Chereads / ANCHOR / Chapter 5 - # Ep 5: THE ASSIGNMENT

Chapter 5 - # Ep 5: THE ASSIGNMENT

Days pass by and the teams are hanging by a thread with BELLE releasing surprises one after another.

On one particular morning the teams are seen wearing bomb diffusing gear in an open field.

BELLE Through a loud horn

"Today as per your gear you know we are diffusing bombs…this being a training…they are not real…however, since I want you to take this exercise seriously…one of them is real…I will be watching from afar…team work is key…make sure one of you doesn't kill the rest of you…

(Murmurs from the teams)

TEAM MEMBER TWO

"is she serious? Every day I come to work am fighting for my life you'd think it's the criminals we fight against…no…just our tactical trainer trying so hard to finish us off."

JOHN Looks at her concerned as they walk away from the teams

BELLE

"Don't worry…They are all fake…but a few of them are rigged with a fireworks"

she smiles cheerfully

"Also, I have placed cameras in specific areas of the training field…

JOHN gives her a questioning look

BELLE

"I mean for training purposes of course…but promise you I will re watch it for a good laugh…You were right from the first day, anytime I get the chance to get back at them I will. Its been so much fun so far"

JOHN shakes his head in disbelief

The teams carry out the exercise successfully, just as they are about to finish…the last bomb goes off unexpectedly… the chaos ensues while BELLE laughs her head off…

BELLE amused

" These are not armatures I knew they would succeed so I rigged the last one to go off just with a slight touch ."

JOHN

"Seriously"

BELLE

"Uncle JOHN,I know you are way older than I am but let me give you a piece of advice, never make a deal while you are desperate, these men are suffering because you promised to never question my training methods"

JOHN

"Princess..."

BELLE

"If that word has never grown on me all these years, it definitely will not grow now... also because you told me he reason am going to start to have even "rougher tendencies"..."

JOHN chuckles

"Am here for it... I have always been a fan of you because your "rough tendencies" were always to protect those who couldn't protect themselves...so go wild Princess"

He hums cheerfully as he walks back to his car leaving BELLE with a slight smile on her face .

After the training the members assemble in the debriefing room and she replays the videos trying so hard to hold in laughter.

BELLE Pauses the clip

" If a stranger were to pass by the scene when the bomb went off he would have wondered why Korea was hiding such great talent. The speed at which most of you sprinted...TEAM MEMBER TWO you should be in the National Athletics Team, if I show them this video you will have a direct acceptance...

She points onto the screen as some of the members are trying to hold in laughter while TEAM MEMBER TWO looks down embarrassed. She continues not letting him off the hook easily

"Look here is where you broke the hundred meter world record...the two hundred meter record... all while wearing gear, imagine if you were in track shorts..."

(in a serious tone)

" In a real-life experience, there are no takebacks…you cannot retract your moves …lives will be at stake. Not only yours but of others as well…you have to know how to handle such scenarios…That is why we train so that in the actual event we prevent damage but most importantly loss of lives."

She requests a report from the team leaders and leaves the room.

Later that week a Keypad beeps, BELLE enters her apartment unit exhaling as she drops her car keys in a tray by the door, kicks off her shoes and wears indoor slippers. She connects her phone to Bluetooth and dances to a tune. She gets into the Shower sings offkey to the song in the background she leaves the shower humming, wearing hot pink pajamas pink bunny slippers and a pink bunny ears headband.

Meanwhile…in the outskirts of Seoul in a building under renovation ,HEAD ducks under what seem to be office desks. He looks over at his team mates and signals each on which direction to take. A criminal FIRES his gun at them , barely missing. The Boys on the ground scrambling for cover. AEGIS fires back and covers ALLURE who is out of ammunition.

HEAD stealthily crawls close to CRIMINAL trips him and disarms him. He chokes his neck leading to the criminal passing out. He passes the weapon to ALLURE and they give each other hand signals on how to proceed.

More footsteps...

HEAD to the boys through their ear pieces

"We are low on ammunition and there's more of them, we need backup."

HEAD takes out his mobile phone and dials.

Back in BELLE'S apartment the music has stopped and she is relaxing on the sofa watching TV and enjoying some noodles. Suddenly her phone rings she looks at it and notices its HEAD.

BELLE a bit surprised speaking to Herself while stuffing the last part of her meal into her mouth

"Aaaah…at this hour? they do not have a field assignment at this hour…Is it woman trouble? His wife looks kind of scary"

Answering the phone

"Yes…"

HEAD out of breath Whispering frantically_

"We need backup am texting you the coordinates we are outgunned and outnumbered"

BELLE Jumps from her seat takes the car keys and runs off. She drives wildly on the highway determined look on her face.

Back to the boys one of the criminals enters into the door way of the room where the boys are held in AUGER chokes him from behind and silently lays him to the ground and disarming him. The boys leave the room and are cautiously walking along the building hallway. Another criminal sees them and starts to shoot. They take cover in another room which also looks like an office.

One of CRIMINALS follows them into the room with his gun pointed out. AEGIS who is hiding behind the door kicks the gun out of his hand tackles him to the ground and chokes him to sleep.

Another criminal enters the room and tries to hit AEGIS with a metal rod AUGER blocks it and it hits his arm instead. ALLURE AND HEAD also tackling others. As ALLURE is tackling another one, the criminal bites his hand He gets him in a chokehold and when he passes out he smacks the back of the passed out CRIMINALS head.

HEAD to ALLURE

"Was that necessary?"

ALLURE

"He bit my shooting hand…"

More CRIMINALS enter the room and fierce hand to hand fight ensues against the boys.

BELLE frantically parks by the entrance of Wolf Agencies building scaring the security guards who bow slightly when they see her ,she runs to the weapons room.

OFFICER IN CHARGE OF WEAPONS ROOM

"Who..are.." Realizing its BELLE

OFFICER IN CHARGE OF WEAPONS ROOM

"Ooh..it…s ..you ..maam…I couldn't recognize you with the you know…"

He touches his head

BELLE is still in her bunny ears slippers and headband as well as her pink pajamas .She picks a sniper riffle and some ammunition and leaves the room yelling

"There's no time …check the CCTV footage to record the items I have taken"

Back to the Boys on a rooftop of the opposite building a lone figure is perched. BELLE'S hands move deftly as she adjusts the rifle's scope and takes aim at a distant target. Her expression is calm and focused, as if she is completely in control of the situation. She speaks into her ear piece

BELLE to HEAD

"Are you still alive"

HEAD sighs

BELLE

"I need you to lure them to the windows."

The boys do as BELLE instructs and lure the criminals to her vicinity and one by one she takes out the criminals.

Just then a bullet sweeps past ALLURE'S ears and someone falls behind him. He had not seen the criminal who was creeping behind him.

ALLURE to BELLE

"You know I haven't married yet who will marry me with one ear?"

BELLE chuckles

"Is that how you thank me for saving your neck? when you have children…"

She shoots another criminal

"One of them should be named after me…"

ALLURE Maneuvering behind what looks like filing cabinets

"What if I have only sons"

BELLE

"Especially if you have sons"

ALLURE

"True I wouldn't want my daughter to be …"

BELLE In a threatening voice

"Just so you know I have a direct shot to your head from where I am, If I were you, I would think of how I want to finish that statement."

ALLURE

"I think there is static…I …can't…"

BELLE

"I can still see you…"

ALLURE ducks down behind a desk

BELLE to HEAD

"It's quiet over there are you all alive?"

HEAD

"Yes.."

She exhales deeply

The boys look around. The situation seems under control. As sirens get closer and closer. BELLE rushes over to the next building just as the police arrive and barricade the area. One by one the criminals are being cuffed and taken out of the building. BELLE rushes to her boys carrying her first aid Kit. She enters the room where the boys are resting and exhales in relief.

ALLURE out of breath. Sigh of relief

"I never thought I would say this in this lifetime but I'm happy to see you"

HEAD breathing heavily trying to sit up properly

HEAD to BELLE

"What are you wearing…"

The rest of the boys look at her in her bunny ears and pink bunny slippers. BELLE squatting next to ALLURE checking for injuries

"Next time I should just take my time, put on proper clothing even some makeup while your heads are being blown off.."

She cleans and bandages ALLURE'S knife wound on the leg tying the bandage extra tight.

ALLURE Complaining

"AAAAh…I didn't say anything why am I being punished, besides I like the way you are dressed at least you look approachable"

BELLE shoots him a look he realizes his mistake

"Not that you are not… approachable… usually"

She then moves to AEGIS and finds a few bruises on the face she starts to inspect the other parts of his body…she gives him a death stare as he tries to stand up he meekly sits back down.

BELLE to AEGIS

"What happened…you are not supposed on be on duty tonight."

AEGIS admiring her face as she cleans his wounds

BELLE

"Are your ears working well..."

she touches his ears

"Why are they hot…plus I asked you a question and you didn't respond"

AEGIS collects himself In a voice mixed with justification and slight embarrassment

"What…And why would you touch someone's ears like that? right now my entire body is hot…

I have been fighting and running for my life…"

BELLE

"What… it was just a simple question...maybe the gunshots deafened you…it happens no need to get all worked up."

BELLE continues to clean the wound on his neck

AEGIS

"Team two requested for backup last minute and we showed up to help not knowing the client had illegal dealings"

BELLE

"And how did you get separated"

AEGIS

"They managed to leave with the client when the chaos started as we held back

the criminals."

BELLE inspects him and pats him from up and down painfully

AEGIS Complains…

BELLE

"Am trying to check if anything is broken…"

She then moves to AUGER who is seated on the floor leaning on a desk and bleeding through his uniform. She tears off his shirt. He tries to resist BELLE scoffs and proceeds to assess the knife wound

"Now you are shy…this was the first part of your body I saw before even seeing your face and you even made an effort and brought it up close."

BELLE pours the sterilizing alcohol on AUGER'S wound, he winces in pain

AUGER out of breath…

"You must be enjoying this huh?"

BELLE

"You are right, one of the best nights of my life"

She then bandages him tightly and then moves to HEAD who is resting on an office chair. She pulls a chair over closer to a desk.

BELLE

"I will Ask you Nicely to take off your pants..."

The other swiftly boys give them full attention as BELLE continues

"I knew you wouldn't let me look at you unless your boys had received first aid"

BELLE takes a combat knife from AUGER'S boots and rips open the left part of HEADS trouser. Blood gushes from his thigh.

BELLE

"Do you prefer we do this on the chair seated or lying down?"

HEAD

"Who raised you…even normal statements come out of your mouth sounding foul…"

BELLE

"No...as you said normal statements.... don't blame your foul interpretation on me"

HEAD drags himself and lies on the desk

BELLE pulls HEADS combat knife from his boot and puts the back part of the knife in his mouth

BELLE

"Bite on that... "

Without warning she pours some alcohol on the wound HEAD sweats in pain. She then sterilizes the other knife

HEAD winces in pain that the knife in his mouth falls off

"help is already here you don't have to remove it…"

BELLE Looking at the knife excited… and putting back the knife into HEADS mouth

" I too would have preferred it if you had this bullet removed with the help of some painkillers but Help is still combing the entire building right now, looking for casualties by the time they get to you it might be too late. Besides, am not doing this for you am scared of your wife, If I let you die she will kill me."

BELLE To the other boys

"I need him to be held down we don't want him limping for life because I nicked something I shouldn't"

HEAD looks uneasy BELLE gloves on proceeds to remove the bullet as Head grunts in raw pain… while sweating profusely. Finally she bandages his leg, with the help of the other Boys puts him on one of the swinging office chairs and push him towards the elevator with the boys dragging behind her.

They ride the elevator down where BELLE ensures all the boys have been loaded on ambulances she jumps into the ambulance carrying HEAD and they ride to the hospital.

At the hospital, the first responders wheel HEAD into the ER, while briefing the doctors BELLE trails behind. As the doctors close the curtains and attend to HEAD. The other boys also arrive to the same hospital and are each assigned doctors. BELLE sighs and waits anxiously in the hallway.

JONH arrives panting from running .Trying to catch his breath...

"I just… heard"

BELLE

"they are all receiving treatment HEAD is in a bad shape but the rest am sure will pull through"

JOHN inspects her from head to toe with the bunny look

"Wha…"

BELLE exhales before he finishes his question

" why is everyone concerned about how am dressed next time I should just show up naked at least that's worth talking about…"

JOHN chuckles and pats the bunny ears on her head she snickers

JOHN

"You did well…remind me to buy you milkshakes…when this is all over…"

Just then HEADS WIFE arrives

BELLE to HEAD'S wife

"He is in surgery… they will update us soon…"

She also stands with them in hallway anxious then she notices BELLE'S attire …JOHN gives her a warning look and mouths the word"…don't." while shaking his head. They patiently wait in the hallway.

The next morning, BELLE visits the boys' ward with porridge

ALLURE

"Aaaaw! am touched you made us porridge so you love us and just pretend to be mean"

BELLE scoffs awkwardly

"Please...! Its store bought..."

ALLURE

"But I have seen you with this flask before..."

BELLE

"Aaaaaa…Are you really feeling unwell you talk like someone with a lot of energy. Here.."

She puts some in a bowl and hands it to him

"Use that energy to eat..."

HEAD grunts a laugh

BELLE

"Besides you are all here there is nothing to do at the office."

HEAD

"Thanks …"

as he tries to sit up

BELLE hands a bowl to AEGIS and points to HEAD

"Feed him"

AEGIS

"Why me you feed him"

BELLE

"If his wife walks in here and finds me feeding him porridge…I will also be hospitalized…"

ALLURE

"She should have walked in yesterday when you were ripping his pants off then.."

Just then HEADS WIFE walks in…

ALLLURE pretends to eat and goes quiet

BELLE ..sighs...Bites her teeth looks at ALLURE

"Now you keep quiet…"

She shoots ALLURE a threatening look while ALLURE looks down fast pretending to be concentrating on his porridge.

The room gets awkward as HEAD speaks to his wife. The other boys leave to go to their rooms but BELLE stays unmoved. AEGIS comes back for her and she leaves grudgingly.

AEGIS

"I thought you were smart, couldn't you read the room that it was time to leave?"

BELLE

"Ohh I read the room perfectly fine...why did you come back for me...by now you know I thrive on peoples discomfort...I wanted to know if he was going to be yelled at...especially at the hospital ,what if he would have been yelled at in my presence?...now I will never get closure because you came back for me...

Probably she is not as scary as everyone says but her reaction today would have solved that mystery for me"

AEGIS scoffs

BELLE scoffs back

"you ruined a perfectly good fact finding mission"

AEGIS

"And how would that information benefit you?"

BELLE

"If she is truly scary as you people say, I would have been her friend and she could be my ticket to control HEAD, if I control HEAD,I control the rest of you? If she isn't' then there is no point in putting in all the work?"

AEGIS

"How does your mind work...?"

BELLE

"I know... I surprise myself a times too"

AEGIS

"It was not a compliment..."

BELLE

"I know...I was complimenting myself."

Scoff from AEGIS as he walks into his room while BELLE leaves the hospital.

Several days later…BELLE walks into the office to find all the boys back. She smiles pleased.

ALLURE

"You seem so happy to see us."

BELLE frowns

"Am just relieved there was a lot of work but now you guys are here, I will hand over to you.Before you resume office work would you guys like to carry out some exer…"

THE BOYS

"Noo!"

BELLE

"Really…I mean I just wanted you to stretch after lying in bed for a while"

The boys fumble

AUGER

"You know reports"

HEAD

"Yes reports on what …happened that day…you know.."

BELLE leaves for her office, JOHN meets her along the hallway

JOHN

"Tonight, am buying drinks and beef"

BELLE Genuinely Pleased

"I knew from the first day that working for you was the best career move."

JOHN smiles and walks away

That night ,JOHN is seated at a table where food and drinks have been served. The boys have already started eating and drinking. BELLE is the last to arrive at the venue

She complains to JOHN

"What are they doing here…I thought it was just the two of us"

JOHN Feigning ignorance

"I didn't tell you…I thought I did. Sit, sit"

JOHN beckons for more beef the boys feast happily.

BELLE tries to sit next to AUGER He pushes her away

AUGER

"No…no... go and sit elsewhere you will kill my chances of getting

ladies tonight if you sit next to me."

She scoffs and looks around there's an empty spot between HEAD and ALLURE, she ignores it and squeezes between ALLURE and AEGIS

ALLURE

"Why did you leave the empty spot"

BELLE Looking at him threateningly

"After what you said at the hospital what do you think would happen if she comes in here and finds me drinking next to her husband…"

ALLURE Nodding in agreement

"Yeah, she is pretty scary..."

BELLE drinks quietly as the guys chat away excitedly. Later in the night, JOHN Stands up, looks at BELLE

"I leave them in your care, I can't hold my alcohol well like I did when I was young."

He bids them goodbye and leaves. BELLE still drinking silently

ALLURE

"Even when you drink you are scary… you don't loosen up?"

BELLE

"It's because am the type to remember everything that happens while am drunk. Anytime am drinking and I feel a surge of confidence specially to do something I have never done I stop drinking and go home."

ALLURE

"So, you mean you have never done anything embarrassing while drunk?"

BELLE

"Never!"

ALLURE AND AUGER

How are you still sober…

BELLE

"Aaaaa…Am drinking with a bunch of lightweights, I was hoping that I could pick a partner for a drinking competition the boys look at AEGIS amused."

HEAD

"It's a good thing you know…how to hold your alcohol. A woman with crude behavior as yours must always know how to hold their alcohol…otherwise, it would be the best time to get back at you."

BELLE shoots him a death look

HEAD

"I mean a woman as tough… as you…tough…"

He continues to sip his alcohol meekly

Finally, the team calls it a night. AEGIS hails a taxi for BELLE.

BELLE just as she is about to get into the cab

"Maintain this gentlemanly behavior when we go on our next date...

He scoffs and walks away fast as BELLE smiles and her cab drives away.