Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"Who is she?" 

Looking at the confusion in the Grandsire's face, Gordon kneeled by his side. 

His boss' memory is not how it used to be. Lately, he is getting more forgetful. The doctors are saying that it comes with his age and might be a possible side-effect of all the medical procedures he went through till now it is not any serious illness. 

The family got wind of it and they all think they can do whatever they want now that the patriarch has gone senile. It breaks his heart to see his boss getting ignored by his family like that, but he will not let anyone mock his boss as long as he is alive.

The loyal servant of Jonathan Erling reminded him about the talk he had with Lady Rose in the morning.

"Call the President of whichever country she's in," Jonathan Erling's hand started trembling as he heard that she is currently surrounded by gangs in a police station.

Gordon could see it is trembling more than usual and feared he might have another blood pressure issue, but he saw his boss' eyes clearing up.

Yes, now is not the time to get emotional.

"Yes, Sire," Gordon stood up and dialed the President's private number from the landline phone. He knew his boss wouldn't let that woman get hurt even if she is related to Her Ladyship, or not.

She resembles her and that is reason enough for him to protect her.

"So, want to do some work for the money I paid you?" Jonathan's voice held the authoritative dominance it usually holds. 

"It's regarding a Jerlina Hopkins. She's a citizen of your country." 

Gordon couldn't hear what the President told him but he saw the Grandsire getting mad. 

"I changed my mind. Send military units and those useless jets they have and rescue her. If a hair on her head is hurt, your country will face the biggest recession ever."

Gordon smiled in his heart. This threat would be laughed at if it came out of anyone else's mouth, but it is the Grandsire and his words are worth a promise. 

That President must know this and heed the Grandsire's order. Otherwise, he or his party can never sit on the chair they covet, ever.

Jonathan Erling threw the phone receiver on the floor, and his hands trembled out of anger now. 

" Get updates on her minute by minute. And, Gordon... find out who in my family thinks they have the right to speak on behalf of me... And bring my Anni back to me. I'll have to see her with my own eyes and touch her with my own hands to know she's real."

"Yes, Sire," Gordon bowed. 

So someone from the family asked the President to have her killed using the Grandsire's name? They must have a death wish.

But...

Anni? Aniko? 

But isn't Jerlina Aniko married?

Well... If it makes the Grandsire happy, then I should do it. 

"Be gentle with her..." Jonathan added and Gordon turned to look at his boss.

With a pleased smile on his face, he was leisurely leaning on the bed. It's been a long time since he looked this happy. "...Yes, Sire," he said after a short pause.

This is the first time his boss is giving him a condition to get what he wants.

So, she's special, huh?

I'll have to check if she is actually related to Her Ladyship or if someone is trying to get access to the Grandsire using her first.

Gordon closed the door softly and walked the long hallways thinking of what to do next. He knew with a word from the President, Jerlina will be saved.

But what he didn't know was that the EMP took out all possible means of communication and those on the ground won't receive the President's orders. And even if the military is well trained, they cannot teleport. It will take time to reach where Jerlina is.

Time, that Jerlina doesn't have. 

This is the problem that the ones with abundance likely won't think of much. They think they are all powerful and no one can shake them but all it takes to destroy is very little. A small crack in the dam is enough to flood the village if it is left unchecked.

-----

Jeremy slowed his car to get a good look at the hidden car. He takes this route often and there never was an abandoned car there. Plus the bushes seemed like they were disturbed only recently. 

It is Scar's car!

Everything in him wanted to get near and check but then he sensed that something was odd. 

The car was left there in a way that would catch his eyes easily. And the surroundings seemed quieter than usual. No birds or nothing, as if someone disturbed them all and they fled.

This is a trap, right?

But Scar..? Could she possibly be there? 

But if they are holding her as a hostage, they won't kill her just yet.

I'm sorry, Scar! If you're there, please forgive me. I have to get to Jerlina. 

Jeremy pedaled the accelerator hardening his heart. If Jerlina is by his side, he'd have got closer and checked but he didn't want to take any risk now. 

And there it was... a series of gunshots that went off in his direction. He crouched on his seat as he drove and he saw a bunch of men with heavy weapons through the rear-view mirror.  His back windshield got damaged and thankfully none hit his tires or him. And there was no sign of a woman there.

  Don't think Scar is here... Thank goodness!

He took a turn that shielded him from the bullets and he expected ambushes in other places too. But he couldn't think of anything except Jerlina now. The ones who came for him seemed like Viper's people and he couldn't imagine what Jerlina is going through right now.

Be safe, my Luna... I'll be there in ten minutes.

-----

Jerlina stood there, glaring at the Viper. She's going to die and she's not going to do so cowering in fear. 

"How does it feel being here after all the hiding you did, huh?" Viper sneered at her.

'Let the baby go' Jerlina wished to say but she held back. 

What if he let's go of the baby for real? Her head will hit the hard asphalt. Her neck might break.

She tried to find Scarlett but she couldn't find her.

Where is she?

She heard various screams from behind her. People crying out for the baby, those who wanted her to be safe, the curses and everything.

  "A bit unrealistic," Jerlina hid her every emotion and said with a smile making Viper's smile disappear. He probably didn't expect her to appear calm in front of him.

She was standing in the middle of a three-way street. In front of her were the Viper and his gang, behind her were the townsfolk and the anti-riot cops. To her right were some of Viper's people blocking the road. 

  Joel... I am waiting for you.

"So..?" she looked at Viper. "get on with it!" she shrugged.