Knight In Shinning Camo BK1

Chapter 3: Jessica

Just like that? They want us to make decision that important within minutes! Mae turns to me, "What are we to do?" She is shaking with nerves and so i give her a comforting smile. "Mae you have talked about going home to your family for years. Stay here in Russia and go home to your family" I tell her. Her eyes start to tear up and she embraces me in a hug. We both glance around and watch as majority of women and children stand next to the solider introduced as Lieutenant Willings. 

"What about the children" she says gesturing to the four youngest children that came out with us. "Well lets talk with them" i suggest. Mae nods and we both take a few steps and kneel in the dirt to get on their eye level. "Tessi, I know you came to us at five years old, but do you remember you parents? Would you like to go home?" Tessi eyes glisten with tears, "Yes." I then turn to the four and six year old. "Eliza and Kate. I'm going to ask you the same thing as Tessi. Do you remember your parents and would you like to go home" I ask. They both nod. With deep breath I look at the last child, Nala. I knew from Egor's rants that Nala was like me. We were both from an orphanage. No family left to go home to. "Mae?" We make eye contact, "She will go with me." Mae nods with a small smile, knowing that since Nala was kidnapped the only person that could get close to her was me. "To America" i softly add. Mae whips her head up from looking at Nala, "What?" "Mae you no I have nothing to go home to. Nala and I will have a new start in America" I tell her. She quickly embraces me in a tight hug. After seconds she puts me at arms length with her hands, "Promise you will keep in touch no matter what." I give her a smile, "of course."

"Ladies, have you made you decision?" Sergeant Matthews asks. "Yes" Mae softly answers. "I need names, ages and if you are staying or going" he states. "My is Mae Petrov, age 28 and I am staying here" she states. He jots down her information and then looks to me, "What is yours and the children's decisions?" I take a deep breath, "I don't know the children's last names and they don't remember. Tessi, age seven, is staying. Eliza, age six, is staying. Kate, age four, is staying.  My name is Jessica, age twenty seven, and I am going to America. Nala is age two and she will go with me." The man simply nods, "Please separate into the groups that Captain said." Then he walks away.

I quickly give hugs to the children and Mae, then we separate. I pick up Nala and cradle her in my arms. She she is wide awake but still hasn't made a peep. I head over to the captain and notice only one other girl stands next to him. Everyone else has decided to stay. 

"Ma'am?" I glance up to see the captain looking at me. "Yes?" He gestures to the Nala in my arms. "Does she have family that will take her? She has only been here for about a month, right" he asks. I'm surprised at his knowledge of knowing how long Nala has been here. "Yes, she has been here a little over a month, but she is from an orphanage" I explain. He simply nods and moves to talk with his men. I continue to watch him as he converses with the other soldiers. He is obviously the one in charge due to all the orders he has given. As i continue to observe things about the Captain, I make eye contact with him as he glances over his shoulder. He caught me staring. I look down to Nala as I feel the heat of a blush appearing on my cheeks and turn so I won't be tempted to watch him any more. 

As we wait for the next direction, the other woman walks over to me. "I'm Bethany. You must be Jessica" she says. "How did you know" i ask curiously. "The gossip. They say you have lasted the longest in the compound" she explains with a sad expression. "Oh" i simply respond. I notice her eyes look behind me, so I turn around to be only about a foot away from the Captain. "Ladies, its time to go. We are another mile out of the meeting point" he explains. We both nod in understanding. I turn to see if I can catch a glance and Mae and the children and notice the Russian police have taken over with the group staying. I could any see a glimpse of Tessi but the view was quickly blocked with the amount of women gathering around the officers.