"Hi, it's 10 pm, and we haven't heard anything? is there any news on my brother?" "I'm afraid not, but I will keep searching." "Thanks, Mark." "You know this will be much easier if I knew how he looks and where you guys are?” Angela looked over at Nicole, who was asleep. Sharing a room with Nicole was hard; she had dreamt alot and screamed, which woke Angela up. She needed counseling, and her brother was the only person who could comfort her. Claire lay in the dark, searching for a signal. It's impressive that Angela’s mom could put all this together without a signal tower. Claire scrolled through photos of her and Jack. She then stood up and walked to the kitchen, where she saw Angela sitting at the brown table. The radio was standing straight in front of her; she was staring at it. "Angela, is everything okay." Angela shook her head, “how is it supposed to be okay if my brother is out in the freezing weather?” "I am going upstairs." "You can't, Claire. Remember you tried pu
Angela walked over to the broken vase, "this used to be my mom's favorite vase. She was always around it." "What do you mean your mom's favorite vase?" "Well, it was an import from Italy." Angela picks up the broken pieces, "But yes, this is as broken as my family." Claire walked up to Angela placing her hand on Angela's shoulder, "it may be broken, but you can still glue the remaining pieces." Angela smiled at Claire's gesture, "it's okay. Let's focus on what's here." Angela looked around for clues. It had started to rain, "who would have expected that? The sky was clear when we got here.” "Come over here and help me." "Help you with what?" "To move this table." They moved the table, lifted the carpet, and opened the door, "Marcus and Nicole." they shouted down. There was no answer, "don't tell me we have to go down there again." "Well, unless you want to stay in the safe house forever. I would say we move around and try to find Jack." There was a sudden light on them fro
"Hands up, climb out of the car."Jack couldn't believe this was happening. Nicole's health had improved; she was no longer so afraid, "Jack, don't climb out.""We have to; they will kill us if we don't.”“We are not climbing out. These guys are wearing the Taliban's clothes. I don't trust them. We are not in Iraq.” Said Angela"These guys' faces are covered; their identities are hidden from us. They can kill us and walk away.""You guys stay here. I will climb out.""No, Jack, I owe this to you and Angela. Let me go."The guy wearing the scarf over his face walked up to them, pointing his rifle at them, "move, move." He insisted as he swung his gun at them."Relax, I am climbing out." Jack had his hands in the air as the gunmen waved his gun at Marcus, “everyone out.”They were stranded on a dry gravel pathway surrounded by bushes. The narrow, gravel, straight path had to lead them to
"We have been here over twenty-four hours, and I am starting to lose my mind. I would have thought they came in after the gas."There were screams all around. It was the kind of scream that bypasses the ears to speak right to the heart."I can't handle it, Jack. How do you keep so calm?""I block out my surroundings, Angela."Nicole moved over to Jack and looked up at him, "We will be safe, right?""Without a doubt."Nicole looked up at him, "I feel safe around you."Marcus looked over at his sister; she was calm and looked happy."How are you feeling.""Under the circumstances, I’m okay, thank you.""How are you feeling, Marcus?"Marcus looked around in this shit hole, “I guess under the claustrophobic cell with the smell. I am trying to survive like you.”"Imagine how your sister felt being here alone, and the anticipation of the unknown could be scary.""Thank you for getting her out of this hell hole. Maybe our purpose is to come back here to save others.Angela stood up and looked
"Who are you?" Claire looked down at Reaper and his men on one knee. "I am the man who decides what happens here tonight.” Mr. X sat on the chair with one leg folded over the other; his shiny shoes had the reflection of the chandelier. The silence in the house was deafening, and you could hear a pin drop on the floor. He then stood up and stretched out his arms as the men rushed over to remove his coat. Beneath his coat, he wore a navy blue silk shirt. "Where are your friends?" "I don't know what you are talking about?" He said in a deep voice, "I won't be so polite in repeating myself." "Are you talking about Marcus?" Mr. X snapped his fingers as the Reaper stood up. Claire looked bewildered with fear and uncertainty about what was about to happen. The Reaper turned around and walked into the back, "no, no, leave him, please." Her mother pleaded. "What are you guys doing?” Claire was about to pull out her gun when she felt a pistol to the back of her head, "drop it." said a de
Marcus arrived at the safe house and stuffed his mouth with food. Angela and Nicole were drinking water, “are you guys not going to eat?” Nicole, who had changed into a comfortable skirt, and a short sleeve top, walked over to Marcus, "Dont you care about anyone but yourself?" "What do you mean?" Said Marcus with his mouth stuffed full, holding a green apple. "Look at yourself, you are like a hungry dog who hasn't eaten in days, and it's only been twenty-seven hours." Angela couldn't help but laugh, walking up to Nicole, "twenty-seven hours is a long time without food, you know.” She removed the bread from on top of the refrigerator and took out the butter, "if you guys weren't here, I would be stuffing my mouth also full." Nicole snorted, "I am not like that. I get thirsty, that's it." Marcus was unsure how to respond, given that she has been through so much. Angela was licking off the butter knife when looking over at Nicole.
"Marcus, I don't think your sister is fine. She is going backward." "What do you mean?" "She is saying things that make no sense, and she kept singing, hush, little baby." "Thats a song my mom sang to us when we were afraid." Marcus grew concerned, clenching his fist, “those assholes fucked her mentally." "We must take her to a doctor for an MRI." Marcus walked over to the window, staring out. Lacy white-edged clouds rolled in over the blue sky, their centers as deep as any shoreline rock. “The weather is getting worse. It looks like we are expecting a storm.” Angela hurried over to the window glancing out, "What about Jack?" "He's like a cat with nine lives." Marcus joked, regretting his words afterward when seeing how concerned Angela was, "he will be okay." Angela looked at him with her deep soulful eyes, then walked over to the other end of the window, "Do you know Jack has always been the strong one
"What are you doing here?" Mark looked surprised, "the question is, why are you here, and where does this lead to?" "To my garage." Mark acted surprised, "fancy car in a garage?" "Yes, this belongs to a friend." Claire looked over Mark's shoulder, "why are they here?" “We came down here for some work and ended up trying to open whatever this is?" "Would you mind if we gave a peek inside?" Angela stood with her arms crossed, blocking Mark, the guys who climbed out stepped forward, "Gentleman, please give me some space?" He said, sounding annoyed. "Okay, boss." "Quite a title you have there, boss?" "Yes, they work for me on a construction site." "Construction site at this hours. I bet they get paid well over time, do you boys." She leaned her neck forward, grinning." "Of course they do. I take care of my staff." "Good to know, Mark." "Are you able to direct where you