Masego came into view and my heart clenched in the worst pain I could possibly imagine. She was on fire. It seemed not an inch of her went unscathed. More and more gunfire rang out and the adrenaline took over. I was ready.
Ready to defend her.
Ready to save others, if I could.
Ready to die for them...especially Ian.
It felt like we couldn’t get close enough, fast enough. The inches dragged.
Ten feet within its barriers, though, we could see obvious LRA soldiers opening fire on anything that moved, running toward buildings in attempt to get people, children, out.
“If we don’t make out of this alive, Sophie Price, I want you to know that I’ve never loved anyone as much as I love you. You’re it for me,” Ian said, stealing my breath and my words from earlier.
Tears streamed my face. He kissed me hard and quickly.
“Stay down,” he said, shoving my head toward the seat.
He exited the vehicle before I’d had a chance to say anything to him. He created distance between himself and the jeep, probably to keep the bullets from straying toward me, before opening fire himself.
“No!” I yelled a million times, tears plummeting. “I didn’t get to tell you!”I cried. “You were supposed to let me tell you!” I choked in pain. “No,” I said again, when bullets seemed to fly toward the direction I thought he’d gone.
I didn’t hesitate, didn’t think twice. I flew up from my crouched position, crawled over and opened the driver’s side door, fixing myself behind it as a makeshift shield. I placed my hands on the window’s edge and assessed the grounds.
“Two soldiers at the back of our huts, three at the kitchen’s door.” My eyes followed back across. “Seven on Karina’s and Charles’ porch. Two at the children’s house door. Five at Kate’s.” All the buildings were on fire except for Karina’s and Charles’ cabin and Ian’s and my huts.
Ian was nowhere to be seen which comforted me. He wasn’t lying in the common area and that was one more check toward keeping my sanity. I scanned the area once more and drank in the sight of our stalwart Baobab tree, its entirety had erupted in flames. Unease began to settle through me.
I didn’t hear any of the children. “Please, God. Just, please. Please.”
Do something, Sophie. My feet seemed rooted where they stood though. Save them.
Motivation is a funny thing. It can come from out of nowhere. For instance, a child’s scream. From my hut.
I sprung into action, edging the courtyard fence unseen and approaching mine and Ian’s huts. I raised my weapon and crept around the side, edging my way toward the two soldiers near the back, their weapons raised, ready to fire.
Slowly, very slowly, I angled myself for a good enough view. They were within range and weren’t aware of me. I took three deep breaths, readying myself to kill two men I didn’t know. Two men who were so ready to take part in the slaughtering of my adopted family.
For them.
I checked the safety, placed my finger on the trigger and aimed it at the first one’s head. My finger was ready to squeeze but out of nowhere the men fell to the ground without the aid of my own bullets. I plastered myself back into the side of my hut.
Suddenly, a hand came around my mouth. The hand spun me toward them. A finger on his own lips. Ian.
“I told you to stay in the jeep, Sophie.”
“I love you,” I blurted, frantic and a little rattled from the deaths of the soldiers. “It’s the kind of love I never thought I would have, never thought I deserved but it’s forever, Ian. Forever.”
He nodded once in acknowledgement. All business.
“The kids are safe. They’re hidden on the east side of the property. Kate got them out somehow.” I breathed a sigh of relief. “Follow me,” he ordered, then stopped. “Closely.”
We ran to the front of our huts, first inspecting Ian’s then mine for the child who had screamed. A pair of wide eyes met mine underneath the bed.
“Shh, Mandisa,” Ian whispered with a smile. “It’s us. Stay right here, okay?” She started to cry in protest. “Mandisa,” Ian said sternly. “Stay here, stay hidden, stay quiet. No one will come near this hut, you understand? Stay hidden, baby.”
We stuffed my heavy down comforter with her, hoping it would stifle any noise she heard. I kissed her and ran outside with Ian. We followed the line of buildings and Ian stealthily took out the seven on Karina’s and Charles’ porch without blinking an eye.
“Cover me, Soph,” Ian said, sliding open a shallow window of the children’s house.
I aimed my gun inside as he entered, my ears peeled for the slightest noise. Ian pulled me through the window as if I weighed a trifle. I bit back my surprise. He stuffed me behind him once more and we scaled the walls, listening before we entered each room with a flourish of raised weapons. Each room was empty, the soldiers loitering outside the front door were gone, probably fled.
We exited the same window we entered and approached the kitchen and cafeteria quietly. Ian peered through a low window at the back of the building.
“Shit,” he said under his breath. “That same pair from the children’s house have a handful of children being held hostage at the front of the building. Karina’s with them.”
I glanced through the same window to see for myself. Sure enough, five children and Karina stood huddled together. You could tell Karina was assuring them, attempting to calm them. My stomach tumbled the remaining length of my body to my feet.
“How do we get them out?” I asked.