Haven Mountain

Chapter 2

    "TATUM!" I'm woken up from my trance by Josie yelling my name. She runs to me and embraces me.

    "Come on Tatum, we have got to go. Didn't you hear the principal or see the news? Our time is limited and we need to get home!" Josie says.

    I stood up and started following Josie out of the door. We could hardly fit through the halls because of all the kids and teachers running in every direction. I held on tight to the back on Josie's shirt. We finally made it outside and I got my phone out to call my mom.

    "Hold up Jose, I've got to call my mom." I grab Josie by the arm and pull her towards me. Before I can dial her number, Josie's dad pulls up. 

    "Come on Josie, we have to leave now! Tatum can come with us but we're going south and we don't have time to take her home." Josie's dad says. 

    Josie turns to me and says "Come on Tatum, please just come with us, we can meet up with your mom later! I promise we will." 

    "I can't leave my mom Josie. I'm going to call her right now and make a plan with her and I will call you once I get home." I tell Josie. 

    Her eyes start to tear up. She grabs me and hugs me. "Please be careful Tatum. I love you and we're going to get through this and when this is all over I promise I will take you to first high school party." Josie tries to make a joke through the tears. She is truly the best friend anyone could have.

    "I love you too, Jose. We will see each other again! Now hurry and go with your dad!" I tell Josie as I let go of her. I watch her climb in her dads truck and wave bye to both of them. I pick up my phone and dial my moms number. No answer.

    In the back of my mind I was worried because my mom hadn't tried to call me yet. Surely she had heard the news and knew what was going on. I started heading home while continuing to call her.

    It took me about 20 minutes to finally reach the driveway to my house. I could have been there sooner but the traffic was crazy and made walking even more difficult. We live in the southeast part of the country. There was mountains and forest everywhere. Normally this time of the year was beautiful with the leaves changing and the crisp air but today was a gloomy and sad day.

    I started up my driveway. My mother and I lived in a log cabin on top of a hill surrounded by woods. I think our closest neighbor was at least a 10 minute walk away. 

   My heart dropped slightly when I didn't notice my moms vehicle outside. I opened the door and just sunk to the ground. I sent Josie a text letting her know I made it. 

    I don't know how long I sat there, just waiting for mom to call. Minutes and minutes went by. Suddenly my phone started to ring.

    "Hello, Mom! Thank goodness, I've been trying to reach you for what seems to be an eternity! Are you okay? What's going on? Where are you?" I asked mom over the phone.

    There was a long pause and then I heard mom, "Hi honey, I'm so sorry. This is the first chance I've been able to get to my phone.....there's been a problem."

    "What do you mean a problem mom? Please tell me you're on your way home." I say to mom.

    "Honey, they have taken over our building and very few of us escaped.  We're hiding in the boiler room in the basement. We think we will be able to leave soon, but we want to make sure the building is clear and they've left before we do so." Mom says to me.

    My eyes start to pour tears. "Oh god mom. That's terrible. I'm so sorry but I'm glad you were able to hide. Please, please just come home to me as soon as possible. I'm so scared and I don't know what to do without you." I cry to her.

    Mom says. "I don't have much time so listen. If I'm not home by 3 pm, go to the basement and then to the gun safe. Take the pistol and some ammo on the first shelf. Under that shelf will be a dagger. Grab it too. Then to the left there is another compartment. Inside there you'll find some jewelry, a key, and cash. Make sure to take it all. I don't know if money will be worth anything in times like this, but it could help one day. There's also a compass in the safe, take it too. After packing everything, leave the house from the basement door and go west directly into the mountains. You will walk about 5 miles and come to an abandoned cabin. It was your grandfathers hunting cabin. This is when you'll need the key. Go inside and make sure all the doors are locked. There will be canned food and blankets. Wait for me there baby and I will make it." 

    I take in everything mom is saying. "Mom I won't have to do that alone because I know you will be here by 3, right? You will be. We can go together." I tell her.

    She says "Baby I'm going to try my hardest, but do not wait on me if I'm not. You need to make it up there before it gets too dark or you'll be lost and you know how early it gets dark this time of the year. You will be fine. You're a brave girl and you're so strong. I have to go honey but please do as I say and be careful. I love you more than anything in this world and I'll see you soon. 

    "I love you too momma." I tell her through the phone and then she hangs up. 

    I look at the clock and it's 1 pm already. I figure I should start packing now. I run downstairs and grab all the necessities mom told me about. I start packing it all in my book bag but then I realize my bag is bright pink and purple and I needed something more camouflage if I was going to be hiding in the mountains. I search all through the basement until I find a brown bag. I packed everything but the dagger. I take a strip of leather from an old purse of mine and strap the dagger to my leg like Lara Croft. If only I could have her courage I think to myself. 

    By the time I get back upstairs, it's 1:30. I run to my room and go through my clothes until I find some black leather pants and an olive colored long sleeve shirt. I put on my black combat boots, thankfully they're in style right now and I have some. I grab an old flannel jacket from my moms closet and tie it around my waist. I start braiding my hair so it will be out of the way during my hike. Well our hike, because my mom will definitely be here in time I think to myself. 

    Half way through my hair braid, the power goes out. I run into the kitchen and it's out in every room. I pick up my phone to call my mom but the call won't go through. The power and phone lines must be down. I start to get scared as I look at the clock again. 2:10. I lean against the front door and just slide down it and sink to the floor and wait. Every minute that goes by and mom doesn't get here is another inch my heart drops into my stomach. I can't even call her to see where she's at. I start thinking about how I never heard back from Josie and now, with the phone lines down, she will never know I made it home and I'll never know where they ended up going. 

    3pm rolls around before I even know it. "It will be okay" I tell myself as I get up. "I will just wait for her in the mountain cabin. She will be there tonight. She may already be on her way there to save some time". I grab a few protein bars and a couple of bottles of water for the hike and stick them in my bag. I walk downstairs and out the basement door. I pull out my compass, take a deep breath, and turn and look at my house one more time.