05-31-2014, 01:25 PM
The little boy was easily coaxed out by Connor's gentle demeanor. Jensen could not decide if the child's faith in others was praiseworthy or sad. It was likely such trust that saw him in the hands of his captors.
They could come to learn the child's name was Jatinder, and that he did not know his last name, if he even had one. Connor's promise to return him to his parents lit his face with hope, but the lump in Jensen's throat fell hard into his stomach. Fulfilling such a promise to one child, let alone all of those present, was going to be near impossible. Yet hope flickered like a candle in the dark. Perhaps Connor had a plan Jensen lacked.
While Connor checked the hall, Jensen took the moment to investigate each and every child. They likely all had hurts of some sort, and he would see to them if it was the last thing he did. For now, he searched for anyone in grave need of health.
Connor put forth a rudimentary plan about the time Jensen decided everyone was well-enough to walk out on their own two legs. “Ok.”
He closed the door. “I’m going to see if I can take care of that guard. Then maybe we can sneak out that back way."
They exchanged a look, though for Jensen's part, it was hidden behind his visor shield. Connor had no such mask to protect himself, and Jensen silently prayed Baronej hadn't looked at the man too closely. These traffickers were likely to want revenge. I shouldn't have asked him to come. Heat clenched the back of his throat. I made a mistake.
Connor slipped out the door before Jensen could voice his regret. It was too late, anyway, and there were now a gaggle of young people clustered around him. Some of the older girls were almost as tall as he was.
He turned to one who looked the oldest, though it was hard to tell. She had pale skin and long black hair pulled into a braid. She wore cut-off shorts and a tank top. In fact, her clothes made Jensen scan the other kids more closely. They would freeze to death outside, and he had no way of knowing how long they might be out there. He pulled two of the older girls aside, and kept his voice low.
"Girls, when we leave, we will leave quickly. You see to the little ones and make sure they have shoes and as warm of clothes as you can find for them to wear. You send everyone in here to me and tell them they must remain absolutely silent. When we leave, I'm counting on you two to help make sure everyone makes it."
The Chinese girl in cut-offs nodded emphatically, while the other girl, Indian, Jensen thought, pressed her lips tight. Each went off to do as he asked, and Jensen hoped that second girl wouldn't sprint off the second she saw the chance to escape.
The little boy, Jatinder, tugged on his hand. Jensen knelt. "I need you to stop telling everyone i'm a superhero."
His eyes flared wide, "But!"
His protest made Jensen smile. "Because we need everyone to stay calm right now, and telling them that might get them too excited. Does that make sense?"
He wanted to squeeze the lad on the arms. Jatinder was about Gabriel's age, and behind the visor, his eyes cringed to fight back angry tears. Please be in Colorado with your mother. A flash of Gabriel teaching Malachi tricks on his younger brother's first snowboard nearly overwhelmed him, until a finger tapped him on the back.
He twisted around. The girls were back. The one in shorts and a tank top had put on a jean jacket and leggings. It wasn't winter wear, but least her skin was covered. The other girl had a scarf dangling around her neck that looked ready to be pulled over her ears. There were six others behind them. The four from the room next door, plus the girl with the scarf who said she was called Shri made five Indians. The Chinese girl with the braid was Pao Hai-xia. Two other very young faces were with her. Including Jatinder, that made nine children.
Pao had said there were dozens here. Jensen's heart pounded, overwhelmed. Connor. I pray you find the rest.
Jensen held up a hand that everyone stay quiet, and he peered into the hall.
Nobody was out there. Connor where are you?
He looked at the room of girls, and Jatinder, all staring at him, anxious and frozen to act. Jensen empathized. "Stay here. I'm going to check on my friend. Remember what I said. Be ready to flee at a moment's notice."
Pao nodded, her jaw set with determination. Shri looked scared to death.
Jensen slipped into the hall after Connor, frequently checking over his shoulder and wincing at every creak of the boards underfoot. Each and every door was silent, likely stocked with sleeping (he hoped) children, but as he came closer to one in particular, noise erupted behind it. Thuds, gruntings, pounding.
Jensen gasped and flung himself into the room. What he saw stopped him in his tracks.
They could come to learn the child's name was Jatinder, and that he did not know his last name, if he even had one. Connor's promise to return him to his parents lit his face with hope, but the lump in Jensen's throat fell hard into his stomach. Fulfilling such a promise to one child, let alone all of those present, was going to be near impossible. Yet hope flickered like a candle in the dark. Perhaps Connor had a plan Jensen lacked.
While Connor checked the hall, Jensen took the moment to investigate each and every child. They likely all had hurts of some sort, and he would see to them if it was the last thing he did. For now, he searched for anyone in grave need of health.
Connor put forth a rudimentary plan about the time Jensen decided everyone was well-enough to walk out on their own two legs. “Ok.”
He closed the door. “I’m going to see if I can take care of that guard. Then maybe we can sneak out that back way."
They exchanged a look, though for Jensen's part, it was hidden behind his visor shield. Connor had no such mask to protect himself, and Jensen silently prayed Baronej hadn't looked at the man too closely. These traffickers were likely to want revenge. I shouldn't have asked him to come. Heat clenched the back of his throat. I made a mistake.
Connor slipped out the door before Jensen could voice his regret. It was too late, anyway, and there were now a gaggle of young people clustered around him. Some of the older girls were almost as tall as he was.
He turned to one who looked the oldest, though it was hard to tell. She had pale skin and long black hair pulled into a braid. She wore cut-off shorts and a tank top. In fact, her clothes made Jensen scan the other kids more closely. They would freeze to death outside, and he had no way of knowing how long they might be out there. He pulled two of the older girls aside, and kept his voice low.
"Girls, when we leave, we will leave quickly. You see to the little ones and make sure they have shoes and as warm of clothes as you can find for them to wear. You send everyone in here to me and tell them they must remain absolutely silent. When we leave, I'm counting on you two to help make sure everyone makes it."
The Chinese girl in cut-offs nodded emphatically, while the other girl, Indian, Jensen thought, pressed her lips tight. Each went off to do as he asked, and Jensen hoped that second girl wouldn't sprint off the second she saw the chance to escape.
The little boy, Jatinder, tugged on his hand. Jensen knelt. "I need you to stop telling everyone i'm a superhero."
His eyes flared wide, "But!"
His protest made Jensen smile. "Because we need everyone to stay calm right now, and telling them that might get them too excited. Does that make sense?"
He wanted to squeeze the lad on the arms. Jatinder was about Gabriel's age, and behind the visor, his eyes cringed to fight back angry tears. Please be in Colorado with your mother. A flash of Gabriel teaching Malachi tricks on his younger brother's first snowboard nearly overwhelmed him, until a finger tapped him on the back.
He twisted around. The girls were back. The one in shorts and a tank top had put on a jean jacket and leggings. It wasn't winter wear, but least her skin was covered. The other girl had a scarf dangling around her neck that looked ready to be pulled over her ears. There were six others behind them. The four from the room next door, plus the girl with the scarf who said she was called Shri made five Indians. The Chinese girl with the braid was Pao Hai-xia. Two other very young faces were with her. Including Jatinder, that made nine children.
Pao had said there were dozens here. Jensen's heart pounded, overwhelmed. Connor. I pray you find the rest.
Jensen held up a hand that everyone stay quiet, and he peered into the hall.
Nobody was out there. Connor where are you?
He looked at the room of girls, and Jatinder, all staring at him, anxious and frozen to act. Jensen empathized. "Stay here. I'm going to check on my friend. Remember what I said. Be ready to flee at a moment's notice."
Pao nodded, her jaw set with determination. Shri looked scared to death.
Jensen slipped into the hall after Connor, frequently checking over his shoulder and wincing at every creak of the boards underfoot. Each and every door was silent, likely stocked with sleeping (he hoped) children, but as he came closer to one in particular, noise erupted behind it. Thuds, gruntings, pounding.
Jensen gasped and flung himself into the room. What he saw stopped him in his tracks.