The door was banged on repeatedily.
"Open up!", The commander yelled as he continued hiting on the door.
"Quick we have to hide him!", April said.
"No, they are going to have this house thoroughly searched, I don't think hiding him is a good idea!", I replied.
"Then what do we do?", she asked.
"We have to get him out of here!", I replied looking around.
"Mr. Ping, open up!", the commander continued banging on the door.
"Do you guys have a back door?", I asked Mrs. Ping. "No we don't!", she replied.
"I have a plan!", I said and turned to Mrs. Ping.
"Madam, please go open the door for my father. Wrap yourself in a towel and act like you were bathing, just try to delay..... Tell them your husband is bathing if you must!", I explianed to her.
"Alright!", she replieed and quickly walked into her room.
"Sub commander Ping, it is a severe crime to harbour a fugitive! Open up the door or I would use force!", the commader continued.
I Ignored and so did they, waiting for my instruction.
"We are going through the roof, from any room at the extreme!", I replied.
"Alright!", they chorused as they went for Derick.
"Help me carry him!", April said struggling to lift him up when we heard a bang on the door.
"Harder!!", the commander yelled.
"Mrs. Ping!", I said shouted in a low tone.
"I am coming!", she whispered, tying up her towel.
She really was a smart woman. Although all I told her was to get her towel, she went as far as getting her face, legs and arms wet, to sell it off properly.
"I am coming!", she said again, this time loud enough for those outside to hear.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ping and April were finding it difficult to get Derick of the ground, just like we did before. It became clear to me that we couldn't lift him into the roofs.
"We can't do it Ms. Xender... I have another plan!", the sub commander replied as the door was gently open by his wife.
"Good morning Commander! How can I help you?", Mrs. Ping said to the commander.
On seeing her wet and the door the not fully opened, he was obviously a lot reluctant to go in as opposed to if she wasn't, "Where's your husband?", he asked.
"He's currently taking his bath!", she replied.
"Oh! I would like to see him!", the commander said to her.
While that went on, the sub commander told us his plan.
"We are going to dig up a hole big enough to keep him!", he said.
"A hole?!", I and April chorused in shock.
"Yes! A hole!", he replied affirmatively.
"Buring a human alive? Isn't that going kill him?", April asked.
"In as much as you would like to belive he is, this is no human. A human is one with flesh blood and a soul! He has none of these!", he replied.
"We have to hurry, I don't know how much longer my wife can stall.", he replied.
So we pulled him to the room and began to dig.
There were only 2 shovels; I held one, and April held the other, while Mr. Ping held his sword.
With the help of the sword the ground was made soft, the speed at which this master handled the sword was unbelievable.
With that we were able to dig up a whole decent enough to cover Derick up.
"Sir! You can't come in just like that!", we heard Mrs. Ping say aloud, seemingly trying to tell us that the commander was in.
The commander's patience has obviously been exhausted.
"Something's obviously not right!", he said as he walked to the room.
The sub commander hummed in the bathroom as water was heard pouring on the bathroom floor.
"Sub commander Ping!", he called.
"Yes!", he replied "Who's there?!", the sub commander added.
"Your commander!", the commander replied.
++++
"Phew!", that was close April who was now standing outside with me said panting.
After digging up and buring Derick, we escaped through the roof to clear all suspicions, while we were on the roof we could hear the commanders every word.
"Quickly, hurry to your room and get some rest!", I said to April.
"Yes sub commander!", she replied.
I too snuck back to my chambers and got on my bed, in hunger, gulped down the left over wine in my room and after a short while, I fell asleep.
++++
The next thing I heard was a bang on my door.
"What?! Who is it?", I said as I walked to the door.
It was the commander.
"What do you want?!", I asked irritated.
"Where is he?!", he asked as he barged into my room.
"Are you out of your mind?! What are you doing barging into my room like!", I asked aloud.
Pow!
I receive a slap on my face.
"I have ignored your disrespect for so long, but no more! Not at the expense of my people!", he said and pulled me by my hand.
"Where's the boy?!", he asked with his eyes red hot.
"What boy?", I asked more irritated, this fool dared to raise his hand on me.
"Don't you play dumb with me! Where's Derick!", he asked.
"I don't know!", I replied.
Pow!
I was slapped again.
This time I spat out blood, and wiped my mouth with the other hand.
"If you lay your hand on me again, I promise, I will not spare you!", I said angered.
"Ha! My own daughter threatens me?", he said.
"I will make sure you suffer! Take her away!", he said to the the men behind him.
As soon as the first on held my hand, I kicked his crutch, and he went on his knees. Then I pulled his head and made his face look at my knees.
"Can you see my legs?", I asked.
"Ye.. Yes!", he said in fear and pain as he continued holding his crutch.
"I can walk!", I said and pushed his head down to the floor.
"Where are you taking me?", I asked turning to him fiercely.
Dad who had been standing there speechlessly smiled and said: "If only Helen could be as fierce and powerful as you, truly would be a proud man!"
"You are a proud man with or without that, enough to put your pride before wisdom!", I replied.
"In other words, you claim that you commander has no wisdom?!", he said and raised his hand about to slap me again.
"Commander, please!", the guy who spoke for the troops earlier, Davis, said holding the commanders hand.
This boy has wits! He seems to know what I had in mind.
If the commanders hands had touched me, I would have made sure he never used them again. And even with his fast regeneration, it would still take him a long time to heal.
Davis let go of the commanders and hands immediately and excused: "Sorry sir, I just fear for our sub commander, she's your daughter after all, and as a troop member I am obliged to protect you and your daughters, that's my main mission sir!"
The commander looked at him without an expression his face as Davis bowed respectfully to him.
The commander's a sucker for loyalty and respect, even when acted.
"Take her to where his snake is locked up, and guard that place fiercly! Don't allow any visitors!", the commander commanded.
"Yes sir!", he said and they escorted me away.
They threw me in a dark cell; I could barely see a thing behind me.
"Why don't you guys put a lamp down here!", I said aloud as the guards left.
"We are too lazy to!", they said as they laughed away.
"Oh and also we are too lazy to feed the prisoners here! Enjoy your companion!", they said and shut the door with a thud.
As soon as they shut the door, it became pitch black.
To make matters worse, I heard the sound of a hissing snake.
I believe this was what they meant by my companion; it was definitely Derick's pet snake Medusa, who has been quiet and unfriendly since he lost his master.
And now, since we all went out the night before, it is obvious he hasn't eaten anything since then.
To be continued.....
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