The Desire for a Simple Life

TEN

TEN

Natalia

I wake up to shots. Here we go again. But this is the thrill I was hoping for! At first I waited in my room for Grant to come get me. Minutes go by. Then it's ten minutes and he hasn't arrived.

The screams begin to grow, and the shots get closer. Is Grant okay? I hear the thuds, and crashes above me. I am directly under my old bedroom. They must be looking for me. Grant will keep me safe. It's his job. He'll be here. I begin to pace back and forth into my room, biting my nails.

Nerves begin to build up in me. My hands begin to shake. I no longer feel safe where I am. I need to get to the bunker now.

With a deep breath, I walk to my door and put my ear up to it and try to hear if anything is on the other side. Once I decided that it's clear I open my door. I peek out to see nothing. I take another long breath and step out and run on my toes to the bunker room stopping at every corner.

Clear.

Clear.

Clear.

The safe room is on the other side of the house, so I need to get there quickly. I hear the action all right above my head. With every crash I duck my head down to try and protect myself as if something is going to fall from the ceiling. I look over the balcony to see nothing as I run down the stairs. Just as I reach the bottom step my arm is wrenched right out of its socket.

I cry out in pain as my dislocated shoulder lays limp at my side. The man takes the same arm and pulls me toward the grand hall. "Stop! Grant! Agh!" I cry.

My shoulder hurts so bad. It starts to make my entire body numb. I look around in panic to try and spot Grant. I try to call out again, but the man covers my mouth with his hand. But then a loud shot rang out. The man's grip falters with him as he falls to the ground.

And another hand snakes around my waist, I look over to see through my tears that it's Grant. "Oh my god!" I cry. He doesn't look at me, just looks around to see other's coming toward us but they all drop momentarily. Grant looks to me and his eyes tear into mine. "My shoulder. It needs to be popped back in." I tell him. He doesn't react. Grant starts to lead me toward the bunker area. As some people approach that are with us he shoots them. "No- they are with us." He doesn't even glance at me.

He continues to the bunker and once we get there he puts me inside and shuts the door. I turn to see everyone from dinner is here, including my father. "Natalia! What took you so long!?" My father questions holding my shoulders with a strong grip with his hands.

I flinch away. "Don't. I hurt my shoulder." I tell him.

"What?! I was promised you would never get hurt! Grant will have to pay." He groans.

"No- it's fine. I'm fine." I state, truthfully.

Though I am confused. I thought that Grant would know about all my father's guards. He killed at least six of them out there. Could something be up? No, Grant is a "friend"-ish. He knows what he is doing.

"What is taking them so long?!" My father shouts angrily.

- 3:23 am -

I sit on the corner of the safe room, with my knees to my chest, holding my shoulder to my side. It needs to be popped back in. But I don't have the guts to do it. So I just tilt my head against the wall and try to bite back the pain.

Just then the door opens. Grant stands in the doorway with his steel gun in his hand. "Finally! Everyone go back to your rooms. And back to sleep. See you in the morning!" My father says cheerfully. "Grant, Omar , stay back." He orders. He glances at me and pulls me up by my bad arm. "Get to your room."

"Stop! My arm." I snap.

"Knock it off. It's not that hard to listen." He shouts into my ear. His hand raises to hit me but I feel a jerk in my dad's body as Grant holds his hand up and stops it. "Grant this is none of your business. You may just get fired." My father snaps.

Grant pulls back my fathers arm and raises his own fist and strikes my father in the nose. A part of me wants him to do it again. But my father just drops onto the ground. "You are really looking to fight?" Atticus says putting his fists up. But in two punches he is down too.

Grant turns to me. "Grant? W-what are you doing?" I stutter, backing away from him. He steps close to me where we are only a few inches apart. "Grant?"

Then everything goes black.