“Camouflage yourselves in those bushes to take vantage point.”
“Got it,” Shawn says, slowly creeping off to the right into the tree line.
Samantha, Magi, and Cara also slink off into the shadows to sharp-shoot if needed.
Seconds after they enter the bush, a loud shot rings into the air, causing my ears to ring and panic to fill us all.
Chapter Thirty-Two
All our eyes raise up to the silhouette of a person standing off to the side of the road in the distance. As best as we can tell, the shot didn’t achieve contact with anyone or anything. It appears the person put the bullet into the air, as a warning shot, perhaps.
The person who took the shot comes closer, holding their gun up into the air as to let us know that they don’t plan on shooting at us at this very moment.
“Don’t shoot,” the shadow shouts out, revealing, by the sound of his voice, they are clearly a boy, and a young one at that.
“We won’t shoot if you don’t,” Jake yells back.
“Bring your side shooters into view,” the boy says strongly, “and I promise I will not shoot unless you do first.”
“Show yourselves,” Jake shouts out to those of us at vantage point. “Guns held in the air.”
Shawn, Samantha, Magi, and Cara come out into view with their guns raised into the air ever so slightly. We all stand still as the image of a boy about Zac’s age comes into view. It takes me a moment to realize what is going on when I see Cara running at the boy.
“Baxley!” she screams, running into the boy, hugging him wildly.
He pushes her out enough to take a good look at her face to see if he might know her.
“Cara?” he asks, slowly bewildered.
“How?” Cara stammers. “The Elected took you! I saw it.”
“They did,” Baxley says still in unbelief.
“How are you here?” she asks. “Why are you here?”
We all begin to lower our guns a bit more the more Baxley relaxes with his stance and weapon.
“It’s not safe here,” he says. “Come with me.”
“Is where you are leading us safe?” Leah asks.
“Safer, but keep in mind…nothing is safe around here, ma’am,” Baxley answers.
Leah nods in agreement. I think by now we all know we haven’t once felt safe since we thought all was right at The Force. Even when we were home, we had to worry about The Elected, starving, work camps, and being abducted by The Force.
We all follow him into the abandoned village. Sure enough, there is no life at all, apart from a stray cat and a small flock of mangy birds.
Baxley leads us into a meadow filled with wild flowers. It is clear to see the path that he has walked over time, smashing down half dead flowers under foot.
Time is not useful in a place and situation such as this. We were taken by The Force in late April, it must be pushing August about now, but I can’t be sure, maybe September. The flowers, once beautiful and bright, are a dull brown color and appear to be dying. The heat of the day is so stifling that it is hard to breath. By now, winter’s breath is gearing up to escape across the country side, but not even a gentle breeze has graced our presence.
“Where are you leading us?” Samantha asks.
“It’s just over that hill.” Baxley points to a small hill on the other side of the meadow.
“That’s not bad,” Dia says, while shaking her tired foot in the air trying to gain circulation. “I’m tired of walking.”
“Me too,” Zac agrees. “Come here,” he says as he hoists Dia in the air and wraps his arm around her waist. “I will carry you so those precious feet of yours don’t fall off.”
“Oh, Zac,” Dia giggles as she enjoys the ride. Her hands, brushing the tops of the brown wild flowers. They crumble at her touch, but she doesn’t mind. For a little while, she gets to be a kid again. Zac plucks a dandelion fluff and hands it to her. She blows the white puffball, letting its fluff fly all around them.
After leaving the meadow and ascending the hill, it is clear to see where Baxley is leading us. Sitting at the trough in the valley, is a small cabin still intact. It appears to be half dilapidated, but as we enter inside, it amazes us all to see that it has been kept well. It occurs to me that it is needed to look like it does on the outside to better conceal it from any onlookers.
Once we plop our things in a pile on the floor of the corner of the cabin, we all take a seat around the rooms odds and ends furniture.
“So, what’s going on?” Cara asks as though she has been dying to know ever since she saw her brother again for the first time in five years.
“It’s a long story,” Baxley begins, “so I will try to keep it brief for time’s sake.”
“Got it,” Mar confirms.
I can’t get it out of my head that this kid seems wise beyond his years.
“I was taken by The Elected five years back when I was six.” He pauses. “I remember that day like it was yesterday. They took me to headquarters on a flying craft…”
“There are no flying crafts anymore!” Samantha interrupts, laughing.
“That you see,” Baxley says, calmly.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“They have cloaking capabilities that make the crafts invisible to those below. The flying crafts are everywhere and not seen or heard by anyone. They go around taking pictures to survey the land, and better, to see what groups of individuals, voyagers, and cities that remain to pose a threat to them are doing.”
