Not what I thought

Rendezvous

"Hello?"

"Charlotte, don't move."

"Who are you and why can't I move?"

"My name is Alastair Callaghan. It's a long story but in the time we have, basically, there are very bad people around your house and we are going to get you out of there safe. If you want to escape uninjured, find somewhere to hide."

"Uhh ok. Can I hide in my cupboard in my bedroom?"

"Yes. Good. Get there quickly but stay low. Crawl on the floor to get there. Stay quiet as well."

There was something about Alastair's voice that was stern and comforting at the same time.

I crawl as quickly and as quietly as I can to my room and hide in my cupboard.

"I'm in my cupboard. What now?

"Just stay in your cupboard and stay quiet. I'll explain what's going on."

"Ok."

"Your father had been involved in some bad business. I know this is going to shock you but he was killed at his job today."

There is a long pause. I don't know what to do. Everything just goes blank. I'm not really sad neither am I happy he's dead. I don't feel anything.

"Ahh. You sure it's my dad. He's a dick but you sure?

"Im certain is your dad. I'm sorry for your loss and I'm sorry about the circumstances. But we need to get you out of here. Tell me what you can hear."

"I can hear footsteps. They're faint."

"Ok good. You're doing well. Now in a few seconds there might be some loud noises-"

"Gun shots?"

"Uh yes. I have my agents positioned nearby. They can hear this conversation and together we will guide them to get you out to safety."

"I hear footsteps. They're close."

"Charlotte, stay quiet."

I sit in silence, taking shallow breaths and I hear footsteps and shuffles echo through the house. They get closer and closer until they're right in front of my cupboard. I can see a dark patch under the gap under the mirror.

"Charlotte, don't make a noise. There's is about to be a bang."

I take a deep breath and cover my ears as best I can.

"3..2..1."

A loud bang and a groan make me jump.

"Charlotte. On the other side of the mirror is one of my agents. His name is Angus. He's going to get you out of here but you need to go with him now. Don't look down when you walk out."

I slowly pull across the sliding mirror to see a man dressed all in black, holding a pistol with his face covered with a cloth. A body lies on the ground in front of me in a pool of blood. I'm not disturbed by this. It's a dead body. Someone is laying dead at my feet and I'm not reacting. Why?

He holsters his gun and shows me his empty hands before swiftly pulling down the cloth covering his face.

"Charlotte. I'm not going to hurt you. Just come with me. Don't worry about him. He's not going to hurt you either."

Angus quickly looks down at the floor and at the body lying in a pool of blood.

He reaches his hand down toward me and I nervously take it. He puts one arm behind across my back and shoulders and his other hand on his gun.

"It's ok. You're safe now."

A man appears in front of us making me jump.

"Charlotte, it's ok. He works with me and Alastair. He won't hurt you either."

The second man holsters his gun and shows me his empty hands, just like Angus did.

"I'm not going to hurt you."

They men tread carefully toward me and each take me by an arm. We walk quietly though the house, out the front door and I'm hurried into a big, black 4WD waiting out the front.

"This is Chris."

Chris looks at me and flashes a quick smile.

"You're pretty brave."

I look down at my feet trying not to smile. I can feel my neck and face starting to burn.

Both men begin to take all of their gear off. I stare out the window of the car at the clouds. Just as I do, a loud rumble and a flash of light followed by a heavy downpour of rain erupts from the sky.

We drive swiftly through peak hour traffic. Sydney's traffic is the worst. It's impossible to escape and peak hour is from 6am-8pm every single day without fail. It's always chaos.

We pass through many tunnels, speed down motorways until we arrive in what looks like a government housing area. All the houses look alike: all old, all ugly, most looking derelict and half probably are the homes for druggies and alcoholics.

As we cruise slowly down the streets, a guy turns and stares me dead in the eye from the footpath. It's hard to tell age with these types of people. They could be 25 but they can look 50. This guy looks like a gangsta wanna be. He's got a faded Nautica shirt, shorts that are waaayy to short for a guy, his pockets are filled (probably with cigarettes or drugs), he has sleeves of tattoos down both arms in full colour, he wears a G Shock watch, some fake looking gold chains, a bum bag and some really expensive shoes. All this and he's talking on a massive Samsung phone. There is no way someone living out here can legally get all that stuff. Only a few ways but only illegally.

We finally pass the thieving bogan and round the corner before travelling a bit further. The houses have ended. All that is down here now is a big shed looking thing and lots and lots of tall grass.

"Are we going in there?" I point to the shed as we get closer to it.

Chris carefully studied something on his phone. There is a long pause until Angus finally says something.

"Yep. Alastair said we would meet in there."

The rain has subsided to not much more than a light drizzle. And thank god for that. It's finally cooler and much less humid.