I knew they were coming.
I could hear the soft feet moving slowly creeping up the stairs, lurking near my childrens' cribs, and making their way over to the bed. They pulled the pillowcase over my face, tying it tightly. There was no point in trying to escape. Slowly I took my hand and ran it down into my pocket. Simply and unnoticeably I took Charles' hand and let the metal pieces in his palm. The shadows ripped me from my bed only a split second later. I could hear him curse quietly as one of my children opened their eyes.
"If you touch one of them," I threatened softly as I sat on the hardwood floor, my knees pulled into my chest.
"I wouldn't worry about them," responded Net equally as soft. One of Net's people lifted me up onto their shoulders carrying me, even though I could walk. I could see through the cream coloured pillow case covering my face, but I closed my eyes so I couldn't. I didn't want to see all the things Net was taking from me. My children, my husband, my home, my future, and my life.
Those thing would find me again when the time was right. Net's people took me down the white, roughed up stairs, moving me through my kitchen. My toes brushing the kitchen counter tops. I tried to push out my thoughts of Iris doing her homework on that exact counter top, Apple bringing home her first party invitation and Elouise spitting peas at Charles, when I was away for a business trip, before this all started.
Apple is safe, her friends will take care of her. How could I let down Elouise and Iris like that?
A single tear slid from my eye, showing that I hadn't been able close out those images. I would miss them, but I had to leave. I had to let them take me or they would take them too. I knew I was doing the right thing, but was I? Was leaving my life behind the right choice? Too late now.
They didn't care that I was still alive, they acted as if I was not. They weren't careful. Not being careful when they shoved me into the trunk of the car, parked in front of my house, almost slamming it shut on my finger. Like planned Net shot a gunshot into the air - splitting the calm shield, that laid over our house, in half - to signal that I was taken. I winced as they sped off with me still in the trunk, bumping along. Smoke filled my lungs and I coughed with caution. They didn't want any noise. Hugging my knees to my chest I sent a message to Charles with my mind.
Please do not come after me. Please. Charles. Please. I am okay. I will find my way back. The children, Charles, think of the children.
I couldn't help them anymore.
"Get out of the truck, Nessie," barked Net making my name sounding like poison to his mouth.
"My name is Vanessa," I responded coldly, pushing myself out of the trunk feet first finding a strong stance quickly. My feet pressing into the ground, my arms flexing as I stood normally towards Net. It's weird and sad to call this normal.
"Whatever, no one cares anymore." Net's expression was blank. I had nothing to respond to that. No one would care that my name is Vanessa not Nessie, like he had called me for years. Net pushed off the pillowcase over my eyes and one of his people tossed me some clothes folded in perfect squares.
"Put on the clothes, Nessie," demanded Net his eyes were challenging me, gleaming with power.
The car was parked in the middle of the desert, only the sun and a few cacti in sight. The night had been stolen as we had driven up here. I resented the fact the sky was so light and air, because it gave no clue that something was amiss.
I pulled the jeans, given to me by Net, hoping my light green nightgown would cover my body. It took an uncomfortable amount of time. But the jeans were on and nothing had showed. Still it took too much time. Not caring who saw me anymore, I ripped my nightgown off and slipped on the plain shirt.
"Let's move," grunted one of Net's people, the semicircle around me dispersed. The people split up into groups, organizing each other for their next steps. There were nine masked beings, dressed in normal clothes, looking like normal citizens. Except they were citizens with guns. The very un normal citizens began to splitting into three groups.
"Tell me where we are going." I demanded still standing next to Net, who was staring at me. I shifted uncomfortably under his powerful gaze.
"Forward." Net secured a tight grip on my upper arm, coercing me forward around the car.
"Great," I muttered, stumbling a bit until he let go of me. Three of Net's people stormed ahead, their guns digging into their hands so tightly it left a red imprint cinged into their palms. Net seized the back of my neck, forcing me around the trunk of the car at an awkward angle.
"Stay behind and make sure the ashes are spread apart," ordered Net. I snuck a glimpse behind my shoulder and could see one of Net's people trying to light a match. "Move," he commanded. I snapped my head forward, allowing Net to dig the barrel of his gun into my skull.
I stood there for a second, it hit me what I had subjected myself to.
"Move," Net subpoenaed again saying it harder and louder. I complied. I knew what Net was like when he didn't get his way, except this time he was the one with a gun. Only after about a mile of walking did a sound erupt from the earth. Train tracks lined up in front of the group. I didn't know where I would be taken but a train was definitely involved. A red, with gold trim, train was barreling down it's track destined to cross our path.
First the three ahead started into a sprint. The three behind us caught up to Net and I, soaring me onto one of their shoulders, almost gracefully. Net sprinting along side of me, giving me time to notice how cold and blank his expression had changed to. What have I done? The memories of the bright smile he bared when we shared one heart were zooming up to the front of my mind banging on it's door.
The caboose of the train was an agape door. I watched one by one as they flipped themselves into train. Net was helped on, making his next move: pulling me roughly into the train.
The split second after my painful landing, Net had the barrel of his gun pressing into my forehead. I rolled my eyes. Net really doesn't want any slip-ups. The cabin was a long rectangle, with an arched skylight barrelling in light. Crates of goods were stacked randomly along the walls. I spotted a leopard print suitcase standing on top of a bright lavender purple case laying flat on the hardwood floor.
One of the men was helping the others onto the train when, Net removed a black piece of fabric from his back pocket, tossing it to one of the men behind me. The man secured it over my face, covering my eyes. Then took some rope, binding it way too tightly around my wrists.
That was the moment I knew I was to become captive.
"Wait, Net," I stressed frantic and confused; my heart was racing as if it was running alongside the train, "This is not part of the plan." Net didn't respond. I should have known he wouldn't have complied to the plan. I heard a loud creak, a pop and then someone was dragging my body farther into the train. Perceiving, through sound, three gunshots, I allowed a small whimper to escape my pursed lips. I was shoved hard and then I was falling. Planing on screaming, I opened my mouth but the wind caught my voice. I landed what I thought was a few feet down on a net. Someone wrenched me off, then any light that I could see through the fabric, over my eyes, was gone. I detected two gunshots.
"Vanessa," yelled an all-too-familiar voice; I could tell that it was being dragged off the train. "Vanessa, they will find you. When they do, you will all find me," hollered Charles longley and clearly in pain. "I love you." It might have even been romantic if he hadn't just been shot. I stood up suddenly banging my head on the ceiling.
"Charl-," I howled. Someone yanked me down covering my mouth. I tore into the raw flesh sealing off my mouth, with my teeth. "Love you." I wail before they managed to cover my mouth fully, schlepping me farther into the tunnels