Chapter 161 - Hope

Hunter's POV

I was groaning in pain as I was waking up from a long dream, and then I couldn't stop myself from falling back to sleep again. I was dreaming about my wife, and I was chasing her on the shore during our honeymoon on the beautiful beach of Magnolia, and she was laughing as she ran barefoot. I hate that no matter how much I want to have her in my arms, I can't catch her, and I wonder if we are now on our second honeymoon since I promise Madeline that I am going to take her to her favorite place once I got home. 

I became disoriented if where am I, and suddenly got worried when I remembered I am still at the mining site. I quickly opened my eyes, but all I can see is total darkness. And I can feel the excruciating pain in my entire body, and there is throbbing in my head. And then, I felt horrified when I remember there was a loud explosion, and I suddenly remember the screams of my men, and then the whole place turned so quiet. I tried to move my body, and I grunted in pain as I realized there is something on top of me and I am groping my hand, and I could hardly move because something is blocking my way. I remembered my phone in my pocket, and I moaned in pain as I try to pull out my phone from my pocket.

I felt so happy to hold my iPhone, and I bring it closer to my face, and I know I don't have any signal in this place, especially now that the earth covers me, and it feels like someone tried to bury my body alive. I dragged my feet as I slowly sat up on the hard ground, and I can feel something dripping on my face, and I realized I have some cut on my head because I can taste the iron taste of my blood on my mouth. I opened the passcode of my iPhone, and I smiled when I saw the beautiful face of my wife when I unlocked my phone. I felt so relieved that at last, I can now see my surroundings, and I realized Calixto was right, and I suddenly remembered my assistant, and I can't stop the rapid beating of my heart as I think the worst thing that could happen to him. 

I felt horrified when I looked around, and I can see a big rock not so far from me, and it made me realized I am still lucky that it didn't fall into my body, or else Madeline is now a widow. And I was hoping that there would be no more explosions since I don't know how I will leave this place, and I remember I promised my wife to have dinner with her in our house with my mom and Lily. And I missed having family dinner. And I can tell Maddie is now in our mansion waiting for me, and I hate to think that I will make her worry again. I need to get out of this place because I have to come home for my sweet, beautiful wife.

"Calixto! Cal! Hello! Anyone out there?" I shouted, but no one answered me, and I felt terrified if they all die during the explosion, especially Cal." And no matter how I tried to be calm, I couldn't stop myself from worrying about them, and most of all, I know the weather before getting inside. It was raining hard outside. I can tell no one will rescue us with that kind of weather because it could be dangerous for the rescuer as well.

I felt so devastated when I heard the beeping sound of my phone because watching my wife's picture is the only thing that keeps me going after hours of sitting in the same position without knowing if I can come out alive from this tunnel, and I am hoping everyone is alive. I need to off my phone, so I can save some battery when I needed it. At least I still have twenty percent of my battery, and the moment I turned off my cellphone, blackness enveloped me once again. I tried to move away from where I am, but my right leg is pressed between two gigantic chunks of rocks. And I need someone's help before I can move them away, and I can tell my right foot is not damage since I don't feel too much pain. I can't take it away, and it made me hard to move. 

Due to my frustration, I didn't realize I drifted to sleep, and when I woke up, I no longer open my eyes since I still can't see anything. And suddenly, I want to find Cal since he was bringing his backpack with him, and now I realized he was right when he told me it is better to be ready at all times, and I felt such a fool for laughing at him. I just felt glad I am wearing complete PPE gear, or else I could have damaged my head worse if I didn't wear any helmet. And I know I fainted when a rock hit my head, and I am just hoping I didn't have any blood clots. And I wish the throbbing that I felt on my head is only because of some lacerations or cuts but nothing serious.

I wake up, and I know it was already twenty-four hours after the incident, more or less. I am starving and felt so thirsty, and I can tell I am going to die since I don't have water. I need to eat my shirt since I felt so hungry, but eating it without water would be hard. I wished I could hear any sound that will tell me someone is alive. I am losing hope, but every time I felt like giving up, I can see the image of my wife on my head calling my name, and I am just happy that at least before I die, I was able to make up with Madeline. And We were given the last chance to be together, and I couldn't stop myself from smiling as I remember our last night together.

I am aware I only have forty-eight hours to live if I can't drink water, I will die. And given my situation, I know I will no longer survive since I don't have anything except my phone, which is now so low in battery because I can't stop myself from missing my wife, and I can't contain my urge to watch and touch her beautiful face on the screen.

"I hate that I am going to leave you, Madeline. I am sorry if I left you without saying goodbye, and without telling you how much I miss you. I wish I can see you one last time before I take my last breath so that you will know how much I long to grow old with you and watch our children grow, and I hope there is a way I can tell you how much I love and I don't want to leave you, my sweet wife." I talked to her again while watching her face on my cellphone, and now my battery is almost empty. I wished I called her before I get inside the mine. And right now, all I have are regrets since I didn't call her, and I was such an idiot.

I want to take aside all my worries as I tried my best to think of all the beautiful things I did with Madeline, but I only ended up crying and sobbing. And I realized why it has to transpire now that we are back together, for once I want to give my wife complete happiness, and I couldn't imagine what would be her reaction the moment she will learn I am among the people who are trapped inside the mining ground.

I did everything I can to pull out my right leg, and I laugh like a lunatic when I suddenly remember to remove my shoe on my right foot. I felt so relieved that at last, I tugged my right leg closer to me, and it felt so numb, but at least I can now make another position in sitting and lying on the hard ground, for the first time after so many hours of being trapped I was able to stand up on my feet. Still, I hold on to the wall of the tunnel because I felt my entire world is spinning, maybe because I haven't eaten and drink anything.

I sat back on the ground, and I can feel my body is shivering, and I know I need to fight to survive for my wife. Still, no matter how wealthy I am, I know this time my money can't do anything because it would never be easy for the rescuer to locate our location unless I can find a way to communicate to the outer world to let them know I am still alive that is why I need to get out from here and look for anything I can use to give them signal that I am waiting for them to rescue me, but since I don't have anything to light my way I can't see anything.

"Hunter!!!!" My tears fall on my cheeks the moment I heard Cal's voice echoed the entire place as he called my name, and I was afraid I was only hallucinating.

"Hunter!!!! Hellooooo, anyone?" I heard his voice again.

"Cal! I am here." I shouted back, and I felt so happy that at least Calixto found me, and he is here to give me hope. And I realized I still have the chance to see Madeline again. My heart is overwhelmed with too much happiness when I realized my assistant, best friend, father, and sometimes my boss, Calixto Morgan, is still alive.