Chapter 13

Alison’s POV

I got a message that my application to volunteer at the games had been accepted but here was the problem, I had been accepted for both ring girl and first aid. I guess it was my lucky day. I lied about having a background in first aid just to have a better chance at getting on the team because I was afraid that I wasn’t attractive enough to be selected as a ring girl.

I took all my ID’s and my next destination was the King’s Carlton stadium which was not too much of a journey from where I lived.

“Are you Alison Quinn?” One of the organizers of the boxing event asked.

“Yes sir!” I responded.

“Good! You can be the ring girl for the first match, go to the dressing room and get some makeup done.” He instructed.

“Okay sir.” I replied, followed a group of girls into a dressing room. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of Vandyke but there was no sign of him. So I waited patiently for my turn to get my makeup done.

I looked at myself in the mirror and gasped, I always thought I wasn’t pretty so I found it hard to accept that the girl in the mirror was me. She was beautiful. I was not half of her.

I was about to slide the clothes I had been given and hurry to the boxing arena with the rest, when another organizer walked into the dressing room.

She looked through the crowd and walked up to me. “Are you not Alison? You signed to be on the first Aid team didn’t you?”

Wow she was observant, I couldn’t recognize myself and yet she recognized me from just an ID I uploaded.

“Yes but…”

“Yeah I get it but we need more members on the first aid team. There are too many people on this team already, so do you mind joining the first aid team?

At first I wanted to say no but thinking about it, I was here to volunteer so I readily agreed.

“Thank you. Now follow me.”

We went to the first aid tent and she handed me the first aid apron. I quickly wore it on my clothes and joined the team and watched attentively as she gave us basic tutorials on what to do.

As we stood under the tent learning the boxing arena was mounted and everything was being put in place the places littered with a lot of people but I was able to make him out - Vandyke, he arrived with his team following him like a duck and his ducklings. They went into one of the dressing rooms and as I watched I couldn’t help but wonder how he would look in the boxing shorts and gloves.

“He’s fine isn’t he?” A girl standing next to me asked. I’m sure she must have caught me staring and I went red with embarrassment.

“He’s the finest Mayor, I’ll not be surprised if he wins the next elections too. I mean with that face he can even stand for president.” She went on. “Too bad he’s not going to be boxing, I wanted to see him with that shirt off.”

“What? He’s not boxing?”

She shook her head, “no he’s not. He will just do a friendly little exchange of punches with the mayor of Hakbok. They’re just opening the show.”

“Shit!” I exclaimed in my head. This only meant that he would be part of the spectators so technically being a ring girl would have made me more noticeable especially as I was looking attractive today. Maybe, who knows? Today would have been the day I landed in his bed and got that revenge. How did I end up here? You’re so unlucky Alison!

I was reeling in self pity and anger to some extent at how I had switched to the first aid team and missed such a big opportunity when the bells rang. The two mayors climbed into the ring. They were speaking but I wasn’t listening. I was just mad at myself the whole time when suddenly there were gunshots. People screamed and ran in different directions. And a majority lay flat on the floor, I also lay on the floor for a second I looked up the boxing ring and saw Vandyke, he had clutched his shoulder and then crumbled to his knees, there was a pool of blood dripping from his shoulder as his team rushed to his side I ran to his side too without even thinking twice about it. With the first aid kit in my hand I ran up to him and tried to rip off his shirt and help but one of his guards pushed me aside and took the kit away from me.

“Hey, hey, why did you do that?” Vandyke scolded the guard even though he was the one injured. “Sorry, okay?” He said to me as a special paramedic arrived and helped him get on the stretcher.

“Come with me.” He said energetically as if he hadn’t just been shot and the whole stadium wasn’t in disarray.

The show was definitely going to be canceled now, because there was pandemonium and nobody in clear conscience would continue with the event.

As the ambulance drove off he clutched my hand and said, “you look familiar.” I stared at him as he lay down and noticed that he was under anesthesia.

“You should rest.” I muttered.

“Do I know you?” He asked again, ignoring my suggestion.

I looked around hoping we would get to the hospital soon so I could avoid his questions. But the ambulance took a different turn.

“Where are we going? I screamed out to the driver.”

“The Moonlight county.” They responded,

“But isn’t it a little too far? This is an emergency!” I screamed. They ignored me and kept driving while I was concerned for Vandyke, I realized that I was supposed to be concerned for myself. I had blindly followed these guys when I had no idea where they were taking me or Vandyke. What if they were behind the shootings and we were now getting kidnapped.