The Unpredictable

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER TWO

Moscow, Russia eleven years ago, 24th of December one hundred years after the girl with the tiger tattoo and the magnificent six.

Ashley was shopping with his wife Princess’ in Moscow City on Christmas eve. Ashley was too busy with work that they did not find time to shop early for Christmas as they normally did all these years. They had gone with their daughter Emma. This was the first time the family had been together for weeks. Moscow was magical during the Christmas festive. There were a lot of family activities in the city center. There were unique art objects paraded in the streets. There were a lot of street shows and concerts too. There were a lot of shops selling traditional food and unusual souvenirs. The family had been to the city square where there was a big Christmas ball highly decorated with led-lights. Just after the Manezh square in the city, they had seen a big Christmas tree. This was the best time for the family.

“Daddy, look at the Christmas tree. It’s beautiful and very decorated. Next year can we have one that big for us?” asked Emma holding her daddy’s hand. Ashley and Princess both laughed and looked at their daughter.

“We will try but the tree is too big for our house,” said Princess.

“We can put the tree outside our house mummy,” exclaimed Emma seriously.

“Ok, my princess we will do that next year. Ok?” said Ashley.

“Ok daddy thanks,” said Emma.

“Ah that is my girl,” said Ashley rubbing Emma’s hair.

They had been to the square when they came across a woman selling hot dogs. They stopped and bought hot dogs. They started walking in the park heading toward the market entrance.

“Mummy I left my doll. I will go and get it now,” said Emma running back to the park bench where they were seated before.

“No Emma wait. Let’s go there together,” Said Princess but Emma had already gone. Princess was looking at Emma as she sped off running back to the park bench. She turned to look at her husband Ashley only to find him on the ground with blood coming out of his body. He could not speak.

“Ashley! Ashley! What happened to you, Darling!?” Princess kneeled down before hearing a buzzing sound passing her ears as if a sound made by a bee. When Emma came back, she found her parents on the ground.

“Mummy, Daddy! Mummy!” shouted Emma as she hugged both her parents. A car screeched its wheels to a halt meters away from the family. Emma raised her head and saw the window of the car opening slowly. Somehow, she quickly looked at her watch which was flashing. There was a message on the screen. She looked at the car again and quickly scrolled down her watch.

“You have five seconds to subjugate. Press Enter Now!” read the message on her watch.

She looked at the car again and saw something pointing at her. She tried to get up and run but her watch beeped.

“Searching for an entity to subjugate,”

“Come on hurry up,”

She raised her head again and saw a gun pointed at her. Fear crippled her. For a second or so she just looked at the car. It was the beep that drew her attention.

‘Jadanick located. Press enter to subjugate Jadanick.’

Quickly she pressed the Enter option and at the same time, she felt the most excruciating pain. She lay there on the ground looking in the skies. For some reason, she realized that God was just showing off when he created the stars. The sky looked very beautiful to her. She heard the car speeding off as she lay on the ground.

In Hollywood, the United States of America Jadanick, on Christmas eve was with his friends shopping. This was also the day before his birthday. Shopping was great. They had been everywhere in the city. The local rivals had just turned up in their car bragging and showing off. The people gathered to see what was going on. After a few minutes, Jadanick screamed and fell to the ground.

“Call an ambulance he has been shot. Help! Call for help. Now!” screamed one of Jadanick’s friends. Jadanick was bleeding badly by the time the ambulance arrived. No one knew who had shot him but it was obvious it could have been one of the rival members.

“Who shot me man?” asked Jadanick looking at Noel. “Do not talk Jadanick you are going to be OK.” The ambulance arrived at the hospital and Jadanick was rushed to the operating room. “What do we have here?” asked the doctor.

“Possibly a gunshot wound. A lot of blood loss.” Replied the senior nurse. The doctor and the nurses worked very fast and quickly removed the bullet fragments and stopped the bleeding. A blood transfusion was carried out after the operation. Hours later, Jadanick was declared as in a stable condition.

Ever since the gunshot Jadanick had realized that life is too short. He nearly lost his life at the tender age of seven years. Ever since he had not stopped chasing his dreams. Since that day in the hospital he made an oath that if he survives this ordeal, he was to start pursuing his dream as a musician. He had been in the school choir at junior grades. He loved music. He had become very famous in Hollywood, especially after being shot. He was now very strong and popular. He still remembers the day he was shot. Somehow, he felt as if he was being subdued. He felt weak before he felt the most excruciating pain and falling to the ground. He felt being weak first and then the pain followed.

Eleven years after that incident, tonight is his big night. At the age of eighteen, he has a recording contract already. He had released some songs already. Tonight, he will be performing in front of thousands. He had looked forward to this day for months now. He had been rehearsing in his studio. “Darling tonight is your big night I just want to let you know that I am very proud of you and I love you very much.” Said Sandra putting her arms around Jadanick.

“Thanks, babes I appreciate that” Jadanick replied kissing Sandra.

“Invite your friends as well Sandy let’s make the night one to remember. Okay?” asked Jadanick. “I already did Darling,” replied Sandra. These two had been going out for a few months now and it was great. A few hours later the show had begun. Jadanick was a natural-born singer. There was magic in his voice. The people loved him. All the girls loved him. It was his time. That gun wound had taught him a lesson; never to look back and to chase your dreams never giving up. The crowd stood up as he approached the stage and everyone went hysterical when he appeared on the stage. The atmosphere was magical. The arena was fully packed. Jadanick walked onto the stage, grabbed the microphone and without saying anything to the crowd he started singing one of his favorite songs. The crowd started clapping hands, others whistling and women throwing whatever they can on the stage. Girls in front of the stage started screaming and dancing.

“Hello everyone! It’s Jadanick here. I am honored to have you tonight. I hope you are going to enjoy the show as much as me. Wow!” Shouted Jadanick to the applause of the crowd. The concert began smoothly to everyone’s delight.

It was halfway through the concert that Jadanick felt a strange feeling. “Déjà vu,” he screamed and stopped singing. He felt a strong sensation that he had experienced before what he was feeling.

“No! No! No! Not again.” Shouted Jadanick. The crowd went berserk, and they all started singing after him “No! No! No! Not again”

“Darling what is wrong? Did you forget your lyrics” asked Sandra as she approached Jadanick who seemed a bit confused?

“I do not know I have this strange feeling. Maybe it’s nothing,” said Jadanick as he continued with the show. Three minutes into the next song Jadanick was down.

“I got shot again. I knew it. Damn who shot me?” asked Jadanick as he lay on the stage floor. Emma has arrived in the United States of America from Moscow, Russia where she has been for the past eleven years. After her parents’ death and her miraculous survival, she has been in hiding. At the age of eighteen years old she had traveled to the USA. After the second attempt on her life she had realized that if she must live, she must escape and head to America. She went to the gate in the city looking for Jadanick. On two separate occasions, this Jadanick had saved her life. She had never met this Jadanick before but her watch on two separate occasions had assigned Jadanick to be the subjugating recipient. The one who experienced the pain she should instead have experienced.

“How can I help you, a young lady?” asked the gate attendant after noticing that Emma looked lost.

“I am looking for Jadanick,” replied Emma

“There could be thousands of Jadanick’s out there,” replied the gate attendant.

“No! No! This one is a special friend. He isn’t just Jadanick.” replied Emma.

“Oh, is that so?” asked the gate attendant.

“We have not met before, but I can tell if I see him,” explained Emma.

“I will give you all the addresses of the Jadanick in this area.” said the gate attendant before continuing.

“What does this Jadanick do if I may ask you?” asked the gate attendant.

“He protects the Emperor. He is an Imperial guard. He serves and honors the Emperor,” said Emma.

The gate attendant thought that she was joking and started laughing.

“Protects the Emperor is that so? Where is this Emperor?” asked the gate attendant Oska.

“That’s my next task once I have found Jadanick,” replied Emma.

“There are no Emperors nowadays. We have only Presidents and Prime Minister.” Replied Oska.

“So where are you planning to find this Jadanick?” asked Oska.

“Honestly, I do not know I thought maybe you might know you are security yes?” asked Emma. “You can say that, but the only Jadanick I know is this one,” said Oska taking out a poster of Jadanick from one of the music magazines.

“Yes, very funny,” replied Emma.

“Why? He could be the Jadanick you are looking for.” Said Oska jokingly.

“I am looking for an Imperial guard. One who guards the Emperor,” replied Emma.

“So where is the Imperial Palace?” asked Emma going through the music magazine.

“As I said there are no Emperors anymore,” replied Oska.

“That can’t be true. I am an Imperial bodyguard too just like Jadanick. We are born to serve, to protect and to honor the Emperor. There must be an Emperor’s Palace somewhere nearby.” Said Emma.

“What makes you say that?” asked Oska.

“I had a dream. This gate is situated at the former Imperial gate. One hundred years ago, the Emperors Palace was located here.” said Emma expecting Oska to laugh at her.

“I guess you are right. I have read it somewhere in one of the brochures the days I started working here.” Acknowledged Oska.

“So, you know I am telling you the truth.” Remarked Emma.

Oska and Emma were busy talking when Emma collapsed and fell into a trance. Oska quickly called for help and moved her in the first aid room in the gate office waiting for help to arrive.