Page 40 of Resistant

“In the morning, the New Reform delivered a draft notice.”

My voice cracks, and a tear rolls down my face.

“This was a mistake of epic proportions. I should have been more prepared. I should have been able to keep them from taking Nathan away from me.

I was wrong, they did come out to our home to take Nathan to basic training. And I had been warned by one of my clients. I was so stupid.

They came early in armored trucks. I don’t know how many men there were. I know Nathan and I killed several men that day.

I was overconfident about our odds, and my ability to keep my boys safe. My son and I had been working out together, he taught me how to fight-like his Daddy had taught him, and he worked with me lifting weights in the garage. We practiced fighting as a unit, back-to-back like we saw in the movies.” I can’t help but smile at my memories of Nathan and me practicing.

“At first it was funny, we joked that we were superheroes. But as the New Reform came closer to our little swamp, we became more serious and dedicated to fighting as a unit.”

I glance at Declan; It’s dark, but I can still see the unease on his face. My nerves take over and I go back to picking at my nails. I avoid looking at him, afraid of what I might see.

“One of the boys said they heard a noise, and I went to look outside, and they were there, at my door.

We had a plan, and my youngest knew to run into the woods with Lily and hide in the spot we’d predetermined.

There was a small camouflage shelter with canned food and bottled water, enough to last a few days. If my oldest or myself did not come for him, he knew who to contact to get help.

David ran into the woods, like we taught him. I saw him disappear into the tree line. Nathan was in the gun cabinet loading weapons, and I opened the door.

The soldier said Nathan had 10 minutes to report. We used those 10 minutes to arm ourselves and we ambushed them from the porch.

I don’t remember all the details now, but we ran out of ammunition and Nathan stopped fighting. He was afraid they would kill me. So, he surrendered, and I got smacked in the head pretty hard.

When I came to, they were all gone, and it was getting dark. I was hurt. David and Lily and I spent the night in the woods.

When daylight approached, we got in the truck to leave. We turned on the main road and I got pulled over by the police.

He took David from me; said he had a family who was ready to adopt him. He promised to keep an eye on my boys. All I had to do in return was to let him buy me at auction. He drove me to the bus station, to the bus that would take me to the trafficking auctions. I was in line, and some girls caused a ruckus, and I threw my passport into the bushes. When no one was paying attention, I stepped into another line. I didn’t know where that bus was going, but I knew if I let him buy me, I’d never be free and I’d never be able to get my boys back, at least not on my own terms. So, I got on that bus.

We got to a rest stop, and I used the bathroom. I left and got on a different bus. And I ended up here.

He said he thought we were special because we never got sick from the radiation. But we were far away from the detonation zones. We were careful.”

I’m sobbing now, and Declan is stroking my hair.

“I made so many mistakes and I fought, I fought so hard, only to end up trapped here.

No one asked me any questions when I got here, my past, my skill set, nothing, not even my name. They gave me a medical exam and that was it.

You and Sasha are the only people who know my name. I ended up here, a worthless human being tattooed with a number 8457, who could be used for someone else’s gain. I’ve been looking for a way out, but I’d lost hope. I lost hope until the other day in the office, when you took me out of the cells.”

I stop talking for a moment. I can feel more hysteria bubbling inside me. I close my eyes and take a moment to get my thoughts back on track.

“About two weeks ago, I was assigned to the laundry, which doesn’t happen often but sometimes I end up there instead of the greenhouses.

A guard came in to take a woman to the stocks and she fought him. In the chaos, another guard pulled me out of the room randomly saying I was picked, but now I don’t believe any of this is truly random.

I ended up in the stocks with you that first night. I had no idea what the stocks were or what to expect.

The next morning, a woman named Sasha asked me if I’d been raped. I told her no, and she moved away and didn’t speak to me again until a day or so later. She told me that I needed to trust Declan, that you would help me to escape. I’m supposed to tell you that Sasha sent me. Do you know who Sasha is?”

I look at Declan and his attention is focused far away from me. His eyebrows are furrowed, and he looks disturbed.

“No, Angel. I don’t know who Sasha is. Whatever is happening, obviously we are chess pieces on the board. We will wait and see what happens.

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