THE AUSPICIOUS DAY

"Everything set?" I ask detective Garvin.

The first plan was for the soldiers at the gate to be eliminated so that the corps could get in and take cover. That should have been easy, given that Mr. Dario was their leader for easy passing through the entrance.

"Yes. Most of our men are outside, and some are already inside. Deep, Sheryl, and Paul had to stay outside until we were sure that it was safe for them to come in." The detective explains, and I think that is perfect. If Ejay sees any of them, he will surely know that there is trouble, and he will try to corner them to save his ass. "And you, are you ready?" He asks me.

How can I not be ready if I am eagerly waiting for this day? It is time to put an end to this evil monster. "Readier than ever." I assure him. I am so ready for this. My two guns are tucked together on both sides of the trouser, and my buggy hood is doing an amazing job at hiding them. However, I need to get my sister from Ejay before the operation starts. If Ejay senses something fishy, he will make sure to take some protection, and my sister is the best one he has. "Wait. I need to get my sister from Ejay before we start. She should not be anywhere near that monster when the mission starts." I say.

"It is taken care of. I have three corpses keeping a close watch on her. As soon as they take her, they will take her to the vehicles waiting outside." Detective Garvin says

"No. I want her with me. I need her to stay right beside me." I say. I will be restless unless she is with me.

"No, Gia. She will distract you, and if that happens, if we give Ejay any chance, we are screwed up for good. Besides, you said your sister is in love with this guy. What if she tells you? What if she sells us off?" I guess he has a point. I can't really trust that sister of mine. What if her stupid love gets the better of her and she decides to save Ejay? What if they escape together? No. No. No. I will have done nothing but dig my own grave. It's better she doesn't see or know what is happening tonight until it is over.

The clock strikes nine in the morning. It is an every-day business in this club. The brothel runs 24/7, and given a Saturday like today, it is a hell of a busy day. People start flooding in as early as seven, which is why detective Garvin was able to get in as early as eight. We have been here for an hour, waiting for the right moment. The footsteps outside confirm that it is time for the girls to perform their main duties in this brothel. I bet the dogs with them are already swaying their tails between their legs with excitement. According to them, today they will not quench their desires, and they will also kiss goodbye to their freedom. They are as guilty as Ejay; the only difference is that they will not suffer the same fate as his; they are going straight to jail, while he is going straight to hell.

"They texted. They got your sister out." The detective says he is showing the text to me for confirmation.

"Good. So it's time?" I ask.

I should be shaking, but I am not, because I know how important this is. "I'm calling Paul to let them know they can come in together with the other corps." I nod my head.

As he makes the call, I pull out one gun and hold it still in my hand. Thanks to Ejay, I learned how to use it, and the first and probably the only person I will kill is him. My role in this mission is to stay with the girls. The corps will get them out of their rooms, and I, along with a few corps, will lead them to the exit. That is the detective's plan. "They are coming. The operation has started downstairs. Are you ready?"

"I am." I say, and as we start our way out, guns in our hands, I don't even look back. I am so done with this place.

Hello freedom! Please answer me!

Getting out, we find some girls already with the corps, who I suppose will be guarding them together with me. A glip of hope fills my heart as I walk to them. I have never been so sure of something before, like I am now.

"You stay with them, Gia, okay? Don't leave their sight." The detective orders as he walks away to join the other corps in rescuing the other girls.

The crowd I am protecting keeps getting bigger and bigger, with most of the girls being brought from upstairs. I am not so familiar with this club, so I don't know how many rooms it has. The commotion is too loud now, causing noise, and I know by now Ejay knows what is happening. The girls are totally confused, and their murmuring is adding to the noise, making it difficult for me to concentrate.

"Gia?" I turn around to hear the voice of Bernie. Why is she crying?

"Bernie. What's wrong?" I ask as she falls into my arms.

"They are taking Ajay. Please tell them he is innocent." She cries. Damn! I forgot to mention that he is a good soul, despite what the monster made him do. He has been helpful to us more than my very own sister could ever do to me. He deserves a second chance to mend his ways.

"Where is he?" I ask.

"Next floor downstairs." I look at the corpse with me.

"I need to sort this out. I know the man; he is really innocent." I say.

"I'm sorry, Miss Gia, but we are not supposed to let you out of our sight." One of them says, and the rest of them nod their heads.

Ooh, come on! "Alright. One of you can come with me, then." They look at each other with doubts.

"Okay. I'll come with you." One of them says:

I turn to Bernie, who is still crying. "Stay here, Bernie, okay? And girls," they all turn to me, "stay put and don't worry. We are getting you out of here safe, alright?" I hear murmurs of yes, and I walk downstairs with the corpse who has offered to accompany me.

We find a group of handcurffed men lying on the floor where Bernie directed us. I walk through them, looking for Ajay, until I find him. "This one. Please take the handcurffs off him." I tell the corps.

"You know him?"

"Yes, sir. He is not a bad guy." I respond, and they release him. "Sir, have you found Ejay?" I ask because the commotion downstairs is too much. There is no way that monster could be seated in his office or somewhere around.

"Not yet, miss. But he has no way of escaping." No way? As long as he is not yet caught, that means he can still find a way to escape. I can't allow that.

"And, Deep? Where is he, Paul?" I ask. I'm afraid I am beginning to panic.

"They should be downstairs, miss. Ejay is their assignment."

Shit! That is not good. If the three of them meet, may the heavens forbid!

"I'm sorry, sir, but I saw Ejay walking out of the entertainment hall before you broke in." Ajay speaks, and a cold shiver runs down my spine.

"He what?" I querry while one of the corpses makes a call. "He must have gone to check on your sister, because I saw her walk out first. Someone spilled alcohol on her dress, so she had to go get changed." He adds, and I feel like fainting. They managed to secure my sister, but that might have provided a way for that monster to escape.

But is it time to chicken out? Definately no! "Tell me he does not have my sister." I say this to the detective, who just got off the phone.

"He doesn't. Your sister is with the corps outside. However, it is confirmed that Ejay hasn't gone out of the gate. That means he is still somewhere in here. We have to search this entire place thoroughly once again." He says, ordering some men to start the search while the rest are ordered to take the men they have arrested to the vehicles waiting outside.

One soldier is advised to take me and Ajay. "Take these two to join the rest of the girls, and bring them all out safe and sound. Protect them, and make sure none of them gets left behind. Is that clear?"

"Sir, clear, sir!" He leads us back upstairs, and he orders the other corps to bring the girls down, and we mix in the crowd.

I stay close to Ajay, and Bernie finds her way towards us. She is super happy to see Ajay, and I am happy for them, but I need to do something. Something crazy and risky. "Ajay?" I call as we walk down the stairs, and they both turn to me. I keep my voice as low as possible to avoid being heard. "I need to disappear somewhere before we get outside. I need to find Ejay." I whisper.

"No. Don’t you dare, Gia! It's too dangerous. Besides, how will you escape the police? Just let them do their work, Gia. I am sure they will arrest Ejay soon enough." Ajay says.

"I want to help find that bastard. I can't stay calm." I say.

"Stay here, Gia. What if he catches you instead?" Bernie chips in.

"I won't let that happen." I whisper.

"I am sorry, Gia, but I cannot let you do this." Ajay whispers back, and at this point, I know they won't support my madness. Somehow I get them, but I am stubborn as

"Okay." I sigh, and they relax. I am sorry, but I have to do this.

The only thing we can hear as we make our way out are negative responses to the whereabouts of the monster. For all I know, this club is built on a desert. What if he found a way to escape? If he was still inside, he should have been found by now, right? Ripples of fear cut through my bones. If that monster escapes today, I doubt we will ever catch him. All our efforts and sacrifices will be worthless.

We get out. Somewhere inside, I heard the voice of Deep, but right now my priority is Ejay. The cars are waiting to take us out of this hell. I still cannot believe we made it outside with this. But there can only be one reason why, and that is because this fool decided to save his ass. He cannot be inside. My eyes are dirty from the surroundings—trees and dry grasses. It is a real desert. Where are you, monster?

The girls walk past me one by one, but I stand looking around. I feel like he is somewhere, watching us and laughing at us for failing yet another time. For out-smarting a whole police force. We cannot fail this time. I lean on one of the trees, giving up, because I think my paranoia made fun of me. He is not here. He is not one of a kind to hide in the woods.

May be he managed to escape again? Ooh, no! I feel defecated, huh? What is that?

Did I see something? I look far ahead, keeping my eyes glued to that tree, and like being pulled by a certain force or driven by an evil spirit, I start walking in that direction. I know what I saw. I cannot be hallucinating this early in the morning.

I keep going, determination pushing me, anger driving me. He cannot play us like this. He just can't. A few meters into the desert, he appears in front of me. The devil himself made me stop on my feet.

Son of a bitch!

He is about one hundred meters ahead, and I am about a hundred meters too from where I left the rest. He pulls out a gun, pointing it in my direction, and I point mine at him. Behind me, screams of my name fill my mind and my ears, but I keep my eyes on my target. We pull the triggers at the same time, and silence replaces the screams of my name from behind.