View Poll Results: Who should end up with Annie Man's Character?

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  • Nie Yuan/Nie Lange the good guy

    7 33.33%
  • Wallace Hu/ Wallace Hunter the not so good guy

    14 66.67%
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Thread: Fated Anarchy

  1. #61
    Senior Member spotneck's Avatar
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    Default Chapter Fourteen: Unrest

    Chapter Fourteen: Unrest

    Annie blinked as the glaring light from the emergency room bathed her face. She watched as her father was attended by nurses and a doctor. She can’t bear to see her father feel so weak and useless. She felt her knees weakened, strong arms quickly supported her. Wallace never left her side. One of the nurses led her and Wallace outside the emergency room to wait.
    Moments later, the doctor emerged from the room. Annie quickly got up and bombarded him with questions, “Is he going to be fine? Does he need anything? Is the wound deep?”
    The doctor looked weary. “Your Father’s condition is temporarily stable. If he responds to the treatment that we are giving him, he’ll be fine but he is so weak. So far, we can see that he does respond to the treatment but it is still early to say anything. He needs a lot of rest. He lost a lot of blood and his wound got an infection. I’m afraid that he needs to stay here for a long time until we have completely treated the infection.”
    Annie felt a little bit of relief but the anxiety was still there. Anything could happen, it seemed like anything, even the impossible, things could happen.
    “I suggest Miss Brewster that you go home and rest. The Presidential Security Group has arrived.” Annie looked behind her and saw Guilda ran up to her. They embraced each other tightly. Mr. Seed and Mr. Eangle, her father’s most trusted political advisers followed Guilda.
    “I’m so glad nothing happened to you. You need to rest. Emerson is out of danger but Peter and the driver are still in critical condition. I see that Agent Hunter can take you home,” Guilda told her. ”Here, take this mobile phone. Use this to call me if you need something. I have told the butler to take care of your needs. We’ll stay here and watch your father. Do not worry about your father, he’s a strong one, he survived those years of war, didn’t he?”
    Annie nodded. She thanked her and checked on her father first before she left with Wallace. Tubes were connected to his body and the single light illuminated her father’s face. Her father looked so peaceful and weak. Annie touched his hand and pressed her cheek against her chest. Silently she said, “I’m sorry Father. I let him go. I shouldn’t have but my heart didn’t have the courage. I promise that I’ll try to find that courage to let go. Please keep on fighting.” She slowly wiped the tears that formed in her eyes.
    They drove in silence. As usual they took another route because Myles intersection is still closed down. Annie looked out of the window and into the gloomy sky, it seemed to reflect her mood.
    Wallace cleared his throat, “I know that you’re still going to be very uncomfortable talking about this but there is something I need to know.”
    “Go on. I can talk about anything. What happened earlier already happened nothing would change it. You can ask me about it.” Annie answered.
    “The guys we caught said something about Red Thorn, their leader in this operation. What’s peculiar about this is that the guys do not know him because they said he’s a top ranking officer of the Gnats. Officers wear a mask so they have no idea of their true identity unless you get into the inner circle. We saw Red Thorn’s mask and I assume you saw his face. Can you still remember what he looked like?”
    Annie froze in her seat. She wasn’t expecting this question. “ No, I did not remember his face. I did not see his face.” She tried her best to sound calm and collected despite her sweating palms and the fast beat of her heart.
    Wallace looked at her closely, he studied her for a minute, “ Annie, I know I should not have asked the question. If that’s a lie, I’m sure you have a valid reason for it but you can trust me. As an Agent, I was trained to read people’s reactions and I have a pretty good background in telling which person lie and which person tells the truth. I won’t use that skill on you, it would seem unfair. You’re my only friend and I need to trust you. I’ll take your word for it.”
    Annie swallowed hard. She did not mean to lie to him. The truth haunted her, she’s not yet ready to tell the truth. She still does not have the strength. Annie stared out of the car window again and saw the Palace looming closer. It tormented her. It reminded her of all the pain and heartaches she had experienced ever since she started to live there. She cannot bear to be in it for a second.
    “Stop!” she said. Wallace braked. She was surprised that she did not have to say anything to him. He read her mind correctly and made a U-turn. Annie felt grateful to him and at the same time guilty for lying to him. Wallace placed a hand on her shoulder for a few seconds as if to say, “Everything shall come to pass.” Annie relaxed, now she knew why sometimes word left unsaid can make a difference.
    They arrived at Wallace’s unit. As usual everything was neat and orderly. Annie felt a sense of security in here.
    “You can take a shower like you did before. Everything’s still in their usual place. You must be hungry, I’ll order some take-out.” Wallace said.
    Annie took a shower, it calmed her. She felt so relaxed as she washed off mud and dirt from her body. He was right, everything was still where they used to be. After the shower, she joined him at the small kitchen table.
    “I hoped you like pizza. I figured that I won’t have time to cook,” Wallace sliced the pizza he had ordered and gave her a big slice. She never felt so hungry before. Annie started to eat her slice as Wallace poured her a glass of soda. She ate with so much gusto that Wallace couldn’t help but tease her, “You’ve never tasted pizza before, have you?”
    Annie blushed self-consciously. Wallace smiled at her before they both burst out laughing. “ I suppose that pizza are the food for secret agents. Can you tell me more about how you became a secret agent?”
    “As I’ve told you before, my adopted father was an agent himself. At first, he just taught me the basics, it was our pastime. He taught me how to pick locks and self–defense. When I turned twelve, I really got interested in it. He told me if I graduated valedictorian from grade school, he’ll grant me my wish. When I did, he enlisted me for formal training. Of course, he had to pull some strings because I was too young. For four years, I juggled training as a secret agent being tutored at night so that I can earn a high school diploma. I graduated when I was sixteen and became a junior agent. My adopted father lived long enough to see me receive my diploma when I graduated from the Hoel Intelligence Academy.”
    “He is sure proud of you wherever he is,” Annie remarked. She finished her pizza.
    Wallace stood up and turned the television on. “Annie, come and see this!’
    Annie stared at the television in awe. About a hundred military tanks were parked outside the House of Congress. A small portion of its west wing was still under construction after it was recently bombed but the congress still held their session there.
    The entire Hoel army was gathered outside the building. What made Annie more surprised was when military men one by one out of the building escorted all of the congressmen and senators with their hands raised as if they were hostages.
    The camera zoomed in as someone went up to the podium that was set up in the middle of the field outside the House of Congress. It was General Lange.
    “Today, the President of Hoel has been attacked by the rebels and is now incapable of leading the nation. It is now time for drastic measures. We are placing Hoel under the rule of the military. Anyone who opposes this change shall answer to us…”
    “He’s crazy!” Wallace said.
    Annie couldn’t think of anything worst than this. A sudden stroke of terror crept into her heart. She must be at her father’s side right now.
    “Wallace, I need you to take me to my father now!’ she said. Wallace nodded and they quickly went out of his unit to go back to the hospital.
    Fifteen minutes later, Annie and Wallace were racing down the hospital corridor. They were too late, men in military uniforms were already there and so was General Lange.
    “Ms. Brewster, I’m so glad that you are back, “ he said. “You are going to stay at the Palace where I can keep an eye on you. You shall be safe in there.”
    Guilda came out of the President’s room and Annie could see that there was a scared glint in her eyes. She took Annie’s hands, “We’d better follow him. He had your father guarded and the hospital too so that no rebel can have the opportunity to attack your father while he recovers.”
    “I need to see him,” Annie said. She wanted to see her father so badly that she didn’t care if her knees where shaking.
    “Your father does not know about anything. He does not know what’s going on. It is for the best as he needs some rest,” General Lange said. “ You can see him later.”
    Annie calmed down, at least he was not planning to kill her father. She looked into General Lange’s eyes, there was nothing in there. Instinct told her that it wasn’t in his plans to kill her father.
    “Agent Hunter, please surrender your badge and gun. You have been most helpful by keeping Ms. Brewster safe but the company felt that secret agents and their services aren’t needed at this time. The Intelligence unit of the Military is enough, the head of Hoel Intelligence Center shall give his letter of resignation tomorrow. HIC is officially abolished as of this time. It would be wise if you follow the new rules.” General Lange told him, “I’m sure that under my care, Ms. Brewster wouldn’t need your service for a while.”
    Wallace stood there glaring at him. He got out his gun. For a split second, Annie thought that he was going to shoot General Lange. She hastily placed a restraining hand on his arm and looked into his eyes. For the second time that day, Annie found it amazing how she could communicate with Wallace without words. She did not want him to get into trouble and they do not have any choice for now. Wallace surrendered his gun and badge and went away. General Lange ordered him to leave. Annie felt a surge of courage.
    “General Lange, what makes you think that you are in the right position to lead our country when one of your own blood is dead set to destroy the government?” Annie held her head high and gazed into his cold eyes.
    The General stared at her with his cold dark eyes, “It gives perfect sense that I would be the one to stop him, he cannot taint our family with his foolish endeavors. I want to make it clear that I do not intend to sit back and watch him run around with his crazy friends thinking that they got the whole of Hoel in their hands. He shall pay even if the cost is his life.”
    Annie gasped. He was willing to kill his own son. The sudden surge of courage she felt earlier vanished into thin air as an image of Nie’s dead body popped in her mind. She felt numb but she told herself not to let General Lange see how scared she was. It took every ounce of dignity to follow her escorts, military men down the hospital corridor. When they turned to the hallway, She saw Wallace discretely beckon to her from the women’s comfort room. She excused herself for to go to the bathroom. The leader of her escorts was hesitant to let go and he seemed suspicious. They were quite hesitant to let her go at first but Guilda started to bicker with the leader. They had no choice but to let her. She went into the tiny comfort room where an angry Wallace was waiting for her.
    “Why did you lie to me? Why did you not tell me the truth! You could have stopped this from happening. If you told me earlier, I could have called my superior and had Nie Lange’s name exposed to the media so that those stupid congressmen who agreed with General Lange did not give him the support he needed!” Wallace was shaking.
    Annie buried her face in her hands, “I’m sorry.”
    “You are a fool for loving him! How selfish could you be?”
    The men must have heard their voices because they started knocking on the door. Wallace swiftly moved to the bathroom small window and expertly climbed out. When the men opened the door he was gone. Annie never felt so low in her entire life, she let her father down. She let her country down. She let herself down. She was alone.
    Last edited by spotneck; 11-11-04 at 05:36 AM. Reason: typo and grammar errors

  2. #62
    Senior Member spotneck's Avatar
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    Default Chapter Fifteen: Resistance

    Chapter Fifteen: Resistance

    Late one night, Annie looked out of her window facing the driveway. She saw men in military uniforms patrolling the grounds. She sighed, she looked out from the window that faces part of the courtyard, garden and the fountain, the ground was deserted. She tiptoed through the bedroom door and found the guard outside her door asleep. She took out of her sweater and silently slipped downstairs and into the fountain.

    It was a cold November evening, for three days now, she didn’t have any communications from the outside world. General Lange made sure that she was fed on time, and comfortable but she was a prisoner in the Palace. She can go out but only on the premises of the garden. Most of the time she keep to her room. She did not even hear from Wallace or Nie. Of course, she never expected to hear from them. She sat by the fountain and stared at the sky. Where was Nie right now? Is he all right? She looked at the courtyard and remembered those days when she was taking self-defense lessons from him. She wished she could have turned back the hands of time. Annie walked around and fingered the rose bush under her window. She pricked her fingers as she sipped the blood she felt angry with herself.

    How could she think of Nie? She never even felt that he did love her. He was responsible for everything that came her way. She remembered those roses that he placed in her locker, they were there just to make her believe that he loved her. He led her on. He saved her because he needed her trust and her father’s. All those flowery words that he said to her were empty. He was like his father, cold and selfish. Annie hated herself for falling in love with him. She cursed herself for thinking about him. She refused to see the real Nie because she was blinded by love.

    She stared at the empty sky. Why does she still wait for him? Why does it have to be him?

    It has been an hour since she crept back to her room and tried to sleep. She heard a tap on her window. She tried to ignore it but then another tap came in followed by another. She turned her light on. Annie pulled back her long white curtains, there was Wallace, standing in the courtyard near the fountain in his usual leather jacket with the moonlight shimmering in his hair. On his left hand was a long-stemmed rose.

    Annie listened for any sound that would indicate that someone was awake. She knew that the guards were probably patrolling the driveway right now and Wallace could be in danger. Annie slid the porch window open and raced to her bedroom door and turned the knob to lock it. She was shaking as she waited for Wallace. He climbed the trellis effortlessly as if he’d been doing it all his life. He climbed with the rose clutched in his teeth.

    He swung his body through the porch balustrade. “Don’t worry about the guard outside your door. I checked him earlier, he seemed to be deep in sleep,” he assured her.

    “Are you still mad at me for telling a lie?” Annie whispered, ”I’ll try to explain. I thought you’ll never speak to me again.”

    Wallace gave her the rose, “Annie, I can’t stand being mad at you and leaving you in here alone. Come with me. We’ll runaway from this mess. I don’t care about the lie anymore.”

    For a moment, Annie gazed into his eyes. Wallace sat on her bed and pulled her down beside him. She laid the rose on her bedside table. Wallace traced her jaw with his fingers as he looked in her eyes and said, “I’m sorry Annie. I tried not to get involved but I found myself unable to resist. Annie, I do not know if you’ll believe me but I want you to know that I am in love with you.”

    Wallace reached out for her, Annie tried to stop him, “Wallace…”

    “Shhh,” he said. He covered her mouth with his own and began to kiss her.

    For a moment, Annie felt so confused but then her heart tells her it’s wrong. She gently pushed him away from her, “I’m sorry.”

    “Why Annie? What does he have that I don’t?” He asked her quietly. There was a look of pain in his eyes that Annie felt that she was the worst person in the whole world for hurting him. How come she never fell in love with him? Can someone really choose whom to love? She felt so confused. She looked at him helplessly.

    “Annie, he betrayed you. He used you. He is a traitor. I hate seeing you like this. You do not deserve to suffer from this pain.”

    Annie began to feel so bad that tears fell from her eyes, “I know! I’m sorry! I let him go because I cannot bear to neither see him dead nor let him go to jail. I cannot even understand myself. If there were a way for me to hate and forget him completely, I would have done it. Believe me, I tried. It is not easy to love and hate the same person at the same time. It tears me apart.”

    Wallace hugged her as she broke into a sob. He was so nice to her and she knew that he loves her. She calmed down after a few minutes.

    “Annie, let’s go. I’ll take you way from here.” Wallace said.

    “No, there are some things that I need to sort out first. I know that General Lange can’t kill my father because if he does, he’ll lose the support of some legislators but I just need a little more time.” Annie said. She avoided her eyes. The truth was she was waiting for Nie. She knew she was being foolish and it’s only a wishful thinking that he’ll come back. She does not even know what she’ll say to him if he ever comes.

    Unfortunately, Wallace was able to read her mind, “You’re waiting for him. Annie, must you be foolish?”

    “I believe he’ll come. I do. Just give me time,” she blabbed on. She knew that she was hurting him more and more.

    Wallace sighed heavily, he gave her a piece of paper, “Here’s my number if you’re ready.”

    He stood up and walked to the windows. Annie felt alone again. She ran up to him and hugged him from behind. “I’m sorry Wallace. If only I could teach my heart to love.” She caught his reflection on the window glass. He was fighting back tears. She let him go and watched him climb down the trellis. He never looked back.

    Annie hated herself even more. Why can’t she love him? She was torn. A part of her wanted to call out to him and tell him that she wants to go with him. The other part of her wants her to stay and hold on for Nie. It was tearing her apart. She ran to her bed and buried her face in her pillow and cried herself to sleep.

    She felt something warm on her cheek. Annie slowly opened her eyes. Nie was touching her cheek. She quickly got up. Was this only a dream? She pinched her arms. It was real.

    She hugged him for a minute. “What are you doing here?” she began.

    “I came to see you. I was worried about you…” Before Nie could finish his sentence, Annie felt a strong surge of fury. It was like a bucket of ice cold water was thrown at her. She felt the coldness inside, stinging her every vein.

    She slapped him and started to free herself from his grasp. “How dare you touch me! You made me believe and led me on to think that you actually love me and that you cared for me. You left roses in my locker, told me you cared but all of it is a big lie! All you wanted was to betray my trust as well as my father’s! You ought to be ashamed of yourself! You are so disgusting! Who do you think you are?” Nie struggled not to loose his grip on her. For a few seconds he struggled to pin her down as Annie resisted. Ultimately he got her and held both her hands.

    “I never meant to lead you on. I never said nor admitted that I love you!” he told her.

    Annie felt so insulted. She spit on his face. “Jerk! How stupid of me to think that you know what love is! Clearly, you do not even know how to spell it! You’re not a man Nie. You’re not even half the man your father is, at least he doesn’t hid under a silly mask to show his true intentions!”

    Nie reeled back. He must have felt so insulted to be compared to his father. He must have felt far worst than Annie felt a minute ago when he said he did not love her. He grabbed her neck and kissed her.

    Annie pushed him away and slapped him so hard. “Do you think that I like kissing you? How did you even know what or how I feel? You’re just after what you wanted the same way your father is. You never cared about the people you stepped-over just to get what you want.” She looked at him with fury and pity.

    “You do not understand Annie.” He said quietly.

    “Then make me understand! You’re the only one I’ve loved. You at least owe me an explanation.”

    “I never meant to make you believe I love you. Ever since my mother died, I just found myself incapable of feeling love. I’m scared of it. It shatters your dreams. You would not believe how love can make you do things even the most despicable ones. I am not worthy of your love, Annie. I never meant to hurt your father. I was just going to take him to Blue Feather, he needs to know a lot of things. It just went out of hand when one of my men lost his patience. That’s all I want you to know for now, Annie. The GNATS still respect your father and his authority. I can’t tell you anything more. I have to go.”

    Annie watched him stood from her bed and started to walk towards the open window. He caught sight of the red roses that Wallace gave her earlier. He turned around and faced her, “I never left roses in your locker. It wasn’t me."

    He silently slipped out of the window. Annie buried her face into her hands. How could she not have known that it was Wallace? It was Wallace who left those roses. He said he loved her and it was the truth. All this time it was only he who really cared and loved her all along. Now she knows how it feels how hard it was for him to resist the hurting he felt when he knows that she loves Nie? It was actually the same way she feels now knowing that Nie does not love her.
    Last edited by spotneck; 11-11-04 at 09:18 AM. Reason: typo errors and grammar errors
    you cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore nie yuan

  3. #63
    Senior Member spotneck's Avatar
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    Default just some mesgie

    sorry for the some typo and wrong grammar. I did not have time to double check them because I'm really busy these days. I promise that as soon as I have the time, I'll start editing. I'm still contemplating which character should end up with Annie. Feel free to post your sentiments. Sorry if annie has been a softee lately but that'll soon change, watch out for the next chapters. Thanks!
    you cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore nie yuan

  4. #64
    Senior Member spotneck's Avatar
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    Default Chapter Sixteen: Concealment

    Chapter Sixteen: Concealment

    Rainie watched Alec’s helicopter land. He had lent it to Nie so that he could go to the Presidential Palace in Hoel. It was faster and it was safer because there were a lot of checkpoints that the military set up after the Generals’ rose to power. They wanted to make sure that the rebels wouldn’t be able to penetrate the city itself. She was wondering what took Nie so long to complete his task. She shivered as the cold mountain breeze blew. The early light of dawn touched the sky. She saw Nie’s forlorn figure come out of the helicopter. Something must have happened. His shoulders were hunched. She greeted him and decided to wait for them to get inside before she would ask him about what happened.

    She led her to her temporary room in the rest house. “Did you get to talk to her?” Rainie sat on the bed.

    Nie nodded, there was a shadow of sadness in his eyes. Rainie felt that something wrong must have happened earlier. She had expected Nie to return from his trip in a good mood. She knew that Nie had planned to tell Annie everything especially his unrequited feelings for her. What went wrong?

    Rainie did not expect that Annie would understand right away. It took her a long time to understand everything too. She remembered how Nie told her everything after she had talked to Blue Feather days ago. A flashback of that conversation replayed in her mind.

    * *

    “Do you remember that day when the President’s car was bombed? That was when I met Blue Feather on my way out of the hospital to go home and get you some things. I greeted him because I remembered that time when he sang for my twelfth birthday and of course he was the only man that our mother loved. I knew about it since her death,” He had said. “ I was beside mother before she died. His name was the last word she called out before she died. I knew that there was something wrong with mother and father’s relationship. I do not know how come you never seem to remember those times.”

    Rainie at that time just stared at him blankly. Remember what? Nevertheless, she had urged Nie to continue.

    “He offered me to join the GNATS but I refused. He handed me his card in case I change my mind. When I went home, I overheard father talking to some of his minions. Now that Brewster was the President there will be no more problem. Their evil plan can still be achieved. They can still persuade him to declare sovereignty over Marric permanently. That was what President Alastair was about to do before he died, all he needed was to sign the documents. They were so confident that they could do that because they had perceived Brewster to be a weakling. That worried the GNATS too. We had underestimated President Brewster. I waited for father to leave the house before I entered his office. I found evidences that he and the other generals were planning to take control of Marric’s oil deposits once the documents have been signed. After I knew everything, I changed my mind and called Blue Feather, he was right. Father and his friends are neither loyal to the existing government nor interested in living a life of service to the people. We thought that if we stopped the inauguration, we would be able to destroy his plans. Unfortunately, we were not able to do this. This is another reason why I accepted his bargain to be Annie’s tutor to spy on them as well as get my license from father. After a long time, I’ve learned that President Brewster is not a weakling as father and his minions thought. He was a good man and was ready to give Marric its independence. Father and the other generals have some tricks up on their sleeves, they were planning to kidnap his daughter and force him to sign the order that was why we stationed some men during the masquerade ball. We thought that the young boy with whom Annie left with was the one assigned to by father to kidnap her but we were wrong. We also tried to get in touch with the President but father was getting suspicious of me and he never left his side. The only way that we could speak to him was by taking him to Blue Feather the day Annie was supposed to leave. That rouge man that Blue Feather chose to accompany me lost his patience. It was another mistake that we should not have made. Years of force labor made him a man hungry for independence that he thought Annie’s life was small price to pay that he did not hesitate to aim for her. It ruined everything,” he had told her.

    **
    Now, Rainie do not know what made her brother sad. “She didn’t believe you?” she asked him.

    To her surprise, Nie broke down. “I can’t Rainie. I was able to put the sleeping medicine into the guard’s dinner. The guard fell asleep right after his dinner. I took the chance and climbed through the trellis and into her room but she wasn’t there so I decided to sneak into the President’s study to look for the documents for the mean time. I searched everywhere but they were not there. When I finally decided to come back, I went down to the courtyard and climbed the trellis again. It was far too risky to enter through her bedroom door. I saw her and a boy. They were…” Nie did not finish his sentence but Rainie knew that whatever it was, it broke his brother’s heart. “How could I possibly think that she’ll love me after what I did? She tried to tell me she still loved me when I talked to her after the boy left but I’ve seen it all. How can she say that she loves me when I saw her kissing that boy? I was right Rainie, concealing my feelings was the best thing to do. It will make our lives less complicated. I just lost my mind after that that I wasn't able to tell her everything. I never deserved her anyway.”

    Rainie hugged her brother. She pitied him she also blamed herself. It was her suggestion to tell Annie the truth about his feelings. She was quite sure Annie loved her brother too. She was there to comfort her brother when he told her how much he loved Annie.

    A thought came to her mind, “Nie, if she did not love you then why did she let you live?”

    “She’s a good person Rainie. I saved her life once. Now, we’re even.”

    Rainie hugged her brother. How she wished that her brother would someday find the happiness he deserves.

    Although it appears that Rainie has no plans of returning home, she found it hard to hate her father even after she learned about his mistakes. This love was now beginning to be a guilt that she conceals from her brother.

    She walked down the strawberry field. A vast vineyard, a strawberry field and a large garden surrounded the rest house of Blue Feather. She avoided the garden because the Byzan Roses in there will just make her remember the pain. The vineyard was full of workers that day and it was so vast that she was scared of being lost in there. She preferred the strawberry field, it offered her peace.

    As she strolled deep in thought she heard the sound of hooves. She looked up and saw Nick coming her way. He was riding a white steed. He came to a halt a few feet from where she stood. He offered his hand out to her. “You need some action. Do not waste this lovely morning in a boring field. Come with me.”

    What an arrogant brat! How dare he destroy her peaceful morning? She turned her back on him and started to walk away but then she doesn’t want to think about her problems anymore. She looked back, he was still waiting for her. She took his hand and helped her mount the steed.

    They galloped across the lush green field of Byzan Mountains. The breeze refreshed her mind. They came upon a fresh creek where Nick decided to rest. Rainie dipped her hands into the water and drank the cool fresh water. In the clear water, she saw Nick rest his back against the tree trunk.

    “Do you miss Tina?” She suddenly asked.

    “No. I never really loved her. She was useful that was why I had to put up with her. She was only after my fame. When we started going out she was nothing but a mere intern at the station and then all of a sudden, they made her a broadcaster even if she did not have sufficient field experience.” He said nastily.

    “You are so mean! She can’t be popular just because she went out with you. Cut her some slack. You are so full of yourself,” she said.

    “If she did love me then why was she dating someone behind my back? I saw some memo that she circulated around the station that says I’m planning to marry her. She knew that Alec owns a large portion of the station’s stocks and that as Alec’s adopted son, I would one day inherit his shares. She told them that after we’re married she’d be sure to remember their favor. I thought I was the only one doing the using.” He said bitterly.

    Rainie hid a grimace, if she read between the lines correctly, she knows that he did love her but he was trying to conceal his feelings. His pride got the best of him. He is trying to hide his bruised ego. He could have broken up with her when he knew that Tina was using him, he could have called it quits with Tina. She knew from what Nie told her that there where other people working for the GNATS working at the television station but she chose to let him be.

    Nick got to his feet, “I’m hungry. There’s a diner near here that serves superb pancakes. Let’s go!”

    The diner was empty except for three drunken men at the corner. Nick told her to find some seats inside while he tie his steed. She sat at the farthest table, she could feel the gaze of one of the drunken man on her. The drunken man approached her as his companions cheered him on.

    “Would you like to join us?” The man said and started pulling her.

    “No! Stop!” Rainie shouted as the man dragged her. She slapped him.

    The man got angry, “Stupid girl!” He seized an empty bottle of beer and threw it at Rainie. Luckily she was able to dodge it and hid under the table and covered her eyes as the man shouted and threw some more bottles. She closed her eyes as the sound of the breaking glass brought back a repressed memory in her mind. Images flashed inside her mind.

    “Lothair Stop! Stop it!” Her mother had cried as she cowered at the corner. Rainie was under a table and Nie was had crouched beside her, covering her ears and protecting her. Their father continued to throw some china to scare their mother.

    “He is never coming back Andrea! Forget him!” Their father had shouted at their mother.

    Rainie opened her eyes, the memory was just so painful. She saw some pieces of broken glass on the floor, “No!”

    Nick entered the diner and punched the man so hard that it knocked him out. He quickly got to Rainie’s side and helped her out.

    She was trembling. How could she have forgotten that sad and tumultuous part of her childhood? Her father was a monster. She remembered everything now. She sobbed so hard as she buried her face into Nick’s shoulder. He was hushing her and hugged her protectively. She had tried to push the past at the back of her mind, repressing the memory and it worked. She was in denial all this time. The truth came back. You can never conceal the truth forever.
    you cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore nie yuan

  5. #65
    Senior Member spotneck's Avatar
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    Default Chapter Seventeen

    Chapter Seventeen: The Escape

    Annie stared blankly at the window as the rays of the early sunlight spilled into her room. She can’t believe all the things that happened last night. Questions keep on plaguing her mind. She was so lost. How could she not have loved Wallace when he was the one who really cared for her all along? It was time for her to forget Nie but she knows that it won’t be easy. She does not need them. How was she to solve this problem? She remembered something that her father said not a long time ago, “Yes, that’s true. I am drafting my decision. There’s something you must know, if in case something will happen, the draft’s in the safety deposit box and I know that you know the combination.”

    She went into the bathroom and washed her face. She caught her reflection in the mirror and studied it. Her eyes were red and puffy from all the crying she did last night. Why are women so emotional? She shook her head. She can’t go on like this, she does not need to feel helpless. She caught sight of a pair of scissors inside a slightly opened dresser drawer. She grabbed it and before she could stop herself, she started cutting her long hair. After a few minutes, she looked at the mirror and felt herself transform. She was not Annie anymore, she has become someone else. The sad and helpless look in her eyes was gone. She does not need anyone. It was time for her to face this problem. She most now depend on herself. Right on that very moment, she promised not to cry anymore.

    She needs to get out of that place and start doing something. She quickly cleaned the bathroom floor, throwing away the pieces of hair she had cut earlier. She took a long cold shower and set out to work on the plan she had in mind. Quickly, she searched for her old backpack and started packing some jeans and shirt. She searched her drawers for a black blouse and pants. When she found what she needed she set them aside into an empty space behind her bathroom door. She went through her drawers and gathered as much money as she needed and stuck them into the backpack’s front pocket. She didn’t bother with her credit cards because it would be easier for them to track her down if she used them. She looked out of her window, the same window where Wallace and Nie climbed in last night. She closed her eyes for a minute and imagined how Wallace had done it last night. She quickly changed into a white shirt and a cotton skirt and wrapped her newly cut hair in a scarf to hide it.

    Silently, she slipped into her father’s study and opened the drawer. She made sure that no one was outside the door. She slowly walked behind his desk and took the big portrait of his father off the wall and it revealed a safe. She quickly unlocked it and took the envelope inside it and slipped it inside her blouse and hurriedly locked the safe back. She placed the portrait back and slipped out of the study and into her room. She placed the folder inside her backpack.

    She went downstairs and into the garden, she studied the trellis outside her window and how far her bedroom door was from the high walls that bordered the palace. She felt a little bit worried because she wall was about three hundred meters from the palace. She was sure that that a guard patrols that part of the palace at night. How could Nie or Wallace have sneaked in? She walked farther into the garden past the pool house and the vegetable patch. There was nothing else, how was she going to get past those walls? She squat down near the vegetable patch, she lost her hope.

    Someone tapped her shoulder and she screamed as she felt something furry slid down her arm, it was a cat. The cat ran into the vegetable patch and into a pit. Curious, Annie followed the cat and saw that the pit wherein the cat vanished was an old canal. It was dry because it hadn’t rained in days and partly covered with soil. It was probably and old sewage that was unused for a long time. She carefully lowered herself in, the canal was seven feet deep. It was dark inside and she could hardly see, she decided to be brave enough and explored the cave-like canal. She stayed close to the wall as she moved along, she could hear squeaking sounds from rats. She tried her best to ignore it. For about thirty minutes, she felt like giving up, it was like this canal was endless. A few more minutes later, she heard the sound of water and sunlight was spilling from an opening. She ran toward it and found a recess partly covered with rusted wires. She found out that someone must have used it before her because it was already cut in the middle just enough for a person to slip in. She effortlessly slipped out of the wires, careful not to scratch herself. Outside, she found out that the canal lead to a segment of a creek. She looked around and she could see the tallest tower of the palace beyond the thick trees. She hitched her skirt up and took of her sandals and crossed the creek carefully. When she reached the other side, she followed a narrow dirt path and found out that it leads to an old road. She remembered herself and Wallace driving down this same road when he was supposed to take her home after the ambush. Annie checked her watch and decided she must go back to palace to set the last part of her plans into action.

    That night, Annie checked outside her bedroom window for the guards that patrolled the grounds. There was a heavy rain that night and she knew that the guards would not be patrolling the grounds that long because of the rain. It was also a good timing, she thanked her luck for the rain. She made sure that the guard was already back at his post. She slipped into her black shirt, black jeans and an old black ski cap that Emma gave her last summer when they went to a ski trip. She wore her sneakers. She grabbed her backpack from the space behind her bathroom door. She checked her flashlight for the last time. She murmured a silent prayer. Just as she was about to leave, she caught sight of the rose that Wallace gave her on her desk. There was no way that she was going to ask for his help. Calling him and asking for his help would be thick for her, she had hurt him so many times and she still had the guts to drag him into this mess. She had to learn how to be independent, she’s not a child anymore.

    She opened her window and took a deep breath and started climbing down the trellis. It was tricky because every movement she made, the trellis seemed to squeak. When finally she made it, she started to heave a sigh of relief. She looked around in the dark and discovered that she was right, the guard where now back at their posts because of the rain. She ran to the pool house and into the vegetable patch, ignoring the mud on her feet. She found the opening of the canal and found out that it wasn’t dry anymore. There was water in it and it was half filled with it. Annie swallowed her fear and climbed down. The ice-cold dirty water made her numb. She grabbed her flashlight from her backpack. It was a good thing that her back was waterproof. She started treading through the canal. She could hear the rain fall harder and it did not help her anymore. The water level in the canal was rising fast. She estimated that she wasn’t halfway through it when the water was already up her shoulders. She had to move faster, she was now on her tiptoes.

    She could now hear the sound of the water rushing, she was near the recess. She felt her foot slipped through something. She howled in pain as she tried to grab her toe. She lost grip of her backpack. The backpack got snagged on the wire covering. Annie tried to free it from the wire but the more she tried, the harder it was to take it off. The water was now way past her, she was kicking hard to keep herself afloat. She can’t lose the backpack, the papers where in it. She tried harder, she can’t lose hope. Any minute from now, the canal will be entirely filled with water and she can drown. Still she continued to struggle, she had swallowed too much water already and it was making her dizzy.

    A hand touched her shoulder and she screamed. She pointed the flashlight and found Wallace beside her. He was holding a pair of pliers and started snipping the wire and got the backpack free.

    “Hold on to me Annie! As soon as this wire gives in we’ll be carried by this water out!“
    As soon as Annie wrapped her arms around him, Wallace began cutting the wires off and the water rushed out from the canal at a fast speed. They were receding from the recess at a frightening speed.

    “Swim toward the side! Hang on!” he yelled. He was much closer to the bank than she was and after minutes of struggling with the current, he grabbed hold of a fallen log and pulled Annie to his side and ultimately, out of the raging water.

    Annie was panting as she threw her backpack at her side.

    “Annie are you alright? You should have called me.’ He hugged her. “ If I wasn’t there in time, you might have drowned. I would have lost you.”

    Annie felt the warmth of the hug even if they were both wet. She looked up to him and saw that he was fighting back tears. She never felt so loved before. She did not know what came to her but at that very moment, she felt something magical. She kissed him and hugged him tightly.
    you cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore nie yuan

  6. #66
    Senior Member spotneck's Avatar
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    Default Chapter Eighteen: The Rebel

    Chapter Eighteen: The Rebel

    Annie watched Wallace as he made a reservation at the hotel lobby. After their escape, they drove out of town and found a hotel in a small town. Dawn, was already showing itself across the horizon. Earlier, he had told her how he found her. He was about to convince her again to runaway with him but when he arrived at her room, she wasn’t there anymore. Luckily, he was able to see her vanish into the canal and followed her. Wallace came out with a smile and got their things out of the car.

    The hotel room was small and there were two beds. Annie felt so tired. Both of them were sleepless. Wallace told her to get a bath first. Annie entered the small bathroom. She took off her muddy clothes and found a black garbage bag in one of the drawers under the sink. She placed her muddy clothes into the black garbage bag and opened the faucet of the small claw foot tub. Steaming hot water came out and she rummaged through her backpack for a pair of clean jeans and shirt. She felt relieved that clothes inside her backpack were not soiled although they were a bit crinkled.

    She submerged herself into the refreshing water and washed off the mud that clung into her hair. For a few minutes she allowed herself to relax. She touched her lips, she couldn’t believe what she had done earlier. She had kissed Wallace. Does she love him already? A though came through her mind, maybe she had loved him all along but she was just so blinded by the strong attraction that she had on Nie. Was the thing she felt for Nie just an attraction? She shook her head. What she felt for Nie was something deeper than just plain attraction. She felt so confused. Can she love two different persons at the same time?

    Wallace was there for her when she needed him while Nie was also there when she needed him but his intentions where questionable. No matter how hard she tried to defend Nie in her mind, she found out that Wallace was the most deserving person to be loved. She got out of the tub and wrapped herself in a fluffy white towel and started drying her hair. She stared at her reflection the same way she did before. At that moment, she made a resolution. She was going to forget Nie and moved on.

    The next day, Annie felt that it was time to put things into perspective. She opened the enveloped and handed Wallace the documents.

    “Annie, these papers are the Declaration of Independence of Marric from Hoel. “ Wallace studied the paper excitedly.

    “So it means that all we have to do is to publish it and everything would be back to normal.” Annie said hopefully.

    “The bad news is, these documents are not yet signed by your father.” Wallace said disappointed.

    Annie slumped into the couch. Those documents wouldn’t help them at all. Annie grabbed the enveloped and a piece of paper fell off. She grabbed it, “Wait, there is something else in here.”

    It was a brief letter from her father, “Annie, by the time these document are in you hands, you might be in great danger or something bad must have happened to me. Seek Blue Feather, he is the key to this problem. I believe he is a good man even if I haven’t met him yet. It you find this letter it means I was not able to talk to him. Call Agent Hunter and he might be able to be of help to you. Never trust anyone aside from him. Be careful and know that I will always love you.”

    Annie felt tears cloud her eyesight but she wanted to be true to her words that she will never cry again. She wiped them out before they fall. Wallace saw this small gesture, and kneeled beside her. “Do not worry Annie, he is in good hands. General Lange cannot harm him, without your father, he won’t be able to perfect his plans.”

    Annie nodded. “ Father was right. I completely trust you Wallace.”

    Wallace smiled, “I love you and you can always be assured that I’ll never leave you.”

    Annie was touched by his sincerity, “ I promise that I will try my very best to reciprocate your love and I have a feeling that it won’t take long. He hugged her and she hugged him back and felt genuinely happy and thankful to have him beside her.

    “Now how are we going to find Blue Feather. I wonder what he has to do with everything. How could Father ever trust a rebel like him?” Annie wondered aloud.

    “I know Blue Feather. He was my adopted father’s bestfriend. I have an idea where he is hiding. There is something you must know Annie. Blue Feather has been trying his best to get in touch with your father but General Lange always maintained a close watch on him. Blue Feather was begging me to be a bridge but I refused to. I do not completely trust him back then because I know that he has also some murders under his belt such as the murder of the former President. Nevertheless, I think the time has come to meet him. Your father must have found out something important that made him want to meet him.”

    “I guess the only way to find out about this is to go and see him.” Annie said, “When will we leave? Can we leave right this afternoon? I want this to be over.”

    Wallace nodded.

    That afternoon, they were speeding down the highway miles away from the city of Hoel. They were going to a town at the foot of the Byzan Mountain to see Blue Feather. It was a good thing that the weather was good that afternoon, they had the car’s top down and breeze felt so good.
    “ I never had the chance to tell you that you looked good with your new haircut.”

    Annie blushed. “ Wallace, can you tell me more about Blue Feather and how he became a rebel. You said that he was your adopted father’s bestfriend.”

    “Are you familiar with the rockstar, Alec Dewitt? He is Blue Feather. My father told me the whole sad story behind it. He once fell in love with Andrea Lange, Nie’ mother.”

    Annie slightly cringed from the mention of Nie’s name. She felt guilty and uncomfortable but Wallace seemed not to care anymore.

    Wallace continued, “he and Andrea were childhood sweethearts but Lothair Lange found a way to separate them by blackmailing him. Years later he returned from Marric where he stayed after he was banished shortly after Hoel won over the battle from the Baxters. No one knows aside from my father and Andrea that he was the same man who was banished by Lothair. He tried to take Andrea back but he failed. He told my father how Lothair’s men stationed at Marric abused the Marricans. Most of them are forced to work at the land mines. He’d seen it all and he wanted it to change. He was one the founders of the GNATS. My father knew everything about it but he opted not to keep it from the government before he found out everything was true. He set out to Marric but was killed in an ambush. Until now, I have not yet found out who had killed him but I sense that Lange might be behind it.”

    It was almost midnight when they arrived at Blue Feather’s Château in the mountains. Annie felt so good that now she can soon stretch her leg. The ten-hour drive was tiring and they drove at top speed so it felt like she was going to throw-up. Luckily, it was over and they drove into the long driveway and arrived at the front of the Château.

    Blue Feather greeted them. Annie could not help but notice the extra warmness he exuded when he greeted Wallace. He hugged him as if he was his long lost son. Blue Feather turned to her, “It is my pleasure to finally meet you Miss Brewster. I heard what happened to your father and I know that your father is in great danger if we do not solve this problem right away. I been meaning to talk to him, I’m afraid that my impatience lead to this problem. Please accept my apologies Miss Brewster.”

    Annie nodded, “ I have forgiven you and if that thing did not happen I wouldn’t have known what a snake General Lange is. I’m glad that I am here now to temporarily take the place of my father.”

    “You must be tired. We have lots of extra rooms. We’ll talk in the morning. The two of you need some rest. Come on in.”

    Blue Feather led them inside. Two of his men came out and carried their bags. Annie felt Wallace held her hand and squeezed it, she squeezed it back. When they entered the warm hallway, Blue Feather quickly instructed the maid to prepare two bedrooms for them and a hot meal for them. He invited them to a large living room. Someone was sitting beside the fire and he turned to look at them as they entered, it was Nie. Their eyes met and his gaze traveled to the to her and Wallace’s hand. There was something in his eyes that Annie thought was pain, which is impossible, he never loved her. She avoided her gaze. She knew she had defied her heart with her decision earlier, she was the same as Blue Feather was a rebel.
    you cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore nie yuan

  7. #67
    Senior Member spotneck's Avatar
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    Default just an announcemet

    hello guys! I'm just announcing that this fanfic has 6-7 chapters more to go before it ends. I have written the ending already and the next chapters. If you guys have any suggestions on who should end up with annie please feel free to post it so that I can give you a satisfying ending to this fanfic

    I also would like to thank all of you for reading my first fanfic

    I'm planning to write another one as soon as this fanfic ends...an ancient one
    I'm still thinking about the stars who would be in it. I have the concept of the story already...this is very different from Fated Anarchy..a little more light and comic.
    you cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore nie yuan

  8. #68
    Senior Member spotneck's Avatar
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    Default Chapter Nineteen: Memories

    Chapter Nineteen: Memories

    Rainie looked up from the book she was reading when Nicholas entered the room. She had spent nights reading pocketbooks to take her mind off the problems that seemed to grow heavier each day.

    “We have visitors. Annie Brewster and Agent Hunter had arrived. They are at the living room with Nie and Blue Feather. Blue Feather requests our presence.” Nicholas looked at the book she held at her hand. “I hope you’ve finished the fifteenth chapter so that you can sleep tonight. That book is pretty exciting. I had trouble putting it down the moment I started reading it.”

    Nicholas had been nice to her ever since the incident at the diner. He had been her constant companion these days. He had shown her the library and recommended books for her to read. She never thought that Nicholas was into books about philosophy. He did not seem the type. She had perceived Nicholas as a jock who had no brains when she met him. She was wrong. Although there are times when his ego got the best of him, he was a pretty nice guy. She had drawn a conclusion that the egotistic jerk he was to people he wasn’t close to was his defense mechanism.

    A thought struck her, Annie Brewster was here. What could Nie have felt at that moment? Her brother has been sulking around the house since the night he went to Hoel. Much to her surprise, he even cut his hair short. His brother had preferred to keep his hair long because it annoyed their father. For him, his long hair was a sign of rebellion. She knew that it would be hard for other people to understand that, it might be weird for them but they do not know anything about them. What a dysfunctional family she has! Still, he must have been so devastated when he rejected her that he cut his hair. He even got into an argument with one of the leaders of the GNATS.

    “We just can’t seize the President from the hospital. Annie is still in father’s hands, he might hurt her if he finds out that the President is gone.” Nie had argued.

    “What can we do? We are talking about two countries here and the people. She is just one spoiled rich girl who can take a slap or two.” The leader argued back.

    That was enough for Nie, he had grabbed the leader and was about to punch him in the face if Blue Feather had not arrived to stop the argument. Luckily, Blue Feather had some information that Annie Brewster was now safe and had escaped the Palace. Apparently, Agent Hunter had called him that morning after he had helped her escape. He was going to bring her to him.

    She had thought that this piece of news would cheer her brother up but at the mention of Agent Hunter’s name his face had a faraway expression. Rainie knew that his brother is deeply in love with the President’s daughter.

    Nicholas noticed her thoughtful expression, “ What are you thinking? Shouldn’t we go down? If you want some peace, I could tell Blue Feather that you’re already asleep.”

    “No, it’s just that I feel for Nie. He had grown to love her and I know that this is the first time he’d love anyone. I just feel bad that Nie had to have a broken heart.” Rainie explained.

    “Well, people had to take risks if they love someone. That is why I think that loving someone is a matter of choice. Maybe I’ve read too much Philosophical books that I may mimic some of those philosophical thoughts on love but I had learned to understand them. The more I understood them, the more I agree with them. When you love someone it is like you are entering into a contract but instead of the meeting of minds as the case of contracts, there is a meeting of hearts. Two people preoccupied with their own lives abandon their selfish endeavors and become one.” Nicholas said, “ Opening your heart to someone is a matter of choice too.”

    Rainie stared at him for a minute. She had believed all this time that love chooses the people but Nicholas had a point. It was a choice that she made, she had opened her heart to him. Maybe she had done it unconsciously but she did made a choice to give Nicholas a chance. If she hadn’t decided to give him a chance, then why did she accept his company?

    Nicholas sat beside her, “ After all of this is done, I think I might quit the band. I just want a peaceful life. I have been thinking these days about my life. I was an orphan when Blue Feather adopted me from the orphanage. I’ve never thought about my real family. I’ve never asked Blue Feather about them or had the courage to go back to the orphanage and ask. All my life, I had thought that having Blue Feather as my family was enough but now, I guess I was wrong. It is like I never knew myself. There is this missing piece in me.”

    Rainie stared at him in shock. He had never talked about his past nor about his personal thoughts before. He might have thought that she was a friend to him. She was glad he confided in her. “ Knowing the entire truth about my family really did hurt me a lot but I can say that I felt vindicated after it. Maybe I am confused right now but I know that I will be alright, it’s nice to get the skeletons out of your closet.”

    “I can’t remember anything but all I remember is I had a brother. I am not sure about it but I think I do. There are some nights I’ve dreamed about him but I really can’t remember his face. Maybe it was just a false memory.”

    “Nicholas, I think that it is time for you to ask Blue Feather about your past. Maybe not right now but soon.”

    Nicholas stood up and offered his hand out to Rainie, “ Shall we?”

    Rainie placed her book down and accepted his hand. The mere touch of his hand sent electricity through out her body.

    Nicholas led her down the grand staircase. Three steps down, Rainie felt her foot slipped. She tried to grab the banister but she was too late. Luckily, Nicholas was just in time to grab her from falling. For a minute they stared at each other’s eyes. Her heart was beating faster.

    Blue Feather walked into the room and destroyed the moment, “ We’ve all been waiting for the two of you.”

    There was a hint of happiness in his face. Rainie did not understand what made him happy. Was it because he had caught them in such a silly position? Rainie and Nicholas went to him.

    Rainie recognized Annie Brewster from newspaper photos and news clips before. The guy beside her must be Agent Hunter. Rainie looked at her brother’s rival. He was handsome in bad-boy sort of way. He had on a leather jacket and had his ears pierced. There was something familiar about him. She can’t place where she might have seen him before but there was something in the way he conducts himself that reminds him of someone.

    Blue Feather introduced them to Annie and Wallace. As Blue Feather stood beside Wallace, Rainie was amazed. Where her eyed playing tricks at her? She swore to herself, Blue Feather and Wallace looked very much alike. If Blue Feather was young, he might have been the carbon copy of Wallace and if Wallace moved more elegantly and was as refined as Blue Feather.

    Rainie kept her observations to herself. Right now, her heart went out to her brother who was sneaking glances at Annie Brewster. He was trying to look nonchalant about it but it was clear to her that he did not like the way Agent Hunter held her hand.
    you cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore nie yuan

  9. #69
    Senior Member spotneck's Avatar
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    Default Chapter Twenty: The Sacrifice

    Chapter Twenty: The Sacrifice


    “Blue Feather, I think we should settle this problem as soon as possible. We cannot wait tomorrow,” Annie’s voice quavered. She felt so nervous. It did help that Nie was sitting across the room. Annie fingered a lock of hair that tickled her ear, if it weren’t for this problem she would have laughed out loud. It seems like she wasn’t the only one who thought he needed a haircut, Nie also did.

    The group had settled themselves at the corner near the fireplace in the living room of Blue Feather’s mountain chateau. Rainie and Nicholas Strauss joined them earlier.

    “I think Annie is right. We should device our plans tonight. Annie’s life is in danger. Father’s men must be looking for her. They might have been followed here. If I know father better, he had everything covered,” Nie added.

    “We were not followed. I made sure of it,” Wallace said. “It is my job to protect Annie. I take my job seriously. Nevertheless, I think that we should start our plans now,” Wallace agreed.

    There was tension in the air. Annie could not help but feel responsible for the tension had just mounted between Nie and Wallace.

    “I’m sure you’ve done your job Agent Hunter but it does not make sense why Annie’s disappearance was kept away from the press. It’s been more than twenty-four hours since she escaped. Something smells fishy. I think General Lange is up to something,” Alec said.

    “The documents you have may not be sufficient enough as evidence especially that it isn’t signed yet. I think that we could still use it to our advantage because General Lange does not know that it is unsigned,” Nicholas said.

    “We could use it as a trap, ” Rainie said.

    “How about my father? His life might be in danger,” Annie said. “Once General Lange finds out that we have the signed document, he might kill him. He wouldn’t need him anymore.”

    “You are right. We must plan this carefully. I have mend stationed at the hospital where you’re father’s confined. We must get him out of there. My men are just waiting for my signal. I could have done it before but I was worried about your life too,” Nie said to Annie.

    “It is a good thing that you wait for the right timing Dr. Lange. You nearly placed Annie’s life in danger and sent the President to the hospital,” Wallace told him.
    “It wasn’t his fault. It was mine. I should have included Robin Brocco in his mission. I trusted the guy so much that I failed to see that the force labor in Marric hardened his heart and nearly killed you, Ms. Brewster.” Alec apologized again. “Nie is right. We should take him out of the hospital tonight. I have another helicopter on standby. We would be safe and be in contact with other legislators who remains loyal to him.”
    “I think that I could start to contact all of them tonight,” Wallace volunteered.

    “Agent Hunter, you are tired from your journey. Let me and Rainie take care of that for you. I think we could help,” Nicholas offered.

    “I’ll call our men and have the operation done as soon as possible. They have been preparing for weeks. Your father will be safe by dawn,” Nie assured Annie.

    Annie stared at his eyes and saw determination in them. She nodded and quickly looked away before she could see the hint of sadness in his eyes. Nie and Alec stood up and quickly got to work. Wallace, Rainie and Nicholas started planning. Annie felt tired and helpless again. She decided to go to the room that Blue Feather had prepared for her. She said her “goodnight” first to Wallace. He squeezed her hand reassuring her that everything will work out just fine.

    For two hours, she tossed and turned in bed. Images of her father flashed through her mind. She glanced at her luminous wristwatch. It was already two-thirty in the morning. A soft knock on the door jolted her back to her nervousness. She quickly got off from her bed and opened the door, it was Nie. Her heart started beating faster. She does not know if it was because of her anxiety for her father’s safety or simply Nie’s presence.

    “Annie, I’ve got news. Your father’s safe. The operation went out smoothly. The helicopter just landed in Marric. You can see him tomorrow. There’s a major problem, he had signed another paper. Father forced him to sign a declaration that Marric would now be a part of Hoel. He told him that if he doesn’t sign the documents, he would kill you. It made sense that he never told the media that you escaped to lead your father to believe that you’re under his control,” Nie informed her. “Don’t worry, we already have assembled all the legislators to fight against him. We’ve contacted the media and told them that the document he signed is invalid because your father was under threat and we told the media that your father already signed the documents you have.”

    Annie let out a huge sigh of relief. “Then all we have to do is take the documents to him tomorrow and everything would be alright?”

    “Yes, some of father’s cohorts are slowly leaving his side right now. In not time he would be on his own.”

    ‘I’m glad that all of this is coming to an end,” Annie said. Tears of joy sparkled in her eyes. She felt like the world had just started to revolve again. All those months of chaos was now going to be over.
    Before she knew what she was doing, she was hugging Nie in joy. She felt him hug her back. Reality hit her and she quickly let go.

    “Thank you Nie for everything,” Annie said quietly.

    “You know that if you ever need me, you can always count on me. I know I’ve done so many mistakes and may have caused you pain. I want you to know that what we had was something special to me, “ her voice was thick with emotion.

    Annie was about to tell him that he was special to her too but she remembered the pain she felt when he told her that he didn’t love her when he came to her bedroom. She can’t loose her heart again to him. She had vowed not to think about him and she still felt confused. One thing she knew is that Nie was not worth loving. She felt like she does not know him anymore. She doubted that what he was saying was true, maybe he wanted her to feel better about him rejecting her love. Annie felt her pride overcome her. “I might have made some mistakes too. I have been blinded by the fantasy of you and me. You know you seemed too perfect for me. You’re my ideal guy that I led myself to believe that I loved you. Now, I realized that I might have made a mistake. I let myself live in a fantasy world where everything is perfect. I’m sorry. I was not sure of what I said to you when you came to see me that night. I was very emotional.”

    “Wallace makes you happy. He’s a good guy and he cares for you.”

    Annie nodded as she tried to look at him in the eye.

    “Well, see you around,” Nie said as he walked away. Annie felt so tired that she fell asleep right away.

    A terrifying scream woke Annie up. Thick black smoke engulfed her and the smell of something burning. Annie coughed.

    She went out of her room and into the corridor. The flame was coming from somewhere at the west side of the house. She could hear the sound of people shouting. Annie coughed again, there was too much gasoline fumes. “Help!” she screamed. She started running down the hallway but she remembered her backpack. The documents were in there. She ran back to her room to retrieve it. When she had it, she ran back to the hallway. She felt a shard of glass prick her ankle and she hobbled in pain. Strong arms engulfed her. It was Nie. He carried her out of the chateau where Blue Feather, Rainie and Nicholas and the staff where waiting. Annie remembered Wallace.

    “We have to get back! Wallace is in there!” Annie said.

    “Annie, the fire started somewhere near Wallace’s room. He could be dead. We cannot risk anyone’s life anymore. Any minute now, the fire would reach the kitchen where the gasoline tank is. It might explode,” Nicholas said.

    Annie looked around. Rainie was crying. Blue Feather looked so devastated. She tried to stand but the pain in her ankle was too much. She can’t believe it, she might lose Wallace. All the memories she had with hi flashed through her mind. Tears fell from her eyes. Despite the pain she felt she started to walk back to the burning chateau to save him but Nie was already on his way back to the burning chateau.

    “No! Nie you could die! Come back here! ” Rainie shouted.

    For an agonizing moment, Annie felt her whole world would collapse. Two men she loves would die just because of her. The weight of the guilt was too much for her to bear. Thankfully, the moment was broken. Nie was coming out of the burning chateau with a weak Wallace right beside him. He was supporting him. She raced toward them ignoring the pain in her ankle. The air was thick with smoke. Nicholas and Blue Feather led them farther from the burning building just before they heard a loud explosion.

    Wallace was closing his eyes from exhaustion but Annie knew he was going to be all right. She threw herself into Nie’s arms, “Thank you.”

    He gently eased himself from her grip, “It was the right thing to do especially if you’ve done it for the only woman you’ll ever loved,” he said quietly. He turned away with a small smile and went to hug and comfort his sister.

    Annie was left dumbfounded. She saw in Nie’s eyes that he was telling the truth. He loved her after all. He sacrificed his life for Wallace.

    Annie noticed something in Wallace’s hand, it was a piece of paper. She took it from his hand and read it, “ You think you’ve won Blue Feather. You have not. If this fire hasn’t killed you, at least it made a dent in your men. Now, we are equal. I challenge you to surrender and I would do the same too. I’ll make sure more tragedy will come to people of Marric unless you surrender yourself. I’d rather see both of us rot in jail. Choose, your life or the lives of the Marricans. This is only between the two of us. . I’ll expect you to surrender by sundown tomorrow at the Hoel City Memorial Circle. After that, I’ll return my power to the President and admit my defeat. If you do not surrender, the people of Marric shall suffer. ”

    With shaking hands, Annie gave the letter to Blue Feather. What would happen next? Annie thought that everything would be over but it seems like it all had just begun.
    you cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore nie yuan

  10. #70
    Senior Member spotneck's Avatar
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    Default Chapter Twenty-One: Blue Feather

    Chapter Twenty-One: Blue Feather

    Rainie saw that dawn was breaking into the horizon. Now, she could see the charred remains of the chateau. There was a strong rush of wind and she looked above. Two helicopters where slowly landing.

    Blue Feather beckoned to them, we are going to my mansion in Marric. That is where we are going to stay for the meantime. The group started to board the helicopters. Rainie clutched her brother’s hand. She could not believe that Nie almost suffered in the fire just to save Wallace Hunter, his rival. She saw Annie Brewster help Wallace on his feet; she couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed at her. She knew that Annie loved her brother more than Agent Hunter but why was she cheating on her own feelings?

    It only took thirty minutes for the helicopter to cross the border and land in Blue Feather’s mansion in Marric. The President and some of his aides where all waiting for them. Rainie saw Annie jump out of the plane and hug her father. Rainie felt pain, why was Annie Brewster blessed with a kind father and she wasn’t. Had she and Nie done anything wrong to deserve their father?

    Blue Feather’s staff fussed over them, a table full of food was already prepared, rooms for them and fresh clothes for them to wear were given to them. Despite this, there was still tension in the air. Rainie noticed that Blue Feather was deep in thought. After breakfast and an ample time to rest, the whole group assembled at Blue Feather’s huge living room.

    “My other aides in Hoel called me earlier. There is a growing number of people in Hoel that are now marching down the city to voice out their sentiments that General Lange surrender the government. I’ve heard that most of his supporters have already withdrawn his support from him.” President Brewster said, “I think that it is time for me to return to Hoel and have negotiations with those who earlier deflected.”

    “That would not be a wise move. I think the best way is to get television stations from Hoel to air your message. I have friends from the station that could help us out,” Rainie volunteered. “ I’ll just have to call them and maybe I could borrow one of Blue Feather’s helicopters and to fetch the necessary equipments and some cameramen.”

    “I think that that is a brilliant idea!” Nicholas agreed. “That way, he won’t have to go back to Hoel and be in danger.”

    “There’s only one problem left, are you going to surrender?” Annie asked Blue Feather.

    “I don’t trust father. I do not think that there is a need for you to surrender,” Nie told Blue Feather.

    “Maybe not now, but he needs to surrender. Every one is equal in the eyes of the law and we can’t deny that you’ve broken some laws Blue Feather, “The President said.

    ‘Yes, I know that. I am deeply responsible for my actions. I guess I need time to think about this. I’ll let you all know my answer this afternoon,” Blue Feather said. “Ms. Lange, I think that Nicholas can help you with your plans.”

    Rainie nodded and watched Blue Feather walk out of the living room. Nicholas led her into a room and handed her the phone. “I need two cameramen. We need to have this right away. A helicopter will come and fetch them an hour from now.”

    After the call, Rainie looked at Nicholas. He seemed quite today. “Is there anything wrong?”

    “I’m worried about Blue Feather. I think he shouldn’t trust your father. I feel that this is going to be dangerous. Although I know that he isn’t my real father, I feel like he is my real father. He never made me feel like I wasn’t his own son that is why I never asked him who my real parents were because I was contented with my life.”

    Rainie did not know what to say, but he held his hand.

    Rainie watched as the helicopter touched the ground. She was so happy to see the crew from the television station and immediately hugged Allison.

    “Life at the station has been crazy since Tina died. I had to replace her and it was hard. I do not think I can handle another year of this crazy career. I never knew how Tina used to manage it. It’s a good thing she does not have kids to take care of like I do. As soon as this chaos is over, I’m going to ask the management to find someone to replace me as an anchor/reporter. I’m just contented to be a producer.” Allison continued, “ When you called it was the best news the entire station had that it did not hesitate to lend you these equipments and some members of the media from the other station are also interested to come here and take the broadcast. I think you have to ask Blue Feather on that.”

    Rainie nodded, “I’ll ask him right away and Nicholas can show you where to set those camera up.”

    Rainie looked all over the mansion for Blue Feather. It was no surprise for her to find him in a little garden of roses. “Blue Feather, might I ask for your permission to have some other media men from other station come here?”

    Blue Feather smiled kindly at her, “You do not need to ask me. I think that is a good idea.”

    Rainie was about to go but the sad look on Nicholas’ face kept on flashing through her mind, “Blue Feather can you not do it for Nicholas? You have been his father all his life and it would be hard to live without a father. Even if my father has become greedy, I do not think I would have lived this long without him.”

    “I haven’t been his father. I am his real father. When Sophie died, she left me two boys. I was out of my mind when she died. I do not know why God has to punish me. First, it was Andrea and then he had to take Sophie too. I’ve got nothing to feed them that I gave them both to the orphanage. A friend of mine took pity but he can only afford to raise one of them. After I earned my wealth, I went back to the orphanage to retrieve Nicholas but he has forgotten me already. I cannot just tell him that I am his real father. I was so ashamed of what I have done to them earlier that it why I’ve never have the guts to tell him that I was his father. I led him to believe that I am not his real father. On the other hand, I just cannot retrieve my other son from my friend. He had loved him so much and I just can’t do that after all the help he had done to me. I guess I was also a coward in my own way,” Blue Feather said sadly.

    “If you are planning to surrender, you at least owe Nicholas the truth.” Rainie said. She was stunned at this revelation but come to think of it, there was a lot of similarities between Nicholas and Blue Feather and a bit of resemblance. Agent Hunter resembles Blue Feather more than Nicholas. Rainie gasped. “Is Agent Hunter your other son?”

    “How did you know?” Blue Feather asked her. “You might have seen the resemblance. I guess he does look like me as Nicholas got his features from Sophie. I think it would be better if they would not know. I’ve got no face to show to them. I’ve been a bad father to both of them.”

    “But still, you are their father. You cannot deprive them of that knowledge. You can’t deny that you are a part of them.” Rainie said to him.

    Blue Feather turned and looked at her in the eye. There was pain in his eyes, “All my life I’ve decided for myself. Now, I’ll let destiny decide for myself. If I lived long enough for another day, I’ll tell them.”

    Rainie said nothing. She could tell Nicholas but it is not her story to tell. “I am sure that they will be proud of what you’ve done. You can’t take away the pain but you are still and will always be their father. If I was your daughter, I would be proud of you.”

    Blue Feather hugged her and she hugged him back. This was the same man her mother loved. The man whose son she loves.



    Two hours later, the cameramen had arrived and the President was ready for the live broadcast. Rainie stood beside one of the cameramen and made sure everything was ready. The President looked calm and collected. The cameras started to roll.

    “I’ve said before that Hoel shall rise again and repel its enemies. Before, Hoel was a blind man. He never knew who were its real enemies but secrets cannot be kept forever. The greed in the traitor’s heart can no longer be contained. He took advantage of his power and abused other people. From this day on, Hoel is no longer blinded. We now know who the real enemies are. General Lange and his cohorts shall pay for whatever damage they have caused our country and Marric. I would like to take this opportunity to tell the people of Hoel to rise up and fight this traitor. To those of you who have sided with this traitor, I am telling you that it is better to withdraw your support from him right now or you shall face the consequences. I would also like to tell everyone that Marric is now free….” The President said.

    Rainie caught sight of Blue Feather, he was watching too from a corner. She saw him beckon to Nicholas. Nicholas followed Blue Feather into a room. Curious, Rainie followed them. They went inside a room. Rainie does not want to eavesdrop but she felt that there was a need.

    “I have decided. I will give General Lange what he wants. I shall surrender before sunset.”

    “You can’t. You know that it could be a trap. I do not trust this man!” Nicholas protested. “ You’ve been my father all these years and I do not want you to die. Let us just wait until the President would be back to power again and then you surrender.”

    “I have made up my mind Nicholas and nothing can change it. I do not think that Hoel needs more bloodshed. It is better do this now, if indeed it was a trap, at least they would see what kind of man Lothair is.”

    Nicholas must have punched something because Rainie heard a loud thud.

    “When Sophie died, it was a good thing that a friend of mine, was always there for me. He’s Agent Hunter’s father. If ever I die, please, get to know Agent Hunter better and look after him for me. I owe his father that much.”

    “You are not going to die!” Nicholas shouted. “I’ll make sure of that.”

    “My decision is final and there is nothing you can do about it,” Blue Feather’s voice echoed with a sound of finality.




    Four more chapters to go before the ending:
    Belated Merry Christmas and Advance Happy New Year
    you cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore nie yuan

  11. #71
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    cant wait for the ending

  12. #72
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    Default Chapter Twenty-two: The Choice

    Chapter Twenty-two: The Choice

    Annie stroke Wallace’s hair. He was deep in sleep from the medication he received from a doctor that Blue Feather called. Annie had rested earlier and was now looking after Wallace. She watched him sleep, he looked younger. Watching him sleep made Annie’s heart flutter. What was this feeling? Is she finally falling in love with him? Last night was one of those times where she felt like she’ll never get over with. She knew that if Nie had not saved Wallace she wouldn’t be able to forgive herself. She couldn’t help but feel guilty in dragging Wallace into this mess. Annie felt an unfamiliar feeling of serenity. She suddenly felt confused and limped towards the door to look for her father. An image of Nie flashed in her mind. She knew it was unfair for him to go on and believe in her lie after what he had done for her last night. She at least owed him the truth. It’s time to face him.

    Annie fidgeted. She was watching Nie from a corner behind the archway of the mansion’s balcony. She had made up her mind. She was going to talk to Nie and clear everything once and for all. She took a deep breath.

    Nie looked at her as she slowly made her way to him. He had a blank expression on his face.

    “We need to talk. I haven’t been completely honest to you last night. I know that it would be hard to believe anything I would say because it is entirely different from what I said last night.” Annie started to babble. A part of her wanted to run away and hide but a bigger part of her wanted this to be settled. There is no point in hiding her real feelings. She was not a child anymore. These thoughts gave her more confidence. “ I loved you and maybe I still so. It’s just that my pride got the best of me. You’ve hurt me a lot. Loving you was the hardest part of it all. When I found out that you were a member of the GNATS, I couldn’t help but think that you used me to get all those necessary information.”

    “Annie, I did accept the offer to teach you because of a lot of reasons. Maybe, I was wrong. My intentions at first would have been that but I did not expect to fall too.” Nie told her, “I saw you kissed Wallace the night I came to tell you everything and I got jealous that was why I had to say those things to you and deny my feelings. I guess, my pride got the best of me too.”

    “You saw it?”

    Nie nodded. ”I remember that night so clearly. I was able to put the sleeping medicine into the guard’s dinner. The guard fell asleep right after his dinner. I took the chance and climbed through the trellis and into your room but you weren’t there so I decided to sneak into the President’s study to look for the documents that might help us for the mean time. I searched everywhere but they were not there. When I finally decided to come back, I went down to the courtyard and climbed the trellis again. It was far too risky to enter through her bedroom door. That was when I saw you and Agent Hunter. I waited for hours after he left and before coming in.”

    Everything made sense now. It was just a misunderstanding between them. Annie felt vindicated. Her love for him was reciprocated. What she could not understand was why fate was so cruel to the both of them. If fate did not allow Nie to see her kiss Wallace it might have saved her some tears and agony. It might not have complicated everything. She might have avoided falling in love with Wallace. The question that was piercing her heart right now was who did she love more between the two of them.

    As if he read her mind Nie asked, “Do you love Wallace? Do you love him now more than I?”

    Annie fell silent. She does not know what to tell him because she does not know what to answer. “I don’t know. Is it possible to love two persons at the same time?”

    “Maybe but I think that it is time for you to choose between us,” a voice said. It was Wallace. He might have heard her close his door. Annie remembered that the door had that loud creaking sound; it was probably what woke him up. It sounded like he had heard everything. There was a look of pain in his eyes. “Annie, it would be unfair to the three of us if you remain undecided. This is also for your own good. You deserve to be happy with the person you truly love. I think it is time to choose between us.”

    Wallace was right. Annie knew that it would be much painful if she would keep it any longer. “I’ll have my decision after Blue Feather gives his’,” she said firmly. She took out her pink handkerchief from her pocket and held it out. “I shall give this to the one I will choose.”

    Nie extended his hand to Wallace, “ Whatever Annie’s decision would be, and I will accept and respect it.”

    Wallace accepted Nie’s hand and shook it. “ I will accept and respect it.”

    At that moment, Rainie Lange joined them. She broke the mounting tension in the air. “Nie, Blue Feather wishes to see you before he would announce his decision.”

    Nie readily obliged with a last lingering look at Annie. They left leaving her and Wallace alone.

    “Annie, I know that you loved Nie. I am willing to concede now if you tell me that you do not feel anything for me. I know I am being selfish but it would hurt less if you tell me now. I wouldn’t wait for hours in agony.”

    Tears fell from Annie’s eyes she felt so touched that she wrapped him in a tight embrace. “If I have fallen in love with you before Nie, it would have been easier for me to decide. I wouldn’t have second thoughts. I would choose you. I wouldn’t even lay my eyes on Nie. Your love is all that I needed.”

    “Annie, needing my love is different from wanting it,” Wallace said softly.

    Annie remembered how Wallace had irritated and angered her in the past with his obnoxious attitude. Wallace never left her side when she felt alone. “ Wallace, you don’t have to concede now. I feel something for you but I have to assess if what I feel for Nie is stronger than what I feel for you.”

    Wallace smiled, “ At least you gave me hope. I shall wait for your decision.” Annie accompanied her back to his room to rest.

    Later, Annie walked outside Blue Feather’s study where her father and his advisers who had arrived earlier had converged to talk about their next step. She knew that her problem is nothing compared to the problem her father is facing right now but she felt like he was the only one who could help her. She took a deep breath and went inside. She was surprised to see his father and his advisers wearing smiles.

    “Annie! I have good news; the people of Hoel are now in the streets to go to the House of Congress to show their support to us. Three more generals have withdrawn their support from General Lange.” The President informed her. “ The only problem we have right now is where to find General Lange. I am afraid that the only way to find him is to use Blue Feather. His surrender to him is inevitable.”

    “That’s good news. However, I need to talk to you about something and its quite personal.” Annie said hastily before she lost her courage.

    There was a look of understanding in his father’s eyes and he nodded. Annie led him to the room that Blue Feather had given her. Once inside, Annie let her father sit in the bed as she started confiding in him.

    “I need to choose between them. Wallace makes me feel safe and comfortable. He was there for me whenever I needed him. I could see myself with Wallace, growing old with him but Nie makes me feel light-headed and he is everything I’ve ever wanted. I used to have doubts with his love for me but now I know he loves me too. I am willing to give anything to have him. I don’t know anymore, I felt so confuse.” Annie said. “ How could I ever choose between them? They’re both so wonderful.”

    “It sounded like you already made your choice. Just how much are you willing to give for Nie? Are you willing to suffer more for his love?” His father asked quietly. “ Annie, you must understand that being a member of the GNATS, he will answer to the law after all of this is over. He might be placed in probation or in jail if it would be proven that he had direct link to the murders that the GNATS committed. Annie, loving is not only about how a person makes you feel light-headed or passion. I am not saying that you shouldn’t choose Nie. I do not wish to disillusion you by saying that, I just wanted you to see reality and choose according to what is real. Do you think that you could wait for years? When you said that you could see yourself growing old with Wallace, would you be able to see him with his wrinkles on his face? Can you bear to see him every morning and every night for the rest of your life without thinking about Nie?”

    Annie swallowed hard. This was the real test. This was harder than she had expected. Fate has been cruel to him and Nie but it had been nice to her and Wallace. Does it mean fate wanted her to end up with Wallace? Maybe fate had decided for her but can she defy it. She stared at her pink handkerchief. She remembered how she had let Nie escaped after she discovered that he was a member of the GNATS. She remembered how she lied to Wallace just to keep Nie safe. She had suffered too much in loving Nie. She’s felt like she would never be able to suffer more for another person again. She does not care if she had to defy fate, she had made a choice.

    “Thank you Father. I have made my choice.” Annie stood up clutching the pink handkerchief in her hand and was ready to go when Rainie Lange came in.

    “Blue Feather and Nie are leaving now! Help me stop them!” Rainie shouted.

    “What?” The President said.

    Annie could not let him leave without telling him she chose him. She ran fast and into the field where the helicopter was already 40 feet off the ground. Annie screamed at the top of her lungs but the windows were closed, it was impossible for the people inside to hear her. She raised her handkerchief up praying that Nie would see it but the wind was too strong that it blew her handkerchief away. The helicopter was now too far away.


    you cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore nie yuan

  13. #73
    Senior Member spotneck's Avatar
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    hello guys! I'm gonna post the next chapter tomorrow or tonight but not later than monday. I shall be posting the last two chapters (24 and 25) at the same time. I have to make this announcement, since as I've seen in the poll results, those who wanted annie to end up with nie yuan is equal to those who wanted wallace to end with annie. I shall consider the poll's results and I shall base the ending of this fanfic on this poll but the period that I will only count is from now to January 21 (pretty long time).... so vote now... thanks also for reading my first fanfic.
    you cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore nie yuan

  14. #74
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    Default Chapter Twenty-three Surrender

    Chapter Twenty-three: Surrender

    They could not let this happen. The President, Rainie and some of the staff rushed out
    Rainie ran up to Annie. “ How could he had left?” Annie asked her.

    Rainie Lange looked at her with fury in her eyes. “ What do you think? He gave you up. He knows that you wouldn’t be happy with him so he decided to go with Blue Feather and face danger! Why can’t you be true to yourself for once? Why can’t you simply tell him that you love him too? Why are you playing with the hearts of two different persons?”

    Rainie was furious. A part of her tells her that Annie should not be blamed for Nie’s sudden decision. His brother was the one who made the decision.

    They could not let this happen. The President, Guilda and some of the staff rushed out into the field just in time to see the helicopter vanished into the thick mountains of Byazan.

    Nicholas ran up to her, “They left without even telling me!”

    “Listen, we’ve got to follow them!” Rainie told him frantically.

    Nicholas called someone, “prepare the other chopper, we’ll follow.”

    The man shouted at his companions as he executed Nicholas’ order.

    The few minutes later a helicopter landed and Nicholas ran towards it. Rainie followed him and so did Annie Brewster. She held out her hand to stop her from boarding the chopper. “You stay here!” she shouted so she could hear above the noise that the helicopter was making.

    “No! I can’t. I have to go!” she shouted back.

    What was her problem? Her brother had given her his blessing to be with Agent Hunter. Maybe he didn’t tell her but it is already implied when he left. It would be dangerous for her to go there. Just then, she saw Agent Hunter run towards them. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on Annie. Let’s go!” he told her.

    Rainie shrugged and gave in. They were wasting precious time with their argument. The four of them boarded the helicopter. Nicholas got his mobile phone out, “I’m going to call some members to the pier.”

    Once they’ve reached the old pier, the group paused momentarily. Rainie heard Agent Hunter and Annie’s feet pounding on the pavement behind her. They heard some voices behind some old trailers. Rainie and Nicholas dashed forward and so did Annie and Agent Hunter.

    There he was with Nie. Blue Feather had his hands up in the air as two men in military uniform held Nie. There were about fifty men in military uniform and her father was holding Blue Feather at gunpoint.

    “Rainie, stop right there if you don’t want your companions to die!” General Lange ordered her. Rainie stopped in her tracks as men grabbed Annie, Nicholas and Agent Hunter. Rainie ran up to her brother. Blood was trickling down his chin from his mouth. Apparently, he’d been hit by someone on the cheek.

    This is between you and me Alec or shall I call you Walt? I’ve never understood why someone as poor and miserable as you be the owner of Andrea’s heart. You’ve not only got her but my children as well!” General Lange said.

    “I was your folly and lies that drove Andrea into despair and ultimately despise you. It was your greed that made you a bad father. It was you who pushed your children away from your own self.” Blue Feather answered, “Andrea was never yours to begin with and so does Marric.”

    General Lange shoved him with all his might and Blue Feather toppled over. “You’ve taken Andrea, my children and Marric away from me and now I’m taking your life.”

    “What a monster you are General Lange! Are you going to kill someone in front of your own children? Is this what you call parenting?” Annie Brewster shouted.

    Rainie looked at her. She’s crazy but she did have the courage to speak up and buy some time. Rainie looked around hoping the other members of the GNATS would arrive soon.

    “Ah! Ms. Brewster, you’ve been lost for quite some time now. You are such a spoiled brat. It was a pleasure for me not to have you as a daughter. You’re such a nosy little thing like your clueless father.” General Lange seemed to have shifted his attention from Blue Feather to Annie Brewster. “We’ve also met again Agent Hunter. I see, you are so concerned about your father.”

    “My Father?” Wallace asked. “What are you talking about? Are you the one responsible for his death?”

    “Yes and No. Your crappy agent father died because Alastair felt threatened by his knowledge about our plans so he had him taken care of. Your biological father on the other hand is about to die here!” General Lange spat and pointed the gun back at Blue Feather. “You are going to die without telling your sons about your cowardice and how you gave them away? I’d say congratulations for making them gullible. You made your eldest as your adopted son while your younger son was your best friend’s son.”

    “You’re my real father and you’re never told me?” Nicholas asked Blue Feather.

    “Dad, please stop this. Just give it all up.” Rainie begged her father. She turned towards Nicholas, “Blue Feather was planning to tell after all of this is over.”

    They heard a gunshot. Half dozen men in black uniforms armed with pistols surrounded them. They were members of the GNATS and they were raising their weapons and started to fire.

    “Duck everyone!” Nicholas called out to them.

    The rouge soldiers scattered around and fought with the GNATS. Nie pulled Rainie behind the trailer as they heard more gunshots. At the corner of her eye, she saw Agent Hunter, Nicholas and Annie ran for cover too. A familiar noise was heard from a distance now it was growing louder over them, flying like big blue flies. They could hear sirens from the Police cars that are probably on their way.

    “We’ve got to find father. He had dragged Blue Feather somewhere. You go ran back to Nicholas and make sure you’re all safe.” Nie instructed her.

    “Nie you can’t!” Rainie protested but before she could say something else, Nie had left her. It was lucky that Nicholas, Agent Hunter and Annie appeared behind her just as he left.

    “We’ve got to follow him!” Annie said.

    “He never told me he was my own father,” Nicholas mumbled.

    “Look, he didn’t tell both of you because he was scared that you’ve never accept him!” Rainie said impatiently.

    “That’s absurd!” Nicholas said.

    “Come on! Let’s follow them!” Wallace said.

    They followed Nie into an old warehouse in front of an old dock.

    Blue feather was fighting with General Lange. As Blue Feather lunged towards her father, Nie was quick enough to extend a piece of wood to block General Lange’s foot. General Lange dropped his gun and sprawled a few meters in front of them. Nie and Agent Hunter quickly tried to reach out for the gun as General Lange stood up. But the gun was just to far for both Agent Hunter and Nie to reach. General Lange pushed Blue Feather harder again. Blue Feather’s head hit the pavement with a loud and sickening thud.

    “No!” Rainie cried out.

    “Father!” Agent Hunter cried.


    Not contented, General Lange lunged for the gun. He released the clip and took his aim. A gunshot was fired and it hit the already hurt Blue Feather. The three of them, Nicholas, Agent Hunter and she run towards him to shield him. Since she was closer, it was her who reached Blue Feather first just before General Lange fired another shot.

    “Rainie!” Nicholas cried.

    Rainie felt pain in her side as Nicholas and Agent Hunter reached them. It was harder for her to breathe but she heard them.

    “Father!” Nicholas said.

    “I am thankful to have you as my father.” Agent Hunter said to Blue Feather.

    Just before he closed his eyes, Blue Feather looked at something above them and smiled for a moment. Rainie thought she heard him mutter her mother’s name before he’s head lolled to his side. Blue Feather was dead.

    Nicholas held Rainie tighter. “Please hold on Rainie.” She tried to nod but the pain was harder to bear. She felt blackness close in on her as she felt herself succumb.
    Last edited by spotneck; 02-05-05 at 04:23 AM.
    you cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore nie yuan

  15. #75
    Senior Member spotneck's Avatar
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    Default Chapter Twenty-Four: Departure

    Chapter Twenty-Four: The Departure


    Nie quickly punched his father; the gun fell from General Lange’s grip. Nie took the opportunity to seize it.

    Annie looked at the scene with horror as a dead Blue Feather was sprawled on the floor and Nicholas Strauss was carrying an unconscious Rainie Lange.

    “Take her out, she need medical attention. Now!” Nie shouted at Nicholas.

    Nicholas nodded and carried her out.

    All that was left inside the warehouse was she, Nie and Agent Hunter with a sullen looking General Lange.

    “Are you happy now? Father, you won’t stop at anything even if it means killing your own child. I see no reason why I shouldn’t despise you!” Nie shouted at his father, you are going to pay for this.”

    Annie ran up to him, “Nie don’t do it. He is your father. Let the authorities have him.”

    “Shoot me son!” General Lange provoked him, “my mission in this crappy world is complete.”

    “Are you not ashamed of how you lived your life?” Nie asked him angrily.

    “There are no regrets. Nie, I’ve had a foolish wife, a dead rival, a disobedient son and a clueless daughter. What more can I ask?” General Lange said.

    Annie could see that Nie was shaking with anger. He pulled the safety clip of the gun.

    “Nie please listen to me!” Annie was crying beside him. “I’m sorry Annie. Prepare to die father!” Nie shouted. For a few horrifying moments, Annie braced herself for the worst but Nie did not fire.

    Nie screamed and threw the gun aside. He cannot kill his father. “I think you’ll do better if you rot in jail.” The gun fell near Blue Feather’s foot. Nie turned his back from them and started to walk out of the warehouse.

    Annie heaved a sigh of relief but then she saw General Lange picked up the gun. “If you can’t kill, I can. At least I’ll get rid of one more traitor!” he pointed the gun at Wallace with anger.

    “Wallace!” Annie cried out. Nie stopped walking and looked.

    “You tricked me General Lange. You made a fool out of me. You told me lies. You told me it was Blue Feather who killed my father. I worked for you all this months”
    Wallace said angrily.

    ‘What is the meaning of this?” Annie asked.

    “What a fool you are Agent Hunter!” General Lange said as he laughed out loud. “Haven’t you ever wondered Miss Brewster why he seemed to be always around when you needed him? He rescued you at the canal didn’t he? How could he have known that you were planning to escape that particular night if he had not seen the security camera near the old pool house? Why didn’t we kill him when we always knew where he lives? How did we ever found out where all of you where staying at the chateau in Byzan? He was nothing much but a lowly spy for me. I thought I had you convince that he killed your father when I showed you his letter.”

    “What?” Annie looked at Wallace in disbelief. “No, that is not true! How could you Wallace? I thought that you were suspecting that General Lange is the culprit behind your father’s death?”

    “The letter that my father supposed to have written because Blue Feather betrayed him made me think that he was responsible for his death. I am not anyone’s spy. I am not anyone’s servant. I worked for you to have my revenge but I did not intend to help him get Marric. Believe me Annie, I had my own mistakes when I found out that he was lying, I tried to stop him. I knew about the bomb and tried to detonate it but he gave me the wrong code. I should not have trusted him,” Wallace said.

    “You are as gullible and guilty as your pitiful father. Right then I knew that you have known I was lying. Your adopted father was just scared that Blue Feather would come and take you away from him, that was why he said that Blue Feather betrayed him. Your Agent Father should have said what he meant clearly in that letter to avoid all the trouble you have caused. I knew that blood was thicker than water. I thought I had you convince that he killed your father when I showed you his letter.” General Lange said. “ It’s time for you to hate him Miss Brewster.”


    Annie looked at Wallace. Maybe he did worked for General Lange but she believed him. She knew in her heart that Wallace had been true to her and that she could not blame him for seeking revenge on his father’s death. She does not know why but she couldn’t find it in her heart to hate him.

    General Lange shot Wallace and he fell.

    “No!” Annie cried. Nie tried to stop General Lange but he had made his plans already. With the last bullet, General Lange pointed the gun on his head and fired. He killed himself.

    Annie cradled Wallace in her arms, “ Wallace I believe you.”

    “Annie, I did worked for him and told him some information but I never intended to help him get Marric. I just wanted to find out who was responsible for killing my father. I never meant to betray you, when he decided to keep you at the Palace I started thinking that he was lying and thought that maybe it was him all along but still I held on until I knew the answer to my questions.” Wallace explained in between gasps of breathe, “If my life is the price I have to pay just for you to believe me, I would gladly give it.”

    Annie cried and she buried her head on his chest. “I believe you. I believe you.”


    Annie felt the cool breeze. The private aircraft her father had hired to take her to Paris was waiting for her to board it. These past two weeks was the longest two weeks she’d ever had. Her father had decided that it would be better for her to live Hoel to move on with her life. Her father had been restored back to power and Marric was now on the process of gaining is ultimate independence from Hoel. Her father had signed the papers three days ago and the congress had been preparing for the formal handover next week.

    Everything was ready, all she needed was for someone to arrive and be with her. It had been an hour already and he had not arrived yet.

    She saw two of his father’s men arrive and talked with him. Annie felt nervous.

    The President walked towards her.” Annie, someone came by and left this just before we left the Palace,” Her Father said as he gave her a piece of paper. She unfolded it and read it.

    “Dear Annie, I am deeply sorry for this but I have to answer to the law. It’s the least thing I could do to repay my debts to the people of Hoel and to the families of all the persons I have hurt. I know that your father had done a great deal in order for me to be with you but I must do this. Being with you is my only dream and I would have given everything to be with you but please understand that I loved you so much that I must do this. Time will tell if I deserve you. Always remember, I love you and I’m sorry for taking this chance. Love, Nie”

    Tears fell from her eyes as her father hugged her. “ Annie, I think that Nie was trying to tell you that he does not want you to suffer. Maybe he was thinking that you wouldn’t be happy living somewhere with him hiding from the law. What he did was courage Annie, he chose to stay and answer his debts and responsibilities.”

    A week ago, they had known that Nie would be imprisoned along with the other members of the GNATS. They did not know how long but it was apparent that he would go to jail. Her father devised a plan for Nie to escape his sentence and be with Annie to live in Paris and never return to Hoel. Her father had gambled his principle for her happiness. Apparently, it was not meant to be.

    Annie bade her father farewell as she boarded the aircraft. Just as the aircraft door was about to close, her father ran up and gave her something. It was a single rose with a note attached to it. “ Bon Voyage, Annie.” It read.

    Annie smiled despite her tears. As she gave her father a last hug. She fastened her seat belt as the aircraft got ready for take off. She looked out of the window as the aircraft took off, “Farewell Hoel. Farewell Wallace and Farewell Nie.”

    (it’s not the end yet…watch out for the surprising last chapter)
    Last edited by spotneck; 02-05-05 at 05:34 AM.
    you cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore nie yuan

  16. #76
    Senior Member spotneck's Avatar
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    Default Chapter Twenty-Five: Second Coming

    Chapter Twenty-Five: Second Coming


    The heat of the afternoon sun greeted Rainie’s face. She hurried down the stone steps of her father’s mansion and into her husband’s sports car. She watched her husband as he released the brakes. They rolled down the long driveway to the main highway. The streets glittered wet from last night’s rain. Inside the car, she could still feel the happiness and anticipation. Her husband’s jaw was relaxed, his eyes on the road.

    “You could have said something to him,” she remarked.

    Earlier her brother had a called just before breakfast to announce the good news. He had paid his bail and is now free to take part on a medical mission in a province in Marric. “I can’t believe that he is going to be free again!”

    She sighed contentedly; she looked out of her window. It’s been four years already since those fateful events, she had married Nicholas, and Annie Brewster left for Paris while her brother served his punishment. Ever since their father died, everything went back to normal.

    Nicholas pushed the car stereo button, music blasted from the car speakers breaking the silence. The rock song was his latest song. Nicholas turned it off.

    “Why did your turn that off?” she asked him.

    Her husband grinned. He knows how much she hates rock music. “I thought you didn’t like rock songs”.

    “I’ve changed. I like rock songs especially if they are sung by you but anyway, you’ve been singing it in the shower this past month and I must admit I’m getting tired of hearing it,” Rainie smiled.

    Rainie ran out of the car as she embraced her brother tightly. “I thought that this day would never come. I’m so happy for you.”

    Nie hugged her back, “me too.”

    Rainie led her inside the car, she had forgotten that Nicholas had left yesterday’s newspaper at the backseat. She watched Nie get the newspaper and read the front page.
    The front page contains a story about Annie Brewster. Rainie watched her brother’s happiness turn into sadness and his face held an expression full of regrets.


    The fresh breeze caressed Annie’s cheek as she alighted from the airplane. It felt good to be back home in her native land. It’s been two years since she’d left Hoel and studied abroad. She was warmly welcomed by her father. His term had just been finished yesterday. The winner of the elections held last two weeks was sworn to presidency yesterday.

    “How is my little Princess?” His father asked her. He looked younger and his eyes were sparkling.

    “I am fine. How about you? How was life being an ordinary citizen?” she asked him.
    “Splendid!”

    Her father had called her and asked her a few months ago if she would want him to run for another term but she had told him that it would be better if he won’t. To her surprise, her father felt the same way. Even if the latest survey said that the people of Hoel wanted him to have another term. Annie hugged her father. ”I miss you father. There wasn’t a time in Paris when I haven’t felt that I didn’t miss you.”

    Her father chuckled. “Well, I hope that I’m not the only man you’ve missed. He sure is waiting for his bride-to-be.”

    Annie smiled. She looked at her finger where her diamond engagement ring sparkled. It was beautiful. Annie allowed her father to lead her to their car.

    The Palace staff has given her father another one month allowance to move their belongings out of the Palace. Although some stuff and belonging were already piled up, the new President and his family have not yet moved into the Palace.

    Annie had left some of her belongings in the palace but she was glad that they were already packed. She walked down the courtyard and into the fountain. Memories flooded her mind. She remembered how Nie saved her and how they hid at the old pool house. She remembered how Wallace was just in time to help her escape. She looked at the fountain and she remembered all those nights she spent there with either Wallace or Nie.
    The air smelled of roses as they began to bloom all over the place. Annie felt someone watching her. She looked up and saw Nie.

    “You’ve come back. I’ve been waiting for you.” Nie said as he hugged her tightly.

    She hugged him back. For a long moment they held each other close before letting go.

    “You’ve looked good.” Annie said.

    “You look good too. You’ll be the most beautiful bride any man could wish for. I came to personally thank your father for granting me a “Presidential pardon”,” Nie said sincerely.

    Annie blushed. “ It had taken her a year to convince her father to do it. It was his gift for her before she gets married. She felt a little relieved that her father had not divulge that little fact to him.

    “We need to talk about the wedding.” Nie said suddenly.

    Worried lines creased Annie’s face.

    “ I received the invitation. I can’t come. I am leaving for a medical mission again on your wedding date. I can’t postpone it.“ Nie said. He looked away quickly.

    Annie had the slight feeling of relief but she mentally poked herself. She had to face reality now, she can’t expect him to watch her wed another man. “Nie, I’m sorry.”

    Nie looked at her, “I wasn’t a good liar was I?” He must have sensed that she knew what he was feeling.

    “I can’t blame you Nie. Of course, I’ll tell Wallace that you need to go. He’ll understand. He is a good person and I know that he was really sincere that he wanted you to come to our wedding but if you can’t, I won’t find you neither will he.”

    Nie smiled nervously. “Annie, I know I never got around to tell you something. I do not meant to confuse you with this but I just want this thing out of my chest.”

    Annie looked at him expectantly.

    Nie gulped before he proceeded, “Annie, I have loved you all this time. When I did not go with you to Paris, I knew I blew my second chance with you. I’ve been a coward enough to let you go. At least let me try for the last time. Marry me instead Annie.” His tone was half hoping and half letting go.

    Annie felt her heart stop beating for a second as she stared into his eyes.

    “I’m sorry for that. I just wanted to get it on with. I’m sorry. Forget those words.” Nie started to mumble.

    Annie found her voice again, ‘No, Nie it was okay. It’s just that it’s too late. Four years have passed. I’m not that naïve school girl anymore. Thank you for loving me.”

    Nie touched her face as if he was memorizing it, every part of it. Annie remembered the night when she said goodbye to him when she was supposed to leave for Paris. He had asked her for another chance. He had touched her face the same way he was doing now. She also remembered the feelings she felt after reading his letter before she left for Paris.

    “Is this goodbye?” Nie asked.

    Annie nodded her reply. Nie smiled sadly as he turned around to leave. Annie felt a single tear roll down her cheek. It broke her heart.

    Later, Wallace had arrived. He kissed her cheek. “How is my wife-to-be doing?”

    “I’m doing fine.” She said

    “ I heard the news. Nie is finally free.” Wallace said.

    “Yes I know. I saw him. He visited awhile ago,” Annie said.

    Annie knew that Wallace felt uncomfortable. “Wallace, he just said goodbye. “

    Wallace began to speak carefully, “ All these years Annie, I’ve always prepared myself for something like this to happen. I want you to be happy and if your freedom is what you want, I’ll give it to you.”

    Tears fell from Annie’s eyes, ” No, Wallace don’t say that. I am yours and I would be your wife.”

    Wallace hugged her and she felt him heave a sigh of relief. For four years, Wallace was the one who made her forget the pain of the past. She owed him those years she lived without Nie.

    Three days later. On her wedding day, Annie looked at herself in the mirror. Her gown shone in the sunlight as it streamed from her window. Flashbacks from the past played her mind. Four years ago, months after she had arrived in Paris she saw him.

    Wallace was standing outside her apartment door. “Annie, I knew what he did. I know that I should have not followed you here but I just wanted to make sure that you’re okay. I might not be able to replace him in your heart but perhaps I can maybe lessen the pain.”

    Annie had rushed into his arms and hugged him. She felt so happy to see him. She was so worried about him, he thought that she might never see him again after she found out that he had vanished from the hospital on that day she visited him prior to the day she left Hoel.

    She had told herself that same day that Wallace was the one. For four years, they had been inseparable. She thought she had forgotten Nie but she did not know that years after that her love for him would haunt her back. He was her first love and it was hard to forget him.

    Someone knocked at her door. She opened it and it was Guilda. “Annie, Wallace sent you something.” Guilda left the room. It was a tiny jewelry box. Annie opened it and inside was a small piece of paper. Annie opened it and read:

    The Second Coming
    William Batler Yeats
    Things fall apart; the center cannot hold
    Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
    The blood-dimmed tide is loosened and everywhere
    The ceremony of innocence drowned.

    PS: This is how the world was when we met. I’m glad we’ve made it. I’ll be patiently waiting at the altar. Let what your heart dictates guide you. I’ll love you forever.

    Annie smiled. She knew what it meant. She nearly lost Wallace once. Nie was her past and Wallace would be her future. Who was her present then?

    Annie marched down the aisle. Wallace was standing there smiling at her. In less than two hours they’ll be husband and wife. Annie watched her father give her hand to Wallace. Her father was teary-eyed. She smiled at him.

    “Do you Annie take Wallace as your husband…”The priest asked her.

    Without hesitation she answered, “I do.”

    “I’m sorry Annie. I love you too much I have to let you go.” Wallace said. He was fighting back tears.

    “No, you can’t Wallace. I love you!” She said.

    “Not as much as you love him. Annie, I knew that he was the one you chose. You waved your handkerchief at him. I love you so much Annie that I’m more than willing to make you happy even giving you up. You are free Annie.”

    Annie stared at him. He kissed her cheek, “Go, Annie. I want you to be happy.”

    “Thank you Wallace.” Annie hugged him for the last time before she ran out the church and into the limousine amidst the uncertain clapping of the stunned guests.

    There he was! He was just about to board the helicopter. Annie tore a piece of cloth from her gown and she waved it the same way she had waved her handkerchief four years ago. This time, Nie had seen her. Annie ran up to him, “Nie!”

    He looked at her in disbelief. Tears fell from her eyes as he embraced her. He didn’t ask any questions anymore. Tears of joy were also falling from his eyes. She tilted her head and kissed him.

    *****the end****
    you cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore nie yuan

  17. #77
    Senior Member spotneck's Avatar
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    Default wallace fans don't fret.. Second Coming..alternate ending

    I've finally finished this..although, nie won, he only won over wallace by a vote so I decided to have an alternate ending for those who wanted annie to end up with wallace... Thank you to all of you for reading my fanfic...I hope that you'll read my next fanfics in the future..god bless!
    ************************************************** ***************
    Chapter Twenty-five:Second Coming-alternate ending

    The heat of the afternoon sun greeted Rainie’s face. She hurried down the stone steps of her father’s mansion and into her husband’s sports car. She watched her husband as he released the brakes. They rolled down the long driveway to the main highway. The streets glittered wet from last night’s rain. Inside the car, she could still feel the happiness and anticipation. Her husband’s jaw was relaxed, his eyes on the road.

    “You could have said something to him,” she remarked.

    Earlier her brother had a called just before breakfast to announce the good news. He had paid his bail and is now free to take part on a medical mission in a province in Marric. “I can’t believe that he is going to be free again!”

    She sighed contentedly; she looked out of her window. It’s been four years already since those fateful events, she had married Nicholas, and Annie Brewster left for Paris while her brother served his punishment. Ever since their father died, everything went back to normal.

    Nicholas pushed the car stereo button, music blasted from the car speakers breaking the silence. The rock song was his latest song. Nicholas turned it off.

    “Why did your turn that off?” she asked him.

    Her husband grinned. He knows how much she hates rock music. “I thought you didn’t like rock songs”.

    “I’ve changed. I like rock songs especially if they are sung by you but anyway, you’ve been singing it in the shower this past month and I must admit I’m getting tired of hearing it,” Rainie smiled.

    The car passed by a group of people marching down the streets carrying huge posters and effigies of the President.

    “Nick, do you think that the President deserves to win his second term?” she asked her husband.

    “No doubt about it. He had given Marric independence and brought Hoel back to peace,” he said.


    Nie felt the heat of the morning sun on his face, after four years in jail he was finally free. The trauma of the past seemed to have haunted him in the first year of his stay there. He had turned on the only thing he can that he thing he had lost all this time, his faith. He picked up the pieces of his life. He firmly placed his bible in his bag. He had called his sister and her husband earlier to fetch him up. He hoped his brother in law was driving at a moderate speed; he did not want his newborn nephew to be an orphan.

    Nie went to the waiting shed where they were supposed to meet. He looked around and he did not see anyone aside from a woman with her back on him. She was wearing a wide brimmed hat and her long hair shone. The woman slowly turned around, she must have sensed his presence.

    To his utter surprise, it was Annie Brewster. She looked prettier than he had last seen her and the sadness in her eyes had vanished. She took of her hat and held it nervously, “ I hope that you still remember me after all these years,” she started to say. “ As soon as I’ve heard I came by to see you.”

    Nie did not know what to say. He had dreamt of this for a long time. He had waited for this for a long time and now that it has come, he felt solemn. “ How have you been Annie?”

    Annie smiled, “ I have been good. I thought that four years wouldn’t be enough for me to move on but it was sufficient enough.”

    Nie did not see the point of beating around the bush anymore, “ Annie, I am leaving for Marric three days from now to serve my probation. I knew that I blew the second chance you gave me and there is no way that I could do to take it back.”

    Annie nodded. “These past four years allowed me to grow and realize things. I had loved you Nie and that memory will always be a part of me. You will always have a special place in my heart.”

    “Annie, is this goodbye?” he asked quietly.

    “I think so. I heard about your plans, and I do believe you should need to answer a greater call.” Annie said, “I wouldn’t stop you. You’ve been through a lot Nie. I guess those were a part of your search and so was I.”

    Nie nodded. He had thought of the same thing. He had realized that he had been an instrument in Annie’s life and so had she been in his life. Their paths had intertwined to lead them to their own rightful path they should each take, separate paths.

    Annie took this opportunity and hugged him tightly. She released him and gave him a small box, “Open it before you leave for Marric.”

    She then took one last look at him as she slowly walked away from him. When she was inside the limousine, she looked back and saw Nie standing there, she felt the wound in her heart was now finally healed. All these years, she had realized that she and Nie were not meant to be, right from the start. Everything that happened in the past was fate’s way of showing them which way to go. Her feelings for him back then was an instrument that fate had used to show them the way. It was a solemn closure she had expected. Memories of the past flashed through her mind. Four years ago, she was on her way to visit Wallace in the hospital. She did not know that Nie was also there and she heard their conversation.

    “Go with her and leave Hoel. You should be able to live a new life with her somewhere else. Annie deserves to be happy after everything and so do you. I know that she loves you more than she can ever love me,” she had heard Wallace say to Nie.

    “You know that I should answer to the law. I love Annie but I know that if I start a new life with her somewhere else, it wouldn’t make us happy. How can we be happy if we’re gonna hide forever? I don’t know what to choose anymore,” Nie had answered him.

    “Take your time and think. Annie deserves to be happy,” Wallace had said.

    Annie closed her eyes. She had decided to come back the day after that only to find Wallace gone. She had been thinking all these years why Wallace had vanished without a word. All these years, Annie had one regret, why had she not seen that Wallace loved her more than Nie did. She remembered the day when she left Hoel and someone gave her the rose. She knew it was from Wallace. All those roses she thought had come from Nie were not from him, they were all from Wallace. Her youthful heart back then made a flimsy judgment, she now understood what love really is. She remembered how she had answered her father’s question before, “I could see myself with Wallace…to grow old with him.”

    Tears clouded her eyes. So much for that mistake, she felt that she wouldn’t see him again. Nevertheless, she had told herself that the next time she falls in love again, she would sure know what was real love.

    Three days later, Annie looked around and saw her bodyguard stayed where she wanted him to be, near the car. She smiled at herself; at least even if her father is still the President of Hoel, she does not need to be followed around often. She clutched her handbag happily. They had parked the car a few meters away from the church entrance where the christening of Rainie’s baby will be held. She was going to be the godmother of Nick and Rainie’s son.

    As she walked careful not to step on any mud puddles, a motorcycle at a fast speed passed by. It passed by a mud puddle and tiny specks of mud flew all over the place and stained the hemline of her dress. Annie angrily shouted, “You idiot! Look what you’ve done! You have no idea how much I paid for this dress and how long it took me to pick this out!”

    The rider halted a few feet in front of her and took of his helmet. It was Wallace. He looked better than the first time she had seen him. Memories of the past flashed in her mind: the kiss at the locker room, the confrontation at the hallway and the first time she met him at Biology class. As usual, he had on his leather jacket but underneath it, he was impeccably dressed in a white long-sleeved polo and black slacks.

    “Annie? When have you returned,” He asked her. He looked surprised to see her. “I did not know that you have returned from Paris.”

    Annie was still shocked to see him looking so healthy and happy. Wallace got a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her. “Oh thanks!” was all she managed to say.

    Nie took one last look at Hoel before he climbed aboard the helicopter to take him to Marric. He had declined to go to the christening of his sister’s son. He had felt that there was a need for him to go as soon as possible to Marric. He remembered Annie’s box, he slipped it out from his pocket and slowly opened it, inside it was the locket that Blue Feather wore which belonged to his mother, attached to it was a piece of paper and Nie read it:
    The Second Coming
    William Batler Yeats
    Things fall apart; the center cannot hold
    Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
    The blood-dimmed tide is loosened and everywhere
    The ceremony of innocence drowned.

    PS: this was how the world was when our paths intertwined. Now we are free but taking different directions. I wish you all the best. I’ll never forget you.

    Nie smiled sadly, he will never forget her either.

    After the christening, Annie had invited Wallace to the Palace for a small chitchat. They talked like nothing had come between them. Annie toured him around the Palace until they had reached the fountain.

    Annie felt that it was time to ask him about what he had done four years ago. “Wallace, why did you leave?”

    Wallace fell silent for a while and then answered, “ I felt like I did not deserve you Annie. I was washed over by guilt with what I have done. I deeply regret that. At that time, I knew you were going to choose Nie over me. I saw you wave the handkerchief at him when he left. If I hadn’t, I would have stopped you from going to the pier but I knew that you love him too much and that if you loved someone you’d wouldn’t feel contented until you know that he is safe. Annie, I was a coward. I did not wait long for your decision, I fled Hoel even if I wasn’t completely healed.”

    Annie remembered that one day after Wallace was pronounced by the doctors out of danger, she had come to visit him and he wasn’t there anymore. He did not left anything. Now she knew why.

    Wallace smiled at her, “ I had finished my studies too. I’ve just found out that I’ve passed the board exam. I am a lawyer now. All these years I was hoping that maybe I could do something for myself to make me deserve you. I knew it was stupid for me to hope because I knew that you will never be able to love me but I still hoped anyway.” Wallace was avoiding her eyes and he looked a little shy.

    Annie took his hands, “Wallace, I made a mistake. Four years ago, I have chosen Nie. All these years I’ve spent apart from Nie and you, I felt that the strongest longing I had was to be with you. I love you Wallace and I was so dumb not to have known it four years ago. I was blinded by the excitement of loving someone who was not really meant for me. I know that I may not be worthy enough to be given a second chance but I’m going to ask anyway, will you please love me for one more time?”

    Wallace looked at her with disbelief in his eyes for a moment before breaking into a happy smile.” I’ve never stopped loving you Annie.”

    Annie hugged him and he hugged her back. Annie never felt such bliss and she knew they would last forever.

    *****the end*****
    you cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore nie yuan

  18. #78
    Senior Member spotneck's Avatar
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    I was visiting this thread and tried to see how it is..this is my first fic though and back when I was deciding about the ending I had a poll to guide me and it's so interesting that when I checked the poll back, Wallace has took over the lead by 7 votes...pretty amazing...thanks guyS!
    you cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore nie yuan

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