Dark Realms (56 page)

“
I’m really not sure who
they are or why, if that’s your next question. My platoon’s duties
are to scout surrounding neighborhoods and advise everyone to stay
indoors for the next twenty-four hours.”

“What about people who are working or
traveling? My husband’s at work and my youngest daughter isn’t home
from her girlfriend’s yet,” complained my mother.

He gave her a reassuring smile. “They’ll
certainly be allowed to return home, we’re just advising folks from
venturing out of the safety of their homes until we have everything
under control. We have some roadblocks in place but will definitely
allow people to go home if that’s where they belong.”

“Sounds a little extreme, doesn’t it?” asked
Sara.

“Believe me, Miss, it’s for the safety of
the public. We’ll let y’all know when it’s safe to leave your
homes.” His radio went off and he stepped away to respond to
it.

“This is too weird,” Sara whispered. “I
don’t like it. They’re being vague but basically ordering us not to
go anywhere. They can’t expect people to just stop their lives and
hide out at home without giving us more information.”

My mom was about to respond when the soldier
returned.

“Well,” he said, this time looking rushed.
“I’ve got to keep making my rounds. Just remember, ladies, stay in
and lock your doors. If someone besides a military official visits
your property, don’t interact with them. We’ll be monitoring the
neighborhood pretty thoroughly, so there shouldn’t be problems.
Just heed the advice and everyone should be fine.”

“Okay, thanks. Just let us know when the
curfew you’ve forced upon us has been lifted,” I said, unable to
hide my sarcasm.

We stared at each other a minute, then he
smiled. “Y’all have a nice day.”

I let out an exasperated sigh when he
left.

“You are such a smartass,” my mom said.

“What?” I asked with a cocky grin.

“You know, I don’t like the way he was
checking you out,” she stated. “Between him and Bryce, I’m going to
have to watch you like a hawk.”

I snickered and shook my head.

Sara sighed. “I wonder if I should leave and
check on Kevin.”

“You heard what the officer said, you can’t
leave. It might not be safe,” replied my mom.

She shook her head. “That’s crap. They can’t
keep me from seeing my husband.”

“Have you talked to him?” asked my mom.

“We spoke earlier. I better call him and see
how he’s doing.” She grabbed her cell phone out of her pocket and
walked away.

“I’d better check on the kids,” said
mom.

I ran upstairs to my room and took out my
cell phone. I hadn’t communicated with Bryce since this morning, so
I decided to send him a text.

Hi Bryce-how are you?

Hello Wild, I was just thinking about
you.

Oh?
I smiled, laying my head against my pillow.

Yes-you guys doing okay?

I sighed and
typed
. Yes, military stopped by to say we
can’t leave.

Yes, I heard about
that,
he typed.
My aunt is caring for mom. She’s going to bring her to
clinic. I’ll be at your house for Bobby ASAP.

They might not let you through!

They won’t have a choice.

Lol…okay, see you tonight!

Count on it.

Chapter Nine

Sara
was
able to reach Kevin and he was
still feeling miserable. He’d also been approached by a military
official and they promised to send out someone from their medical
staff to check on him before nightfall.

Mom spent the rest of the afternoon calling
our family and friends as well as trying to reach dad, who was
still M.I.A. She also spoke with Kylie’s mom, Kristie, and they
both agreed that it was much safer for everyone to stay put. Allie
would be sleeping over another night.

Around six o’clock, I volunteered to grill
hamburgers on the deck. As I stepped onto the balcony, I noticed
several soldiers stationed throughout the neighborhood, some
carrying automatic rifles. One of the soldiers, presumably the
cowboy at our door earlier, waved at me while I flipped the
patties, but I played ignorant.

“
I’m sorry, I just can’t
think about food right now,” complained my mother, pushing away her
dinner plate. She put her head in her hands and sighed wearily.
“Your father still hasn’t responded to any of my calls or texts;
I’m seriously getting worried. This is unusual, even for
him.”

I stood up and started clearing away the
dishes from the table. “I’m sure he’s fine, mom. There could be a
dozen reasons that he hasn’t called back yet. Maybe his cell phone
died, or he left it in the car? Just…quit worrying so much.”

She raised her head and let out a deep sigh.
“I hope you’re right, honey.”

I put a hand on her shoulder. “Why don’t you
just go and lie down for a while? You’ve been pacing around all
day, upsetting yourself. I’ll come and get you if there’s any
news”.

“Maybe you’re right,” she said, rising from
the table. “Just for a little while. Keep an eye on Bobby, will
you?”

I nodded. “In fact, I’ll go check on him
right now. He was playing dolls with Megan just a little while
ago.”

Mom went to her bedroom and I found Bobby
with Sara and Megan. They were finishing a board game. I sat down
and watched as Bobby won.

“I won!” yelled Bobby as he pumped his fist.
“Yes!”

Sara smiled at him then looked up at the
clock. “Megan, it’s time for a bath.”

“Sara, do you know where the towels are?” I
asked, standing up.

She nodded. “Your mom showed me
earlier.”

Megan was pretty excited to be taking a bath
at “Daycare” and I could hear her chatting about it all the way up
the stairs.

“I feel like watching a movie. Do you want
to watch Peter Pan with me?” I asked, settling myself next to Bobby
on the couch.

“That’s my favorite movie!” he
announced.

“Hey, I thought you said your favorite movie
was Beauty and the Beast?”

“That’s my favorite, too,” he replied.

I smiled at him and ruffled his soft brown
hair.

“Where’s Bryce?” he asked.

I looked at my watch, it was almost eight
o’clock. “I think he’s still working. He’ll be coming soon to take
you home, don’t worry.”

Bobby’s face turned grim and he looked at
his hands. “I don’t want to leave. I wish Bryce and I could stay
here forever.”

“Oh, really? Don’t you want to go home and
see your mom? You must miss her. I’m sure she misses you.”

He smiled sadly. “No. She only likes her
juice.”

“Her…juice?” I asked, puzzled.

Bobby nodded. “Yes. Her brown juice. It
smells yucky,” he said pinching his nose. ”I don’t like it when she
drinks it. She says mean things.”

I placed his hand in mine and took a deep
breath. “Has she ever hurt you when she’s been drinking her
juice?”

He shook his head firmly. “No, not anymore.
Bryce made her stop. He loves me the most.”

I reached over and gave him a hug. When I
finally let go, he gave me a lopsided grin. “You’re nice. I wish
you were my mom.”

“I’m a little young to be your mom, but, you
want to know a secret?”

He nodded.

I whispered into his ear. “If you were my
son, I’d love you the most.”

His face broke out in a huge grin and my
heart ached at the thought of anyone being intentionally cruel to
such a sweet kid.

I stood up to put the movie in the DVD
player. “Bobby, do you want some popcorn?” I asked.

“Popcorn is my favorite!” he shouted.

~~~

Bobby fell asleep during the movie, sometime
after nine o’clock. I covered him up with a warm fleece blanket and
went upstairs to find that I was the only one still awake. I also
was having a hard time trying to keep my eyes open.

I yawned and shuffled into the kitchen for a
drink of water. As I raised the glass to my lips, something in the
window caught my eye. I leaned forward for a better glimpse and saw
sporadic flashes lighting up the night. Puzzled, I flipped off the
kitchen light and rushed over to the dining room balcony to step
outside. Just as I slid the door open, I heard gunfire. Terrified,
I slumped down on the ground.

“You hear that too?” whispered Sara next to
my ear.

“Jesus,” I gasped. “Don’t ever sneak up on
me again!”

“Sorry,” she said. “I was in the bedroom
when I heard the shots.”

“I’m calling nine-one-one,” I stated,
pulling out my phone. I quickly dialed and was put on hold for few
minutes before the line went dead.

“Let me try,” said Sara, pulling out her
phone. After a few seconds, she hung up. “This is crazy. The line
is temporarily out of service. It’s nine-one-one! How does that
even happen?”

There was more gunfire, this time followed
by loud screams.

“Oh, my God!” gasped Sara, frantically
closing and locking the door.

“Did…did someone just get shot?” I asked her
in horror.

She touched my shoulder and nodded. “I think
so. Your dad, he has guns, right?”

“Yes,” I said, trembling. “Yes, in the gun
safe.”

“Show me,” she said.

We hurried downstairs to the cellar and I
opened my dad’s gun safe.

“Wow, he doesn’t mess around, does he?
There’s got to be over twenty guns in here.” She pulled out a Smith
and Wesson ten millimeter gun and nodded with approval. “This will
do.”

“You know how to fire a gun?” I asked as she
loaded it.

“Sure, I own a couple guns myself. I’m in
the Reserves; you didn’t know?”

I shook my head. “No, I didn’t. Nobody ever
told me.”

“Well, now you do. Your mom’s mentioned that
you can shoot. Maybe you should be armed, too, just in case. Pick
one out and follow me.”

I grabbed my dad’s ten millimeter Colt Delta
and some ammunition.

“What’s going on?” asked my mom in a
strangled voice. She stood on the stairs with terror in her
eyes.

“Mom, we heard some gunfire and screaming
outside.”

“What?” she cried and raced up the
stairs.

I scrambled up the steps after her and
crouched next to her by the family room window. She slid her hand
between the blinds and tugged the window open.

“It looks pretty deserted out there,” I
whispered. “I wonder what happened to all of those soldiers who
were supposed to be helping us?”

She held up her hand to silence me. “Do you
hear that?” she whispered.

My heart stopped as I heard the faint sound
of a man moaning for help.

Chapter Ten

The front door slammed shut and we both
jumped.

“Sara,” I pointed out the window as our
pregnant houseguest bolted away from the safety of the house, her
white maternity shirt a beacon in the darkness.

“What is she thinking? It’s not safe!”
protested my mother.

I felt a sudden surge of fear and
adrenaline. I stood up and raced after Sara, determined to keep
Megan’s mom and her unborn child safe.

“Cassie!” my mother shrieked. She bolted
down the stairs after me and grabbed my arm before I could make it
out the door. “Where in the hell do you think you’re going?!”

I tried pulling away. “Mom, Sara may need
help! You have to let me go.”

She shook her head vehemently. “I don’t
think so! Give the gun to me, I’ll go after her.”

“You don’t know how to use this thing. You
won’t be able to help her!” I hollered.

Her hazel eyes hardened. “Bull crap. You
give it to me, young lady. Now!”

Frustrated, but unable to defy my mother, I
reluctantly handed her the gun.

“Okay, now stay away from the door and
windows. I don’t want you to get shot if there are stray
bullets.”

I groaned. “Mom…”

“I’m serious,” she said, shaking her index
finger at me before she raced out the door.

This is
nuts
, I thought. I felt like pulling my
hair out. I was not only terrified for my mom, but also for the
kids sound asleep in the house; which, reminded me.

I ran back upstairs to the guestroom, where
Megan was still sleeping peacefully. I checked the window to make
sure it was secure, then hesitantly snuck back out.

Next, I scurried back downstairs to find
Bobby still sleeping on the couch. He looked so peaceful. I sighed
at his innocence and then thought of his brother, who should have
arrived by now. I pulled out my phone and tried calling Bryce but
he didn’t answer. Neither did he respond to a text.

Bryce, where are
you
? I wondered, trying to stay
calm.
And where in the heck was my
dad?

I went back down to the
cellar and grabbed my dad’s new Beretta, which he’d been so proud
of. It was a nine millimeter and held seventeen rounds.
Perfect
.

“Cassie!” hollered my mom from the upstairs
landing. “Grab the first-aid kit, quickly!”

I sighed with relief, then grabbed the kit
from the laundry room and rushed back up the stairs. I skidded to a
halt at the hellish nightmare before me; Sara sat on the steps
trying to use her phone, tears streaming down her cheeks, while my
mother knelt on the floor, pressing a bloodied towel over a young
soldier’s shoulder. His face was pale and he was choking on some of
his own blood.

“Just breathe slowly,” murmured my
mother.

The soldier looked up at me and I recognized
him, it was Austin. He tried to say something, but his face
contorted in agony and he clamped his eyes shut.

“What…what happened to him?” I whispered in
horror.