Kidnapped | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Kidnapped | Previous Challenge Entry
By Leola Ogle
10/20/14
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Fear drives me, my breath coming in searing gasps. Reaching the abandoned farmhouse, I slip in the door, my chest heaving. I peer through the tattered curtain. No one. But I’m sure they’ll come looking for me.

I must’ve been kidnapped, but why? I escaped while everyone slept. My mind is foggy, but I know I have a husband, Noah, and live in a beautiful home by a lake.

I groan. God, help me. God? Do I believe in God? Somehow I know I do and it’s important.

My head throbs. I touch a crude bandage on my forehead and wince. Did they hurt me? I wish I could remember. I want Noah and our life together. He must be looking for me.

I sink onto a sofa and a plume of dust chokes me. I can’t remember my name. I examine myself and see that Aliss is tattooed on my right wrist. Of course, Aliss – Allie for short. I’m Allie.

But why is my name tattooed on me? Where’s Noah? Where am I now? This is a god-forsaken, barren land, and gray soot covers the landscape. Who brought me here and why?

I close my eyes and let memories of Noah flood my mind. We met at a carnival. We were together, then apart, then finally together. A true love story.

My eyes droop. Fear jerks me awake when I hear voices. I glance out the window and see them approaching – my captors – four of them. I must hide. I frantically scan my surroundings. That’s when my heel hits a panel under the stairs. A hidden door swings open. I scurry inside. The opening is invisible. I wouldn’t have known it was there if my foot hadn’t hit it. I murmur, “Thank you, God.”

I wait. I hear footsteps and the door opens. “She’s here or been here,” a female says.

“Search the house,” a man says. “We have to find her.”

I hold my breath. I hear them walking around opening doors and cupboards. Noah, help me. Rescue me. My hand touches my stomach and I remember. I’m pregnant. It makes sense. Noah and I want a family. Realization dawns regarding why they took me. My pregnancy is a miracle.

“She’s gone, Brael,” a voice says. “She’s not here.”

“Ryne, are you sure? Why did she leave us? I don’t understand. We have to find her. Mela, did you search every room?”

A panicky voice shouts, “Brael, we have people coming. Looks like Lixa Tech.”

“Hurry. To the field behind the house.”

My heart thunders. I feel the rumble of vehicles and hear the whine of engines. Maybe this Lixa Tech can help me, return me to Noah.

Voices. Loud, angry voices. “Kill them all if you find them. Except the girl, Aliss. Karel wants her alive. Her baby will provide valuable research.”

My hands clutch my abdomen. My baby. I hear the stomping of feet throughout the house, then gunfire. Those other people – did they kill them? Think, Allie. Try to remember. Who can I trust? What should I do?

I huddle in the darkness for minutes, maybe hours, until all was quiet, yet I’m afraid to leave my hiding place. Noah, find me. Find us. Our baby. God, help me.

I must’ve dozed and leaned against the door, pushing it open. I startle awake with faces hovering over me. My arms begin to flail.

“Aliss, stop! It’s me, Mela.” The woman tries to hold my arms, but I push her away. Strong arms lift me, and I feel comforted. I look into his eyes, thinking it’s Noah, but it’s not.

“Shush, my love. It’ll be all right. You fell yesterday. You have a concussion.”

“But ….but where is my husband, Noah?”

Everyone exchanges glances. The man groans. “I’m your husband. Brael.”

I gasp. My eyes widen as truth sinks in. The wars, plagues, women barren, governments overthrown. Earth destroyed, mankind almost annihilated.

Our sect – one of the few who believe in God – captured and experimented on. We escaped when we discovered their plans for my baby. We’ve been hiding with others in an underground bunker nearby.

The bunker has weapons, food, movies, a gas generator, books. I read everything. My favorite – The Notebook. Brael powered up a DVD player and we watched The Notebook as a treat for me.

I fell that night, injuring my head and blacking out.

Reality washes over me. There’s no beautiful house by a lake, only desolation.

I clutch Brael and weep.

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