be difficult to do as bad as it stinks in here. Keep your head down and forward so they can’t see your hair. Hopefully, they’ll think it’s me getting sick. Jessica, you squat down there and when the armed guard is far enough inside the door’s threshold for me to slam him with the door, stand up. I won’t be able to see him, so I’ll wait for your signal. The hit should knock the guard off balance enough for me to make a move on them.”
It wasn’t a great plan, but Jessica couldn’t think of a better one at the moment, so she shook her head in agreement. She reached over and grabbed Megan’s hand and was surprised by the firm squeeze she received in return. She was starting to believe Megan might be able to hold it together after all, which gave Jessica a sliver of hope. She reached over to give Megan a hug, but before she could draw her close two shots echoed just outside the house.
Jack looked at Jessica and Megan and neither flinched. What Jessica predicted would happen to Gilbert if he talked had apparently happened and Jack doubted they had much time to proceed with the rest of the plan.
“If the plan works, grab as much survival gear as you can find ¾ food, water, blankets, that kind of stuff. We should stay away from the road in case the van returns, so head that way.” He pointed to a break in the trees outside the window. “I’ll go for any weapons I can and be right behind you. The minute you get past these guys run for the forest and no matter what happens, don’t turn back. Just keep running. I’ll find you.”
Just as Jack finished talking they heard the lock on the door click. Megan rushed to the chamber pot and knelt before it. In the dim light Jack thought the men might believe it was him getting sick. They had wadded up the blanket and stashed it in the opposite corner, hoping the guards would believe the bundle was Megan curled up sleeping. Jessica assumed her spot against the wall opposite the door and Jack positioned himself in the hiding place they’d discussed.
As usual, the door eased open and one man stepped into the room while the other stood with his gun ready in the doorway. Megan heaved and Jessica was proud at how deep she made the noise. The sound drew the attention of the first man and the captor with the gun stepped forward to look around the door to see what was going on.
Jessica stood as the armed man crossed the threshold and Jack shoved the door into him with all his weight behind it. The gunman flew backwards, losing his grip on his weapon, and the gun hit the floor well outside their room, sliding out of reach. Jack was on him in an instant, throwing his fist into the man’s jaw with such power and speed that blood spattered the wall with each punch.
The first man was momentarily stunned and stood frozen in place, but quickly regained his senses. He turned to help, but before he could reach Jack, Jessica grabbed the cast-iron bean pot and swung it with all her might. The pot connected with his head and the man went down hard, his body still on the floor.
Jack looked up, shocked to see the slim five-foot-four Jessica standing over the downed man, still holding the swaying pot in her hand. He returned his focus to the man under him, who also no longer moved. Jack jumped up and dragged the man the rest of the way into the room, while Jessica and Megan ran past him. He slipped the man’s watch off, shoved it in his pocket, followed the women and locked the door behind him, leaving the two unconscious men in the room which had been holding them for the past few days.
“Grab what you can and head for the jungle,” he shouted as Megan and Jessica frantically searched for anything they could use.
Jack found a pistol and shoved it into the waistband of his shorts and slung the rifle over his shoulder, and then began scouring the outer room for ammunition.
There wasn’t much to be found. Megan scooped up a blanket, grabbed a jug of water and ran toward the door.
It wasn’t a great plan, but Jessica couldn’t think of a better one at the moment, so she shook her head in agreement. She reached over and grabbed Megan’s hand and was surprised by the firm squeeze she received in return. She was starting to believe Megan might be able to hold it together after all, which gave Jessica a sliver of hope. She reached over to give Megan a hug, but before she could draw her close two shots echoed just outside the house.
Jack looked at Jessica and Megan and neither flinched. What Jessica predicted would happen to Gilbert if he talked had apparently happened and Jack doubted they had much time to proceed with the rest of the plan.
“If the plan works, grab as much survival gear as you can find ¾ food, water, blankets, that kind of stuff. We should stay away from the road in case the van returns, so head that way.” He pointed to a break in the trees outside the window. “I’ll go for any weapons I can and be right behind you. The minute you get past these guys run for the forest and no matter what happens, don’t turn back. Just keep running. I’ll find you.”
Just as Jack finished talking they heard the lock on the door click. Megan rushed to the chamber pot and knelt before it. In the dim light Jack thought the men might believe it was him getting sick. They had wadded up the blanket and stashed it in the opposite corner, hoping the guards would believe the bundle was Megan curled up sleeping. Jessica assumed her spot against the wall opposite the door and Jack positioned himself in the hiding place they’d discussed.
As usual, the door eased open and one man stepped into the room while the other stood with his gun ready in the doorway. Megan heaved and Jessica was proud at how deep she made the noise. The sound drew the attention of the first man and the captor with the gun stepped forward to look around the door to see what was going on.
Jessica stood as the armed man crossed the threshold and Jack shoved the door into him with all his weight behind it. The gunman flew backwards, losing his grip on his weapon, and the gun hit the floor well outside their room, sliding out of reach. Jack was on him in an instant, throwing his fist into the man’s jaw with such power and speed that blood spattered the wall with each punch.
The first man was momentarily stunned and stood frozen in place, but quickly regained his senses. He turned to help, but before he could reach Jack, Jessica grabbed the cast-iron bean pot and swung it with all her might. The pot connected with his head and the man went down hard, his body still on the floor.
Jack looked up, shocked to see the slim five-foot-four Jessica standing over the downed man, still holding the swaying pot in her hand. He returned his focus to the man under him, who also no longer moved. Jack jumped up and dragged the man the rest of the way into the room, while Jessica and Megan ran past him. He slipped the man’s watch off, shoved it in his pocket, followed the women and locked the door behind him, leaving the two unconscious men in the room which had been holding them for the past few days.
“Grab what you can and head for the jungle,” he shouted as Megan and Jessica frantically searched for anything they could use.
Jack found a pistol and shoved it into the waistband of his shorts and slung the rifle over his shoulder, and then began scouring the outer room for ammunition.
There wasn’t much to be found. Megan scooped up a blanket, grabbed a jug of water and ran toward the door.
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