John O'Brien - Taken

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she says sobbing slightly as she presses into his chest. “I was so scared something happened to you.”

“I’m so happy to see you too, Bri,” she hears him say. They pull away and he turns to embrace Michelle. She watches as Robert and Michelle hold each other tightly and each with a big grin.

They quickly catch each other up on their previous day and evening with not much having to be said. It’s apparent they’ve been captured and are being held. Robert shares that the guys are being kept in the gym with at least one guard looking over them at night from an upper gym balcony.

“We need to get out of here,” Robert says. “Bri, how is your arm?”

“Gonzalez thinks it’s broken or fractured,” Bri says. “But I’ll manage. Do you have a plan?”

“Look everyone, we’re not going to do anything right away unless the optimal opportunity comes up. Bri is in no condition to move like we’ll need to and we don’t know what the others are up to,” Gonzalez says.

“We don’t know if they even know where we are,” Robert says. “We have to do something.”

“Give it a few days until Bri’s arm is better and we’ll know if the others are around by then. Until then, we don’t make any waves,” Gonzalez says.

“I think I can get out of the gym anytime,” Robert says.

“Okay, we’ll use that if we need to,” Gonzalez replies.

Bri notices a guard making their way through the people gathered. “A guard is coming.”

“Say what you need to and quickly. We’ll talk when we can,” Gonzalez says.

Bri notices Robert looking off toward a tree-covered hill in the distance. “What are you looking at?” She asks as the guard nears.

“Looking for dad,” Robert answers.

“Break it up. You know the rules, no gathering,” the arriving guard says.

They split and soon their time outside comes to an end. They are shepherded back into the classrooms and Robert disappears into a set of doors leading to the gym. Just before entering the classroom building, Bri glances back towards the hill Robert was looking at and smiles thinking her dad might indeed be sitting there watching them. She’s been very surprised in the last months at just what her dad is capable of.

The day comes and goes. They are allowed another hour outside around noon and talk quietly amongst themselves until they are broken up once again. With her arm bothering her, Bri thinks of taking a towel if they are allowed to shower to make a sling. She wants to be as ready as she can if an opportunity arises. If Gonzalez sees a chance for them, or Robert for that matter, then she doesn’t want to be the reason they don’t take it. She, Gonzalez, and Michelle are moved into another classroom in the afternoon.

She hears the sounds of vehicles arriving through the partially open windows of the classroom. They are soon moved to the school cafeteria and join others being held in the camp. She sees Robert and they all sit together. They whisper amongst themselves about escaping and how to do it but nothing clearly presents itself. They have to stop talking every once in a while as guards make their way near the tables. Bri looks over the large gathering hoping to see one of her friends.

Her glance passes many faces, stops, and backtracks to one in particular. Her mind and her eyes aren’t in agreement with what they see. Her mind tells her that what she sees is impossible. But there it is, right in front of her. Well, almost. Sitting four tables away, a very familiar length of blond hair hangs over a tired face with an almost lifeless expression; the hands appear to be just going through the motions of eating but Bri’s heart jumps at the sight.

Robert is engaged in a whispering conversation with Michelle. Bri elbows him and whispers briskly, “Robert! Robert!”

“In a minute, Bri,” he says turning back to Michelle.

“No, Robert. There’s Mom,” she says elbowing him once again.

“What?!” Robert says turning and looking to where Bri is nodding her head.

“Be careful you two,” Gonzalez says listening to their conversation and nodding towards the guards scattered around the room. “I am so happy for you two but be careful.”

Bri barely hears Gonzalez. “Mom!” She calls out loudly.

The woman looks up from her tray and searches about. Bri waves her good arm. The woman focuses on her and stares. Recognition flares in her eyes and her face lights up. The tiredness and long face vanishes as if it were never there. Tears form and run down her face in streams. The woman rises and begins to rush over. A guard grabs her shoulder and tells her something. She elbows the guard and continues her dash. Bri and Robert rise and they each hug their mom tightly as she arrives. The guards rush in their direction but stop when they see what is going on. They remain close but see it’s not someone trying to escape and leave them in peace.

Bri sobs in her mother’s arms and hears Robert crying as well. She feels, on her fine blond hair, the drip of her mother’s tears as they fall. She doesn’t ever want to let go. Her heart lightens to a considerable degree. She hadn’t even realized she was carrying so much anxiety and stress. Her heart feels so full that it may explode from joy and happiness. Her arm hurts from the pressure against it but she doesn’t care and continues to grip her mom.

“I was so worried I’d never see you again,” her mom says as they finally separate.

Gonzalez scoots over to make room and they sit. The guards, seeing all is well, leave to continue their watch over the tables.

“We thought you had turned into a night runner,” Robert says finally able to find his voice. He is still choked with emotion.

“A what?” Their mom asks.

They begin to tell their story, each breaking in to tell their version of a particular instance and events. They catch her up on the world in general and what they’ve been through. Their mom doesn’t have much to offer as her memory of the events of hasn’t returned. She is surprised to hear about the long time frame of her memory gap.

“So, your dad is still around, huh?” Their mom asks.

“Yeah. He is. Robert thinks he is nearby and will be here with the other soldiers soon,” Bri answers.

“Ma’am, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Corporal Gonzalez,” Gonzalez says introducing herself.

“Call me Julie,” she responds taking Gonzalez’ outstretched hand.

Julie looks around the table after their stories are finished. Bri knows exactly who she is looking for. Tears come to her eyes thinking both about Nic and how this will devastate their mom. She doesn’t want this happy moment to have unhappiness intrude but knows the next question.

“Mom,” Bri says sniffing, “There’s something…” She doesn’t finish as she feels Gonzalez touch her good arm.

“Julie, I have some news that Robert and Bri didn’t share with you. I hate to bring sorrow into this happy moment,” Gonzalez says staring into Julie’s eyes. Gonzalez sees Julie’s eyes tear up once again as she knows the words that will come next, “but, I don’t know how to say this, as if there’s really any way to say it.” Gonzalez sighs heavily. “Nicole died saving one of the soldiers.”

Julie stays silent a moment and then erupts in a keening wail that pierces the heart of everyone hearing. She grips her stomach and folds over crying so hard that she has a hard time catching her breath. Robert wraps his arms around her and Bri her good one as they join her; crying for the loss of Nic.

Lying on the dry ground under the trees, shielded by bushes, the sound of vehicles in the distance intrudes upon my thoughts as I run through various scenarios. I picture in my mind the buses arriving, proceeding through the gate, and shoveling everyone out for the evening routine. I’m assuming it is a routine as we’ve only monitored them for a very short time, but the process did seem to flow smoothly. The smoother something like that happens, the more likely they’ve done it that way for a while. I don’t want to make any assumptions about anything but I like to keep all of the players in my mind as to their possible locations at all times. Noting routines, where people go or should be at a particular time, helps keep situational awareness. That, however, doesn’t make everything written in stone.