Sirona undid his straps quickly with shaky fingers. She helped him stand and he assessed the situation. Mayre was still strapped down but he could see why. Her entire torso was wrapped in a hard cast. Whatever had happened with her must’ve been severe. A small, timid nurse stood behind Mayre ready to wheel her out. Three individuals in dark, nondescript clothes stood in a V shape, each holding large guns across their torsos.
Two of the strangers went out first followed by Sirona, Pat, Mayre, Ameena, and the stranger who appeared to be in charge brought up the rear. Silent alarms flashed in the hallway casting flashing white light across the gray walls. Pat’s legs were already tired at the swift pace down the halls. Despite their speed, hardly any noise disrupted the eerie quiet. Occasionally a wheel on the hospital bed creaked or someone panted as they tried to catch their breath.
After 5 minutes of a straight stretch, they reached a set of double doors. One of the two strangers in the front of the group pulled a white card from a hidden pocket and swiped it along the wall which gained them access through the doors.
“I can’t do it.” Ameena said suddenly. She was standing a few feet from the rest of the group frozen in place by her fear. Her eyes were wide and her hands were visibly shaking.
“You’re going to have to do it. We have moments before they will be able to track us down.” Said the armed stranger who had opened the doors.
“Sirona…I can’t.” She pleaded with her superior, completely ignoring the warnings.
Sirona approached her coworker and said earnestly, “It’s okay. We’ll figure this out. We have to go.”
“I can’t risk it. My son. He needs me. I don’t want to be a vegetable. I-I-I…” She broke down into hysterical sobbing
“Breathe…it’s okay. We will take you to our safe house. We can retrieve your son later.” The man in charge said rapidly. “We. Must. Go. Now.”
Pat’s ears perked up and he could hear the sound of hurried footsteps making the way down the hall. They sounded heavy. They sounded numerous. They sounded unfriendly. Those assertions were confirmed when several armed guards with hospital ID badges came into view a few moments later.
“GO!” All the mysterious rescuers were shouting now and everybody obeyed.
Ameena was still sobbing but she pushed the bed as fast as she could. The locked doors did not slow the guards down so they were quickly gaining on the group. As they rounded a corner, Pat could see automatic double doors ahead and wondered if it was where they were headed.
It seemed as though they were going to cross the threshold and escape, but then Ameena began to crumble. She had glimpsed the officers behind her and froze like a rabbit. Before the head of the rescue team or Sirona had time to react, the guards were upon them. The two strangers leading the pack, Sirona, and Pat were already through one set of double doors and about to exit the final set of doors leading outside to a waiting car. They saw the man in charge of the group fighting valiantly to escape and Ameena and Mayre were easily subdued. The two armed strangers did not allow Sirona or Pat one moment to hesitate. They grasped their upper arms and dragged them out into the sun and then into a black car with tinted windows.
The taller of the two started the engine quickly and went careening out of the parking lot. Out of habit, Pat began buckling his seatbelt while Sirona sat in stunned silence.
***
The entire ride to the safe house was silent. Neither man explained what was going on. They also refused to turn on the radio. When they arrived at their destination, Pat had even more questions than before.
The place was secured by an iron fence that surrounded the property. The only opening was a gate at the very front that was opened by a code. As the gates opened, the first sight was a beautiful fountain splashing amidst drooping flowers. While trees were dotting the property, they weren’t oppressive. There was a sense that you were in a wide open space upon entering. The main building was a three-story Victorian home as wide as it was tall. Multiple windows broke up the vast lines of brick. On either side of the place were other smaller buildings that mirrored the design of the main house except in miniature. A few young men milled around the property maintaining the landscaping, reading, and playing sports.
Pat imagined that this place would be much more brilliant in the spring and summer months when the trees were in bloom and the gardens spilled over with fresh fruit and vegetables. Today there was a chill in the air and the flowers seemed to be on the last leg of their annual journey.
Pat glanced over at Sirona and could see that she was still stricken with shock. She wasn’t examining her surroundings or marveling like Pat. Instead, she was obviously processing something, and Pat assumed it must be guilt. The only movement that indicated she was alive was her hands grasped tightly in her lap and her right thumb running over the side of her left hand.
As the car pulled around the fountain to the front entrance, Pat could see two people step out of the double doors of the home. It was apparent that they were a couple and genuinely pleased to see the car. The man was shorter than average with caramel hair and gentle eyes. His wife grasped his elbow and was a few inches shorter. She had straight, long white-blond hair down to her waist and a beautiful porcelain face.
When the vehicle came to a complete stop, Pat and Sirona reluctantly exited. The rescuers made no move to follow but instead drove the car away to park.
The man quickly moved forward with his hand outstretched, “I am Zion Jones. This is Rachel, my wife.” She tilted her head to the side to acknowledge the introduction.
“Y’all must be tired. Food first, then we will explain everything.” Rachel said. Her voice was as smooth as a Prius and almost as quiet.
“Physical needs are always met and then we get into the nitty-gritty.” Zion agreed and began walking inside.
Pat was first to follow and Sirona brought up the rear. Rachel noticed this right away and slowed down to walk beside the grieving nurse. They began speaking in low tones and Pat could tell that Rachel was offering comfort. Simply the way she spoke was comforting.
Listening closely to the women, Pat hadn’t noticed Zion slowing down to come beside him. They walked beside each other through the spacious hallways until Zion finally asked, “You’re Patrick Sherwood, correct?”
Pat was taken aback. He knew he was well-known thanks to his father, but it still always surprised him when somebody knew his name. “Yes, I am.”
“It is an honor to have you in our home.” Zion said.
Pat was used to things like this being said to make him feel better, but when he looked over at Zion’s crinkled light blue eyes, he knew the sentiment was real. Zion was opposite from his father which is why Pat felt much more at ease.
“I appreciate you freeing me from that place, but I will not trespass on your hospitality for long. I have to go home.” Pat said insisted.
“That may be harder than you think.” Zion said solemnly and they turned the corner into a vast dining room. The table looked like three picnic tables lined up in a row. A handful of people ate at the table and an arched double doorway led into a commercial-grade kitchen. Rachel led Sirona to the kitchen and began showing her around.
“Is that a threat?” Pat demanded of Zion.
“No it isn’t, but the circumstances aren’t ideal for you to leave. Once we get some food in you, I’ll explain the situation we have on our hands.”
Pat gritted his teeth and followed Zion into the kitchen to select items from the buffet. Before he had time to complain, a man about the same height as Zion approached with a wide toothless grin.
“Howdy, stranger!” He pulled Pat into an unwilling hug and aggressively slapped his back. “Welcome to New Creation Rehab. I’m Serrill.”
When Serrill let go of him, it was obvious to Pat that this man had prematurely aged from whatever his addictive substance of choice had been. His eyes were sober and bright, but the rest of his face was wrinkled and dry. His clothes hung off his body like he had lost a lot of weight very quickly.
“I’m Pat.” Pat said finally.
That seemed to be all Serrill cared about because he said, “Pat, so glad to have you! Hey, Terrence!” And he was off hugging somebody else.
“Serrill has been with us for a while. I think he just likes it here. He could’ve left months ago.” Zion whispered. “Anyway, let’s get something to eat.”
There was pot roast, mashed potatoes, country-style green beans, yeast rolls, fruit salad, pigs in a blanket, corn on the cob, brownies, and cherry tarts littering the buffet. Pat wasn’t obsessive about food so this did not mystify him, but Sirona seemed stunned. They both tentatively placed food on their plates and looked at each other as if doubting it was safe to indulge.
