The Unknown Billionaire

Chapter 32

Three days after that fateful night, it was quiet in the prison, and most inmates were fast asleep. However, a group of determined individuals, including Vere, Tony, Johnny, Ted, and four others, decided to carry out their escape plan. 

They cautiously began their endeavor by crawling through the ceiling, timing their movements between the rounds of the jail guards. They reached the end of the crawl space and, one by one, started their descent.

 After successfully reaching the ground, they proceeded to sneak past the prison walls, with Johnny leading the way. However, as they approached a section of the wall, Johnny accidentally slipped, causing a disturbance that alerted the guards. All of them were caught except for Vere, who managed to evade capture. 

The prison yard was illuminated by the rotating searchlights, but Vere slipped away, crawling through the muddy terrain behind the prison building. He made his way to a dense forest and was closely pursued by the prison guards. Vere ran swiftly until he reached the edge of a cliff, overlooking a turbulent river. It was a dark night, and the water rushed vigorously. Despite stumbling and almost falling, he managed to maintain his balance until he reached the very edge of a waterfall. With the guards closing in, he had no choice but to leap, plunging into the fierce waters below.

Three days after that fateful night, it was quiet in the prison, and most inmates were fast asleep. However, a group of determined individuals, including Vere, Tony, Johnny, Ted, and four others, decided to carry out their escape plan. 

They cautiously began their endeavor by crawling through the ceiling, timing their movements between the rounds of the jail guards. They reached the end of the crawl space and, one by one, started their descent. After successfully reaching the ground, they proceeded to sneak past the prison walls, with Johnny leading the way. However, as they approached a section of the wall, Johnny let Vere go first, and Johnny would be next but accidentally slipped, causing a disturbance that alerted the guards.The jail guards fired into the air to stop them, but Vere managed to hide himself outside of the wall and managed to evade capture. 

The prison yard was illuminated by the rotating searchlights, but Vere slipped away, crawling through the muddy terrain behind the prison building. He made his way to a dense forest and was closely pursued by the prison guards. Vere ran swiftly until he reached the edge of a cliff, overlooking a turbulent river. 

It was a dark night, and the water rushed vigorously. Despite stumbling and almost falling, he managed to maintain his balance until he reached the very edge of a waterfall. With the guards closing in, he had no choice but to leap, plunging into the fierce waters below.

Amid the fierce current, Vere was swept away, battered by the unrelenting rocks, and eventually succumbed to unconsciousness. He drifted until he arrived in a desolate, rarely visited area. And luckily he was discovered floating at the river by the name Alexa.

Upon regaining consciousness, Vere found himself disoriented and wondered aloud, "Where am I?" To his surprise, a woman's voice responded, "You're at my home. I saw you floating down the river while I was reading my favorite book by the riverbank. I rushed to jump into the water. I thought you were dead, but when I checked your pulse, I realized you had only lost consciousness. I used my horse to help me get you here." 

Vere was both incredulous and relieved, though his concern about being in the care of a stranger lingered, especially since he had left his fellow escapees behind, their future outside the prison walls uncertain. He was about to inquire further when Alexa interrupted, "By the way, are you an escapee?" 

Vere confessed, "Yes, I am. My name is Vere, and I managed to escape." Alexa nodded, and she introduced herself as Alexa, reassuring him that she understood his predicament. Then, she inquired, "Can you tell me why you decided to escape?"

In that moment, Vere poured out his story, explaining why he had been driven to escape. He told Alexa about being deceived and strung along by Mr. and Mrs. Fuentez. Alexa listened intently to his narrative, her expression understanding.

 However, she also warned Vere that even though he was now outside, he needed to bide his time and let things settle down. She pointed out that the authorities were hot on Vere's trail, and the police were actively searching for him. 

Vere nodded, acknowledging the wisdom in her words. "You're right, Alexa. I need to be careful and lay low for a while. Thank you for saving me and for this shelter." Alexa gave him a reassuring smile. "You're welcome, Vere. We'll figure this out together. Maybe I can help. In the meantime, you can stay here and regain your strength." As Vere settled in, he couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected help he had found in Alexa, a stranger who had shown him kindness and provided him a sanctuary in his time of need.

With each passing day, Vere and Alexa's bond deepened. During this time, Alexa felt comfortable sharing her own personal story. She spoke about her family and the mountain that had become her sole inheritance following her parents' passing.

 Being their only child, she had inherited the duty of maintaining their legacy. Vere was profoundly moved by Alexa's courage and determination, as she lived a solitary life in the mountains, sustaining herself through farming and gardening. Vere couldn't help but admire her resilience and self-sufficiency. 

Alexa confided in Vere, saying, "This mountain and this land are the only things I have left from my family. It's been a challenging journey here, but I've come to love and care for this place.As it's my way of staying connected to my parents." Vere listened attentively and responded, "Your strength and determination are undeniably inspiring, Alexa. I'm pretty sure that your parents would undoubtedly be proud of what you've accomplished here." 

As they exchanged their life stories, their connection deepened, and they found comfort and companionship in each other's presence amidst the tranquil serenity of the mountain.

During this conversation, Vere revealed his plan to leave and head to the city. Alexa attentively listened to Vere's intentions and proceeded to explain to him how to navigate the journey through various locations on his way to the metropolis. Vere's route would take him through many places, and Alexa suggested he accompany a friend of hers who happened to be a truck driver. 

After three months, Vere made the decision to depart and set off for the city to kickstart his plans, particularly to confront the Fuentez family. Alexa, understanding the gravity of Vere's mission, accompanied him to the jeepney stop that served as a fruit delivery route to the town.She gave Vere a piece of paper with the driver's name and the location where he could be found. 

However, from a distance, Vere recognized that there was a checkpoint, and Vere's anxiety surged.

Suddenly, the military personnel motioned for the vehicle to stop so they could conduct an inspection.

One of the military personnel glanced at Vere and signaled to the driver to proceed. In that moment, Vere's anxiety and fear dissipated. He then gazed at his reflection in the side mirror, aware that his long hair and beard made him almost unrecognizable to anyone who might be searching for him.