Barrel

5

Eva slowly removed the chain from around her ankle and then softly placed it on the mattress next to her. The woman still didn’t move, nor did anyone come running.

She glanced down at the food and water below her, which made her stomach turn inside out. But she couldn’t do it. She was almost out, and nothing could stop her. She was going to be her own hero. Her aunt Nydia would be proud.

Eva planted her feet on the ground slowly. She wasn’t wearing shoes, so she tried to move slowly and keep herself stable. She felt the cool floor and crept over to where the woman was lying on the bed.

She touched her shoulders and shook them lightly. The woman remained still and spoke solemnly.

“Just go,” the woman said. “There isn’t anything left for me out there.”

Eva felt her heart sink like a stone falling into an ocean. She wanted to be an optimistic person, but the woman was resolute. Plus, Eva didn’t know if she could find a way out of there by herself, let alone with a stranger. If she were caught, she didn’t want to bring punishment to others.

She stood in the dark and then took in a big breath. She had to go out blind, not knowing how many men were there, what weapons they had, or what they were willing to do if they saw her fleeing. But none of that mattered. She had so much left to do in her life. There was no more time to waste.

Eva stuck her head around the corner and spotted two men lingering a fair distance away. Outside the hall door, she spotted a bush she thought she could shield herself beneath and began to crouch and take a small step.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

BARREL

Barrel looked over the supplies in his bag, making sure he had everything he would need. He wasn't entirely sure how this trip was going to go, but he knew one thing was for sure. s**t was about to go down.

He zipped up the bag and glanced at the person flying the helicopter. He wasn't sure what his future held, but he knew he was a step farther along on his path. A step toward the future he wanted.

The helicopter touched down, and the pilot looked back at him. "You know the coordinates for the pickup location, right?”

Barrel nodded, not thrilled with how far he had to go for the final rendezvous. The General had explained to him that they had to stay out of enemy air space or risk being shot down. They were able to drop Barrel so close to the target area because the chopper was able to slip under the radar. When the foreign government learned what they had done, the military would be on high alert, and there was little chance of getting away with being so close again.

“We will track you from the GPS in your spine,” the pilot continued. “And don't think about doing anything stupid. We will know the second you get off course, and we will find you."

The warning ran over him like nothing. He wasn't going to do anything stupid, at least not until after he got the girl out. He knew if he wanted a fighting chance at freedom, it was after rescuing her.

He grabbed his bag and jumped out. The blades roared in his ears, but he marched forward. He heard the helicopter take off, and then he headed east. They dropped him about five miles from Sergie's base, which was in the middle of a town. He would have to hike. It wasn't much of a problem, but Barrel didn't like the quiet time. It left him alone with his thoughts which were always filled with his sister and baby niece.

He tried to think about his plan to get Eva out, but he knew he would have to think on his feet. A plan could fall apart too quickly, and he didn't know what he was up against.

He walked, keeping a steady pace as he grew closer to the compound. Night had fallen, and the sound of crickets filled the air. He watched two guards switch posts and speak for a few moments. He surveyed the area, seeing that the brick wall wasn't very tall. Honestly, a human could break in if they wanted to.

He waited until the guards were distracted to move a large branch, angling it against the wall. The wind and the darkness covered most of his sounds, and neither guard looked to see what was going on.

He climbed up, taking in the base. There were several buildings with a larger building near the back. That's where he knew Sergie would be, and that's where he was headed.

"God, it's going to be a long night," one of the guards grumbled, tossing his gun over his shoulder. "Not a damn thing to do."

He heard the other guard snicker and took his chance. He snuck up behind the first guard, and with a quick twist, he snapped the man's neck. The man fell like a sack of potatoes.

"Hey. Did you bring anything to munch on? I forgot to pack something to eat since I wasn't planning on working this shift tonight."

Barrel pressed closer to the wall as the second guard walked down toward him. The guard passed him, and before he could say anything else, Barrel grabbed him from behind and treated this guy like the previous. They should’ve found a better employer than a criminal if they had wanted to have a happy, long life.

Barrel let the guard drop before he took a step back and looked around. He had maybe an hour before the guards would change posts again. He needed to work quickly if he wanted to get in and out without anyone coming after him.

He headed around the guard hut, staying close to the wall, then left the gate and entered the main part of the camp. He surveyed the area, confused. He expected men to be rushing around, but it was quiet … eerily quiet.

He took in the empty driveway and the silent night with nothing but the wind. He didn't like it.