The Pattern
Rozamond hummed softly as they drove, not because she was comfortable or excited, it was a nervous reaction she had taken too when she was younger. There was no noise in the vehicle. Maria was never silent, Rosie hated the silence coming from the back, she felt as if Maria were on a different planet, and she desperately needed Maria to help her get out of this mess.
"No Good Deed, Wicked." The man in the front seat said smiling at her for the first time. "I feel that about now quite literally."
"You like musicals?" the woman asked.
Rozamond looked at them but didn't answer. She wasn't sure if talking to her captors was a good idea. Her parents had told her about children that had been kidnapped and how they got away. She was smarter than most children, she was certain she could escape. Eventually. She wouldn't leave Maria behind though- if Maria was alive.
"When will Maria wake up?" Rosie asked.
"Hmm, I don't know I haven't been watching the clock." The woman shrugged and smiled. "I didn't lie though, she'll be fine."
Rozamond nodded and looked away. She hadn't been counting the turns they took as they traveled so that when Maria woke up they could escape. She had a map inside her head from the moment they left the driveway. They had been driving a long time though, and on foot it would take twice as long. She had to go to the potty. Would her captors allow her that luxury?
Rozamond thought they might, but it would be better to wait until Maria woke up so that they could escape together. The man turned left, and she felt her stomach tighten.
"I have to go to the bathroom," Rozamond announced.
The woman wrinkled her nose sympathetically. She looked ahead there was a large SUV in front that matched the one they were in. The SUV moved forward, and Rosie could see a security guard in front of a gate. The guard came and examined the driver's identification and even looked back at her. The gate opened slowly and they were allowed to pass through. The gate would be problematic for her escape it was tall and barbed at the top.
The vehicle drove down a bumpy unpaved road and turned to reveal a landing strip with little airplanes and a helicopter. The first SUV had stopped beside the helicopter and a small boy about Rozamond's age was let out of the back seat. Three adults stood beside him for a moment then two hopped in the SUV and drove away.
Rozamond felt her SUV come to a stop and she waited for the man driver of her car to open the door. He let her out and lead her to the adult and child. The child had funny earmuffs on. Rosie wished she had a pair the helicopter was incredibly loud up close. The woman came up behind her and placed a pair on her head. Immediately the sound dimmed. The people that had taken her and Maria from her home handed over her suitcase and then returned to the SUV. Rosie stared at the other child at least she wasn't alone she thought.
As the SUV pulled away Rosie realized they were taking Maria away from her. She chased the SUV for as long as she could, and then bent, her stomach aching. She still had to pee. Turning back she looked at the little boy and the man who were observing her as if she were the crazy one. It felt like a long walk back, her kidneys protesting her need to potty.
"No Good Deed, Wicked." The man in the front seat said smiling at her for the first time. "I feel that about now quite literally."
"You like musicals?" the woman asked.
Rozamond looked at them but didn't answer. She wasn't sure if talking to her captors was a good idea. Her parents had told her about children that had been kidnapped and how they got away. She was smarter than most children, she was certain she could escape. Eventually. She wouldn't leave Maria behind though- if Maria was alive.
"When will Maria wake up?" Rosie asked.
"Hmm, I don't know I haven't been watching the clock." The woman shrugged and smiled. "I didn't lie though, she'll be fine."
Rozamond nodded and looked away. She hadn't been counting the turns they took as they traveled so that when Maria woke up they could escape. She had a map inside her head from the moment they left the driveway. They had been driving a long time though, and on foot it would take twice as long. She had to go to the potty. Would her captors allow her that luxury?
Rozamond thought they might, but it would be better to wait until Maria woke up so that they could escape together. The man turned left, and she felt her stomach tighten.
"I have to go to the bathroom," Rozamond announced.
The woman wrinkled her nose sympathetically. She looked ahead there was a large SUV in front that matched the one they were in. The SUV moved forward, and Rosie could see a security guard in front of a gate. The guard came and examined the driver's identification and even looked back at her. The gate opened slowly and they were allowed to pass through. The gate would be problematic for her escape it was tall and barbed at the top.
The vehicle drove down a bumpy unpaved road and turned to reveal a landing strip with little airplanes and a helicopter. The first SUV had stopped beside the helicopter and a small boy about Rozamond's age was let out of the back seat. Three adults stood beside him for a moment then two hopped in the SUV and drove away.
Rozamond felt her SUV come to a stop and she waited for the man driver of her car to open the door. He let her out and lead her to the adult and child. The child had funny earmuffs on. Rosie wished she had a pair the helicopter was incredibly loud up close. The woman came up behind her and placed a pair on her head. Immediately the sound dimmed. The people that had taken her and Maria from her home handed over her suitcase and then returned to the SUV. Rosie stared at the other child at least she wasn't alone she thought.
As the SUV pulled away Rosie realized they were taking Maria away from her. She chased the SUV for as long as she could, and then bent, her stomach aching. She still had to pee. Turning back she looked at the little boy and the man who were observing her as if she were the crazy one. It felt like a long walk back, her kidneys protesting her need to potty.