PEARL OF THE ORIENT

ADVENTURE

"THE PEARL OF THE ORIENT" - Chapter 2

Year 2017 when the militant group invaded the whole country. Everyday life cycle is just fighting, surviving, killing, torture and suffering. No other way out of this mess, unless you've got high hopes for living.

Our academy formed a bunch of troops consisting students and elite professors. We are no fighters, that's why we're just hanging with luck.

Our group consists of ten members including our troop leader, our professor, Sir El. Our mission is to bring home these four kids from Grade 12 safely and undetected.

"Are your gears ready?" Sir El asked politely as if he's not worried or scared. He's a veteran man. He's pro and still has composure and I'm sure he's ready for any circumstances that we're gonna face. The kids, Erica, Layla, Josh and Myk are clinging on him like if it was he is their father. The five of us nod in agreeing to his question. We are from the lowest ranking troops in our academy, that's why our only mission is to bring the students one by one to their respective houses and family. Others actually had a mission of infiltration and never ending battles.

It's been three weeks since we're stuck in this hell. We don't see our home nor our family. The five of us, Cathly, Jec, Zak, Sam and I didn't have any choice but to stick together even if we just knew each other.

We're on our way out of our school, with our bag packs on our back and protective coats and gears on our body. Out of the school premisses, gores and dead bodies is our current view. It stinks but at the same time, it hurts. It hurts to see innocent people dying helplessly. This is what ISIS is doing. They are, no doubt, inhuman.

"Sis, are we gonna be okay?" Layla asked me, scared. I can't help it but to look away. To feel is weakness, that's why I don't talk much. "You're heartless, Ash. Can't you just answer the kid?" Cathly obviously got irritated for what I did. "Cathly, this is not the time for argument. We're in the middle of an important mission. We have to focus." Sir El interrupted and Cathly had a straight face as a reply.

As we travelled in the middle of the danger zone, the boys from our group noticed something odd. "We have to go back a little," Jec suggested. We don't know yet what is happening or what he saw, but we believe that he's not comfortable in continuing the route we're in. Zak asked him what is it and answered, "see for yourself". I immediately stepped forward and saw one of the highest ranking troops of our school. They are all kneeling, facing their death. "What is it, Ash?" I pushed Sam back as he tried to peek what's happening. "Ash?" "Stay back. You don't want to see this." And after the moment we stepped back a little, gunshots were heard. "I guess we have to take another route. It's not safe. They've got one of our elite groups. We have to be more careful." Sir El warned us. Scared, but still determined to bring these kids into safety.

We spent the night in the woods, still hearing lots of explosions and gunshots. The kids are asleep, as well as Cathly. "I never thought of this moment. This could be some kind of a very bad nightmare." Sam expresses his emotion. He looked depressed and scared. "I'm still thinking of that thing," Jec replied. We looked at him, out of curiosity and he answered. "The light that could bring peace and life to us. And is it that cool that every country really wanted to have it?" "What if we could find that light?" Zak asked encouraging us. "It's not easy. Even the highest in command doesn't know much about that light." Sir El speak professionally. "Hey Ash," Sam poked me and smiled widely to me. "You're from the Aquino clan, correct?". It's so uncommon for me to ask me that kind of question since I neglected my family a long time ago. I was not the best kid. I am the black sheep. I am the disgrace from the name Aquino. If I lived with my family's honor, I would certainly give them a bad name. "That was a long time ago. Why?" Clearly, I want to say no but I can't lie in front of Sir El. "Do you know the history of your family? About that light?" I knew every single one of my family history but about this light? That is new to my ears. "I know everything except for that." I replied, still unknown to this idea. Their eyes widened as if they saw a ghost or an inhuman creature. "You really, really don't know?" I looked at them in an awkward way. What is that I don't know? "Your clan is the one who hid the light hundred years ago. You must know about it." I'm speechless. So my heartless family is the key.

We heard a sudden footsteps and when we turn around,

"Bunch of kids and a beautiful girl, sleeping peacefully. What if we let them rest in peace eternally?" A four man group surrounding the sleeping kids and Cathly. "Don't touch them." Sir El pleaded the armed group. "This is too boring. Let's go for a round old man? The prize are these kids." "What d'ya say? Four versus five?" This guys are challenging us. We have to clear them and get the kids and Cathly no matter what!