Opened Hearts 2: Levody

Chapter 21: The Rescue

  July 13th, 2019  

Gene snuck into the town where Melody was. They had mustered enough men to rescue the other 30 children. Gene was going for Melody himself. Zane had to operate from home, as he was the only one who could operate communications at this time.

Gene felt his heart rushing as his eyes darted around, searching for the sweet, harmless face of Melody. As he remembered her face, a knot formed in his throat and he forced it down. Crying won't do her any good. He told himself. Don't worry, Melody, we're almost there. With his confidence, he kept searching. He looked all over, asking a few of the slaves secretly if they had seen Melody before. Most of them didn't know or were too afraid to tell me. However, one woman, who clearly was illiterate, but very kindhearted and most likely a mother, nodded.

"She works for my master. In the night, you follow me back and see her, you dern would. Y'all know her?"

"Yes, she's my friends daughter, we've gotta get her back, she was kidnapped, along with several other children."

" 'Ow many er there?"

"Including Melody, Thirty-One."

The woman seemed horrified. Gene thanked her for her time and gave her the remainder of his cracker rations. She thanked him over and over until she had to get to work, " 'Fore the master notices ahm slackin'." She said with a grateful smile. Gene staked out in a nearby tree, he would follow this woman back to Melody. 

A flash a light brown stood out in the field and caught his attention. He looked over with binoculars for better vision and nearly dropped them, jumping down from the tree and quickly but silently running towards her.

Melody felt so exhausted. Everyday was a struggle now. The girl who gave her cheese once in a while was caught and punished. Melody felt bad, the girl didn't deserve it. That night, without the Master's knowledge, Melody rocked the little girl to sleep after fixing her discipline wounds. The Master had been rougher with his children since the Misses passed from disease. She was there, trying to help her back to health. But she kept on getting worse and worse, until she passed, cold as a stone. Melody remembered her last words, clear as day:

Have hope, for everything is good in the end.

Melody clung to those words every day. When things got hard, she'd think of them and push forward. She faced every whipping with courage, and faced every problem with logic and reasoning. She taught other slaves how to read and write, when they couldn't get caught.  Although she was usually covered in bloodstains and dirt, she knew she'd be okay. She would live another day, no matter how scary it was. Her Papa would find her. She knew it. She knew her Papa loved her and if he saw her as she was, he would wrap his arms around her, and with tears in his and her own eyes, he'd say, "You'll be okay, honey, no one can hurt you now." 

A lump formed in Melody's throat and she pushed it down. You're okay, it's okay. She reassured herself. Closing her eyes briefly, she moved her shaky shackled hands to pick the crops. Once she had all that she could carry, she bundled them up with a thin cord, and carried it on her back to the loading cart. Then she resumed picking. Over and over. She slowly, like everyday, became faster, yet weaker. She got to the point where her head was spinning from the heat, and her hands trembled with sweat. 

Visions, blurry...strength slipping, no...stay strong...just a little longer, have hope, for everything is good in the end. She thought as she stumbled forward, her eyes closed. Her heart lurched horribly when she felt two, sturdy, soft hands catch her. She gasped and looked up. Her heart began racing. 

After all this time...it was him. Black, choppy hair, with his clear blue eyes. His non-blemished skin. He had a light stubble on his chin trailing up to each ear. He was dressed in SWAT clothes, but gave her a soft, comforting smile.

"Hey there, cupcake." He said quietly.

"G-gene!" She whisper cried, tears of joy forming in her eyes, she immediately hugged him.

He hugged her back tightly, but not as to inflict harm. She quietly sobbed into his shoulder with emotions of joy, relief, and the held back tears of pain and misfortune. The pitch blackness swallowing her, slowly dragging and tearing away at her, it was fading, no, fleeing. Hope's light shone brighter than ever before for her in these past two years.

"Shh, it's okay, I'm here." He said quietly, then patched in. "Objective Sonata complete, I repeat, Objective Sonata complete."

Melody pulled away a little with her tear streaked face. "Sonata?"

"I know, cheesy right? Travis thought of it. C'mon, let's get you home."

"Gene, w-wait." She said softly. "I have to say goodbye."

Gene nodded. "I'll be right here, watching, okay?"

"Okay." She said softly, then nimbly went through and found Verana. "Verana!"

"Song, darlin, is something wrong?"

"No, Verana, something is wonderful! They found me!" She said quietly, but excitedly. 

Verana and her exchanged a few tears and a hug, before she said, "Don't worry 'bout us, dear. You go 'n live a good laife fer yerself, hear?"

"But-"

"Go! 'Fere Master comes 'n finds ya!" She shooed her.

Melody had no choice but to run back to Gene. But she would find a way to save them. She had to. They were the reason she was alive. They were family to her. Once she made it back to Gene, he picked her up and stealthily made his way back to their hideout. Melody was given basic first aid and received lots of comforting hugs. Then, as the other kids were brought in, she went through everything with them, hugged them, and told them that it was gonna be okay now. 

Then there was Levin.

Levin was brought back in an unconscious and dangerous state. Not even Melody had been aware of this. They were all put on rescue helicopters back to Ru'an. It was a thankfully quick flight, as several of the children needed dire medical attention. They would have to bring in quite a lot of doctors to help this many injured children. 

Halfway through the flight, Melody fell asleep on Gene and Travis' laps. They became concerned when her breathing became too low, and tried to wake her, however she wouldn't. As soon as they landed, She too, was rushed into the Emergency Room. An hour later, a doctor came back to them with an injury report on Melody.

"S-so? What's the word, Doc?"

"Melody is suffering from a severely fractured ribcage, and a punctured lung. She had minimal blood in her body and has lost all body fat and most muscles. She is starved and dehydrated. She has several bruises on her arms and legs, including a couple on her neck and face. There are several whip lashes across her back as well as her front torso. She is sunburnt as well. Her teeth are rotting from low hygene. She is undergoing surgery as we speak." The Doctor informed them.

Gene felt regret and sorrow wash over him like a wave. "Of course, thank you, Doctor Callasway. We, We'll inform her father, right away..."

The Doctor nodded and took his leave. Gene took out his phone and called Zane. He grimly informed Zane of the condition she was in and that he should hurry to the Hospital in O'Khasis. Zane said he would, and they exchanged a goodbye. All Gene could do was worry. 

Please, live, Melody.