I Am Sorry I Am Late

As they descended lower Hao Jin Ying flipped on the headlamps of the helicopter illuminating everyone on the ground.

Two men sat in a truck, one of whom held an automatic rifle. Another man stood over a woman with long dark hair in a soiled white dress.

'Can it be?' Liang Jian Amal looked at the woman at the ground, it looked like her, but after so long and so much he couldn't believe it.

The man holding the rifle fired a few shots at them, deflecting off the side of the metal. Both Liang Jian Amal and Erol returned fire to where they came from and were rewarded with the sound of the man dropping the gun, as well as the sound of the truck engine dying as both were riddled with holes.

The weaponless driver immediately hopped out of the ruined vehicle and took off from the scene, eager to be away with his life. As Hao Jin Ying landed the helicopter Liang Jian Amal hopped out of the aircraft, headed towards the man standing over the woman.

"Not another step or she dies." The man put his hands on the back of her neck, threateningly. The expression on the man's face was grim, blood running down the left side of his face from a grievous wound near his brow. He could clearly see that it was Chang at this distance and she seemed to be worse for wear but alive.

'She's alive.' His dead heart immediately came to life and his blood began boiling at the state of her clothes just from her back view. She had been stripped down to just her shift, her bare shoulders and back shivering with either cold or fear as she knelt on the ground with her shoulders curled forward pitiably. The bottoms of here feet facing towards him were blackened and bleeding, wrapped with strips of cloth showing her desparate attempts at escape for who Kew how long. HeHis eyes burning Liang Jian Amal cocked the gun back and aimed it at the man standing over her.

"Get away from her now." He growled at the man.

"That's not how this works. You do what I say and she might live. Now throw your weapon down."

Liang Jian Amal lowered the pistol to the ground holding a hand up in a peaceful manner. The man gestured for him to throw it to the side.

He complied throwing it a good distance to the right. As his hand backswung from the motion he pulled the knife from his back and threw it at the man, hitting the shoulder of the arm that held her neck.

The man bellowed and released her only to be taken off his feet by Liang Jian Amal's flying tackle. He ripped the knife out of the man's shoulder only to bring it down a few more times in his lower abdomen. Purposefully avoiding vitals.

After satisfying himself he knocked him unconscious with a blow to the face. The man could still hold information that was vital and as such he had to restrain himself.

After ensuring he was out he turned to his wife still on the ground. Chang was still huddled over holding onto herself, trembling. He put and arm on her shoulder but she violently jerked away and tried to crawl away.

Chang heard the gushots and the sound of the man crying out in pain. She wondered what new hell she had descended into now hearing the cacophony of pain and death around her.

As she lay where she fell she felt a hand grabbed her and she jerked away. The will to survive pushed her to get away.

"No don't touch me!" She screamed out as she tried to move away.

Liang Jian Amal's heart broke seeing her terrified blind reaction and he pulled her into his arms holding her tight. Not seeing reason, she blindly clawed at him and struck at him with her limbs trying to break free. His heart aching Liang Jian Amal pulled her tighter to himself, wishing he could crush her to himself and take away whatever she had been through, keep her safe and secure. Her small fists beat against his chest creating wounds in his heart with every hit.

"It's me Chang. It's me. I'm here now." The pounding against his chest ceased as the words processed.

"Jian..?" Came a small pitiful voice after a few minutes of silence.

"Yes, it's me. I'm finally here. I'm sorry I am so late."