“No, you will not,” Victor growls and cocks his pistols.
“Did you write this?” The man asks, holding up one of her flyers.
She gasps, “Surely that can’t be the reason you have attacked us?”
Summer pokes Victor in the back, and he allows her to step around so she can see clearly. “Yes, I did. Why?” Danny starts to move, and Summer grabs his arm. “NO. I won’t have you die on my account.”
“Put these on.” The leader tosses them three blindfolds and orders them to give up their guns. “Do as I ask, and you will all leave, alive. Fight, and you die, and we will still take her.” His green eyes hold the promise of a swift death, Victor sees they have no choice.
“It will be alright, I don’t think they mean to harm us.” Summer whispers and they are pushed from behind, towards a carriage with blacked out windows. “Bring their carriage and horses.”
Danny is the first to be blindfolded, and because of his size, they tie his hands behind his back. He is shoved roughly into the carriage, Victor is next followed by Summer. Two guards climb inside, shoving the hard muzzle of the rifles at the chest of both men, to ensure they do not move. A gentle hand guides her to her seat. “That's right folks, just a wee drive and all will be well.” They bump along down the road and Summer tries not to think about what is coming.
She can smell the ocean and hear the caw of the birds who fly overhead looking for scraps of food. “Tell me what this is about.” Summer demands.
“You’ll find out soon enough.” The carriage pulls to a stop and men open the doors, dragging Victor and Danny roughly out. Summer is guided more gently. “Easy now, love. Once we are inside, we will take that off.”
She can make out the sun through the blindfold, but not much else. The sound of footsteps all around them and Danny’s grumbling, reassures her. Before long, the noise fades and the sunlight with it. Their masks are taken off, and a lantern is lit. Victor moves towards her, only to be punched in the stomach with the butt of a rifle. Summer screams and tries to run towards him.
Danny uses the distraction and attacks the two men holding him. The man to his right is driven into the wall of the room by his shoulder and has the air crushed out of his lungs. He uses his momentum and bounces off the wall back towards the surprised man on his left. A crash of bodies echoes out, and both of them are on the floor. They roll around, and Danny knocks the man out with a vicious head butt to his temple, before leaping to his feet to fight more.
“Enough!” A tall older man with long silver hair and green eyes, steps from the dark. All movement ceases, and he turns to greet them. “Miss Denning, my name is Sean Aherne. Forgive the harsh treatment, but we have to be careful.”
“What is this about?” Summer is trembling with terror. Her fear is nearly Victor’s undoing. Victor looks up with hatred at the man in front of him.
“I will kill you all if you harm her.”
“I would expect no less, Mr. Yates, but I am not going to hurt her. I desperately need her help. I only ask that you hear me out. Let me show you why you’re here.” He wraps his arm through Summer’s and walks with her like they are taking a Sunday stroll towards the rear of the warehouse.
Victor is jerked to his feet, and both men have their hands cut free. Danny smiles as they drag the two unconscious men out of the way. They stumble along behind the group to reach Summer.
“You see, your flyer reached my attention, and I was impressed. No one has cared before you to help the immigrants coming into this country.” Two men open flanking doors and they step into a lit warehouse. Summer stares in confused shock at the scene before her. A warehouse full of people, young and old in beds, being cared for by others. It is a makeshift hospital in the docks of the city!
“What is this? I don’t understand?” She asks as her gaze takes in everything before her.
Victor is pushed inside, followed by Danny. They all freeze when they take in the room full of people. Coughing is heard, and moans of misery by some.
“You see before you, the immigrants who have been tossed aside to die like animals. I came to this country, as all of us did, with hope. The promise of a future that didn't include withering from starvation and abuse.” Mr. Aherne turns to her. “I am doing what I can to help, but now I need you. What you wrote, is it true? Can you walk through and tell me what to do better, so we can save more lives?”
“Mr. Aherne, I would be honored to help you, but you could have just asked, not scared us to death!” She turns to the men around them and points at Victor and Danny, “Don’t you dare touch them again!”
Whipping back around, she steps to the railing and glances down. “I’m not a doctor, Mr. Aherne, but I can assist you. You will need to bring a true doctor here to check on these patients.”
“None will come. We can’t pay them you see, so our lives are forfeit.” His anger radiates, but beneath the rage is an undercurrent of fear.
“I see.” Summer turns and looks more closely. “This is amazing.” Each person is sectioned off from the others by makeshift separators. They have as much privacy as can be afforded to them. Each has a chamber pot and water. “It could be
