the last one standing

chapter 2

Robert looked down at the two girls lying unconscious on the hard-packed earth.  How could it be, he wondered, that a mere two days ago he was planning an escape with the same girls he was now hunting?   Would things have turned out differently if he had stuck to the plan?  What would Kara say if she were to wake up right now?  Would she ever forgive him? Would things ever go back to normal?  Robert’s train of thought was disturbed by the smaller, troll like guard.

            “Snap out of it runt, go grab the truck!”

            The larger of the two guards grunted, looked at Robert, then back at the smaller of the two guards.

            “Never mind, I’ll go grab the truck, you stay here with Ivan,” growled the smaller of the two guards.  Robert assumed that the monstrous one that was babysitting him was Ivan.

            After a very long minute of awkward silence Robert attempted to start a conversation.  “Nice weather today, don’t you think?”  Ivan just grunted.  After more agonizing silence, Robert tried again to get Ivan to talk.  “This is my first mission, how many missions have you been on before?” asked Robert.  Ivan grunted.  Robert began to think that maybe Ivan wasn’t human at all, but instead he may be one of those hairy things with tails that used to live in the trees back in the Old Age.  He wracked his brain for the name of the creature, but came up with nothing.

            The smaller of the two guards finally got back with the truck and the limp bodies of Violet and Kara were flung into the back.  Robert got stuck in the back with them, for what reason he was unsure.  It wasn’t as if one of them would just get up and run away.  And if somehow they did, Robert knew he wouldn’t stop them.  They had too much history, the three of them.  It was his fault that they were caught, and Missy… the thought trailed off and a tear rolled down his cheek.  He tried to block the thought, but he was too late.  Tears flowed fast and thick down his face; Robert put his head on his knees and silently sobbed for his little sister.

*flashback*

            It was a beautiful September morning, the wind was crisp, the leaves just beginning to fall.  Autumn was in the air.  Robert and his little seven year old sister Marissa were playing in the leaf piles outside of their front porch.  His mother was patching up a pair of Robert’s socks; Robert’s father was up on a small step ladder repairing a hole in the window frame.  It was a good day, a carefree day.  His dad was telling jokes, his mom was smiling, and Missy was laughing.  Then Missy went to the climbing tree, swinging from the branches as if she were weightless, and she flipped off the branch into the leaf pile.  Seconds later she popped out and everyone applauded.  Even the two men dressed in black who began to walk towards the house.  Robert’s parents began to look frightened, though neither Robert nor Missy understood why.  They probably just wanted to congratulate Missy on landing all of those flips.  The two men went to the porch.  His mom set down her knitting, and his dad got off the ladder.  The two held hands as the men in black talked.  Robert’s mother began to cry, and his father began to protest saying “she’s only seven!”  Robert stepped up to the bigger of the two men.  He stood on his tip-toes and was barely able to tap the man’s shoulder.  The large man bent down on one knee and asked “now how old might you be young man?”

            Robert replied, “My name is Robert, I’m eleven Sir.”

            The big man responded, “My name is Agent Joseph, I’m on a special mission to find very special kids, are you special like your sister?”

            Robert thought about it for a minute, then looking down he said “no, I’m not special like Missy, but I am very smart.  I get all good grades in school.”

            Agent Joseph chuckled then answered “I think that’s very special.”  He turned to Robert’s parents and said, “I think we may just have to take the both of them.”

            Robert’s mother and father looked devastated, while the other man just looked surprised.  Agent Joseph took Robert and Missy’s hands and led them down the walkway to the street.  He turned his head and said to Robert’s parents with a tip of his cap “good day to the two of you.”

            The four walked down the street to a large black car.  Robert’s jaw dropped, looking over, he saw Missy with the same expression.  Neither of them had seen anything so big and shiny in their life!  And they would be riding in it!  Robert thought that it must be their lucky day.  They all got in the car, the two children in the back, and the two adults in a seat facing them.  The smaller of the two men in black yelled “to the base!” and the big machine began to move.  After the initial shock had worn off, Missy asked in her sweet melodic voice “Excuse me Sir, but where are you taking us?”  The smaller man grinned and said “to your new home.”