Encounter in Strife

Chapter 8: Dead or Alive

 
“What the! "Saiku was surprised.

He clearly aimed the gun towards Drake; there’s no way he couldn’t have hit him.
 
He was caught off guard by the fact that Drake wasn’t shot. Saiku was in a trance when Zula took the opportunity to kick his crouch, making him fall to the ground and growl in pain. He was curling into the ground like a shrimp while holding his groin.
 
“You know what you’re famous for? Being the right hand of Tahann? No! It’s being a legendary sex offender. How many women have you taken their innocence? Oh, I forgot, you also harassed men! "

Zula said as she forcefully stepped on Saiku’s groin, making him scream.
 
He's sweating like crazy and is crawling on the ground. His large veins became visible in his forehead and neck as he endured the greatest pain in his manhood.

All his life, he has experienced nothing but great pleasure with his thing—not until he met Zula.
 

Saiku is so full of anger that he endured the pain and took a granade out of his pocket.
“You bitch! I’m not the only one going to die!"

He said this as he advanced towards Zula.
 

Saiku was about to pull the safety pin when a sniper immediately shot both of his wrists. Saiku cried in pain as he couldn't feel both of his palms, and he eventually lost consciousness.
 
It was Drake who commanded the snipers to shoot Saiku. Upon seeing that Saiku had nearly killed Zula, he felt pain in his heart; he couldn't even breathe, as if he were being suffocated.
 

“Are you alright? "He asked upon reaching Zula. His voice is full of sincerity and worry.
 
“I’m fine,thank you,” Zula replied with a smile.
 

To her surprise, Drake wiped the blood at the corner of her mouth, which is so out of character. The soldiers around them can’t help but to cheer, not only for their victory in this war but for the surprising act of their liutenant colonel, who turned out to be a gentle and romantic man despite his authoritative and domineering aura.
 

Zula couldn’t help but blush as he stared at the man touching her. He is perfect. He may be covered with blood, sweat, dirt, and filth, but his visuals are exquisite. His sharp jaws and long nose. His fair skin and deep blue eyes. His handsome face is like a portrait. Accentuated by the aura he carries—the temperament of someone who urges anyone to respect him even without demanding it.
 

“Is my face so dirty? "Zula came back to her senses when a gentle voice rang in her ear.
 

"I'm sorry, but you look great." Her face turned red in embarrassment upon realizing what she just said.
‘Did she just claim him to be handsome? ‘
 

At this time, the gorgeous lips of Drake turned into a beautiful smile.
‘She’s cute when she blushes,' he thought.
 
 
 Saiku, who was unconscious, was immediately tied and treated by the soldiers. Drake wants him to feel what justice is; that’s why he kept Saiku alive. It’s no point killing him; it's so light as a punishment for all his evil deeds. Drake wanted the wrath of reality to teach Saiku even just a little bit of morality.
 
 
 
“Zula, what happened when Saiku shot me? "
 
Dave asked, which caught the attention of everyone; they are all desperate to know what happened. They clearly saw Saiku point and pull the trigger of the gun at their lieutenant colonel, and it was a miracle that he wasn’t even grazed or shot.
 
 
 
 
 
“There’s only one bullet left with the gun you gave me. And I used it to shoot the terrorist who was about to shoot you,” Zula said, basically implying that there’s no bullet left when Saiku used the gun to shoot Drake earlier.
 
 
 
"But how come there’s only one bullet left? I gave it to you with full ammo,” Drake asked, confused. He clearly checked the magazine and saw it was full before giving it to her when they went to rescue Captain Morgan.
 
 
 
"Yeah, I used it, by the way, while we were transporting Captain Morgan to the truck,” Zula explained while remembering how she’s shooting the enemies, firing the gun with her left hand while holding the IV and the blood packets with her right hand.
 
 
 
When she checked the ammo at the base camp, she knew that only one bullet was left. Since she’s anxious for the safety of the natives upon knowing that Saiku is headed there, she didn’t have time to change the magazine, so she rushed towards the village. Unexpectedly, that came out really helpful.
 
 
 
Drake was speechless; he couldn’t help but appreciate Zula even more.
 
 
 
“You saved my life twice; thank you,” he said.
 
“Don’t fret over it. I just killed the terrorist who was about to shoot you, and it’s just a coincidence that the magazine was empty when Saiku tried to kill you,” Zula said while blushing.
 
She doesn’t like it when Drake is being gentle and nice to her because it melts her heart and makes her vulnerable.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The soldiers spent the entire afternoon making sure that everything in the entire area was fine and that no more terrorists were lurking around.
 
The same is true with Captain Shane’s army; they are evaluating the situation on the battlefield. All captains stationed at different camps are in a state of vigilance and surveillance to make sure that there is no more threat in their area.
 
 
 
 
The natives of Salvania have been extremely terrified by what happened. Although they have always been fighting for survival, they never encountered such a deadly ordeal. Upon realizing that they might have been in the hands of merciless terrorists, they can't even ponder what could've been their future once they were captured. With that, they expressed their greatest gratitude to the soldiers who protected them.
 
 
 
The villagers organized a big banquet where they presented their culture and exquisite cuisine. They wanted to repay their saviors’ by genuinely hosting a celebration for the soldiers’ victory.
 
 
That night, everyone happily indulged themselves with the variety of meat, leafy foods, fruits, and other exquisite dishes offered by the natives. Although the meals aren't as delicious as what is served in modern society, as soldiers, they all find the delicacies appetizing.
 
 
 
Zula could only smile at the sight in front of her. The moment she came into this jungle, the people were filled with hostility and caution. They are always in a high state of alertness. Any wrong move that offends the natives may result in war. Over time, Zula managed to enter and soothe their hearts. And now, she is very elated to find them finally able to accept other people and be socially active.
 
 
 
“You've done a great job, Zula. We couldn't have done this if not for you.” Zula came back to her senses when Drake suddenly spoke out of nowhere.
 
 
 
“It's the least I could do. I'm just thankful for how dependable the army is. If you had come later, these villagers, including me, might have been at risk," Zula said.
 
Although she can defend herself and some other people, she couldn't probably face a thousand enemies while protecting the villagers.
 
 
 
“Zula, thank you for everything. That being said, may I have your contact information? Or maybe you could come with us when we return to our headquarters. The armed forces would like to honor your contribution to this war.” Drake stared at Zula, who was still admiring the happiness shared among the natives and the soldiers.
 
Her scarlet hair is one of a kind, which accentuates her fiery aura. She has fair skin, arched brows, deep brown eyes, and plump pinkish lips. Even without wearing any makeup, she is stunning and gorgeous. Drake felt uncomfortable with the fact that he couldn't get enough of her beauty, so he immediately shifted his gaze from her to his men, who are still enjoying the festival.
 
 
 
“Thank you, Lt. Colonel Drake, but I don't deserve such honor. I only did my part as a citizen of this country, and I would gladly lay my life for it.” Drake's heart skipped a beat. As a soldier, he finds her patriotism rare and amusing.
 
 
 
Drake wanted to insist on having her come aboard once they set back home but lost the ability to speak when Zula faced him. She was extremely beautiful, perhaps the most beautiful he has ever seen.Her face may be gentle when she smiles, but he has seen how temperamental and dangerous she can be once she's serious. Something that excites his heart.
 
 
 
“Drake, I'm sorry, but it's not my place to accept such an honor because you deserve all the credit. I won't ever steal the limelight from you and your men who bravely fought for peace and justice at the expense of your lives.” Zula gave him a sweet smile that made him hot. He felt his heart beating faster, like an adrenaline rush every time he was in the middle of war.
 
 
 
“Zula, I hope you can take this, though. Please reach out to me whenever you need something; I want to repay you personally. You've saved my life after all. I owe you so much.” Drake handed her a piece of paper with a landline written on it.
 
 
 
Zula immediately took it and stared at it. Thinking that he was trying his best to repay her, even if she didn't want to, because she always sees everything she does as something that she ought to do, she didn't resist.
 
“Thank you, Drake; I'll surely call you.” There's no point rejecting a sincere heart after all.
 
That time, the village chief went towards them to express his gratitude towards Drake. Not wanting to ruin the moment, Zula excused herself and went to join the festival.
 
 
 
It was a fantastic night. Everyone ate to the point that they filled their stomachs to the brim. It was a night that the villagers got to experience for the first time in their lives.
 
The night where they are able to trust, to open their hearts, to make friends with other people, and to let their guard down without fear. For once, they are able to rest peacefully, dropping their hypervigilance and their fears on the dangers of the wild.