel drive truck adjacent to the yard opposite the house to take her away. The reason I insist she drives is to give her a measure of protection against flying bullets.
But what she wouldn't know until now was that…
I have to stay behind. And I'm not going to escape with her.
I have to stay and fight. She will protest and cry, and so will I, but it has to be done.
I love Miley Stewart with all my heart and soul and I'm gonna risk anything and everything for her life.
Only then Miley will actually get the time she needs.
What happens to me at the end of this is irrelevant.
…as long as she's safe.
In a heartbeat, Miley went from stunned to confused to…
Utmost denial…
Key Dramatic moment:
"NO!" Miley very loudly yelped.
I cringed at both her fear and at the fact that she most likely alerted some of the men, who are obviously already out of their cars.
It did.
"Miley you have to," I frantically pleaded while receiving her back into my arms, all while half her body was still out the window.
Luckily this was a hidden window. However hard they try, they won't be able to see Miley here.
I don't care that my heart is breaking from the tears streaming down Miley's face. But luckily I'm still all business and composed, adamant.
Miley grabs me and in desperate anger that she is trembling.
"I won't, I WON'T!" Miley loudly cries into my shoulder, "Don't leave me, PLEASE."
She buries her face into my chest and shoulder.
I hurt so much too but I have to set her straight.
I take her and make her look at me.
"Miley, Listen, LISTEN TO ME!...alright!
I shake her out of her hysterics.
"Miley there's no way I can stay with you. It'll take too long and they'll realize where we are…"
"But…" Miley loudly whined.
"Miley...you have to trust me…okay? I trust you and know you can do it."
Tears are again streaming down her face as I continue on breaking my own heart while making Miley understand.
"If I go alone…I CAN make it…I have a chance….and so will you…"
"BUT TEDDY, I'M SCARED!"
"I know you are Miley, but whatever happens…I promise…no matter what happens to me, I'll always love you.
Miley's unconvinced, especially because he said 'whatever happens to me" and not "nothing will happen to me"
"But what if you don't…"
"MILEY…you…you have to trust me…"
Suddenly multiple flashlights turn on in the first floor, alerting Teddy to them… and more…and more…and then too much.
The whole gang is searching the first floor, with loud racist profanities rising up to the second floor to be heard by Theo. They search thoroughly first before thinking of going up the stairs. This buys Theo invaluable time to say goodbye to Miley.
"TEDDY, I don't wanna be alone… I NEED YOU."
"I need you too and l…let me tell you something…"
I pull her up.
"Your mother feels the same way."
Miley stops and looks at me with disbelief.
"Miley, your mother came to me…in a dream…it's TRUE…she said that I'll be there to protect you…she said that it isn't either of our time yet. She said that when this' over…we'll all be alright…you'll have a father again…"
By now…Miley understood. And she fully believed me too.
What Miley hadn't told Theo was that it already happened to her. Her mother visited her when she had to get surgery on her throat to save her Hannah career many years ago. And she knew Theo wasn't lying. She had always trusted him and definitely trusted her mother. But she just needed one last thing…
"Gimme your tags…"
"What?"
"Gimme your tags…I want your tags…and I won't let it go until I can give it back to you…SO I'M GONNA KEEP'EM"
I put my tags on for her.
"Don't forget to give the tags back to me,"
"Till we meet again…" Miley said while surreptitiously putting her, or her mother's butterfly hair clip into my pocket.
I pat it, realize what it was, and nodded as I watched her prepare herself for the climb down.
"Promise me you'll make it…" I said with such determination and finality that sealed the deal for Miley.
She gave me one last angelic smile….
"I will."
But by now, the gang discovered the stairs…
"Up the Stairs… "
We both heard it and now extremely frightened…
…we gave each other a brief, but hard kiss…as if we had to cement it for eternity.
And we hug one last time…giving me that last warmth, before I sent her down…watching the love of my life…on her way to becoming free at a last.
Theo was careful with his words. He went all out, yet the writing on the walls was that it could go either way… but more likely the wrong way.
Theo rushed back to the bedroom. He slammed the door loudly and swiftly enough to catch the gang's attention, locking it afterwards, but not bolting it. This was a calculated move. The gang is only now ready to charge up and is about to stop hugging the stair's wall. He has to confront them now.
And confront they did…
Theo picked up the only gun left…
He readies himself with the assault rifle.
The unrelenting racism laden profanity is only getting louder and louder as the gang gets closer and closer…
Spreading themselves out and in different places, they expect this to be quick work. They have all kinds of firearms, and underestimate what they're up against…who they're up against…
And most of all…
…who he's fighting for.
The second that Theo sees the door being pressed upon, a tell-tale sign that they're multiple guys leaning with their whole bodies on the door.
Brrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaappppppppp
Theo lets his assault rifle rip.
And Theo's own armour piercing assault rifle bullets perforate the door, going right through, as if the door was paper…
…perfectly calculated move by Theo, the hardened combat veteran, knowing all too well that the door will offer them no protection, while giving him a significant advantage of surprise, as the gang can't see in.
(All three door huggers down.)
He knew how to fight.
The loudest profanities occur as the gang realizes just how professional he was as a fighter and how passionate Theo was for returning to Miley.
"Get the Sledge(hammer)…" was what Theo heard from the door.
Readying for something with a little more…kick...
Theo switches a switch on his M16 and flips open a special gun sight…
He pops a high explosive projectile grenade into the Grenade Launcher tube, than shuts it…
Standing right behind, but a good distance from, the door…
He readies himself to do a 'Tony Montana' (Say hello to my little friend moment in Scarface)
But he make a sign of the cross and kisses both the rosary's crucifix and Miley's butterfly clip, which he affixed onto the rosary that he is wearing like a necklace.
Highest climatic moment…
THUMP
Meanwhile
Miley had made her way down. She was about to scramble off the balcony roof, when she heard something potentially deadly…
She hit the deck and listened…
Three men had come from the front and from the side door jogged into the back yard. They cocked their Uzis and Tec 9s
What they didn't know was that, like the angel Theo knew her to be, Miley was, literally, right above their heads.
ka-BOOM.
Miley jumped at Theo's grenade exploding, knocking her out of the potentially lethal hesitation she was in when she saw the men. She swung her AK into her arms and pointed down. The men snapped their neck up at the explosion and in a second…
"There!"
"Popopopopopopopopopopopopopop"
(A/N: all AK 47 makes a very distinctive bang sound when unleashed, that can be distinguished from all other guns, including Theo's rifle)
Miley had literally 'rained down' a continuous dose of bullets, without stopping, directly on top of their heads, with most of the inflicting bullets going through the head and out their legs, feet, and testicles
Until nothing was left but dead carcasses and three ever growing pools of blood, merging into one.
Miley quickly got over the shock and almost literally jumped down.
Before running, she passed the sight of the men who wanted her dead and before getting to the SUV, finished by saying to the men (who were actually the drivers who were supposed to wait in the car and guard the front)…
"Girl Power"
However immature this seemed. Miley just had to say it. It was like taking her life back, something that was long overdue.