Loving Madeline

Hunter's POV

"Hunter, you need to stop. You are still weak, don't worry, we still have tomorrow." I heard Cal yelled at me as I continue to dig the hard soil. I am only wearing my boxer shorts to lessen the heat, and I can tell Cal is doing the same. We can't see each other because we only use the hole to communicate, but I can hear him still digging on the other side.

"What if the ground moves again tonight? I will be dead by tomorrow, Cal," I replied, and I heard him laughed. I know I owe Calixto my life.

"You will not die, Hunter, believe me, I think after one week it will happen, don't worry, I will work double time tomorrow. We need to rest now, and I think we should find time to talk. I miss you, you know, for almost three days I haven't heard your voice. I thought I am going to die alone in this place. I felt so glad that you are alive, Hunter. I couldn't imagine myself facing Madeline and tell her the bad news. How can I tell your wife that you are dead? I think I will pretend I became mute after this accident rather than tell Madeline you died. That is why I am asking you to fight and don't die." He said, and I can't stop laughing at what Cal had said and crying at the same time as I remember my wife's face.

"Son, if you want to see another sunshine, and if you want to see Madeline again, you better listen to me and stop digging right now." He said, and I knelt into the ground, and I felt so frustrated that after hours of digging, I still couldn't see the other side. And I know Cal was excavating on the other side as well. I wish I am a superhero so I could quickly remove the rocks so I can get out. I felt so devastated that I got trapped in this place where I can feel my days are numbered. If Calixto didn't find me, I am sure I am dead by now. I wiped my sweat with the face towel given to me by Cal, and I am impressed by what he had brought with him, and I couldn't believe his bag is a magic bag. He got so many food supplies, and I smiled when he told me we can still survive for more than one month if we are not rescued by then, provided I can get out from my cell.

"At last, you stopped. You better find time to relax, Hunter. It would be best if you recover from your dehydration before you exhaust yourself. I can't see your frame, but I can tell you are now thin. You better drink more water and eat this now. You know when I packed these goods, it feels like an angel told me to bring multivitamins, as I felt so glad I did listen to that voice, and I can tell we will remain physically fit, and mind you I also bring Vitamin D, so I am sure we will survive." Cal said, and I shook my head, and I want to come out from my enclosure and hug Cal. 

"You know what, Cal, I want to hang a medal around your neck right now. You are my hero." I said, and he laughed.

"Tell me that when we get out from here safely. I have never been so terrified in my life, not even when I saw Rebecca got hit in the car. The moment I heard the explosion and the ground shook, I know it could be our end. When I saw the debris of solid soil and rocks fell on us before the whole place got so dark, I never expected to be still alive today. I thought when I woke up, I am in hell since it was so dark, and my entire body is aching, and my limbs are numb." Cal said.

"Did you passed out too?" I asked.

"Yeah, the last thing I heard is shouts from your men, and I am just hoping they are still alive out there. That is why we need to dig." He said.

"I can't imagine if they died, Cal. I am sure the company will face multiple lawsuits, and I am sure this mine will be closed for good." I said, and I can't stop feeling so worried.

"You've got nothing to worry about, we followed all the laws and regulations under the mining standards, and I know someone sabotaged the explosion, and I am sorry to tell you this, those miners planned this to happen, and I think your father has something to do about what happened." He said, and I hate to think my father is willing to kill me to get what he wants.

"He was angry when your mother filed a divorce, and Charlotte promised to make Madeline's life miserable." He added, and I suddenly felt more worried about Maddie.

"I know I can trust Roman, and I am sure he will never leave at Madeline's side whatever happens, and I hope nothing happened to my wife, Cal, and we need to get out from here because my wife needs me," I said, as I eat the crackers.

"If I could only get out from here, Cal, I already did it, and I never felt so helpless my entire life. I never imagine that something like this will happen to me. I used to have anything I want in just one call or one request, but right now, it feels like the world abandoned me when I badly need to be with my Madeline, and why something like this never happened before I met her at least it would be easy for me to accept my death. What if they can't still find us after one month, Cal? Our food supplies will be empty, and I am sure they will cease the rescue operation if we can't communicate with the outside world." I said.

"The rescue operation would cost us a lot, so I am sure my mother will choose to stop the rescue operations if we can't communicate with them. We need to get out from here and dig until we can find something we can use, and if ever we can't get out, then I will die full of regrets." I said as I released a loud sigh. I can feel my entire body ache, and I laughed when Cal handed me almost everything I needed. I know my place started to smell now, and I am just glad the soil I dig covered the place where I pee, and I find it so hard to explore more since I only have enough space and I can't let the hole be covered by the soil or else I would die if Cal can't hand me the supplies I needed.

I just felt glad I found a hole on the other side, and I tried to push the soil, and I laughed when they got out, and I wonder where could be my exact location right now. I suddenly felt worried when I realized there could be a big hole on the other side, that is why I can't hear the soil landed on the ground, it must be so deep.

"Hunter, your mother loves you, and she will find a way to save you. She has connections, don't lose your hope. You are still young, don't you miss Madeline?" He asked, and I half laughed.

"Are you kidding me, Cal? If there is only another way to describe how much I miss my wife right now, I already define it. I miss her like crazy, Calixto. I miss Madeline so much that my heart is bleeding right now, I can't imagine the agony and grief I had caused her this time, and I hate myself that all I give her is pains and tears." I said.

"Hey, don't say that Hunter, you know how much happiness you give to Madeline. She is happy in your arms, and I know there is no place she wants to be but to be with you." Cal said, and I smiled.

"Did my wife share her innermost thoughts of me with you?" I asked.

"I am not only close to you, Hunter, but there are also moments I talked with your wife, and since she doesn't have a father, she felt comfortable talking with me, and I know how much your wife loves you, and I can tell it the way she looked at you. Madeline doesn't need to tell you how much you mean to her because you can tell it by the way she gazed at your pretty face." Calixto declared, and he made me feel better when I felt everything is so wrong and when I felt like giving up.

"I don't know how to take you out there, but don't worry, Hunter, I will do everything I can to help you. I know it is part of my job to take care of you as my boss, and I am sorry if I failed you." He said, and I felt so touched by his words.

"Cal, we are not on duty right now, we are buried underground, and I am not your responsibility," I said.

"I know, but I am still responsible for you. You don't need to worry because we will come out from here alive, Hunter. I know I am already old, but I still want to come home and see my wife and children. I still want to celebrate my birthday with my family and friends, and there is no way I will celebrate my birthday in this place where we can't see the sun." He said.

"I am not sure if we can get out from here, so I guess you will be happy if you will know that your wife invited Madeline and me to attend your surprise birthday party, and I am hoping we will still be alive tomorrow so we can attend your party, Cal." I said, and I can tell Cal is crying on the other side.

"I guess I need to dig more. Now that you told me about that birthday party, there is no way I am going to miss it, Hunter. That is why we need to get out from this place where all we can see is darkness." Cal said, and I am praying we will be given another chance to live our lives and to be with our family and be able to see the sun again.