The world around him was a blur. The helicopter was small. It reminded him of the one he used to fly. That was twenty years ago. Twenty long years, and another life. Sitting in the cramped Ansat, Mischa tried not to meet the eyes of the Spetsnaz men and women sharing the cabin with him. They all looked at him so expectantly. As they had helped him in to the helicopter, every one of them saluted him. Three of them shared his rank. But all of them treated Mischa like he was the director.
The trip back to Russia was not easy. He wasn’t sure how easily the soldiers got into the house or the deep basement level where Mischa was being kept, but they had to fight their way out. Only one of the guards surrendered. He was young, and scared. The young man had dropped to his knees, arms raised in front of the Russian forces. It was just as well he didn’t stand. He was shaking. So many others had died. They took as many prisoners as they could. So many, that one Spetsgruppa had to stay behind to wait for a larger military craft to arrive.
They had only come with two helicopters. One held Mischa, and the guard that surrendered, Arne Pell, and one of the Spetsgruppa teams. The other Ansat carried Abraham Horowitz, and Solange Marchand, both cuffed at ankles with their wrists behind their backs, and her son Phillip. The boy was scared, crying as he the soldiers led him away. Phillip was only six, too young to understand what was happening. He couldn’t help but see Valentina, as he last saw her – crying and bleeding as Anton carried her away from gunfire.
Mischa tried not to think about what would happen to Phillip. Surely Solange would be incarcerated until her trial, and sentenced for her crimes. Horowitz too, not that he held any parental claim over Phillip. It was most likely that Phillip would go into the government foster system. He didn’t have any other family.
The thought stabbed at Mischa. They didn’t go back for Yuri. In all the rush, the panic surrounding the soldier’s arrival, they never went beyond Mischa’s door. He’d tried to look over their shoulders, to see if another team was liberating Yuri, but he never saw the other man. Mischa never stopped looking for Yuri. On the stairs, in the house, in the field. But Yuri wasn’t there.
“Making landing at PRAF-3.” The pilot called back to the cabin through the radio. Mischa hadn’t been given a seat near a window, so he hadn’t seen his home unroll before him through the snow. It was a shock to see it. The Ansat’s doors unfolded, and two soldiers helped Mischa out of his seat and down the few steps.
Only two people were waiting for him, standing in the snow. There was a tall man in the wool winter coat of an officer. He wore black glasses, spotting with bits of snow. His large frame was bundled in a knit scarf, and black leather gloves. He must be the man that will take him to lock away in a hospital.
Beside him was a beautiful young woman that could have been the ghost of his wife. Her honey-blonde hair hung down to her back. She wore cashmere wool coat, and scarf made of an even finer wool. She wrung her hands together in front of her face. He deep brown eyes threatened tears. And then Mischa saw the scar that crossed her nose.
“Valentina!” Mischa called out, suddenly running to her. He hoped he didn’t scare her. “Valentina!” Mischa threw his arms around her. Valentina hugged him back. She kissed his cheek, and let the tears begin to fall.
“Father! I never should have doubted that you were out there!” Valentina cried into his shoulder. He held her close. Mischa finally had her back. He wouldn’t let her go now. He let himself sob into her hair. Her soft, glossy hair, scented like warm sugar and vanilla. It was almost like having Malena in his arms again.
They were left together for several minutes before the tall man finally spoke. His voice was soft, respectful of the moment. “Captain Sima, I’m here to take you to the hospital. Doctors will have you treated for your injuries, and help you reintegrate into society.”
YOU ARE READING
Looking For The Light (Book 2)
ParanormalElijah's life has been thrown for a loop. His girlfriend left him, he's leaving his home behind, and setting off into the unknown. Doubting his mission and himself, the young telepath struggles with many of the great questions of life.
