Locked In

Plan

"Mother we must escape from here. I will not see you or my siblings treated like dogs any longer," Daboor said to me.

"Then we will run in the spring. It will be warmer then and we'll be able to survive off the land."

"But we do not know anything about living off the land," Daboor pointed out.

"I know a man who does," Ahmed said. "His name is Hakeem."

"Where is he?" Daboor asked.

"In one of the cages."

"Take me to him. Mother stay here," Daboor said.

Ahmed and Daboor left to go see Hakeem. It was dangerous to be caught around the cages because people could be put in solitary confinement for two weeks. Durra looked at me and then we focused our attention on cleaning the house. It didn't take long to sweep our spaces of the house and fold the blankets on the mattresses. Then there was nothing to do but wait for Ahmed and Daboor to come home.

As Ahmed and Daboor walked silently toward the cages they kept their eyes peered for any guards. It wasn't worth it to be killed before trying to escape. They had no idea where they would go if they escaped. What country would take a group of American Muslim refugees in?

"What will you do Ahmed if we manage to escape?"

"Go into hiding. It isn't safe for Muslims anymore in the world. Not even in Muslim countries."

"I am shocked that Saudi Arabia will not take us in."

"They have always been buddies with the USA and Israel. Nothing is ever going to change there with them Daboor."

"I am not sure what I will do with my mother and siblings. I won't be of legal age to get a job anywhere."

"Do you think your mother would ever consider marrying again? I mean after her iddah is over."

"I'm not sure what she will do Ahmed. Why?"

"No reason."

They walked in silence the rest of the way to the cages. "Hakeem are you awake?" Ahmed asked as they stopped in front of the fifth cage.

"Ahmed? Peace be upon you. Who is with you?"

"And peace be upon you. This is Daboor."

"Peace be upon you Daboor."

"And peace be upon you Hakeem."

"What do you wish to talk to me about?"

"I want to escape with my family. Ahmed mentioned that you know how to live off the land."

"Yes."

"Can you teach me?"

"Why?"

"I want to escape and take my family with me."

"If you take me with you then I will teach you."

"Agreed."

"Daboor think about this for a minute. How will we get Hakeem out of the cage without being spotted?"

"We can easily come up with a plan. Remember the people who were killed? I recognized some of them from the cages."

"Hakeem do you know how they got out?" Ahmed asked.

"I am not sure. But Jamal knows. He's in the cage next to mine."

Daboor walked over to the cage. "Is Jamal here?"

"Salaam Alaykum. I heard what Hakeem and you were discussing. The guy in charge of the escape dug a hole under the cage door and crawled through. He knocked the guard unconscious and then took his keys to the cages and then quickly unlocked all the cages."

"Seems easy enough. But it's winter."

"But spring will be upon us in one month. We can go then in March."

"Then we will run in March. Will you come with us?"

"No. I have no family to take care. Some of us can provide a distraction for those who wish to escape. Insha Allah you will succeed."

"Insha Allah. Thank you Jamal. Good bye."

"Good bye Daboor. Good bye Ahmed."

"Good bye Jamal."

I looked up as Daboor and Ahmed came inside. Daboor sat down next to me and took my hand. He wrapped his blanket around me, while Ahmed comforted Durrah. "Go to sleep Mom. We need all the rest we can get before our escape in March."

"How will we escape?"

"Some Muslims who are locked in the cages will make a distraction so we can escape."

"You should sleep as well."

"I will Mom. I just want to think about the details a little more. I'll wake you for Fajr prayer."

As I laid my head down, and my eyes closed I saw the worry etched on Daboor's face. Insha Allah next month we will escape and begin our lives on the run. But where will we go when the entire country, the entire world, is out to get Muslims and exterminate them from the earth?