Missing Comrades

5 Out Of 11 Left: Found Gerald...

Camila's POV

Lauren opens the warehouse door as I walk in my gun raised as I look around the room.

"Where are you, Chris?" I call out. I walk into the open space of the warehouse to see Gerald on a chair in the middle of the room, tied up with a sack over his head. "Gerald!" I yelp.

"He can't talk," Chris comes out of a room, swinging a bat. He places it on Gerald's knee swinging it back and forth slowly. "Drop your gun," He says.

I throw the gun down on the floor and raise my hands in the air. "Take the sack off. I want to see him," I said.

"Alright," He smiles. Chris drops the bat to his side and snatches the sack off of Gerald's head so he can see me.

"Gerald," I mumbled.

Gerald muffles against the tape on his mouth as he starts to trash violently against the ropes restraining him.

"Let him go," I plead with Chris.

"Mhmm," Chris rests his arm on top of Gerald's head, swinging his bat by his side as he hums a soft melody. "I don't think so. You killed my brother so I'll torture yours then kill him and afterward I'll kill you," Chris takes a menacing step towards me.

Lauren and Ally step into the room but Hemsworth is on me in seconds, pressing a gun against my temple. "Kneel," He says.

Lauren grits her teeth but does as he told when she looks at my pleading eyes and the gun pressed against my temple.

"Perfect! The lieutenant is here too," Chris smiles. He walks over to Gerald again, rips the tape off making Gerald groan from the pain. Chris brings the other end up to Gerald's stomach, and slams it against him, knocking the wind out of the tied up boy.

"Gerald!" I scream.

"I-I'm fine..." He whispers.

"You didn't alert the police, did you?" Chris asks.

"No," Lauren answers.

Chris walks over to her and kneels so he can see her eye to eye. "I don't think I trust you on that. You have a really good poker face," Chris says.

"She's telling the truth," I said.

Chris stands up and nods as he speaks, "Good." He brings his leg up and kicks Lauren across the face.

Lauren falls on the warehouse floor as blood trickles down the corner of her mouth.

I jerk in Hemsworth's grip but he holds me tight and presses the gun harder against my temple.

"You listened for once," Chris says towards Lauren and spits on her.

Lauren slowly gets up on her knees as her eyes fall on something.

I follow her gaze to see that she's staring at my forgotten gun. "Lauren..." I whisper. She looks up at me as I shake my head no.

Lauren looks down at her watch and soon the sirens of police cars nearing ring outside. Lauren lunges for the gun and before Hemsworth can do anything Lauren shoots him in the external oblique.

I get out of his loose grip and run over to Gerald as Ally holds Hemsworth down and Lauren stands up to go after Chris.

She shoots in his direction but the bullet hits the top part of the back exit door as Chris escapes through it. "Fuck!" She yells.

The sound of a car engine outside makes her drop the gun on the ground.

"He's gone, Lauren. Come help me with Gerald," I told my wife.

"Here!" Ally throws me a pocket knife she took from Hemsworth.

I catch it and flip up the blade as I hand it to Lauren so she can cut the rope.

"Are you okay?" I touch Gerald's cheek.

"Perfect now that you are here," Gerald answers.

The rope snaps and Gerald pulls me up as he embraces me tight.

I start to cry against his chest feeling safe in my older brother's arms.

The doors to the warehouse open and the Miami Police flood in.

Ally picks up an injured Hemsworth and the paramedics put him on a stretcher. "The Louisiana Police are searching for him. I'll contact the COP to tell them that he's been captured," Ally says.

"Of course, ma'am. Where's the other?" The Captain asks.

"He escaped," Lauren says.

The Captain nods and leaves with the rest of his officers, taking Hemsworth with them.

Lauren turns to Gerald and smiles softly. "Glad you are okay brother. I don't mean to stress you but you didn't hear anything from Chris? Where he's going or where he's staying?" Lauren asks.

"No, but... He told me directly that he did cause the fires so that means he..." Gerald trails off.

"Killed our father," I finish.

"And Justin's," Ally whispers.

"We need to keep moving he went after Gerald so who knows if he knows where everybody else is," Lauren says.

"Where to next?" I ask.

"Atlanta," Ally answers.