Saving the Princess

Chapter 3

I wake to a load banging. As I focus, I try to remember what I was dreaming about. Gunshots? I had dreamt of gunshots. Then the bangs got loader and I realize that the gunshots I heard were not from my dream. I struggle to turn to see the door and who is coming through. The door swings open and in came two men dressed in camouflaged carrying guns. Their faces are painted in black and green. They survey the five cages and one says to the other in a soft southern draw, “There are more than we expected, go tell the lieutenant.”   Two other men came in behind them as that one turns and ran out. The first guy looks at the others and points to the cages, “get them out and move them to the extract location.”  The next minutes are a blur as the cages are open and the beaten people are removed. When I am released I struggle to my feet and meet the eyes of the man pulling me out. They are sky blue and clear. I focus trying to say something and nothing came out. Instead I am pull and half drag to the front of the building. It amazed me to look around and see 15 or so people in different stages of torture. Some of them are standing; most are lying on the ground looking like they may not make it through the ordeal. A helicopter is ahead of them just outside the compound gate. It looks odd among the jungle right behind it. I turn and look at the building that held me as a prisoner for the last weeks; it looks like an old villa. The building and gates are something out of a novel or an old movie.  I half expect to see a gentleman from the 1940 walking out with a straw hat and a pipe, but instead the plaster is flaking away from time and gunfire and people lay in front of the building on top of the gravel walkway cover in rags and blood. 

The soldiers start loading the victims into the helicopter. I watch as the wounded and scared climb aboard crying, praying, and some in just plain shock.   I feel a hand grab my arm and shove me toward the helicopter, “Your next.” I walk to the helicopter in daze waiting to see if my captures will come out from behind and shoot everyone. I keep thinking this is just a horror movie I am watching not my life. The movie will be over soon. But instead I keep walking towards the helicopter. When I reach the door and start to pull myself up, the soldier behind me is talking to the pilot. “There is not enough room, we will keep the dead and wait for you to come back.” I look through the helicopter and realize the older soldier I was capture with was not there.   I stop and turn to look at the soldier behind me, “Where is the guy in the cage next to me. The one with the head wound.” The soldier looks down at me; he speaks abruptly to me, “Sorry ma’am he’s dead.” He grabs my arm and tries to turn me around. I stand my ground, “No, no he is not. He is alive, I could hear him breathing.” I step back and grasp the edge of the helicopter to keep them from forcing me in. He grumbles something and yells at another soldier who proceeds to check the older man. I watch as the soldier picks up the wounded man and hauls him to the helicopter. “His pulse is weak, but he is alive.” The pilot looks back and announced, “There is not enough room for all of them.” A wounded soldier, dress in camouflage with a weapons slung around his shoulder, on the helicopter starts climbing off. I look at the blood gushing from his shoulder under the weapon strap.

“No, I am staying.” I speak before I realize the words left my mouth. The commanding soldier looks at me and pushes me towards the helicopter. “Hell no, you are a civilian, you are on.” He motions to the wounded soldier and I block his path off the helicopter. “He is wounded badly, and Grant is nearly dead. I am staying, they go.” I look into his eye with all the force I can muster. I could tell by his stance that he wants to throw me on the helicopter and get them moving, but instead he shakes his head. He mutters under his breath, “The damn girl is right.” The soldier next to him says, “She is whipped and beaten but nothing life threatening and at least she is not hysterical like the other women. It should be fine for her to stay behind. The second copter will be here in 5 minutes.” He grumbles again and looks at the man standing behind me on the helicopter looking to see his command. He motions him to stay put and turns to the soldier next to him. “Fine, Smith you are in charge of her. Make sure she stays safe and out of the way.” He turns and walks away. The guy with the blue eyes walks up to me and motions to the front door with his head, “Great, you over there now.” I move towards the entry way. I did not dare turn around and look at the helicopter as it takes off. I want to cry, I so wanted out of this place and I had just volunteered to stay.