His face contorts in anguish. "Don't even say it!"
"What if someone accidentally found her, wouldn't you want that someone to return her to you?"
"Of course! That's a stupid question!"
"Then that someone is you," I say lightly. "Return the stolen children from Paradise Village to their rightful parents."
"Help us," Miguel says quietly.
"We'll help you," states Felipa. "Right, Jason?"
He's stares into space with an agonized expression. I can't tell if he's still thinking about the horrible scenario I described to him with his daughter, or if he's thinking about the ramifications of helping us.
"Right, Jason?" Felipa repeats.
"Yeah, right," he mumbles.
Felipa nods and looks at Miguel and me. "We won't let you down."
"You'll let us on the plane?" Miguel asks eagerly.
Felipa sighs heavily. "That's where it gets complicated. We can't take you with us."
"Why not?" Miguel questions.
"The plane isn't working right," she explains. "We can't have any extra load. Besides, they're watching our every move outside."
I nod solemnly. "There's no way we can make it to the plane undetected," I mumble with a deflated voice.
"That's right," Jason chimes in, his tone almost jovial.
Felipa seems as upset as I am. "Unfortunately, we can't even radio it in since we're also having problems with the radio."
Jason nods. "The radio just isn't working."
"Can you hide here until we make it back to the United States and talk to the authorities?" Felipa asks.
"We'll hide here for as long as we have to," I state.
"As long as we know help is on its way, we'll be fine," Miguel interjects.
"You'll be free soon," comments Felipa.
Freedom. The word reverberates in my head. It sends little electrical impulses up my spine. I'll be free to see my mother again. She'll seem like a dream, but she'll be real. She'll hold me and tell me she loves me. I'll tell her how much I've missed her. That her memory kept hope from dying inside of me. It kept me from being brainwashed. It kept me fighting for every step I took to move forward. It kept me alive.
Her memory made me empathize with the rest of the slaves here. It kept me believing in a higher power that's good instead of the self serving one shoved down our throats in Paradise Village. My mother--I can't believe that I'll be seeing her again soon.
The door to the outside suddenly swings open.
Uh-oh.
Chapter Thirty-Six
"Archibald," a voice says from the outside as Grinder holds the door open. "The unloading is done."
That split second that Grinder was detained allowed for Grinder not to step into the door frame right away. Miguel and I swiftly scrunch down in our hiding place.
"All of it is done?" questions Grinder with a gruff voice.
"Yes, all."
"Let me see what's taking those two pilots so long," Grinder snaps, stepping into the doorway. "Haven't you found that stupid I.D. tag yet?"
"We just found it," states Felipa. "We were about to go outside."
"Shake a leg then," he roars. "Out you two!"
"There's something I want to tell you," Jason mumbles.
My blood chills to frozen ice. Next to me, I feel a jittery Miguel
"What do you want to say to Mr. Grinder?" questions Felipa, her voice angry and nervous at the same time.
"I just wanted to say . . ."
"Hurry up," roars Grinder. "I don't have all day."
"Are there only adults in your community?" Jason questions, his voice shaky.
"Of course! It's a retirement community," he snaps. "Why do you ask?"
"He's asking because his aunt has always dreamed of retiring on an island," Felipa rushes, "but she doesn't like children. I guess that with landmines and dangerous animals there's no way you'd have young ones here."
"That's right."
"His aunt--"
"I already told you," he roars, exasperated. "This is an exclusive community. We only accept certain people here."
"Okay," Jason mutters. "I understand."
"Now stop wasting my time with stupid questions," Grinder retorts. "It's time for you to leave."
As soon as the door opens and the three of them step out, Miguel stands up. I grab his left arm and pull him back down.
"Let's wait a while," I tell him.
"You think they'll be back?"
"You never know."
"You're right," he states.
"Better safe than sorry."
"Do you think that Felipa and Jason are really going to help us?" he asks, his tone both concerned and hopeful.
"I think Felipa will."
"I'm worried about Jason."
"So am I," I admit.
"I really thought he was going to spill the beans about us."
"The good thing is that he now knows Grinder is a liar. What's the explanation for us if there are only adults in Paradise Village?"
"Hopefully Jason believed us after that," Miguel comments.
"He's still tempted by all the money he earns here, though."
"What if he convinces Felipa to keep quiet about our situation here?"
The thought had crossed my mind, but I had cast it out. Felipa wouldn't betray us for money. I just knew it.
"I don't think she'd keep quiet," I assert.
"Money does strange things to people."
"I don't think she could live with herself if she didn't speak up about the horror here. Every time she'd come to deliver stuff, guilt and horror would be getting to her. Don't you think?"
"I would hope so or what kind of a human being would she be?" Miguel questions. "In fact, Jason is a monster if he's even thinking of sweeping Paradise Village under a rug."
"Yes, a monster."
"How can he even consider blabbing about us to Grinder?"
"Let's not think about that. Felipa is going to help us. We'll soon be out of this nightmare."
"Yes, we will."
The door swings open. Miguel and I automatically clam up. My insides are twisting with worry. Had Jason blurted about our presence here?
"See, I told you we have plenty of liquor stored here."
"Archibald wants all of it in his wine cellar in his basement. We only have a few bottles in the truck.
"The truck is already full of supplies. We'll have to be back for the rest of the alcohol later on."
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Deeply relieved, my breathing normalizes. Thank goodness I had told Miguel that we should stay in the hiding place for a while longer. But I'm deeply concerned about the guards coming back. They are low level Masters and as cruel as the upper Masters. When the door shuts behind them, I put my hand on Miguel's shoulder. He puts his hand over mine.
"What'll we do?" I ask him. "What if they find us when they come back?"
"We'll have to leave here."
"Leave?" I don't have any desire whatsoever to be back in the middle of the dangerous jungle.
"There's a stream close to here, Frida. We can wash up, get some water, and hide out."
"That doesn't sound half bad." Even though we had soda and juices here, I'm still thirsty for water. Miguel and I had drunk the last drop of water in the canteen some time ago.
He smiles. "We'll be okay, Frida."
"We only have to wait a little while longer, right?"
"Right."
"We'll be rescued soon," I sigh.
"Before we know it."
We decide not to leave right away. The warehouse is pretty safe, and we want to be in it for as long as we can. We figure the guards have to drive to Paradise Village which is only a few miles away according to Miguel, but they still have to unload a lot of products.
"Let's eat," Miguel says after he climbed the stack next to our favorite window and made sure no one was outside.
/> I readily agree. Being able to fill my stomach is like a miracle to me. I grab at regular potato chips and canned meats that can be opened with their own tabs. Miguel takes hot fries and frozen pizza. We have no way of heating what is frozen but when you've starved most of your life, almost anything tastes good. We don't gobble the food up this time but let it sit on our tongues as we enjoy the last shred of flavor.
"Are you full?" he asks me.
"I'm very full. And you?"
"Same. I never thought we'd ever fill up our stomachs."
"Me either."
Like the trash before, we throw it away in the trash can. It's already loaded with the garbage the pilots had flung in it. We make sure we cover ours with theirs even though I doubt the guards will dig to see what's in there.
"I think we'd better head out," Miguel says.
I nod solemnly. I hate leaving the warehouse, but it's for the best. All we have to do now is wait for our rescue and not get caught.
Following the steps of Miguel, we walk cautiously. I feel better when we're hidden by trees and vines. Even though I know no one is near the warehouse, I'm still relieved to be out of its sights.
"The stream will be safe, won't it?" I ask Miguel.
"It's just a small stream--not a swamp."
I breathe out a long string of air. "No alligators or crocodiles?"
"Nope."
"Or Anacondas?"
"Nope."
"You said we'd be able to wash up?"
"The water is pretty clean."
It doesn't take long for us to get there. As Miguel said, it's a small stream. The first thing we do is take water and boil it. We drink as much as we can, and get water to disinfect. That water goes in the canteen.
"Let's get in," he says.
We take off our shoes and wade in. The tiny stones tickle our feet. The water is so refreshing. It's too bad that we can't plunge in since the running water only gets to our ankles. Still, I'm grateful for a chance to bathe myself. Bending down, I cup my hands and plunge them into the water. Then I raise my hands over me and let the cupped water pour over me.
Miguel and I are smiling and laughing. We're thoroughly enjoying the water. Maybe that's why we don't hear the shuffling of feet.
"I can't believe you're not dead," a voice says behind us.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Two guards stand behind us. I start grabbing my boomerang but when I see what's in their hands, I change my mind. Their rifles are pointed at us. One of them has a scrunched map peeking out of his pocket.
"We were positive you had died in the last explosion," states Guard Stanton.
"What a stroke of luck that you broke that liquor bottle and wanted to get cleaned up before getting to town," comments Guard Mort.
"Archibald would've harangued me if he knew I had broken one of his precious bottles," Guard Stanton says wryly.
"Now he'll be thrilled with us! Thrilled we'll be bringing these two to him."
"Were you on your way to the warehouse?" asks Guard Stanton. "You knew about it, right, Miguelito?"
Miguel nods.
"Tell us, how did you evade all those Elders and the dogs after you?"
Miguel and I shrug our shoulders.
"Must've of been blind, stupid luck," Guard Mort snarls. "What else?"
"Don't you feel bad that all those men died because of you?"
"If they hadn't been hunting us they wouldn't have died," I state.
The guards' faces twist in a sneer. "But we have to go after what's ours!" snaps Guard Mort.
"We're not property!" Miguel yells.
Guard Stanton eyes him strangely. "Where's your stutter, Miguelito?"
Miguel rolls his eyes.
"It magically disappeared," Miguel snaps.
Guard Stanton eyes him with disbelief. "What?"
"Let's take these two to Archibald and let him sort it all out," Guard Mort states.
"I have to wash away the liquor first. Keep the shotgun on them," Guard Stanton says as he sets his own shotgun next to Guard Mort and heads for the water.
Miguel and I stare at Guard Stanton as he splashes the water on himself. I'm having a difficult time coming to terms that after everything, we've been caught. But not all is lost, I tell myself. Felipa will save us. Miguel and I have to stay alive while the authorities come.
Guard Stanton takes off his shirt and washes it in the stream. A breeze flows by and I can smell the vodka. He must've gotten some on his clothes when he broke the bottle.
"So how is it that you don't have a stutter anymore, Miguelito?" he questions as he wrings his shirt.
Miguel shrugs. "It's a miracle from the Great Master."
"Don't take me for a fool," he snaps.
"The Great Master doesn't do miracles?" Miguel asks innocently.
Guard Stanton glares at him as he puts the shirt back on. "I hope this thing dries before we get back to Paradise Village."
"You're lucky that the sun is so hot today," comments Guard Mort.
"Hopefully Archibald won't suspect about the broken bottle," snarls Guard Stanton as he steps out of the stream and to the other guard. In one swoop, he picks up the shotgun and aims it towards us. "Okay, you two, start coming our way."
Miguel gives me a strange look and starts heading towards the guards. I follow. He's up to something. I hope it doesn't put us in too much danger.
"Ow!" he yells, falling to the ground.
"Stand up, you imbecile," Guard Mort yells.
"I tripped on a vine," Miguel cries, rubbing his leg. Luckily, there's a huge green vine on the ground.
"Are you okay, Miguel?" I ask, playing along with him as I rush to him.
"You'd better stand up!"
Miguel tries to get off the ground but stumbles back down. I try to make it seem like I'm helping, but then we both fall to the dirt.
"I think I've sprained an ankle," Miguel assures, groaning in supposed pain. Instead of standing up, I pretend I'm looking at his ankle.
"It's already swelling up," I lie.
"You total imbecile!" snaps Guard Stanton.
"I can't walk," Miguel explains. "What do you want me to do?"
"We should just shoot you!"
"If Highest Holy Grinder finds out, you'll be in real trouble," I comment.
Guard Mort's face twists with fury. "We're not carrying you to Paradise Village!"
"If one of you will get me a branch from the tree close to you, I can use it as a cane. Otherwise I won't be able to walk."
"We're not your servants!" retorts Guard Stanton.
"Suit yourselves but I already told you I can't walk."
"We're not going to do your bidding!" insists Guard Stanton.
"Then you can either carry me or let me lean on you."
"Monica, get the branch," demands Guard Mort.
"I don't think I'm strong enough to be able to climb the tree and cut it. We haven't eaten anything but weeds for days," I tell them, making my voice the most sincere.
Guard Stanton looks furiously at Guard Mort. "Just get him the stupid thing!--or we'll end up having to carry him!"
"Okay, okay," he says, stepping over to the tree.
Miguel eyes me. I know what he's trying to tell me.
Click.
We fling ourselves to the ground and cover our ears.
BOOM!
We look up to find both guards gone and the tree in bits and pieces on the ground. They had been so close to one another that the landmine had hit both. Our quiet world begins again as our ears can barely hear. I worry that with so many explosions we've been involved in we'll grow deaf. Miguel makes gestures with his hands asking me if I'm fine. I nod my head. I point to him. He also tells me through signs that he's fine.
No longer having to fake a sprained ankle, he stands up. I do the same. My head is in a foggy mess with the explosion still ringing in my ears.
Wil
l it be safe to go back to the warehouse? I wonder.
When the two guards don't get back to Paradise Village, other guards will come back to look for them. They may scour the warehouse. Maybe Miguel and I should return to the beach while help comes.
Just as I'm about to try to convey my thoughts to Miguel, two men spring out from behind some bushes.
They are guards.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
"How can these two idiots have caused so many problems?" yells a furious Grinder. "Why aren't they dead instead of all the others?"
The guards had taken Miguel and me back to Paradise Village. My heart wanted to burst into millions of pieces when we had stepped off the truck. I hated Paradise Village even more than before now that I had had a taste of freedom. One guard had ridden in the delivery truck with us with his shotgun pointed at us while the other one drove. They tried to ask us questions, but we pointed to our ears and shook our heads.
Actually, our hearing was coming back but Miguel and I had eyeballed one another. It was better to pretend we couldn't hear anything.
"Why are you still alive?!" Grinder yells at Miguel. We're outside of Grinder's house. When Miguel doesn't answer, Grinder starts beating him with a discipline club. I almost intervene, but Miguel warns me with his eyes to stay put.
"Archibald, these two can't hear you." Guard Donavan explains. Grinder's club stops in mid air.
"What do you mean?"
"The explosion messed up their hearing."
"It doesn't matter. They'll soon be paying for everything they've done. They'll soon be dead."
"Yes, Archibald."
"It's time to show the Great Master what we do to people like them!"
"What are we going to do to them, Archibald?"
"First let's shackle them up!" Grinder sneers. "It's time we use the new shackles! Ring the bells! Let's make sure everyone sees them!"
Guard Donavan rushes to the delivery truck and brings out a box. It's full of heavy chains and locks. This was a new torture. I had never seen anyone in Paradise Village harnessed this way. Two guards shackle our arms with our legs. A chain connects the shackles on our legs to our arms making it difficult to move very much.
"Ring the church bells and then stand at the church door and tell everyone to go to the square in front of city hall," he demands gleefully.
"Yes, Archibald."
"They'll get to see first hand what happens to heretics!"
We're left alone with Grinder who has an evil glint in his eye. Carrying a shotgun, he scampers all around us while chuckling darkly. Then he points it at Miguel's head. Perspiration slides down my face. Every part of me is shaking.