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Authors: Audrina Cole
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toward the jeep. I glanced at the MPs and followed Weston, and felt the two men fall into place behind me.
As one of the MPs moved ahead to open the jeep door for Weston and I, I could hear River’s whispered argument with Mom. He didn’t agree with the plan—he wanted to go, too. I knew he’d lose that argument. I knew what the plan was. We’d gone over it a million times.
By the time I had reached the Air Force base in Airway Heights, Washington, the rest of my family would be on their way to the rendezvous point. They would meet at the main rendezvous point, then decide on a new rendezvous point—one I wouldn’t think of. Then they’d split up, and reconvene at the new meeting spot, from which they’d plan their escape route from the area.
As the jeep pulled away, I watched Mom’s and River’s anguished expressions.
I might never see them again.
Chapter 8
The drive from my mountain home to Fairchild Air Force base in Airway Heights took nearly an hour. I was famished by the time we arrived—it was almost lunchtime, and I’d had only an apple for breakfast. Not that it mattered. I doubted I could keep anything down.
Is Dad on his way to the rendezvous point, yet? Did River get ahold of Meadow in time? When Meadow isn’t in class, she can be hard to reach. What if she goes back home? What if they send reinforcements to round up the rest of the family?
I tried to calm my thoughts—the last thing I wanted is to put that kind of energy out into the universe. Everything will be fine. We’ll be fine. They’ll ask questions, I’ll answer them like Mom and Dad taught us, and we’ll be fine. I was careful. I only gave Mrs. Baxter minimal healing.
Or did I?
I shoved the thoughts out of my mind. Alex. I’ll think about Alex.
But that only brought heart-wrenching pain. How could he do this to us? I saved his life. I saved his mother’s life! I put my own family at risk, and this is how he repays me?
As the jeep turned left into the base’s entrance, I blinked back the tears that threatened. Even out your breathing. Slow your heart rate. You’re just a girl being brought in to help. You’re a witness. You’re a little nervous because you don’t know what’s going on, but that’s all. Do not flip out!
I knew my family’s survival rested in my hands.
No pressure.
I stared at the back of the heads of the MPs, and wondered how far I’d get if I ran. Would they chase me down? Or just shoot me in the back? Well, they let me sit in the back with the Sergeant Major, instead of making me sit in the front seat, with an MP sitting behind me. That’s a good sign…right? I wasn’t sure how things worked in the military.
At the gate, my identification was checked, and Weston left instructions for Mom, as promised.
At least he’s not a total liar.
We pulled away from the gate, driving through the base until we came to a two-story building, and parked. I was escorted into the building, again flanked by the two MPs, while Sergeant Major Weston led the way.
He stopped at a counter. A slim woman, her dark hair pinned back in a severe bun, sat answering phones. She was dressed in the typical camouflage uniform, as were most of the Air Force personnel I saw. She put a call on hold as we walked up.
“Is the room I requested ready?”
“Yes, sir,” she answered. “Second floor, room 215. I can—”
“I’ll find it, myself,” he said brusquely. “And when Mrs. Perry arrives, keep her down here. If she gives you any trouble, call an MP.”
I gasped. “But you said—”
“I said she could follow us to the base,” he said in a clipped tone, “nothing more. Now, are you going to give me trouble, or are you going to come with me? It would be a shame if we had to bring your mother into this.”
I opened my mouth, but said nothing. Mom was safer if I did it alone.
As one of the MPs moved ahead to open the jeep door for Weston and I, I could hear River’s whispered argument with Mom. He didn’t agree with the plan—he wanted to go, too. I knew he’d lose that argument. I knew what the plan was. We’d gone over it a million times.
By the time I had reached the Air Force base in Airway Heights, Washington, the rest of my family would be on their way to the rendezvous point. They would meet at the main rendezvous point, then decide on a new rendezvous point—one I wouldn’t think of. Then they’d split up, and reconvene at the new meeting spot, from which they’d plan their escape route from the area.
As the jeep pulled away, I watched Mom’s and River’s anguished expressions.
I might never see them again.
Chapter 8
The drive from my mountain home to Fairchild Air Force base in Airway Heights took nearly an hour. I was famished by the time we arrived—it was almost lunchtime, and I’d had only an apple for breakfast. Not that it mattered. I doubted I could keep anything down.
Is Dad on his way to the rendezvous point, yet? Did River get ahold of Meadow in time? When Meadow isn’t in class, she can be hard to reach. What if she goes back home? What if they send reinforcements to round up the rest of the family?
I tried to calm my thoughts—the last thing I wanted is to put that kind of energy out into the universe. Everything will be fine. We’ll be fine. They’ll ask questions, I’ll answer them like Mom and Dad taught us, and we’ll be fine. I was careful. I only gave Mrs. Baxter minimal healing.
Or did I?
I shoved the thoughts out of my mind. Alex. I’ll think about Alex.
But that only brought heart-wrenching pain. How could he do this to us? I saved his life. I saved his mother’s life! I put my own family at risk, and this is how he repays me?
As the jeep turned left into the base’s entrance, I blinked back the tears that threatened. Even out your breathing. Slow your heart rate. You’re just a girl being brought in to help. You’re a witness. You’re a little nervous because you don’t know what’s going on, but that’s all. Do not flip out!
I knew my family’s survival rested in my hands.
No pressure.
I stared at the back of the heads of the MPs, and wondered how far I’d get if I ran. Would they chase me down? Or just shoot me in the back? Well, they let me sit in the back with the Sergeant Major, instead of making me sit in the front seat, with an MP sitting behind me. That’s a good sign…right? I wasn’t sure how things worked in the military.
At the gate, my identification was checked, and Weston left instructions for Mom, as promised.
At least he’s not a total liar.
We pulled away from the gate, driving through the base until we came to a two-story building, and parked. I was escorted into the building, again flanked by the two MPs, while Sergeant Major Weston led the way.
He stopped at a counter. A slim woman, her dark hair pinned back in a severe bun, sat answering phones. She was dressed in the typical camouflage uniform, as were most of the Air Force personnel I saw. She put a call on hold as we walked up.
“Is the room I requested ready?”
“Yes, sir,” she answered. “Second floor, room 215. I can—”
“I’ll find it, myself,” he said brusquely. “And when Mrs. Perry arrives, keep her down here. If she gives you any trouble, call an MP.”
I gasped. “But you said—”
“I said she could follow us to the base,” he said in a clipped tone, “nothing more. Now, are you going to give me trouble, or are you going to come with me? It would be a shame if we had to bring your mother into this.”
I opened my mouth, but said nothing. Mom was safer if I did it alone.
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