The History of an Evil CEO

Chapter Ⅲ War Mistake Part 3

Today seemed like a miracle, if miracles come wrapped in chaos and flames. This morning, a man named Hou Yuon showed up at the camp. He spoke to the guards and it seemed like he was there to resolve our situation. At first, I thought they would release us, since we had been taken out of the cell. I could finally feel a bit of hope flickering within me. But something in their tone, the glances exchanged with the guards, didn't sit right with me. I couldn't shake the feeling that they weren't planning on letting us leave alive.

Uneasiness washed over me and as I tried to find a way out, I accidentally knocked a flashlight onto the ground. It broke and set part of the tent on fire. The flames quickly spread, consuming the dry canvas and igniting nearby supplies. Screams erupted as panic took hold and I heard the sound of helicopters in the distance – one of them led by Xavier! – signaling to begin the attack.

The American military lowered themselves down on ropes and began firing into the camp amidst the chaos. Guards ran back and forth, trying to put out the flames while firing and shouting orders. In the confusion, I managed to free my hands and crawled over to Matthew, who was still tied up nearby. We worked quickly to get out, knowing we only had a few minutes before someone noticed us.

The camp was now a mix of smoke, fire, and the deafening roar of more approaching planes. The guards seemed as scared as we were, rushing to deal with the spreading fire and the American soldiers beginning to gain ground. With the opportunity to get the information across through the chaos, I and the reinforcements crouched behind the rubble and used the smoke as cover.

Just as the fire continued and the helicopters finished taking out all the men, the Cambodian military began to retreat. It was as if they knew the fight was lost, or perhaps they were just as eager to escape the chaos that had broken out. In the confusion, we made it to the clearing where the American forces had landed. Soldiers helped us into the helicopters, and I finally felt a wave of relief wash over me.

As we took off, I looked back at the burning camp below. We hadn't won the war, not even close, but we had survived. That felt like a victory in itself, especially knowing how close we came to losing everything. The symbolism wasn't lost on me. Even amidst all the destruction, we had made it out alive. We had defied the odds and escaped a place that was supposed to be the end of us.

As we landed back at the American hospital, there were cheers and pats on our shoulders. For a brief moment, we felt like heroes, not just soldiers caught in the middle of a war. Xavier, Matthew, and I shared a quiet moment together, knowing that what mattered most was that we were still alive, that we were still fighting, and that we still had each other.

We may not have won the war, but today we gained something far more valuable of hope. 

Now we are back in the safety of a hospital in South Vietnam. They are patching us up, giving us some time to recover. Xavier, Matthew and I share a room and for once, there is peace. But even here, there are reminders of war: the distant sounds of helicopters coming and going, the sight of other wounded soldiers being wheeled through the halls.

Yesterday, something happened that I am still trying to understand. There was a small power outage near the hospital; an accident, they said that as a form of entertainment those soldiers who were fit to go out and practice their shooting. So it was that I was always the best at shooting something that even the generals looked upon with great surprise, having quite good times.

although clearly seeing my little desire to return they decided that it would be a good idea to return to the United States, but as a weapons instructor for the military who needed it; But obviously I wanted my two friends to go with me so after several pleas they agreed, but they also had to help and that's how we finally got back home. It's 1971 and I think I'm nervous about what's next. 

Natalia I'll be back