Dark clouds suddenly claimed the sky, rolling on the horizon like a menacing fluff, meant to instill fear upon the men who were battling for survival.

The North, West, and South teams were currently engaged in a dance of bullets. Each man watched as the comrade they had breakfast with-the morning of that day, helplessly fought for their lives.

Arnold-the man who led the West team fell on his knees, as he tried to pull one of his companions away from the path of a bullet. His other comrades were all lifeless, bloodied, and sprawled on the hard ground, with only him and a man named Silva, desperately crawling to find safety amidst the rain of bullets in their wake.

The Leader of the police group in the south, still had four able men with him, eager to avenge their friends. They faced the renegades and the increasing number of thugs who came out of nowhere with everything they got.

"There's at least two hundred of them!" One man yelled as he continued to fire his gun-which to his horror, was almost out of ammunition.

To the North, the lone survivor burrowed himself on the ground with his body trembling from the onslaught of the attack.

The men who were tasked to walk directly towards the eye of the renegades in the East were all dead, except for chief Evan, who was captured by one of Marshal's men.
***

(Two kilometers from San Fernando Correctional)

"Senator, you can't do this!" his secretary yelled as Maximillian took a gun from the trunk of his car. Nathaniel was in the driver's seat of one of the police cars, and he too readied the gun which he brought with him during the trip.

"Keep those men on the phone!" the Senator screamed at his secretary.

Their reinforcement was nearing the prison's location, but Maximillian couldn't watch any longer. The group of cops they sent towards the prison building was still engaged in a shoot-out with the renegades, but as Nathaniel mentioned earlier, they may not last long.

Why?

Because to their horror, a bunch of cars that came from all directions of the building suddenly emerged, firing bullets at the teams they sent out.

"How long till they get here?" Nathaniel questioned, his eyes boring into the secretary's Hazel globes.

"Twenty minutes!" the man replied.

"What are you planning to do?" Maximillian asked worriedly, but before Nathaniel could answer, the radio on the police car went alive. The voice on the other line was too familiar for Nathaniel to not recognize. "Sheldon!" the marine yelled.
***

(Thirty-five minutes ago-inside the San Fernando building - South Wing)

The guards fell silent after Sheldon read the letter. Oscar kept his eyes on the old guard. He saw the beginnings of a tear forming in the side of his eyes.

After a pregnant silence, Sheldon cleared his throat and said, "This can't be true, my grandparents can't possibly have done this to my mom."

"Did he have a reason to lie, weren't those letters addressed to your mom? If it was, then why would he make that up, when it would be read by the person herself," questioned Rodney.

Sheldon glanced up at the man and shook his head. "It can't be true, it can't be," the old man answered, his voice high like that of a child.

Oscar felt sorry for the man, but what could he possibly say? Rodney had a point.

To ease the tension, Oscar murmured, "Why don't you continue with the next letter, maybe we'll find out why your grandparents acted that way towards your mother."

Without giving a worded reply, Sheldon took the next letter from the pile and began to read.
***

Dear Maria,

How are you? Well, today I had to undergo an ECG, I'm not sure what that stood for, but they explained that it was necessary for my heart. Why were they so concerned about my heart? Why do they even bother to keep me alive? Maria, would it be so bad to tell you that I'm tired, I'm so tired. I want to rest and lay on a bed forever.

You must have moved on. I'm sure your fiery spirit propelled you to move forward. I'm certain, that your intelligence, led you to a new beginning, and I feel that you're happy.

I know, because I've seen it. That hidden light, which I thought was extinguished from you. You proved me wrong because I had a glimpse of it.

Allow me to continue with my previous story. Your family went for a summer vacation and you were left alone, inside a house, which I had never seen as a home.

The morning after you drowned yourself in liquor, I was surprised to see you rise before daybreak. You put on this flowy yellow sundress. It enveloped your body so well, and with every step you took, it moved with you.

It made you look majestic. Your dress flowing back, every time the wind blew, created an illusion-like they were your wings. You looked like a very beautiful butterfly.

You carried a smile on your face, a bright-looking smile that rivaled the sun. I don't know whether it was a facade or not, but you truly seemed happy.

It made me smile. It forced my heart to beat erratically and made me long to stand beside you-with an intensity, that I thought was suppressed after your marriage.

I wanted nothing more but to walk beside you as you strolled down the narrow pathway that led to the town's playground. I couldn't believe you still enjoyed the scenery of a playground. We were in our middle twenties back then. I thought you'd have grown out of loving the playgrounds, but once again-I was proven wrong.

You chose to sit under the tree where Sheldon often stayed. I remember seeing you both, taking a nap under its shade once. Your face looked serene and peaceful. I wish it could have been that way... every day.

You stayed there until the sun came down, and after, you went to a restaurant, had dinner by yourself, and went home. You still carried a smile with you, so I thought everything was alright. But when you stood on your front porch, tears welled up in your eyes. I knew because you kept rubbing them. I knew you were wiping away your tears. You stood there for a few minutes, before heading inside.

The lights to your room remained switched on, up until dawn. I saw your silhouette in the window, pacing back and forth. What were you doing Maria?

When morning broke, you rose early again. You put on the same yellow sundress and walked the same path, sat under the same tree, and remained there until sundown. You went to have dinner in the same restaurant, ordered the same food, and headed home.

Just as the night before, your lights were on, until dawn.

The following day, you walked out of your house, with the same dress and did the same things again. Maria, what was happening to you?

On the fourth day, you did not come out of your house. I got worried, that's why the cops came that day. Do you still remember the two cops who knocked on your front door? The ones who said they received a report of a domestic disturbance coming from your house?

That was me, I reported it.

I knew it was wrong to send the cops to your house, but I was so worried. I didn't want to walk up to your place during the day and check on you myself. What if your neighbors saw me? What if they started suspecting you of cheating while your husband was away? I could never risk that. You were already living a hard life; I couldn't add wood to that flame.

When you opened the door to those officers, your face was solemn and you barely answered their questions. Should I have done something else at that time, Maria?

It was a phase in our life that I regret. I don't know if standing on the sidelines during those days was the right thing to do.

Must I have done anything other than watch? I often think about it. Maybe things could have turned out differently.

But what held me back was your kids Maria. If I had taken you at that time, what would happen to them? What would they think of you? What life would Valerie live, when everyone already treated her differently?

So, did I do the right thing? Did I, Maria?
***

Sheldon stopped reading and glanced up at the man who looked too eager to hear the rest of the letter. He stood from his chair, went towards Oscar, and asked, "What kind of person was he? You said you knew him. So, tell me, did he truly love my mother this much?"

Oscar wondered, how could he possibly put to words what BT felt, when even he, never understood the depth of his friend's love for Maria Ventura. The days he and BT spent together inside the prison walls were not enough to give a proper answer, so Oscar settled for the obvious.

"Continue reading the letters, I'm convinced we will find the answers there."

Sheldon gave no response. What could he possibly say? That was the first time he learned that his mother spent days... alone, inside their house.
***

(Letter continuation)

That night, you drowned yourself in liquor again. I slipped inside your house and watched as you slept with wet lashes. I sat beside your bed, and for the first time, I leaned over and hugged you.

My heart felt like it wanted to burst out of my chest, my breathing was so fast, I thought I'd die. I left as soon as I gave you that hug.

Please know, that I never did anything else. It was only a hug.

Merry Christmas Maria!

Love Forever

Your Silent Knight.