Prison to Pinnacle: Ex-wife's Eternal Lament

The military chopper tore through the sky above the rainforest, its thunderous blades biting into the dense canopy.

"You sure this is the place, boss?" Ray asked, his brow furrowed and face grave.

"Dead sure!" Nicholas bellowed, each word a hammer blow of conviction.

Nicholas was a man of average stature, his features unremarkable except for the prominent nose that gave his face a touch of character.

His bald pate and sallow complexion made him look like a farmer worn down by a lifetime of hard labour, but when he spoke, his eyes sparked with a glimmer of hope for his life again.

Of course, he was no farmer.

The rock on his right ring finger, a diamond of at least ten carats, was a testament to that.

What was striking most, however, was his left sleeve. Nothing was there, as if it had been swallowed by a shadow.

"But this is the Forest of Death! They say most who go in never come out alive," Ray warned.

Ray, a grizzled mercenary with decades of combat under his belt, had thought working for a billionaire as a bodyguard would be a walk in the park.

However, here he was, about to step into the jaws of the Forest of Death with his men.

A shiver ran down his spine as the terrifying forest kept pressing down on him.

'A job's a job.' Ray took a deep breath, steeling himself, 'and this one's gonna set me up for life. No matter how hairy it gets, it's a risk worth taking.'

"Let's proceed as planned, Ray, "Nicholas croaked, trying to inject his voice with iron. He knew this was his last shot, no matter the danger.

"Yes, boss," Ray barked, though he thought Nicholas's decision was reckless.

Yet, years of being a mercenary had taught him that obedience was his duty.

"Alright, men!" Ray called to his crew, "Time to earn our keep! Drop the tactical vehicle."

The CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter descended to about sixty feet above the ground, and with a slow release of the high-strength sling, a military-green tactical vehicle plummeted to the earth with a resounding thud.

Then the helicopter found a clearing and gently kissed the ground.

Ray and the other bodyguards hustled Nicholas off the chopper and quickly into the vehicle. Armed to the teeth, they were ready for whatever the forest could throw at them.

"All set, boss. Ready to roll. Got a pinpoint location for me?" Ray asked.

Nicholas shook his head, his face a blank canvas.

"Just that he's in the eastern part of the forest, nowhere specific."

Ray scanned the surroundings and noticed a path leading east.

 "Alright, boss, looks like we're on the right track. There's a trail up ahead. Follow it, and we'll find the one you're looking for."

Nicholas nodded, a storm of doubt clouding his mind.

Could the guy be of help?

As he pondered, Ray had already ordered Jack, his team's driving ace, to head east.

Everything seemed to be going like clockwork.

"Is this the legendary Forest of Death? It's not as horrifying as I thought. Where are the monsters? Probably just tales to scare the faint-hearted," one guard scoffed.

"You got it. Feels more like a forest holiday for me," another added.

"Maybe we'll bump into a hot chick. That'd be a nice surprise," someone joked.

Ray and his team laughed it up.

Though they were his bodyguards, Nicholas treated them like friends and would join in on the banter now and then.

But now, he was not in the mood.

Something was biting him away, making his brow furrowed with worry. All he wanted to do was find the guy.

After about a click, the world around them darkened.

"It's starting to rain," Jack remarked, "Weird! The sun was out just a minute ago."

Others noticed the sudden shift, a thin mist seeming to fill the air.

"It's just mist, Jack. No big deal," Jimmy said, "Means a beauty's on the way. Mist is like fairy breath; it's a sign of an enchanting fairy's arrival."

Jimmy's words sparked another round of laughter.

"It's rain," Jack insisted, "Look at the windshield."

Suddenly, fine droplets like oil or something speckled the front windshield, blurring Jack's view.

"It's mist; just turn on the wipers," Ray suggested.

"Told you it was mist," Jimmy gloated, "Even Ray's on my side. Great minds think alike."

Jack didn't argue; he hit the wipers. But to their surprise, the translucent liquid wouldn't budge, Jack's view growing more obscured by the second.

"It's not mist, and it's not rain! I can hardly see a thing," Jack felt a pang of unease, great tension creeping in.

"Don't panic, Jack. Ease up," Ray advised immediately. "Let me take a closer look. Stay sharp, everyone."

The bodyguards scanned their surroundings, trying to figure out what was off.

At that moment, more of the same liquid dripped onto the windshield, and a foul stench filled the air.

Jack's vision was nearly gone, the road instantly a total blur. His instincts screamed for him to slam on the brakes, but he never got the chance.

A blast of foul wind hit them and in one violent twist, the tactical vehicle was tossed like a toy.

In a second, everyone inside was thrown into a spinning chaos as their world turned upside down again and again.