Locked In

Winter's Touch

"We have to escape from here," Daboor said.

"We have nowhere to go. I don't even know if your father is still alive," I said to him.

We were huddled together with the Sunder family. "Daboor, many of us who would like to escape have no homes to go back to." Ahmed said to Daboor. "Besides it is impossible for us to escape from this camp. There are mines along the perimeter just outside the fence. If we don't die on them, we'll be shot down like dogs."

"We are already treated like dogs," Daboor said solemnly. "Death would be a mercy compared to this injustice. I would rather lose my life in the wilderness than be treated like an animal because I'm Muslim."

I looked at him and smiled. Daboor had grown up in the few months we had been in this camp. He had always spoken like an adult but now he acted like one. He knew he was the man of the family and would be responsible for us if we never got back to Bahrain. A knock came at the door and a soldier came in. He threw a note on the floor and then left. Daboor picked it up and handed it to me.

Dawood Hussein was shot dead while trying to sneak into America. He was confirmed dead by the FBI on September 2, 2015.

"No..." I whispered. The note fell to the ground and Daboor snatched it up. He read the note and then crumpled it angrily in his hands.

"What is wrong Parasa?" Durra asked.

"It's my husband. He was killed."

"I'm sorry." Durra said kindly. Ahmed bowed his head in respect of my husband's death.

"I'm alone now," I said.

"We are not alone mommy. We have each other and we have Allah," Daboor said.

I brushed the tears from my eyes and nodded. He was right. As long as we had each other and Allah we would be okay. "Daboor you know who the leader of the family is now correct?"

He nodded. "Yes. I know my duty to the family. I hope I can be as good as Daddy."

"Insha Allah you will be." Ahmed said. "Parasa if you don't mind, I would be honored to teach Daboor everything about being a man when he turns fourteen."

"What do you think Daboor?" I asked.

"Thank you Ahmed."

"Why are you crying Mommy?" Rahmat asked.

"Daddy is dead," Daboor said.

"No Daddy can't be dead." Rahmat said. "He's looking for us. He's going to come and kill all these bad people and free us all."

"He's dead Rahmat!" Daboor shouted. "He isn't coming back. He was killed two months ago."

Rahmat stopped crying at Daboor's tone. His older brother had never yelled at him before. "I'm sorry Rahmat. I didn't mean to yell at you," Daboor said, taking Rahmat in his arms and hugging his brother. He looked at Ahmed. "Ahmed would you mind leading us in the funeral prayer?"

"I would be glad to. We will do that after Jummah."

There was a knock at the door. Ahmed got up and pulled the door open. A man stood there and quickly came inside. He glanced around the room and then sat down. "Some of us want to leave. We don't want to be here anymore."

"It's winter. We'll die of cold and starvation," Ahmed said.

"If we keep moving then we will keep warm," the man coughed.

"Don't be an idiot." Ahmed said exasperatedly. "No one has ever managed to escape from here."

"A group of us are going to escape tonight. Then we'll see who the winner is."

"You won't be a winner if you die."

"This month will be full of deaths I fear," Daboor said. "Wait until spring. At least then you'll have a chance."

"No. We are going to run tonight and if you want to stay here then so be it." The man got up and left.

"He's not going to make it," Durra said softly.

"I'm afraid none of them will." Ahmed said.

"It's almost time for Jummah," Daboor said. "We should get going."

"Yes," Ahmed said.

We washed up and then hurried outside. The wind was biting cold. A few families were already there. None of us knew that one day we would be united in our own escape from this horror. Sabura and I took our place while Daboor, Rahmat, and Ijaz went with Ahmed and his sons. We prayed for Jummah and then Ahmed spoke to the crowd.

"One of our sisters has lost her husband. His name was Dawood Hussein. He leaves behind a widow and four children. Her son, Daboor Hussein, has asked me to lead us in the funeral prayer."

When the funeral prayer was finished, some women came up and hugged me. Later that night a siren broke out. "EVERYONE DOWN!" Shouted an officer as guards hurried out and pointed their weapons at us. We lay flat on the ground, our hands over our heads. The siren kept blaring and a spotlight shone on the outer perimeter. "ESCAPE! ESCAPE!" Shouted a woman on the guard tower.

"Set the dogs loose!"

We had no idea what was happening. Then shots began raining out. I lifted my face and saw a group of thirty people running for their lives as the mines exploded where feet touched them. There were still fifty people trying desperately to get over the fence. Guards began shooting a volley of bullets at the people still trapped inside. A door flew open allowing the dogs to surge through them and weave their way through the onslaught of bullets to begin bringing down people.

I saw Ronnie with them. He had been a fool to try to escape. I knew his cover was blown and that he would be tortured if he was brought back alive. Yet I also knew that he would rather die risking his life for freedom than live as an undercover soldier.

The dogs continued bringing people down. Within an hour the violence was over. There were cries from people who had their legs blown off by the mines. The guards went out into the grounds and shot anyone who was still alive. Beside me Ijaz and Sabura were crying.

"Let this be a lesson to anyone who tries to escape. You can never escape the justice of America," Major Gather shouted.

No but one day we will be taken back by Allah and then you will get your due justice. One day the suffering we endure will be rewarded Insha Allah and all of you will perish in Hellfire for eternity I thought as a horrible silence settled over the camp.