Work of Fiction

In the southern part of the Philippines. There live and lays the terrorist, hiding in the deepest and darkest part of the cave inside the Marawi City. They have no food, but they have guns with them. And only the light of a flashlight against the darkest cave.

There is only one goal that they have in mind, it is to take down Marawi and let them rule the city.

Abdul Fernandez, the leader of the said terrorist. Stood up in the middle and was being surrounded by his people especially his daughter named Esen Fernandez.

He looked at his people and he begged in front of them. Esen immediately stood up, knowing that her father is losing his pride just for their goal. She held her gun and she could feel the bloodlust traveling on her veins and hands.

Esen’s father is the reason why they are living in a cave instead of living in a castle with luxurious things. Abdul put his heart into his plan and recruited many people who also hate the government.

“Dad!” she exclaimed in so much anger that she felt. Esen wants to kill the people inside the cave but she is forcing herself not to. Impulsive actions will only lead her into a difficult situation. However, she knows what these people want to do against his Dad, it is to kill him for breaking his promises. “Dad, stand up. Don’t beg for these morons!” she exclaimed again.

Abdul looked straight at his daughter with a warning in his eyes.

“Esen!” he shouted as he felt the anger inside him. Not the anger towards her daughter but the anger towards the people around him. If her daughter would make a wrong move, he knows what’s going to happen to her, but Esen is stubborn.

“Didn’t I told you to control your emotions?! That will only lead you to danger! Think before you try anything stupid!” Her Dad exclaimed.

Esen slowly bowed her head. She forgot it, she has forgotten the golden rule that her father taught her. Tears flowed in silence as she kept on controlling herself not to cry. She felt sorry for her and her father’s life.

“I know that I was the reason for it. I deserve punishment,” Abdul said.

“Dad!” she exclaimed but it seems that her father is not ready to listen to her.

The man beside her stood up, his name is Khalid. He is one of the founders together with Abdul Fernandez. Beside Khalid is his sister named Daiana, the same age as Esen.

“Well, we cannot go back to the time and you promised me that I will punish you for breaking the promise. I want to say no, but if you insist. I’d been itching to kill you,” Khalid said as he took a knife from his pocket. “I don’t think I’d show your mercy, brother. You may rest in peace,” Khalid said as he pointed the knife at Abdul’s neck.

“Dad, please. Don’t do this!” Esen shouted. Her father looked at her as he waited for the knife to slit him.

Before Khalid could even wound Abdul, they heard a loud gunshot coming from the mouth of the cave, they knew who they were.

All of them immediately took their guns, except Esen and Abdul. Esen ran towards her Dad and she forced him to live as the gunshots get louder. The military is coming their way and this is her last chance to save him.

“Please leave, Dad,” Esen said.

Abdul couldn’t do anything except run from them. Esen’s eyes were blurry from the tears that don’t want to stop. Her heart aches to see her Dad leaving her alone. It was like a needle piercing her heart.

“Esen, you’re a traitor!” Khalid said as he pointed the gun at Esen’s back and he shoots her. Esen fell to the ground with the blood flowing out from her back. “I’m disappointed, like father like daughter,” Khalid added as he keeps on shooting on the armies.

Esen was almost losing her breath. She tried to breathe deeply but the bullet inside her was keeping her. She doesn’t know what she’s going to do anymore. She’s tired and helpless. I guess, it’s her time to die and she will never see her beloved. She’s exhausted, she needs a rest for eternity. She decided to close her eyes and gave her life to the Almighty.

However, a soft touch from her arms was telling her not to give up.

“Esen, please wake up,” Esen knew that voice. It’s the man that she loved but too bad. She thinks she will never marry this man, a military man for their strings are not for each other.

***

Colonel Ace Mariano, a military officer based in Marawi City has a nightmare that visits him every night. The nightmare from his lost beloved wife named Flora de Guzman. He lost her because of his job that cannot even bring her wife to life. He regretted being in the military for it cost his wife and the child from her womb.

As he sat on his bed inside the camp after a long exhausting day on the battlefield, he instantly fell asleep with his gun beside him.

His nightmare visited him again.

His wife wearing a white wedding gown with pearls on it and flower designs stitch together to form beautiful flowers. She is also wearing a diamond ring and necklace. They ran together as his wife holding a bridal bouquet that consists of daisies and rosemary.

They were so happy.

He was wearing a black suit and black pants. As he paired it with black shoes and a white necktie.

They stopped and they sat on the grassy ground. He kissed his wife on her forehead down to her lips.

“I love you so much,” he said.

As he stared at his wife, Flora was gradually fading. Mariano was panicking.

“What’s happening? Are you leaving me again?!” he exclaimed until Flora was gone beside him.

He looked around the place and he saw his wife inside a coffin. As she got buried.

He ran and ran.

“No! You can’t leave me!” he said.

He woke up from his dream and he shouted in frustration.

“No!” he said and everyone from the camp instantly woke up, even the roosters around as they shouted after him.