Joshua’s private plane arrived in Rhukashlavia just around midnight. Upon arrival Joshua gathered up two other agents from the palace who would go with him to the Dark Thieves’ lair to finally rescue Lucas. It wasn’t long until they had arrived at the desert cave, which is only one lair of many that belonged to the Dark Thieves.
“Now, listen,” began Joshua. He faced the two other agents before entering the cave. “Just do whatever I say, and stick close!”
Joshua went on ahead while the other two agents followed. The cave was dark and dry, and the sand beneath them was somewhat slippery. Each step was taken as cautiously and silently as possible. The further they went, the more downhill they were going.
For safe measure, Joshua watched each footstep he took with a small flashlight. The other two agents did the same with their own flashlights.
“Stop,” whispered Joshua in the Rhukashlavian language. “The temperature is dropping dramatically, and I’m unsure of our position on this downward slope. I think that they may have spotted us.”
“What’s next?” whispered Liam.
Joshua looked back. Water started to flow from behind them. Joshua pulled out a special rope and handed it to the two agents.
“Whatever you do, don’t let go,” whispered Joshua. “I’ve got you.”
They both attached the special rope to their arms and held on tightly. At that moment the water reached them and they began to slide down the sandy slope at a rapid rate.
“It’s getting harder to hold on, sir!” yelled out David to Joshua.
“Right!” yelled back Joshua. “We need a new plan!”
“So,” yelled Liam. “What is it?”
“Well,” yelled out Joshua. “First of all, keep holding on as tight as you can! Second, um, start swimming the wherever I swim.”
“That’s your plan?” yelled out Liam.
“Yes,” replied Joshua. “For now it is.”
At first they began to swim with the flow of the water down the steep slope. It was only a moment into it that Joshua realized that the end of the slope went to an even steeper drop, which was now a waterfall right ahead of them. Joshua turned around quickly. Liam and David obviously did the same.
“I know it sounds impossible, but we have to now swim against the tide!” yelled out Joshua.
“Whatever you say!” replied David.
“We’re going to die!” cried out Liam.
“Don’t forget, men!” said Joshua. “We are in a desert, so there is an end to the water supply! Just keep swimming against the tide! We won’t die! At least we won’t this time!”
It was only a few more minutes into their swim that the water flow had finally stopped. They were at the bottom of the slope just a few feet away from the steep drop. They were now all wet and covered with sticky sand, which still surprisingly surrounded them.
“We’re not dead!” happily whispered Liam.
“Yes,” replied Joshua. He stood up to look at their surroundings with the use of his wet flashlight. “Not yet at least.”
“Why the change of mind, sir?” asked David as he stood up as well.
“I think we might trapped,” replied Joshua as he used his flashlight to survey the surroundings. “I could likely find a safe way out of here, but nothing reminds me of my education from my childhood about this specific cave.”
“What about Lucas, sir?” asked David.
“You’re right,” replied Joshua. “We’ll find him first, and then we’ll find a way out.”
“Don’t worry,” said a familiar voice from the darkness. “I know exactly where he is. I’ve been waiting for you to finally arrive, Josh.”
“Max!” said Joshua as he pointed his flashlight at Max.
“You don’t need that!” yelled out Max angrily.
At that moment the whole cave lighted up. Joshua and the two agents turned off their flashlights. They also took off the special rope from their arms.
“Don’t you dare harm these men, Max!” demanded Joshua. “You can harm me instead.”
“No,” replied Max. “In fact, I don’t intend on harming any of you. I will show you the way out.”
“Where is Lucas?” asked Joshua. “I will exchange my life for him if I have to. We just came to bring him to safety.”
“That’s tempting, but, no, I will not do something like that,” replied Max.
Joshua started to walk forward.
“Get out of my way!” demanded Joshua as he tried to push himself past Max.
The sound of guns clicking above him started to sound. The sight of red laser beams were now pointed right at him. Joshua stood still in disgust.
“Now that I have you in one place, I have something important to show you,” said Max as he pulled out his cell phone. “This is a silent film to help you cope. Just look at what we did to Lucas just an hour ago.”
Joshua looked down at the cell phone as the one minute film began. Angry tears began to well up into Joshua’s eyes as he watched the horrid scene. He then looked back up at Max.
“You killed him,” Joshua whispered at first. “How could this be? Is this even true? Where’s the sound? Why didn’t you kill me instead?”
“Didn’t I already?” replied Max. “Look at you. You never cry!”
“By royal order, you are under arrest, Max,” said Joshua.
“No, I’m not,” replied Max.
It was then that the red laser beams disappeared and everything became dark again. Joshua heard very little as Max had mysteriously vanished from not only his sight but from his presence as well.
“So, what are your orders, sir?” asked David.
Joshua saw an open light to the left. A doorway was opened for them.
“Retreat,” replied Joshua. “We have difficult business to discuss with the royals. Unfortunately, we must report one man down now.”
After they had finished their long, slow trek home, Joshua gave the information to the royal family about their journey to the Dark Thieves’ lair. He then went into his room to make a call to his fiancé, Jlanda.
“Yes?” she responded on the other line.
“The wedding is off,” said Joshua calmly.
“What?” replied Jlanda with a tear in her eye.
“I can’t be with you and protect the people of Rhukashlavia,” replied Joshua. “I’m here until the Dark Thieves are no longer a threat.”
“I don’t understand,” replied Jlanda.
“Lucas is dead,” replied Joshua. “I saw it on video. Max won on this one.”
“That… that can’t be,” replied Jlanda.
“He could’ve lived if I would’ve just been here and not there!” yelled Joshua.
“I’m so sorry, Joshua,” replied Jlanda through her tears. “If I would’ve known, I wouldn’t have had you not come back to the States. You’re just not normally here during Christmas, so I thought it would be special for the both us just for once.”
“I love you, Jlanda,” said Joshua calmly. “You just need to see that I can’t be with you anymore. I have my duty. This is the reason I live my life.”
They talked for a few more minutes and then the call ended. It was at that moment there was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” said Joshua sadly.
Dr. Daniels entered the room.
“I can’t help but eavesdrop, but why did you just break up with her?” asked Dr. Daniels.
“My love for her is a hindrance to my love for the people of this country,” replied Joshua. “Lucas is dead. I could’ve saved him!”
“Let the mathematician straighten out your view of all this,” replied Dr. Daniels as he sat in a chair across from Joshua’s bed. “First of all, you saw it on a silent video, or so you think. He might not actually be dead. Second, Jlanda is the only girl who could balance you out. She loves you, and you actually love her. You can love her and protect Rhukashlavia at the same time. Seriously, you need a life, and being with her helps you have just that.”
“Why do you suppose he’s not dead then?” asked Joshua.
“He can’t overpower the Dark Thieves, but you can,” began Dr. Daniels. “The best way they can overpower you is by making you focus on your supposed failure. And, if my memory serves me well, which it does, I remember you telling me before that the Dark Thieves don’t like easy targets. And isn’t Lucas too easy of a target for them?”
“You are indeed correct,” replied Joshua. “What else are you thinking?”
“I won’t share all that,” replied Dr. Daniels. “Just think about it. There is still hope.”
Joshua pondered the thought for a moment.
“You’re not going to back down from this idea, are you?” asked Joshua.
“Until you have real proof of this, your mission to save Lucas from danger isn’t over,” replied Dr. Daniels. “I’ll contact the royals and see if I can be the backup on your new mission.”
“And the mission starts when?” asked Joshua.
“It starts now,” replied Dr. Daniels.