ACT FOURTEEN
The next day, under the busy sky, the sun shone so bright, as if it were passing its direct light to the Empire's company alone. The Hat Man and his crew prepared for the night mission. Sekinat watched anxiously from her hole in the wall, wondering about the nature of the mission and contemplating her escape. She spent most of her precious time praying to Allah for guidance and protection, unable to shake off her worries.
On the other side, in the throne room, the Empire was also concerned about the mission. He hoped the Hat Man would complete it alive, understanding that his health issues were making him weaker for battle. However, the love and trust the Empire had in him couldn't be transferred to any of his subordinates. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he decided to work towards it alone. He called out one of his strong armies to join them secretly, instructing them to fight for the Hat Man silently and intervene only when he was losing the battle.
Meanwhile, the Hat Man decided to take a rest under a shade, sweating heavily due to the intense sun. Panting heavily, he took deep breaths, lost in thought about his life and future. He wondered if he could survive this mission, considering he hadn't fully recovered from the previous gunshot. Despite his physical condition, he knew his duty was to lead the mission. However, a smile crossed his face as he thought about the possibility of setting Sekinat free, even if he didn't survive. It would be his last good deed towards the special woman in his heart. He rested back on the chair, scanning the environment.
Hat Man: I guess this is goodbye. At least now I can finally rest. Despite shedding lots of blood with these hands, I really need this rest. Sometimes I wish I could just disappear and never return. But I guess my only wish can be granted only after death. This will be a happy ending for me if I'm able to set Sekinat free and finally be with her family again.
*****************
Summayah: (barges into the house) As-salamu alaykum! Mum!!!! (searches around the house) Dad! (runs to their master bedroom and finds her mom lying helplessly on the bed) Mum! (each step she takes towards her bed makes her tremble, seeing how much weight her mother has lost) Dad… wh… what happened?
Alhaji Sulaiman: (looks away)
Summayah: Dad, please talk to me. (tries to touch him)
Alhaji Sulaiman: Don’t you dare lay that hand on me. What exactly are you doing here? Remember you said you don’t have anything to do with us?
Summayah: (sadly lowers her gaze) I’m sorry, Daddy. What happened, Mom? How?
Why? How come?
Alhaji Sulaiman: Oh! You are asking me? Do you want to tell me you have no idea what is going on here? You left your family and chose never to come. You failed to support and be there for us when we needed you. Are you really my child?
Summayah: (speechless)
Alhaji Sulaiman: Your sister went missing for almost two months now, and you just left us. How sure am I that you aren't the one who kidnapped her since you can leave us during our dying moment? Ahhhh! Summayah! I can't believe I am your father. Are you sure I gave birth to you? Because I'm not sure anymore.
Summayah: Daddy, please don’t say that. Please, I’m sorry. (she breaks down in tears) My husband…
Alhaji Sulaiman: Oh! Your husband, right? You know what? Get out!
Summayah: Dad, please don’t do this. I can explain. Please don’t send me away.
Alhaji Sulaiman: Have you forgotten you disowned us? You chose your new family, and we understand. So go away. Your mother has been suffering from a heart attack and high blood pressure. She failed to eat well ever since your sister went missing, and you couldn’t do anything about it. What kind of a human being are
you? Tell me.
Summayah: (soaked with tears) Daddy, please. I’m sorry. Just hear me out.
Alhaji Sulaiman: Just get out! Out!! Before I send you! (he roars at her) If I should lay a curse on you, you know you will suffer for it for the rest of your life. So now, get out before I descend on you.
Summayah: (she sadly walks away in tears) I’m sorry, Mum.
Alhaji Sulaiman: (sits next to his wife's dying bed and holds her hand) I’m here for you, my queen. (He kisses her forehead) Get well soon. I will always be by your side. And don’t worry; we will find Sekinat since you still believe she isn’t dead. Give me a few minutes while I get the towel to clean you up. (He rubs her head and moves out of the room, but to his surprise, he finds Summayah in the living room, crying) What are you still doing here? I thought I told you to go away.
Summayah: (takes a few steps closer to him) Dad, please. Don’t chase me away like this. Please, I’m sorry for everything.
Alhaji Sulaiman: You know we didn’t send you out in the first place. You did!
Summayah: I know, and I’m sorry. Please, just hear me out.
Alhaji Sulaiman: (he looks away and heads into the kitchen)
Summayah: Dad, please… (tries to follow him but cautions herself) I'm sorry.
***********************
Night 8:30pm
The cars and armies were ready for the mission, standing still as they awaited orders from the Hat Man, who was currently with the Empire.
Empire: Ready?
Hat Man: (stands firm) Yes, sir! (answers confidently)
Empire: (scans him for a few seconds) Are you sure you got this?
Hat Man: Yes, sir!
Empire: Sure! If you say so… here. (hands over a micro device) Take it.
Hat Man: (wondering what kind of device it is this time) Sir…
Empire: Just take the damn device.
Hat Man: (bows and takes it)
Empress: (nervously can't take her eyes off the Hat Man, looking worried)
Empire: You know what, give me… (he takes it from him, unzips his shirt, and presses it on his chest) The device will alert you to incoming danger.
Hat Man: (nods) Yes, sir. (zips up and wears his bulletproof jacket)
Empire: Now I can say you are ready. Good luck.
Empress: Good luck, dear.
Hat Man: (ignores the Empress and walks out of the mansion) Are you ready, guys?
His Armies: Yes, sir! (answer uniformly)
Hat Man: Give me a sec while I go get the girl.
His Armies: Yes, sir.
Hat Man: (barges into the room and finds Sekinat in her long hijab; he can't stop staring at her until Sekinat finally utters a word) Uhhhmm, sorry... Are you ready?
Because we are ready!
Sekinat: Yes, I am ready.
Hat Man: Great! (nervously scans the room) You sure?
Hat Man: (fake smile) Uhmm, here. (brings out some Naira notes) You will need this for transport after escaping. And take this. (hands over two guns to her) You will really need this, and it's fully loaded.
Sekinat: (steps backward) I’m not killing anyone again. I can't take this.
Hat Man: Trust me. You will need it. This is called self-defense. Even Allah understands that.
Sekinat: That’s not how it works. I can't take it. Please.
Hat Man: (touches her shoulders) Do you trust me?
Sekinat: (nervous)
Hat Man: Do you trust me?
Sekinat: (nods nervously)
Hat Man: Now, take it. I promise you; I will find all means to protect and set you free.
Sekinat: (sadly takes it and hides it under her hijab)
Hat Man: (smiles) Good girl. Now, let's go. (he holds her and runs out of the building to join his subordinates)
Sekinat: (quickly withdraws her hands from his
Hat Man: (faces of disappointment) Let's go! (he roars as they get into the car)
(The armies roar in chorus as they drive out. The Hat Man's car leads the way while Sekinat sits next to him. Behind his seat is loaded with weapons, and she is carried away by the views until she finally sees the big gate opening wide for them to pass through. As the car drives fast, Sekinat finally realizes their hideout had been underground all along. She is so shocked that the man smiles.)
Hat Man: You are never coming in here since you've seen this.
Sekinat: Definitely. But how?
Hat Man: No questions. Just focus and be alert!
Sekinat: Right. Focus!
Sekinat nervously looks out the window, seeing nothing but trees and hearing whispers of insects. She silently prays for this mission to be successful for all of them. She turns to the Hat Man, unable to stop staring at him throughout the journey, wondering what came over him to want to save her and set her free. Her heart feels pity for him, realizing that she isn't the one stuck with them; he is the one stuck with this path of life for the rest of his existence. Despite his focus on driving, she wonders what might be going through his mind, taking so many bullets for the empire's dirty work. The empire turns to her and realizes she is lost in thought, despite all her gaze being on him.
Hat Man: What happened? Why the sudden admiration?
Sekinat: No, nothing. Focus on your driving. I just... you know... wondering why you are willing to help me.
Hat Man: Well... (nervously licks his lips while still focusing on driving and signals to his men behind him) I... I...
Sekinat: What? You want to say something. Just say it. You know this might be our last conversation, okay? So just spit it.
Hat Man: I'm in love with you, okay? (roars at her)
Sekinat: (can't believe what she just heard as her body almost paralyzes; immediately the car stops, and he gets down from the car while Sekinat is still in shock and doesn't know what to do or say)
Hat Man: (all his armies get down and bend over with their weapons, but the Hat Man realizes Sekinat is still in the car) Psssss! What are you still doing there? Get down! (he whispers)
Sekinat: Oh! (she hurriedly gets down as her body shivers in fear)
Hat Man: Come here! Don’t stay out of my sight. Follow every step I take, okay?
Sekinat: (finds it hard to focus again) Okay… okay.
Hat Man: Good! Follow my moves...
They silently walk into a building, and immediately the enemies begin to fire at them, indicating they were aware of their visit. Bullets fly between both sides, with Sekinat struggling to comprehend the danger as shots pass by her ears. Tragically, one of the Hat Man’s men falls victim to the gunfire. Despite the intense exchange, the Hat Man persists in his efforts to shield Sekinat from harm, responding with a barrage of bombs and bullets.
Overwhelmed by the violence, Sekinat breaks down in tears, witnessing the loss of many of the Hat Man’s men. She gives him a look of despair, but he encourages her to stay strong and not give up, instructing her to stay behind him.
As the enemies close in physically, the Hat Man and his remaining men continue to fight back, ensuring the death toll among their foes surpasses their own. Determined to fulfill the mission, the Hat Man leads the way to the room they need to access. Before entering, he advises Sekinat to hide inside a sack on the ground, a directive she obeys without question.
Alone now, the Hat Man navigates through the building, encountering a
formidable group of enemies awaiting him. Despite their gunfire, he manages to dodge and fire back, eliminating a significant portion of the opposition. However, his luck runs out when he sustains a gunshot to the hand, causing one of his guns to fall. Roaring in pain, he fights on, narrowly escaping a lethal blow as one of his men, Atom, intervenes with a timely bullet.
Hat Man: Atom! What are you doing here?
Atom: Sorry, boss, but I’m not allowed to answer that. (He fires at the door multiple times, gaining entry.) You're losing a lot of blood, boss.
Hat Man: Thanks, man, but we must accomplish this mission first. Let's go!
Despite his severe injuries, the Hat Man and Atom press on, entering the room and eliminating anyone in their path. As the Hat Man loses more blood, he remains steadfast, determined to secure the diamond. Instructing Atom to leave and guiding him to the parked cars, the Hat Man pushes forward with the mission.
Atom: Aren't you coming?
Hat Man: You go! I have an unfinished mission! Just go!
Atom: Yes, boss!
Hat Man: (He runs back to where he left Sekinat, unties the sack, and helps her out) Come with me. (They run through the backyard and climb the fence, but Sekinat struggles) C'mon! We need to get you out of here as soon as possible.
Sekinat: I can't! I don't know how to climb the fence!
Hat Man: (He furiously carries her on his back and climbs the fence despite his bleeding hand, successfully jumping to the other side)
Sekinat: (Realizing he has been shot again) You!!! Oh my God!
Hat Man: (He drops her and races out of the area until they reach the roadside)
You see this road! Follow it. Now go! Run! Now you are free. (Feeling dizzy)
Sekinat: (Crying) You have been shot again!
Hat Man: It doesn't matter, just go!
Sekinat: No!!! I can't leave you like this...
Hat Man: Just go, please. I can't save you again if you don't go now! Sekinat, go!
Sekinat: No!!! Okay, fine, I will go. (She picks up her pace in tears) Bye... (Suddenly, she hears a gunshot and turns back, witnessing the Hat Man falling down. She realizes he has been shot again) Nooooo!!!
Hat Man: (Gesturing with his hand for her not to come back) Go... (Hits his head on the ground while he watches the leader of the enemies' legs approach. Despite being in a pool of blood, the Hat Man focuses on Sekinat's direction) Don't come back! Just go! Run! (In a weak tone, despite being in a pool of blood) I'm fine. Just go!
Sekinat: (She picks up her pace and runs away, crying bitterly)
Enemy Leader: Who is he talking to? (Uses his leg to press the Hat Man's head to the ground) (Points the gun at his head) You think you can just come to my den to rob me? No! I knew you were coming, though. I also planned on finding all means to make sure you never return to your boss alive. Don't you get tired of being his puppet? Let me just grant you the wish of freedom. Any last words, Hat Man? (Readies to fire) The empire is going to miss you so dearly. (As he tries to fire his gun, he is shot in the head, falling down on the Hat Man instantly and passing away. The Hat Man is also in a dying state)
Sekinat: (she moves closer to the enemy and fires at him one more time, panting heavily in tears) Hat man! (She pushes the corpse away and tries to rescue the Hat Man) Somebody help! Help us...
The remaining Hat Man's men run to her aid with their car and carry the Hat Man into the car, driving away.
Sekinat: (Crying heavily as she tries to remove the two bullets) Please wake up! Don't die, please... (One of the men helps her with some surgical instruments) I don't think he can survive this. (She wipes her tears and continues with the surgery in the car) Please hurry up! Drive faster... (Suddenly, she tries to recall the face of the man she shot, thinking she knew him from somewhere) Inalilahi wahina ilayhi rajihun! Abu Shuaib! Nooooo!!!! It can't be him... nooooooooo...