WIP Work in Progress

Jackson Ward September 6th, 2340

I was starting to get restless. It's been two months since Wilson and I were taken from our home and brought out to Ordin. My wife was off somewhere and all I knew was that "she is stable and resting." By now she could be dead. No...I can't think that way. I didn't run this far and risk my own son's life just to give up.

Things were nice with Amelia. It started to feel a little like home. Wilson liked it here and she liked her. It was good for him to have a stable place to stay despite the current conditions. But I had to find Samantha. It got me thinking...maybe I would leave Wilson behind and go look for Sam myself? He would be safer with Amelia than on the run with me. And even though we have only known each other a short time, I had begun to really trust her. I decided to bring it up to Amelia during dinner.

"Robert you have not touched your food. Is something wrong?" Amelia asked. I was staring at my plate pushing my fork from side to side. I was so confident in my decision earlier but I had begun to have second thoughts. I feel like I can trust Amelia but can I really? She is an Ordinian after all. I was still in deep thought when Wilson burst out in tears all of a sudden.

"Will what's wrong?" I started to get up when Amelia stepped in.

"I got him don't worry you finish your meal," she said. "Come on Wilson. Tell Mil Mil what's wrong." She picked him up and started bouncing him up and down and tickling him. He stopped crying and started giggling. That settled it for me.

"Amelia, I want you to take care of Wilson while I go looking for my wife," I said walking up to her.

She looked surprised. "Robert...I don't know what to say."

"Say yes. Please. He trusts you. I trust you and I need to find Sam but out there is no place for him."

"Out there is no place for you either," she said. "Have you forgotten you are on the run?"

"We had been on the run for weeks and never got caught," I scoffed. "I will be fine."

"You may think you are safe. You may even think you have shaken them off. But I promise you, it is only a matter of time until they catch up to you. You were their prisoner and now you are gone. They will use any and all means to find you."

Suddenly we hear a knock on the door.

"Amelia Bertravski," a loud booming voice said from the other side. "A man and his baby have escaped from a nearby camp and we have reason to believe they are still in the area. We would like to speak with you for a moment."

"Shit," I said. We 're trapped. How could I be so dumb to think they wouldn't eventually come after us. I turned to Amelia.

"You keep Wilson safe. I'm going to turn myself in. I can't let you get in trouble."

She looked at me confused.

"They know you had a child. Don't you think they will wonder what happened."

"I'll tell them I lost him and he is dead."

"What about your wife?"

"I will just have to trust she will be ok. If we all get caught I am sure the outcome will be much worse."

"I can't let you do that. I have an idea. Go to the back and open the door. Slowly and quietly. When I give you the signal sneak out the door and hide under the house. When they are safely inside I will tap the floorboard twice that is when you run. Wilson will be safe here. I am sure they do not know what he looks like"

I think about it for a moment as another knock came on the door. This time more aggressive.

"Ms. Bertravski we know you are in there. Do not make us force our way inside."

I turn to Amelia..."Are you sure this will work?"

"I swear to you, you and this baby will be just fine. You will make it out of here to see your wife. You will be a family again."