October 06, 2021
The Boss visits the laboratory to check on the progress of their experiment. Dr. Maria Garcia is currently explaining something to him. Every doctor and scientist in the laboratory has their own fear of making mistakes that will make the Boss mad and immediately kill them without hesitation. Every work they do should always be perfect.
"By December, I need a full report of your experiment, Dr. Garcia. Time is gold. Waste of time is a huge shortcoming in the organization. Lots of clients were waiting for it."
"Don't worry, Boss. We are close to success. That lady," She was referring to Nathalie as the lady who was injected by their latest antidote. She seems so fine and healthy.
"Just be sure that you made it right. I have to go." After the Boss left, Dr. Maria Garcia went to Nathalie to check on her.
"Are you feeling something?" She asked.
"Nothing. I felt nothing at all. I'm good."
"Well, that's great. Take care of yourself and you'll be the key to our first success." The doctor smiled at her but after she turned her back on Nathalie, her smile faded.
'No. I am the key! You're just a thing that we can dispose of after this.' She rolled her eyes and confidently walked towards her office.
She opened the drawer at her desk to check on something but the first thing she saw was the photo of her and Carina torn into half. She smiled wickedly and took Carina's photo.
"Hey, b*tch! You're wrong when you say that I'm not going to be successful. Here I am, close to accomplishing the things you didn't believe that I can do. What kind of friend are you?" She talked to the photo as if she's facing the real Carina. She threw the photo on the table in front of her and crossed her arms. "I'm glad that you died. Worthless b*tch." She rolled her eyes and did what she was supposed to do.
***
The battle between the people against the government and policemen, who revolted in San Andres had finished. It was a miracle that Alfarez and Beltran survived. They thought it was their end but it's not. Some of their colleagues got severely injured and most of them died in the middle of the war.
There are two military trucks but unfortunately, one of them was damaged and can no longer be used.
The most severe were the first who'll get home and will be taken to the hospital. Beltran is one of them but Alfarez seemed fine so he stayed on the battlefield with some of his colleagues with minor injuries like him.
"See you at San Lorenzo." He bid his goodbye to Beltran.
"Y-Yeah. You'll treat me an unlimited drink in the bar." Beltran jokes.
"You dumb*ss! You know that I don't drink. Tss." But Beltran just laughed at him.
As the military truck went far away from their camp, it unexpectedly exploded.
"Beltran!"
***
Ferran's chest tightened when that memory came to his mind again. In recent days, he has always dreamed of Beltran's death. That memory made him barely sleep. He looked at the digital clock on the lamp table and it is just three in the morning and the date is October 12, 2021. He was about to close his eyes when he remembered something.
'October 13, 2021! Beltran's death day. A day left.' He held the bridge of his nose because of stress. He tried to sleep again but as he closed his eyes, the scene of the explosion would just appear in his mind. 'I need to save him. I want to save him. F*ck. How?'
He sighed heavily and got out of bed to brew coffee. He turned on the radio like he always does every morning. He always hears 90s music on the radio station of San Lorenzo.
Five o'clock in the morning when Blair woke up. She was cooking breakfast while Ferran was preparing for work. As he put the belt around his waist, he heard the SL News that made him stop moving.
["SL News... This morning, a group of terrorists stormed the town of San Andres. Lots of innocent citizens died and some were captured and currently held by said terrorists. The local government of San Andres asking for help in neighboring areas---"]
Ferran turned off the radio and went outside. Blair looked at him while preparing the table. She was confused by his sudden action. 'Did he remember something in that news?' She asked her mind and shook her head.
He dropped Blair off at the university and proceeded to the station.
"Sanchez."
"Yes?"
"I need to say something important to you."
"What is it?" Sanchez asked and left the folder he was holding on the table. He faced Ferran while sitting on his swivel chair and crossing his arms.
Ferran looked at his wristwatch. It's 7:47 A.M. and probably at exactly eight o'clock in the morning, the Chief will call for a meeting regarding the San Andres terrorism.
"The Chief will choose eight policemen from our station to be sent to San Andres tomorrow."
"San Andres? And? Do we... Do we belong to those eight?" Sanchez gulped.
"Nope... You and Ferran have to finish something important that day so you're out with this case."
"So what will happen tomorrow? You look so worried."
"Beltran will die tomorrow," Ferran said and leaned on the backrest of his swivel chair.
"Wh... What?" Sanchez asked with horror written on his face. Blood seemed to escape from his face.
"Tomorrow will be Beltran's death day. I want to change that but I don't know what to do. F*ck. What are we going to do to save him?" Sanchez stayed silent and he looked in deep thought. "I don't want to see him dead for the second time because of that tragedy."
"He'll die..." Sanchez mumbled that only he could hear.
"What?"
"Nothing. Maybe, we need to talk to him about this---"
"He'll not believe us."
"Maybe we should take our chances," Sanchez said but Ferran just sighed.
As expected, the Chief called for a brief meeting with the policemen he was handling.
"Like what you all have heard about the terrorism in San Andres, they contacted us to ask for help. We can't leave them alone on the battlefield so we will send some San Lorenzo policemen to join the San Andres policemen in suppressing the terrorists." The Chief mentioned the police officers. "... Timotheus Alfarez and Julsen Beltran, the rest will stay in our town. Alright, the meeting---"
Everyone looked at Ferran who raised his hand to catch their attention.
"Chief, may I suggest something?"
"And what was it?"
"Can I replace SPO2 Beltran?" He asked without hesitation. Sanchez looked at him with a confused expression. He didn't expect that Ferran would recklessly decide without thinking wisely. What if he dies in that place?
"Ferran," Sanchez whispered at him and he looked so serious.
"I have more experience on the battlefield than him. SPO2 Beltran is better at solving crimes so I suggest that you just send me to San Andres." He confidently said while looking at the Chief. The other policemen confusedly looked at him and the others were just agreeing to what he said.
"You have a point," The Chief looked at Julsen. "Is it fine for you SPO2 Beltran?"
"No problem." He just said but in his mind, he was confused. Why? Of all people Ferran will replace, why is he? It's intriguing.
"Okay. Everything is settled. The meeting is adjourned." The Chief immediately left the meeting room and the other policemen followed. Ferran and Alfarez looked at each other. Timotheus seemed confused too but Ferran just gave him a blank expression.
"Are you insane?" Sanchez asked with irritation in his voice. "You may forget that you have a mission to face, something that is worse than this. Just a few months Ferran. In a few months, the crisis that will spread around the world will come."
"I have no choice."
"I can go."
"No. It's for me to handle 'coz I am the one who knows what will happen there. It's not yet your time. We still have a lot to do and you will still help me." Ferran said and faced his cubicle to finish some tasks before they went to San Andres.
"Uncle, take care." Blair seemed so worried too like Sanchez. Trestan, who was with them, just looked at Ferran and he also wanted to say something but he did not know what to say.
"Don't act like I'm going to die." He even managed to kid and laughed at his own joke. "I better go. Many people needed our help. Bye." He said and was about to go inside his car when he stopped after hearing Trestan's voice.
"Dad..." Trestan called him and there, he faced his son. "Take care. We still need you. Maybe Cally and I will not be able to cope if we lose you too, like mom." He said and hot tears formed on the sides of her eyes.
"So you knew?"
"Yeah... Blair told me." Trestan looked away. "Take care."
"I will come back." He said and smiled at them before leaving.