Loving Madeline

Hunter's POV

My voice is rasped as I continue shouting Cal's name, and the light of his flashlight made me close my eyes.

"Hunter?" He said, but before I can answer him, I passed out since I became too weak after I used my strength when I called him so he can hear me.

I woke up when I felt something is poking me, and I can tell there is light all over the place. And I groaned in pain again, and no matter how I want to open my eyes, I felt too weak to open them. And I realized Cal was using a stick when he poked my body since he can't come near me because I am trapped between solid soils and rocks.

"Hunter, you need to wake up so you can drink some water and eat some food." I heard Cal's voice, and I only grunt since I can't move, and I felt like I am going to die, and I can feel the pain all over my body, and it made me harder to move my limbs.

"If you still want to see your wife, you need to fight, Hunter. It would be best if you crawled to me since I can't come to you because of this rock that blocks me from coming to you. At least there is a hole where I can hand you some bottled water and food. Hunter! It would be best if you listened to me. You can't die yet unless you don't want to see your wife anymore. And if you want your father and your evil siblings to hurt Madeline, Leticia, and Lily, then don't move and let your hunger and thirst kill you." He said, and his last words made my entire body feel active even if I know I don't have the strength to move.

And Cal was right; I need to get strong to give out from this place to see Madeline again. I need to go home to her because I need to fulfill my promise, and I can't just leave her without saying goodbye. And I can't allow my father to hurt my mom and sister, especially my wife. Most of all, I can't let Parker and Charlotte take advantage of the situation right now, and thinking those things made me more determined to fight even if my body is too weak to do anything, and I know only my mind is active as of the moment.

I tried my best to open my eyes, and then I used the strength of my upper body to drag my lower body because I felt the numbness all over my legs, maybe because of my position that I am sandwich between the mining wall and the big rocks that almost hit my frame. I couldn't open my eyes because the light from his flashlight is blinding me, and I know I still need to adjust since it feels like a long time ago that I used my cellphone to light my surroundings.

And I am aware I only have a little space now, enough to lay down, but I need to curl my legs since I can feel the ground keeps moving. The last time I can remember, I could still stretch my limbs, and Cal was right. There is a hole where he can pass me the water and food. And I need to talk with him, so I can ask him to help me get out of this enclosure.

"Hunter! Son! Are you even listening to me? I don't have a choice now but to throw the water bottle at you, but I would be grateful if you could use your hand to get it and drink the water, and I know why you are not answering me, you are now dehydrated that is why you need to have water. Then you need to eat, but for now, you need to drink this water first. You don't need to worry because I found additional drinking water when I was looking for you. We are so lucky because we have proper ventilation in this area; maybe by some miracle, the airflow splitters are still functioning. Well." He said, and suddenly I felt the bottle hit my stomach, and I hold it in my hands, and I can feel my tears poured down on my cheeks as I realized I still have the chance to meet Madeline again.

I try to sit up, and with trembling hands, I opened the cap, and I slowly take the water into my mouth, and I realized I felt so weak that I find it so hard to bring the water into my mouth. When I have it in my mouth, I slowly drink the water, and I can feel a sting on my stomach as I continue drinking the water.

"Take it slow, son, there you go. I know we are in a precarious situation right now. We need to find a way to communicate with the outside world. That is why you need to get stronger, and you don't need to worry. I am aware we can find something we can use to send an SOS message to the rescuers, and I can't do it alone without you." Cal declared, and I wanted to speak, but I know if I am going to talk, I will drain my energy more, I will talk later when I got some energy, and I know I need to leave this place before I die from being sandwich of these rocks and the wall of the mine since I can feel that movement underground.

After eating something and drink additional more water, I drifted back to sleep, and when I woke up, I felt a little better. And I can hear the thumping on the wall, and I realized Cal is digging a hole from the other side, and I smiled. And it made me realized even if I was trapped underground, I still need Calixto's expertise. I am afraid to die because of my family, especially Madeline.

"Calixto! Cal!" I called Calixto when he stopped digging, and I felt so glad that I finally found my voice again, and I saw the light coming from a distance, and I am just happy the rock is shielding my eyes from the blinding light.

"Hunter, are you awake?" He asked, and I can hear the concern in his voice, and I laughed for the first time after being trapped in this place since it still feels like we are back in the office as I heard Calixto's worried voice.

"Yes! I am still alive, Cal." I replied, and I heard him chuckled, and as I adjusted the light, I can now see his face on the hole, and it feels so lovely to see him for a long time.

"Thank goodness that you survive. I thought I lost you. And I couldn't believe after almost three days without water and food, and you are still alive." He said, and I couldn't believe it has been three days already.

"Are you sure we are still alive, Calixto, maybe we both died, and we are now in limbo?" I said, and his laughter echoed the entire area.

"I can't die yet, Hunter. I need to come home to my wife and whisper in her ear that I am so in love with her, and I still need to celebrate my fifty-eight birthday." He said, and I smiled because we have the same reason, we can't die yet because we both need to see our wives. And I remember his wife asked Madeline and me to attend his surprise birthday, and I wonder how his wife deal with this situation that no one out there knows that we are still alive. I can feel the pang on my chest when I realized Madeline also has the same dilemma right now. And Cal's birthday is two months away, and I hope we can attend his surprise birthday.

"I know Cal, and I want to do the same to Maddie," I said.

"Of course, I am even thinking of going back to my wife even if we are old already. How much more about you, your wife is still so young, and I am sure Madeline can find a young man right away." He said, and his words made me sat up straight.

"Stop that, Cal, I am not going to die, and there is no way I am going to die young. I can't make Madeline become a widow because I promise to be there with her until our hair turns gray, and I won't let another man touch my wife because she is mine, Cal." I said.

"Oh, I see, that is good to know, Mr. Divenson; if you want to go home to your wife, you need to move your ass now so you can get out from there." He said, and I can tell he only did it to pressure me to stand on my feet.

"How are you going to help me to get out from here, Cal?" I asked, and he used his flashlight to answer my question by pointing it on the ground on the soil on my left side, and I realized he was already digging on this part.

"Did you find something we can use to dig out?" I asked.

"Yes, fortunately, I found a pickaxe, and this is best for digging hard soil and rocks." He said, and I smiled how he became so lucky tonight, or maybe he brought this tool without telling me as part of his always ready scheme. Still, I must admit without Cal's boy scout attitude, I could have died without him, and this time I will forever be grateful to him for saving my life.

And I know the big challenge we need to do right now is how I can get out from where I am since I am facing these rocks and solid soil, and I know this soil is hard as a rock, and I am still weak, but we are out of time since the ground is moving and I can get pressed between them and die right away.

"Give it to me, Cal," I said, and he handed me the pick, and I start excavating right away while he lights me up as I was digging. And I know we need more water if we exert more effort since we will have sweat all over our bodies. I removed my coat and my inner shirt so I can move freely.

"Don't worry, the moment you got tired, I will dig on the other side so you can rest, don't lose your hope, Hunter, I know even if you are too weak at this moment, you are trying your best to do that since there is only one thing playing on your head right now, I know how much do you want to come home to be reunited with Madeline," Cal said, and I can't talk back with him while digging since I know I will lose more energy.

Cal was right. I am doing all this to be with my wife because I miss kissing her sensual lips and wrap my arms around her waist while her head is on my chest as we sleep together in our bed. I am willing to dig how thick the soil can be or how hard the rock is, and I am ready to endure everything as long as I can be with Madeline again because I am missing her like crazy, and I can't wait to be with her. My wife is giving me the strength that I need. And I know Madeline will never give me up easily, and she is waiting for me to come home.