I haven’t gotten out of bed in weeks. My husband got angry with me and it felt nice to get some emotion out of him. I have survived too much to give up now and must find some motivation to continue on.
—The diary of Megan Jean
“Today I knocked Frank down,” Corinna said.
“I don’t know if I should congratulate you or reprimand Frank,” Riley said.
“Congratulate Corinna,” Frank said. “She executed that behind-the-back spin-around move you taught us yesterday.”
“It was a more formal name than that,” Alex said.
“Names aren’t important,” Riley said. “Thinking on your feet is. Rarely are fights choreographed.”
“And how is shooting going, Mia?” her mother asked.
Mia looked up from her plate. She hadn’t been paying attention.
“What?” Mia asked.
“Are you hitting all your targets?”
“I’m getting a lot better,” Mia said.
“I never thought I would be discussing fighting and guns with my daughters,” she said. “Or encouraging them in these activities.” Mia’s mother frowned.
“The idea is that you never have to use these skills,” Riley said. “They’re there in case of an emergency.”
“When you first met in Mexico did you teach Mia how to use a sword first?” Corinna asked.
“We played a lot of chess,” Mia said.
“I’ve never heard of the game,” Corinna said. “Mia, will you teach me?”
Riley had taught Mia chess to sharpen her mind and increase her patience. Mia never wanted Corinna to have to make the types of decisions she had.
“Of course,” Mia lied.
“Mia didn’t have as much to learn as you do, we had more time,” Riley said. “And it was only the two of us. Once I’m satisfied with her skill level you’ll have two teachers.”
Alex let out a yawn.
“We should get some sleep,” Mia said.
She stood up from the table, avoiding eye contact with any of them. Mia knew she might not make it back from rescuing Rod. If she saw any of their faces she feared she would burst into tears.
“I am tired,” Riley said.
“Training like this takes it out of me,” Frank said.
The rest of the table took turns agreeing.
“Good night,” Mia said.
She walked down the hallway into the room she shared with Riley. Mia peeled off her oversize sweatshirt and sweatpants and stepped into the tight black leggings Riley had given her. She pulled on a fitted black T-shirt and was reaching for a black jacket when the door opened.
“What was that?” Riley asked. “Are you trying to make them suspicious?”
“I might never see them again,” Mia said.
“That was how you were acting,” Riley said.
“I’m scared,” Mia said.
“Don’t be,” Riley said. “At least not tonight. We need to survey the grounds.”
Riley went for her small backpack and took a quick inventory.
“Do you have everything packed?” Mia asked.
“Yes,” Riley said. “Did you get the car keys?”
“I swiped them from the kitchen this afternoon,” Mia said. “Do you realize if we don’t make it back then all they have is the van filled with bullet holes?”
“At least we’re leaving them that,” Riley said. “And Frank did a good job patching up the holes; you can hardly tell what the van went through.”
Mia knew she was right. If Frank hadn’t brought the second car up earlier then Mia and Riley would be taking their only means of transportation tonight.
“We wait one hour,” Riley said. “Make sure everyone is asleep then we leave.”
Mia nodded her head. The next hour felt like days.