She's Gone(2)

The training ground for the rebels was located in the far South of P Country where the thick jungles meet the deep sea waters. It was a very convenient place to transport their supplies from underground agents to the main post of the organization.

Although the place was in the South, Fem learned that the South City was about 10 kilometers from the city's boundary.

Vhan and his bunch of men hurdled risky thick forests and mighty rivers for four days from the Northern Province before reaching the main headquarters. It was at the middle of the slope of the mountain and the whole mountain was saturated by them. Supplies would come by the drums which are transported underwater or by small fishing boats at night.

By the time they reach there, it was already at noon day of the fifth of January. Fem asked permission to make a call. Vhan gave her his phone which has a setting that can not be easily tracked by any intelligence hacker.

First, Fem called Neil and learned that all was all set as planned. Secondly, Fem called her boss Percy whom she learned that he is expecting her return to work the following week. Thirdly, Fem called the Architecture Firm to inquire of any projects to be done. As for the Provincial Architecture Department, Fem decided to not inquire since the job needed daily punching of attendance. She wanted to manage her time according to the demand of the work.

"Bro, my being here will waste my life! Look! I have to report at work after a week, while I have to design some building projects for the firm. I can do these during weekdays and come for training on week-ends. You cannot hold me here. Our siblings need support in school!" Fem told her brother after she hung up the last call.

Vhan's face darkened and it was evident that he was so displeased and angry!

"What work? Didn't I tell you you need to train for atleast six months?" Vhan had a murderous aura while cleaning his newly arrived night vision high powered gun.

"I cannot waste the opportunities bro! Otherwise, I have no fall back when I get back home. I have to start building a name to protect our family." Fem sounded determined and overbearing that it rubbed Vhan's ego. Actually, so much that he wanted her to strangle her for being so effortlessly capable. He never realized that this Law lady would have the guts to nonchalantly tell on him what he was supposed to be doing.

There again, he was reminded that he was just an adopted child. Sure, they gave him shelter, fed him, clothed him, and sent him to school but their treatment had been so harsh that even now, the beatings of his father were still etched in his mind.

He would never forget that time when he was looking after her younger siblings while they were playing with other children on their playground part of the mountain. Fem was then about four years old and he was almost nine. Accordingly, Greg called him several times to fetch water but he wasn't able to hear because of the loud crying of Fem who at that time was got a scratch in her knee. Greg hurriedly came to the play ground and yanked him by his hand and unbuckled his belt. That evening, his back down to his legs were covered with dark bruises and his wrist felt throbbing pain as he felt the joint was dislocated. That was only one good memory of his adopted father that caused him to grow bitter towards him as he grew up.

...

Looking now at Fem and hearing how she is deeply concerned to their parents made him snap back. How could he carry out his plan if he lets her go? No way!

Actually, since he entered the rebel group, he had been monitoring his family through underground agents. The most alarming he learned was the latest news of his 'favorite' sister getting married to a Police Major. Thus, he traveled five days on extremely difficult mountain terrains with his men to take her either by force or with her consent.

"Nobody's leaving this camp!" Vhan said coldly.

"Ha!" Fem cocked her head and looked away. She was beginning to see how her life in this hide out would become.

.....

Meanwhile at Arevalo Mansion on that fateful New Year, Mark had immediately organized his most elite private investigation group for a special task.

"Get every cctv on these establishments and post men to monitor bus stations and public vehicle stops. Make sure checkpoints have working cctvs" Mark demanded in a voice that everyone rarely heard of. It was deep terrifying and his face revealed viciousness that could bore a hole on somebody's soul.

It was now the fifth of January and there was no report from his men.

Mark was already giving up hope of salvaging their wedding. Today was her schedule of them going to the civil registrar to apply for marriage certificate! Where is she now? Does she remember her calendar at all?

That evening, Mark received a call from two callers.

"Boss, the House-Bridge Architecture Firm received a call from an anonymous caller earlier this afternoon. There was no caller number and we cannot tract the origin of the caller." The man informed.

"Have you got the message of the caller? Is it her?" Mark wanted to scold the man fir being so incapable.

"It was a woman's voice. Based on the recorder, she must be calling from quite a far distance within the country. I'll forward it to you after this call." The man said then hung up

The second caller was actually Percy whom Mark contacted after having gotten his phone number from CEO Ernest Wang.

"Major, I've asked her to report to work after a week. She didn't give a definite answer though. She didn't disclose her whereabouts and she has not revealed her number either." Percy said.

"Okay, please keep in touch if there are any improvements." Mark hang up then called Niel.

Apparently, Fem called to inquire how things are going and hung up briefly after learning that things are going on as planned.

'Fem, how elusive of you! You think you can get away from me just like this? You want to play hide and seek? Wait for me then." Mark muttered as he stared at the wedding invitation card that was left in the study table.

.....

On the set wedding day, January seventh at Law's residence, Mark stood as the best man of his brother JP. Ysabel's bridesmaid was Trell and the maid of honors were those in Fem's list. Ysabel looked youthful and gorgeous with the gown which was picked by Fem.

There were merry chatting of guests specially those of Dave's guests. They weren't informed as to who among his grandsons is getting married today. Well, it was only appropriate that the first one will get married first!

The sponsors however whom Mark and Fem visited before were shocked to see another pair of couple. What's happening here? Didn't Mark and Fem said it was them who will get married today?

Greg knew and understood what most guests were thinking. So before the program began, he stood behind the pulpit, took the mic from the MC and began to speak.

"Today, we are going to witness the tieing of knots by two family's. The Arevalo and Lee family! Now please bear with me if I take more time here. The daughter I raised as a Law is actually a Lee by my late cousin adopted sister Bella and his then fiance' Barton Lee. Although they didn't have the chance to get married, they had this daughter who was raised by me under my name. Cut the story short, the father and daughter found each other and fixed their names. Prior to this, Ysabel and John Paul had already something between them. Now, it is the desire of both parties to settle them first in marriage before everything! And since I was the one who raised the bride, it is only reasonable for me to ask that this wedding be held in my home." Greg said while scanning his sorroundings. He was actually hoping that his favorite daughter would show up and hear him say those words but was disappointed to see none of her image. Anyway, he hoped that Mark noted everything he said because even his own children didn't know the truth about his sister Bella.

If it weren't because they have to be transported via helicopters, the sponsors could have backed out from their sponsorship. They felt they were tricked and manipulated.

It was a garden wedding in the meadow near the empty pastureland where several helicopters were landed. The decorators sent by the bridal shop did an excellent job, official protographer didn't miss every movement. The set-up was very well done and the program was well executed.

Stanley was there. His melodious tender voice made everyone's hair stand in goosebumps as he sang the " Beautiful in White" while Ysabel walked through the red carpet towards the altar.

Prior to this, Niel explained everything to Stanley and the latter had no choice but to proceed with the plan. His heart was wrenching in pain as he imagined himself singing this song for the woman of his dreams. However, there was a slight hope in his heart as he was actually glad that this woman he is singing for was not the girl she always dreamed of, otherwise, he might not have controlled his emotion.

After the wedding ceremony was over, Stanley approached Mark with indifferent expression on his face.

"What happened this time? Does this mean you aren't fated for each other? I shouldn't have given up just yet." Stanley raised him a glass of rice wine. His taunting tone irritated Mark's earbuds.

"Stop dreaming! You've heard my father-in-law. And as I speak, all my forces are at work finding her. Don't you worry, I'll fight for her even if they were sisters and we are brothers." Mark said calmly with a cold warning glare.

"I just admire your assertiveness, sir! I'm really impressed!" Stanley let out a wide annoying smile as he downed the rest of his rice wine and left.