Mask #Wattys2014

Chapter 6 - Rescue Mission Abort

That night I woke at twelve PM to the sound of my alarm. This is it, I'm going to save my father. I know where they're keeping him, I know all of the security around him. The only trouble is going to be getting him out.

I walked through the streets no one giving me a second glance like I expected them too. I mean a ten year old wandering around by themselves in the middle of the night is a bit suspicious. At least that's what I'd think.

I made it to the office building. I knew there was a service entrance around the back that was kept unlocked 24/7 because I'd heard the front season ladies whining about it yesterday when I came in, they didn't even notice me.

I opened the heavy door and quietly snuck in. I looked around for any cameras, I didn't see any but I'd have to keep my eyes open for them. I found the elevator and pressed the button for going down. The lift arrived silently as always, I stepped in and pressed the red button. The lift went straight to the bottom not even stopping for security.

This was too easy, something was about to go wrong, I could feel it. I got out of the lift without hesitating though and walked over to the doors which my father was behind. I heard voices.

"What do you mean she's not there? How could you lose her you imbecile?" Mr Joblinees voice floated through the door.

"We followed her there earlier. No one saw her come out, all possible exits were blocked." A stuttering voice replied.

"So she has snuck out for a midnight stroll, eh? Or do you think maybe she's come to rescue her father!" Mr Joblinee yelled. "Leave. Now." He said deadly calm. I quickly hid in the closet beside me. I heard the person scurry past the door.

When I deemed it was safe enough I poked my head out and looked around. Seeing nothing I went back to the doors. This time I looked through the glass panel, what I saw terrified me. Mr Joblinee had picked up a gun and was tossing it between his hands.

"Maybe we should make it impossible for her to complete this little mission she has set herself? Make it Mission Impossible?" Mr Joblinee said after a few moments of silence.

"No, please. She is only a girl!" He said shaking.

"Oh, I wasn't talking about her." With that he took the gun and shot my father, the famous Shawn Dewberry in the heart. I let out a little gasp as I watched my father die. "Right, I'm glad that problem is sorted. Now for the girl, I need to find her. Before they do otherwise I won't be able to touch her." Mr Joblinee said to himself.

At that stage I'd heard enough. Enough for three lifetimes. I ran away, I ran further than I'd ever run before. I finally collapsed on someone's doorstep. I heard the door open and a lady call out, "Quick Greg! Come quickly! There's a young girl out cold on the porch!" That was where everything went blank.

I woke up in a warm bed and immediately panicked as I remembered last night’s events. I couldn't believe it, my father's dead. I won't be able survive anymore.

Then the thought of those people from last night freaked me out even more. I head the door knob rattle and I hid under the covers only my eyes above them.

"Hello sweetie! How are you feeling? My husband and I found you passed out last night." A lady said as she came bustling into the room. She had slightly curly red hair, bright green eyes, freckles sprinkled across her cheeks perfectly and a slightly tan complexion. She was skinny and her pink lips were smiling kindly at me. "My names Maggie, where are your parents darling?" I burst into tears, I couldn't hold them in any longer. "What's the matter, sweetie?"

I don't know why but this pretty lady made me want to tell her everything that had happened. "My parents are gone. My mother disappeared when I was five, she left me in an alley. I was found and taken to an orphanage, but I was mistreated so I ran away. I've spent my life running from them. Then I got a small job, my father got me a mail box at a post office and was giving me weekly checks that I'd pick up once a month normally. Then they stopped coming. But as I said I got a small job and I discovered who my father was through my job, you see I'd learnt that there were some officials holding him hostage in the basement. My job was to answer his fan mail. I learnt that my father was Shawn Dewberry the actor, then I went back last night to rescue him and I watched him be killed. Then I heard him plotting how to get me. So I ran! Please don't hand me over to him. Please!" I begged.

"Its ok sweetie, I think it's time that you met my husband Greg and you tell him that story." She said. Somehow through me explaining all of that she had coaxed me out and was now comforting me. "How old are you?"

"I'm nearly eleven. My birthday is the fifteenth of May." I said.

"So your birthday is tomorrow?"

"Yeah. But please don't get me any presents. All I want is some food, then I will be on my way, to wherever that is..," I said.

"Aww, you're so cute. I'm not about to throw you out! And plus, you need to meet Greg."

"Ok." I said warily. I just hope this 'Greg' doesn't turn out to be Mr Joblinee. I heard my tummy growl.

"Right, breakfast time. Then you can stay with me today and meet Greg when he comes home from work." She said leading me out of the room. "Do you like bacon and eggs?"

"I don't know." I said truthfully. "I've never tried them before."

"Never?" Maggie asked incredulously. "Right, you are having bacon and eggs for breakfast. What do you normally have?"

"Whatever is left over from my dinner, I never eat all of it so it serves as breakfast as well. I would normally stay in old warehouses so I learnt to cook. I'd plug in a fridge, grab the stuff I needed for dinner from the nearest supermarket go back, make dinner, and maybe raid a charity bin every now and then so I'd have something to wear or I'd go for a walk. Then I would go back and sleep." I said. She looked horrified at the thought of someone, let alone a child, would be allowed to do that. "I'm sorry, I talk too much." I said.

"No that's fine. I just can't believe..." She said shocked.

"I'm sorry. But that's been to story of my life since my mother left me. I don't even know that she's dead. I've always just assumed it." I said hanging my head.

"No matter. Eat up, it's best warm." Maggie said kindly slipping a plate of food in front of me.