The Deathlike Mission - Episode 25

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Heavy footsteps walking speedily through the hallway towards them interrupted Jide and Kari's thoughts and longing. Listening carefully, the footsteps seemed to belong to more than one person, probably two or three. Neither Kari nor Jide could utter a word because they were confused and afraid. The closer the footsteps seemed, the quicker the pace. Who were they? Could it be that Paul and his cohorts had a change of heart to come back and finish them off once and for all, or could it be a saviour? A saviour . That can't be because even though someone knew they were missing, no one knew where exactly they were to have come in search of them this soon.

"Stay still, don't be afraid." Jide tried to assure Kari who was already too scared as the set of footsteps reached the door.

The iron door burst open sending a fright to them as they looked up to see who had appeared on the doorway.

"Imoh? Laura!" Kari cried in disbelief. There was one more person.

"Ben!" Jide also screamed recognizing the third person.

"It's us, flesh and blood." replied Laura, in her most cheery manner. She still wore a bandage around the elbow area of her arm.

"What are you all doing here?" bellowed Jide again.

"To come rescue you of course," Laura replied again.

"How did you get here?" added Kari with a smile on her face.

"Laura told me everything," Ben began to explain. "She couldn't stay back much longer and I understood

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. Sensing the how dire the situation had turned, I decided to come along should you guys need my help."

"That was so thoughtful of you." Jide nodded at his friend.

"And this must be Kari, how do you do my dear?"

"I can't be better, thank you again for taking care of my friend, for coming down here. And Imoh?"

"You don't want to be found? I had to do it my way." Imoh replied, searching his bag.

"Please guys, there is no more time for pleasantries. We have less than three minutes before we all will be blown up. You need to unchain us now." Jide said firmly.

"There is no way we are going to get you free of all these chains even in ten minutes, what do we do?" asked Laura afraid.

"Don't worry, I have a better option." said Imoh removing a container from his bag. Ladies first eh,"

"What's that?" asked Kari.

"An iron repellent." Ben replied, helping Imoh spray the contents around Kari's chains.

"You really are something else." exclaimed Laura to Imoh.

"I figured it will be useful, as I thought you might be locked up somewhere in - in a cell. I know what Paul's capable of, and I wasn't wrong after all."

In a moment both Kari and Jide were free again.

"It's two minutes to go, Jide said as he grabbed the files Paul carelessly dropped on the table.

"We still have time. The front exit isn't far from here, if we can run it will take us just one minute to get out." replied Ben.

"Alright then, what are we waiting for? Let's get out of here," said Laura leading the way.

They all filled out after her. When they reached the passage way, Jide drew Kari back with him with so much possessive power that whirled to face him at once.

"Hey," He called softly, putting his palm under her cheek, caressing it so lovingly that Kari senses got blank for a split second. "About your conversation with Laura in the hospital, I want to say I feel exactly the same, even more than you do."

Kari, trembling in shock made to speak but Jide stretched his thumb over her lips, stroking it softly so that she went silent. Not that she knew what to say anyways.

"You do not know how long I have carried it inside. I love you much more than words can ever describe and if you can forgive me for stalling I promise I'll do everything to be the best that you deserve."

Kari just stared blankly at him with a huge lump in her throat, the words couldn't just get out anymore. She had been dreaming of this moment, wishing for it. It was finally here when she thought she had lost all and will never know what he felt for her. Now, she has, it was the most beautiful thing ever, but it will be taken away from them if they do not get out of there immediately. Jide didn't seem to care about the impending doom lurking in the building as he leaned forward for a kiss. They were both lost in an enthralling moment when Imoh's voice came through interrupting them.

"Hey guys, whatever you are doing back there, this isn't the time. You need to get of the building." He yelled. He must have definitely come back in search of them.

"We got to run now." Kari said smiling, a bit embarrassed Imoh had seen them. Jide laughed, held her hand and they both began to run behind to catch up with the others.

They reached the exit at the calculated time and then made their way to a safe distance where Imoh's car was parked, with the ladies exhausted. Exactly thirty seconds after they all reached safety, the explosion began. Five bombs were detonated in repeated order. In no time the building was in shambles.

"Clearly it wasn't just the bomb Paul planted on our chairs," Kari said with fear written all over her.

"Yes, there were more of them." replied Jide, turning to Imoh with grateful eyes. "Thank you." He said.

"You are welcome." Imoh answered pridefully.

"Wait a minute, how did you find us?" Kari wasn't going to let him off that easily.

Imoh began to search her.

"What are you doing," She asked, bemused.

"Where is the gun I gave you?"

"That?" She reached for her boots. "Here it is, I didn't need it anyways." She handed it.

"But it saved your life." He open the cartridge and pulled something out. "Here, a tracker. It's always in my gun. Since you never wanted the Chief to be informed, I also figured you will try not to make this happen by not telling me where you will be taken. So as a last-minute precaution I handed you my gun to keep you in sight."

"What if I had shot it?" Kari asked.

"I knew you wouldn't." Imoh replied.

"You are a genius Imoh." hailed Laura.

"That was super awesome, I won't stop thanking you as I live," Jide replied giving him a handshake.

"Thank you," Kari said.

"You are welcome, next time, be more revealing so you won't end up like that building." Everyone laughed.

"Ok." She replied as she turned to Laura for a quick chat.

"Guys this isn't all of it, we aren't victorious yet." said Jide after a moment.

"At least you got your lives." teased Ben.

"I know, but Paul and his father are about to do something bloody in less than an hour's time and they have to be stopped."

"What could that be?" asked Imoh and Laura who had eavesdropped from her chat with her friend.

Jide gave them the entire information regarding Paul's plans concerning the children's play-day castle that evening.

"We cannot let that happen," said a disgusted Imoh. 

"But what can we do?" Laura queried. "It's 5:20 pm already."

"Laura, there are to many innocent children who will be victims." replied Kari.

"Which makes it all the more impossible to save the situation, listen, how many people can we get out before the explosion starts? The stampede resulting from it will be more disastrous than the blast." Laura made her point.

"Who is talking about getting them out? We'll save them, and they won't even know what calamity was to come until everything has ended."

"And how do you intend to do that?" asked Ben with a knowing look.

"Like the way we did five years ago and you know that." Jide answered squarely.

Laura gave a knowing sigh.

"What? No way. That was risky, too suicidal to attempt again. That was the closest I ever got to death and in fact I vowed I was never going to do that ever again." roared Ben.

"Come on Ben, just this once." persuaded Jide.

"Wait a minute, what are you guys talking about?" Kari seemed lost.

"Yes," Imoh concurred. "Except for Laura, we both are completely lost here. What exactly are you guys driving at?"

"Trust me, you don't want to know." Laura answered him.

"Jide wants us to go disarm the bombs before it explodes," Ben explained defeated.

"Huh?" Imoh exclaimed with a perplexed look. "How is that even possible? It requires great knowledge and skill."

"It is possible, to them. I hear they have gone through it before."

"You've got to be kidding, is that true Jide?" Kari made to confirm.

"Kari that is the only way." He said turning to face her.

"This guy has no regard for life at all." Laura huffed.

"If I don't why then would I want to do this by saving those kids?" Jide answered

"I meant to say, you have no regard for your own life. What if you do not succeed with it this time, and it then gets to 6.pm with you in there?"

"Then the worst would happen I guess."

"Hell no," disagreed Kari. "I will not let you do that."

"Listen Kari, I understand your fears but I and Ben have been through this before and we succeeded. Please let us do it this once else there will be too many casualties."

"These are no ordinary bombs, remember the RDS-220, the most dangerous is inclusive." Kari said close to tears.

"All of those have been taken away, I heard the conversation. Besides Paul can't be that stupid to use such an expensive weapon of mass destruction like that."

"It's alright Kari, everything is going to be fine." Ben tried to assure her.

"You aren't doing this with him Ben." Laura asked walking up to him.

"Doesn't look like I have a choice." he said to her cupping her face with his both hands, a gesture that Kari took notice of even in her tensed state.

"Good." Jide cheered.  Then holding Kari's both hands, he asked. "Do you trust me?"

"I do but it's - "

"Then allow me do this."

"Will you be alright?" She asked him.

"I promise, I will."

"It is 5:25pm, and the play-day castle should be a few minutes drive from here." said Laura making Jide smile at her acceptance.

"Guys, this is the point where I'll call in the SIB because we can't do this alone." said Imoh who had been silent watching the drama.

"I think so too." Laura and Jide agreed.

"While we do that, let's get moving, there's no time." Ben said.

"Won't we be needing any tools, torches for cave?" inquired Imoh.

"Nothing different from the ones I saw in your bag for torches, your phones will serve," Jide replied opening the car.

Fifteen minutes later, they were in the premises of the castle. They made their way in but couldn't think of anywhere that led to an underground cave where the bombs were planted because the whole place seemed tabled. Time was ticking speedily twenty minutes was all they had left to find and disarm the bombs, the voices of kids were heard doing their numbers inside the building. There were about a hundred kids, not including their parents and the staffs and security of the castle. It will surely be impossible bringing them out. Oh dear, this wasn't easy thought Imoh.

They got to the main entrance door to the building and decided to let the chief security in on the secret as Jide suggested, perhaps he can make their job easier. Thank goodness Imoh was with his ID card so they would be taken seriously.

More than expected, the guard was scared and almost peed in his pants at the mere mention of an impending explosion. He had no choice but to help out.

"There is really an underground cave, it is directly situated under the building but no one goes in there." He explained.

"If we do not get there now, this whole building and everything in it will be dust, and that includes you." Imoh who had volunteered to go in with both of them told the guard.

"Please, I will take you there now."

"Good."

"This way please," the man gestured towards his right. "We'll get there faster."

"You cannot come with us, it's too dangerous." Jide told the ladies.

"No you can't -"

"Kari, don't be stubborn. I didn't have a choice when you were tied up with me, but now I do, I hate to see you suffer."

"Come on Kari, listen to him. There is no time." said Laura. "You guys try to be safe." She said to Jide.

"Come back to me," Kari said teary eyed.

He kissed her on the forehead and stared loving into her eyes. "I want you to go outside the gate and stay there, and whatever happens, do not get inside the building." He hugged her.

Kari knew that last command of his, she won't keep to but she did not protest. She watched him leave her to join with the others who were ahead of him as she prayed fervently in her heart that he will come back to her complete, in one piece as he left.

TO BE CONTINUED...