When We Suffer

Chapter Three

World So Cold- Three Days Grace

Millie had woken up at the sound of gunshots and stared up at Andrey with big brown eyes glistening with tears. He held a finger to his lips showing her to stay quiet and she nodded in response.

Amidst the screaming and gunshots from outside, the large door to the commercial vehicle's storage compartment was opened. Bright sunlight immediately greeted the prisoner's eyes and everyone squinted trying to make out the figure standing under the half opened door. As their eyes adjusted to the light they could see the figure was a young African woman who was thin but strong. She had a mohawk of black curls and beautiful clear skin.

The woman with a grunt shoved the door all the way up and pulled a knife from one of the pockets in her dark green cargo pants. This caused some fear amongst the prisoners but the girl meant no harm. She only stared in confusion as to why and how they were all untied from their bonds. She furrowed her thick and dark eyebrows but shook it off and returned her knife to her pocket.

"Everyone out!!" She yelled with a strong voice that hinted at good leadership qualities. "NOW!!" she added afterwards as many of the prisoners were worried and uncertain.

At that there was a mad rush to get out of the truck. Andrey picked up Millie and jumped out quickly, being close to the truck's door already. He turned to give a nod of thanks to the woman with the mohawk. Their eyes met and she seemed to look at him suspiciously though she nodded back as if to say 'you're welcome'. There was an air of respect in the exchange.

Andrey surveyed his surroundings before he continued. The truck was turned so that it blocked all of the rode on the highway they were on. A desert surrounded the double laned road and a sandy hill was on the left. Many jeeps and military trucks were surrounding the truck, each vehicle covered in graffiti and spray paint. The owners of these vehicles surrounded the area, some were by the truck's engine and others surrounded their own vehicles while others surrounded the prisoners as they emerged from the truck. They all wore dynamic outfits that consisted of random articles of clothing collected over the years.

"This way kid," one of these men said to Andrey shoving him roughly towards one of the colorful military trucks.

"Don't touch me," Andrey replied harshly but quietly. Our red head boy moved out of the path and watched as the new people escorted the prisoners to their trucks.

The teen in the hoodie pushed his way through the mob of people and joined Andrey. "What next?" The blue eyes looked up expectantly at Andrey.

"We hijack a vehicle," Andrey said calmly as they moved out of the way to crouch behind one of the four-door jeeps. Andrey put Millie down gently and peeked through the window at the commotion around them.

The driver of the Jeep was looking away and smoking with a radio in his hand. Nearly all of the civilians had come out of the truck. The mohawk girl was wrestling with the small gang member from before while a smallish young woman with brown messy bangs and her hair up in a ponytail stumbled out of the truck looking weak and wobbly. After a glance at the girl with bangs the other woman kicked the gang member to the ground and caught the wobbling girl just before she fell to the ground. She yelled something to her team and picked up the weak girl carrying her to the rest of the group.

Everyone was distracted and Andrey knew they had a chance. He gave the teen boy a glance before nodding towards Millie. He crept around the back of the Jeep staying low and out of view from the mirrors on the vehicle's doors. Then after taking a deep breath he made his move. He opened the Jeep door and punched the driver's cheekbone. The driver immediately turned on the radio in his hand but before he could speak into it Andrey dragged him out of the vehicle and pulled him into a headlock.