Chapter 23: Anik excuses
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IN THE MORNING/6:34 PM
IN THE MALL
Anik was awake doing some exercise. Next, he eats some preserved food which was left in the mall.
Now, he didn't have any slot to put things in, so he was dejected and was eating some banana-flavoured candies in pain.
'So what new information you haven't told me, Aafia.'
Anik asked carelessly.
[There isn't any new information I received yet.]
Anik after hearing that, didn't say anything.
'Ok, let's try different foods found here until they come to rescue me.'
Anik said to the Aafia while searching for left-out food.
[Why are you sure they will come to rescue you.]
'I am not sure, just optimistic about it.'
Anik said to Aafia. He was trying different flavours of candies, chocolate, canned food etc.
[You wanted to be rescued.]
'Who doesn't want to be rescued from this dangerous situation.'
Anik said to Aafia jokingly.
[I am asking seriously, you know.]
'Ok, ok I will tell you the reason. I just don't want to be alone, that's all.'
Anik said to Aafia.
[What if they found out about your secret, then what would you do?]
'I will make sure they don't until I am stronger and can't be exploited by anyone. After that, I don't care who finds out or not.'
Anik said to Aafia.
[So you are ready to meet Sophia if the rescue comes.]
After hearing that, Anik's mood from chill to nervous.
'Shit!!! I forgot I'm gonna die.'
Anik said with a scared face.
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LONG ROAD TO THE MALL/3:43 PM
"Leader, how much is the distance before we reach the mall."
Jonathan asked Luna.
"Soon we will reach the mall, but will leave the vehicles here and walk towards the mall."
Luna said to Jonathan.
A few minutes later, they reach the outskirts of the mall area. After hiding the jeeps, they stealthily went towards the mall and hoped that Anik was there as he promised.
Following that, they were two blocks away from the mall and there was a person on the roof with a gun.
After carefully seeing that person, that was Anik and everyone was relieved to find Anik fine and alive.
First, they kill all the zombies around the mall and after Anik unblocks the front door, they come inside the building.
While the general Liam team beside Liam was thanking Anik, Luna started to beat him.
"Wait, wait time-out"
Anik said to all of his teammates.
"Who do you think you are, trying to be a hero all of a sudden? What if you died yesterday?"
Luna said to Anik while beating, and strangling him.
"I didn't die so don't try to kill now."
Anik said to Luna, while his face looked like a red tomato.
After strangling him for a bit, she freed him. Anik looked at Holden, Jonathan, and Ace, who just nodded towards him.
"Hey, how do you collapse the tunnel with 4 grenades?"
Jonathan asked with curiosity and after asking that question, everyone's ears pricked up.
"I just thought of throwing grenades at the ends of both the sides of the tunnel entrance and hope it breaks due to lack of maintenance."
Anik said to Jonathan.
"What!! you didn't have a real plan, just hoping your luck would turn out."
Luna said angrily while all the others were shocked to hear that.
And Anik nodded also while smiling cheekily and everyone started to question him also and the mall became nosier.
"Everyone be quiet!!!!"
General Liam said clearly.
"Now, don't question him much, he already said it So it's the end of the story. We will question him later, Do you understand."
General Liam said to all.
"Yes sir, yes."×9
All beside Anik said to General Liam.
"And Anik don't try that kind of stunt without actual planning and discussion with your team. Do you understand?"
General Liam said to Anik.
"Yes, sir"
Anik said to General Liam.
"Ok now Let's first block the door and get deeper in the building so no one finds us or discovers us."
After saying that, everybody helped to block the door properly and went deeper inside the mall.
Then, Anik started to tell everyone to sit and he will tell his plan of yesterday.
"Now, Tell us after collapsing the tunnel, how did you manage to escape?"
General Liam asked Anik very seriously.
"Well, first after throwing the 4 grenades, two-two on each end side to the entrance, I immediately ran towards the right side of the tunnel entrance in the forest.
After the explosion, each of the zombies got Argo at the explosion and I slowly moved towards the mall while sneaking through the forest and finally reached here. It takes me four hours to come here without getting noticed."
Anik said with a bit of exhaustion.
"I understand we will rest today at the mall and three people will take turns to guard the sleeping soldiers. We will start going back to the camp the very morning. "
General Liam said to all.
After that, three guards were chosen according to the timetable. And after a couple of hours of some talks.
Everyone started sleeping and guarding according to their schedule.
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IN THE MORNING/4:33 AM/
IN THE MALL
Everyone was going out of the mall carefully. After reaching the jeeps, they all hoop on and drive towards the camp.
After six hours of driving, they finally reached the camp and at the front gate, they got checked as usual and went inside.
While trying to sneak around the medical centre. Someone called him.
"Anik!!!YOU IDIOT!!!"
Sophia said with a worried face first but after that, she became very angry.
Anik didn't have any choice and moved towards her. Then try to explain the necessity of the situation. But she didn't seem to care anything about the reasoning.
"ok, ok what can I do to get your forgiveness now?"
Anik asked Sophia to get forgiveness.
"You will be forgiven if..."
To be continued...