Getaway - Chapter 22 - Beyond Pacifica

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Miguel couldn’t pull his eyes from the sight.  Del called to him but he wouldn’t budge.  Tears streamed down his face and through the grate.  Del grabbed him under the arms and pulled him along the ventilation shaft until they came to a junction.  She wrapped her arms around him and held him tight as he continued to cry.

 

“We have to keep moving Miguel.  Don’t worry, if you help me, we can save my friend and your brother.  Si?

 

“Si,” he sniffed.

 

They continued through the ventilation with Miguel in the lead.  He’d only been to the factory once but remembered the layout remarkably well. 

 

“They hold prisoners in the back.  There are no windows.”  He scurried along and came to a vent above one of the cells and looked down.  “Empty.”  They checked three more before they found him.

 

“That’s Kyran,” Del said as she looked through the grate. 

 

“He doesn’t look so good,” Miguel said.  He was right.  Kyran lay on the floor shaking uncontrollably.  She only saw a portion of his face that wasn’t hid by the hood and noticed the ashen skin.

 

“How are we going to get him out, if he can’t climb?” Miguel asked.

 

“We’ll have to time it just right.  We need to find out where they put your brother at night.  Maybe we can crash through the walls with the truck,” Del suggested.

 

“Or I just sneak down and get the keys,” Miguel said.

 

“I don’t like that idea.  They’ll catch you.”

 

Miguel gave her a withering look before he moved through to the back side of the complex.  He jimmied the vent loose and they found themselves on the roof. 

 

“Go get the truck and try to get it back here without being seen.  Go several miles around before you get near.  I’ll get the keys.”

 

Del grabbed his arm, “You don’t even know who has the keys!” she countered.

 

“The captain always has the keys.  Relax, lady, I can do this.”   He moved past her and dropped from the roof without making a sound and hid behind a drum barrel.  He motioned her down and Del dropped down  beside him.  He picked up a rock and pitched it through the jungle to the left.  The guards pulled their guns up and crept over to investigate.  Miguel pointed her to the right and quickly slipped through the unlocked door.  Del  swore under her breath and sneaked away into the jungle.  She moved cautiously through the brush for half a mile before she stopped.  There was no way should could get the truck back behind the building without being noticed.  She watched the road and soon a Hummer rambled toward the building and parked by the back door.  The guards had returned and they helped take supplies into the back door.  Del slipped up close to the Hummer and peeked in.  She quietly opened the door and checked the ignition for the keys.  Bingo!  She slipped the keys into her pocket and scurried back into the jungle to wait.

 

Delphina sat and waited for several hours before Miguel slipped through the door, unseen by the guards and back into the woods.  He found her easily.

 

“Where’s the truck?” he asked.  Del dangled the Hummer keys lightly.

 

“Nice,” he said.  He fished a key ring from his pocket for her to see.  “They keep my brother in a cell close to your friend.  It should be easy to get them both.  He’s in his room now.  I saw them put him in.”

 

“But we need a distraction,” Del said.  As if timed by her words, an explosion rocked the front of the building.  The guards tore through the door in route to find the cause.  Del looked at Miguel who smiled smugly at her.  She pulled a gun from her backpack and shoved in the waist of her pants.  They slid through the door and down the hallway toward the two cells.  Miguel worked the key into the lock and popped Kyran’s door before he went down to get his brother.   Del rushed to Kyran. 

 

“Kyran!  We have to get out of here now!  Can you walk?” she asked.  He looked shocked to see her but got shakily to his feet.  Del wrapped her arms around him and pulled him through the door.  Miguel was already down the hall carrying Pedro as he ran.  Del picked up the pace and got Kyran through the door just as they were spotted.  They loaded Kyran and Pedro into the back before Del crammed the key into the ignition and turned the truck over.  The Hummer roared to life just as the first spray of bullets zipped through the air.  Del punched the gas and the Hummer lurched forward and down the dirt road.  They made it several yards before other vehicles appeared on their tale.

 

“Lose them!” Miguel shouted.

 

“How?  This is the only road!”  Del yelled back.  She bounced over downed trees and tore through small bushes.

 

“Give me the gun!” Miguel said.

 

“Not on your life!  You know how to drive?” she asked.  Miguel grabbed the wheel and switched places with Del with ease.  Del rolled down her window and fired off several shots at the truck behind them.  She hit the tires and the suv spun out and flipped.

 

“Cool!” Miguel said.

 

“Not cool!  Keep going!”

 

Bullets hit the back of their truck.  The truck fishtailed but they kept going.

 

“I think we blew a tire!” Miguel shouted.  The truck drove rough and plowed through the jungle awkwardly.  Large leaves smashed at the windshield until they saw a large tree too late.

 

“Look out!”  Del yelled! 

 

Miguel turned the wheel but they still sideswiped the tree and slammed into another before the truck ground to a halt.  Del gripped the dash to keep from slamming into it.  She checked Miguel and the others in the back.  Miguel unlocked the door, grabbed Del’s gun and jumped out firing at the remaining truck.

 

“No!”  Del shouted but he was already gone.  She pulled Pedro down to the floor of the vehicle and pushed Kyran as far down as she could.  She ducked just as bullets riddled the windows and shattered them.  And then spears and arrows started flying.  Del got low and jumped out the truck on the driver’s side.  Miguel still had her gun but only a few shots left.  She reached him just as several bullets slammed into his chest.  She grabbed him and fell to the ground shielding him with her body.  The smugglers’ shouts and screams rose as the natives descended upon them.  She heard their screams until they died away to nothing.  The natives chanted a war cry and knocked their spears together.

 

Del rolled Miguel over.  Blood poured from several wounds in his chest and he struggled to breathe.

 

“Miguel!” Del screamed as she tried to plug the wounds and stave off blood loss but she knew it would be futile.

 

“Pedro,” Miguel whispered.  “Don’t let them..” he trailed off.

 

“I’ll take care of him.  I promise.  I won’t let them take him,” Del cried as tears streaked her face.  She held Miguel to her chest and rocked him but he was already gone.  She looked at the natives around her.  They had pulled Kyran and Pedro from the truck.  Kyran lay on the ground shivering with Pedro sitting confused beside him.  The natives chatted amongst themselves and created a sleigh of sticks.  They secured Kyran on the sleigh and started pulling him toward their village.  One pulled Pedro along with them.

 

“No!  Stop!  I have to get him to the ocean!” Del shouted but they ignored her.  One of the men created another sleigh and took Miguel from her arms.  Del stood as she watched them carried him away.  Del followed in their wake trying to communicate.

 

“He’s sick, can’t you see?  I have to get him the ocean.  He needs water!  Agua!” she cried. 

 

“Si, agua,” one of the men acknowledge as they continued. 

 

Del had no choice but to follow them deeper into the jungle and further away from the ocean.

 

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Getaway - Chapter 22 - Beyond Pacifica