by K. C. Crowne
But getting out of town likely wasn’t an option either. There were bridges in almost every direction, and I’d be shocked as hell if they weren’t washed out by now.
“Where are we going?” Emmy asked me.
“I don’t know yet.” I hated admitting that I didn’t know something. After a moment, I said, “We’re just getting out of town for now. We’re going to drive as far as we can into the mountains on the other side of Liberty.”
“We’re leaving Liberty?” she squeaked.
“I think that’s the best option considering the circumstances.”
“But what about Liv?”
I gripped the steering wheel tightly and clenched my jaw. I understood Emmy’s concern for her friend. I wanted to save her too. But my focus was getting Emmy and my unborn child out of Liberty and to safety. Then we’d figure out Liv.
“Like I said, Liv is bait. They aren’t going to kill her,” I said. “Antonio said he would call back with more details. For now, all we can do is wait and see.”
She was quiet next to me, and I glanced over. She stared out the window, traces of tears flowing down her cheeks - much like the rainfall sliding down the window.
Her dark hair fell in front of her face, hiding her from view. It almost seemed intentional, as if Emmy didn’t want me to see her crying. She was a strong woman, one of the strongest I’d ever met. But even the strongest people break down when loved ones were in danger.
I took her hand in mind and gave it a squeeze.
“We’re going to save Liv,” I said softly. “I promised you, and I always keep my promises.”
I put both hands back on the steering wheel and glanced in my rear-view mirror. Dammit. Where’d they go?
Sam’s truck was no longer behind us as we pulled into Liberty. How long had they been gone? I’d been driving fast, turning down roads with little warning, and with the downpour, it was hard to see too far in front or behind you.
No time for that right now. I needed to get through town, then I’d call them. Sam is smart, they’ll be fine, I told myself.
As we drove over the dam, however, my heart stopped. I didn’t say anything, but somehow, Emmy knew something was wrong.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“The dam. It can’t hold much more,” I said, speaking slowly.
“What does that mean?”
“It means the town is about to be flooded. Like seriously flooded.”
“We need to hurry then.”
I nodded and kept my eyes on the road. Liberty was a small town, and we could get through it quickly. Once on the other side, there was high ground – high enough that we’d be safe. I’d call Teddy and alert him in case he didn’t know already, but he had to know.
They’ll save the people of Liberty, I told myself as I rushed past the local shops and businesses.
I looked to my left and nearly yelled out. Two boys around twelve years old and a girl around eight were playing in the flood waters.
“Dammit,” I muttered.
Emmy saw them at the same time I did, just as I drove past. Her eyes wide, she asked, “What are we going to do? If what you said is true about the dam, we can’t just leave them.”
“No, I’m not going to leave them,” I growled. I hit the steering wheel, frustrated. “Where the hell are their parents?”
“I don’t know, but they’re definitely reckless.”
“I’m going to get the truck to higher ground, then I’ll go back for them.”
We reached the hill at the end of town, not too far from where the kids were. I parked the truck on the side of the road but left the keys in the ignition.
“Listen to me, Emmy. You should be safe here. But if the dam breaks, drive straight ahead into the mountains. Call Sam as soon as you get to safety. Teddy too.”
“I’m not leaving you,” she said, shaking her head.
I removed my seat belt and opened the car door. “Hopefully not, but if things get bad, you might have to. Save yourself and our child if it comes to that.”
“Graham, wait—”
I slammed the door and made a beeline for the road where I saw the three kids. They were still there, all alone, and without a care in the world. The rest of the street was empty and the buildings around them looked shuttered and abandoned. I may have been right that Teddy managed to get everyone out - but somehow, these children were left behind? I asked myself again, where were their parents?
I approached them, trying not to scare them. “It’s dangerous here. We need to get you to higher ground.”
The oldest boy stepped up. “Who are you? We aren’t supposed to go with strangers.”
“Where are your parents?”
The oldest boy looked at the second boy. “They’re… at work. We’re staying with our grandma, but she went for a walk and—”
“Where do your parents work?”
“In Sunville,” he muttered.
Their clothes were ragged and dirty, and now that I was closer, I could see it wasn’t just from the rain. The little girl’s clothing was two sizes too big, almost like she was wearing her older brother’s clothes. She hid behind her big brother.
The rain continued to pour down, and I knew we had a matter of minutes before the dam would break.
“We need to get you to safety,” I repeated.
“I can handle myself,” the boy said.
“What’s your name, kid?”
He hesitated, standing up tall as if to determine whether he should answer. “Andrew,” he finally said.
“Andrew, that dam on the other side of the town is ready to burst at any moment. If you think the roads are flooded now, once that happens, everything here will be under water.”
“And why should I believe you?” Andrew asked defiantly.
“Do you see anyone else around?” I asked him. He looked around and frowned. “It’s because they’ve all moved to higher ground. The sheriff rounded them up and—”
The younger boy tugged at Andrew’s sleeve. “The sheriff knocked on our door earlier, but Daddy said not to answer and pretend no one is home.”
My heart tightened in my chest.
Andrew seemed to think over what his younger brother said.
The girl spoke. “He did, Andrew. I wanted to answer, but Ricky told me not to.”
There was a loud cracking sound in the distance. Maybe it was thunder. Maybe it was the dam breaking. I couldn’t be sure. But what I did know was that I couldn’t stand here and argue. I needed to get these kids to safety fast.
We might not have time to go back to the truck, so I scanned the area. We were in front of an apartment building, several stories high.
“Get inside, now!” I shouted, opening the door to the building and shoving the kids inside as gently as I could.
Emilia
“Please, Graham,” I prayed. “Please get back here.”
I turned in the seat and stared out the back window. I couldn’t see down the hill to where he was, but my eyes did catch on some movement. An elderly woman was behind the truck, heading down the hill – straight into the danger zone.
Without thinking, I hopped from the truck, “Stop! Stay here!”
I rushed to the back of the truck. The woman had stopped, and she was looking around. “What’s going on?” she asked me.
“There’s flooding! The dam is about to break.”
“I have to get to my grandkids,” she said, panicked. “They’re down there.”
“Two boys and a girl?” I asked. The woman nodded. “Someone is getting them now.”
“But you don’t understand.” She stared at me.
“What don’t I understand?”
“I’m watching them. I have to go home and make them lunch.”
“Ma’am, I assure you they are safe. My friend went to get them to take them to safety. We have to stay on higher ground,” I said.
“But why?” the old woman cocked her head to the side, giving me the most confu
sed look.
“Because of the flooding. The dam is about to break and—”
“The dam is about to break?” she mumbled, blinking.
“Yes, we need to get you out of here.”
“Oh, I have to make them lunch,” she muttered.
She wasn’t simply confused; she was likely suffering from dementia. “Come with me. We’ll go get your grandkids,” I said, switching tactics.
Please, Graham, get them to safety. I took the old woman’s hand, and just as we turned toward the truck, there was a tumultuous sound, too loud for actual thunder. In my heart, I knew exactly what it was, but I still turned around and watched as the water flooded the valley beneath us quickly. The water rushed in so fast, and before my very eyes, buildings disappeared.
“Graham!” I screamed, feeling like my legs might go out on me. “Graham!”
There was no sign of him. No sign of the kids either.
I continued screaming, hoping maybe he could hear me. I prayed for a miracle.
“Oh my…” the woman said, her voice shaking. She was wringing her hands. “Oh my, oh my…” She just kept repeating the same phrase.
I was terrified, and my feet didn’t want to move. I wanted to wait there for Graham. I couldn’t leave him.
Protect the baby, he’d told me before he ran off.
Our baby.
It wasn’t just my life I was saving.
The water was rising, and while we were on higher ground, it was possible it could rise even higher. I didn’t know how close it would come to us. I needed to get us to safety. I needed to get up into the mountains and call for help, just like Graham wanted me to do.
I had to be strong.
“Come on,” I grabbed the woman’s hand. “Get in the truck. Now.”
Tears streamed down my face, and my heart felt like it was ready to burst from the pain. But I had to keep moving.
Just one foot in front of the other, Emmy, I told myself.
I helped the elderly woman into the truck and rushed to the driver’s side, but not before looking to the wreckage below. Liberty, my beloved town, was nearly destroyed. At least a large section of it was. People’s homes and businesses, all gone in a flash.
And Graham…and those kids. They were likely gone too.
Stop it, I told myself. You don’t know that. Just keep moving.
I climbed into the truck and started the engine, driving off into the mountains as instructed by Graham. It physically hurt to possibly leave him behind, but I knew there was no way he could’ve survived.
“My name is Emilia. What’s your name?” I asked the older woman.
“Darlene,” she said slowly. “Are we going to pick up my grandkids now?”
“Soon,” I promised, wiping the tears from my eyes. “We’re going up into the mountain and we’re going to call for help.”
“I really need to make them lunch,” she said. “Their parents won’t be happy that I left them.”
“It’s okay. We’ll figure everything out soon, I’m sure.”
I wish I had that level of confidence. I was pretending for her sake, wanting to keep her calm. But the truth was, I didn’t think anything would ever be okay again.
We drove up the switchback road until we reached the first lookout point. We were far enough away now that I knew we were safe. I pulled off to the side. The rain had temporarily stopped, and it felt like a taunt after everything that had happened. The town below was destroyed, people lost their homes and maybe their lives - and it finally decided to stop fucking raining. I removed my seat belt and sighed.
“Darlene, I’m going to make a phone call,” I told her quietly. “Please wait here until I come back, okay?”
I stepped out of the truck and walked to the fence overlooking everything.
My breath came out ragged, and once again, my knees felt weak. I grabbed the fence and dug out my phone, still secure in the plastic baggie. It was hard to believe that only hours before, I was running away from Graham, and now, I’d give anything to see him again.
A sound caught my attention.
A voice. Darlene was talking to someone. I assumed she was calling out to me, but I missed what she’d said.
“What was that, Darlene?”
I turned around to find Darlene outside of the truck, standing next to Antonio. I gasped, shock running through me. How the hell did he find me here at this moment?
“If you come peacefully with me, no one else will have to get hurt,” he said.
I backed up until my back hit the fence. I had nowhere to go. Antonio held up a gun, showing it to me as he pointed it at Darlene’s back.
“Stop,” I called out. “If you leave her alone and let Liv go, I’ll go with you.”
“Deal,” Antonio said, putting the gun down. “Now get in the car.”
Ooo000ooo
“You promised to let Liv go,” I griped. I was sitting beside him in his BMW, just him and me. My hands were tied; there would be no fighting. I was trapped in his car with him. I sat in the backseat, and he’d told me that my doors wouldn’t open from the inside.
“And I will,” Antonio said.
“Do it now, and I’ll agree to go to the courthouse and marry you on the spot,” I offered.
He cackled. “Who knew it would be so easy?”
I wouldn’t call this easy, I thought to myself.
He reached for his phone and made a call. “Dominic? Yes, release the girl. We no longer need her.”
“I need to talk to her. To verify she’s been let go.”
Antonio sighed. “Fine.” A few moments later, he handed me the phone.
“Liv?”
“Emmy?”
“Are you okay? They said they’d release you. Can you confirm you’re free?”
“They let me go, but who knows for how long?”
“Where are you?”
“I’m in the woods, but there’s a road up ahead.”
“Run toward the road,” I told her. “Let me know when you get there and flash down a car.” I could hear her breathing in the background, and then the sound of passing cars.
“Hey! Hey!” she called out in the background. “I need help.”
She came back to the line. “Someone stopped. I’m okay. I’m safe, Emmy.”
“Good. Just get to safety.”
“What about you, Emmy?”
“I’ll be fine,” I said, choking up. I wasn’t sure if that was true or not, but I’d figure it out. I always did.
“Alright, you have your proof,” Antonio said, grabbing the phone from my hand.
Liv was ripped away from me, just like that. But at least she was most likely safe. And if she was safe, I could take my chance.
I’m sorry, I apologized to my unborn child. I hope we make it through this.
As Antonio slipped his phone into his pocket, I used that moment of distraction to take my shot.
I leaned back into the seat, raised my feet, and before he could react, I kicked him in the back of the head. His head flew forward, slamming into the steering wheel with such force that blood stained the window in front of him.
The car veered off the road, and I wasn’t sure if I was screaming or if it was the sound of the tires skidding. Maybe both. The sound was deafening. I leaned forward, trying to grab the steering wheel, but it was too late.
There was a loud crack as we hit a tree head-on.
Silence as the world went black.
Graham
We’d made it to the roof of the apartment building just as the floodgates had opened. The building was barely tall enough to be out of the waters, but for now, we were safe. I worried about the integrity of the building, but at least we’d made it this far.
Andrew walked over to the ledge of the building, but I grabbed his shoulder.
“Don’t go too far out.”
He stopped and looked at me, fear in his eyes. This was too much for these kids to handle, but at least they were alive.
“
What are we going to do now?” Andrew asked me.
I couldn’t tell him that I didn’t know, but that was the truth. “We’re going to wait here until help arrives.”
“And do you think help will arrive soon?”
“Oh yeah, I’m sure the sheriff already has help on the way.”
“Can you call him?”
“I don’t have a phone on me. Do you?”
Andrew shook his head. “Our dad said he couldn’t afford one for himself, much less for me.”
Considering their ages, it wasn’t much of a surprise. But I was seriously cursing not having a phone handy. I’d left mine in the truck with Emmy. We needed to get off this roof.
“At least the rain let up,” I muttered. In the distance, I heard a sound. A motor.
“Do you hear that, Maggie?” Ricky said to his little sister. “I think that’s a boat.”
“I think you’re right,” I said, feeling a renewed sense of hope. “I knew Teddy and the others would get out here soon.”
The boat came into view, and all three kids began jumping up and down, screaming for help. “Hold up, don’t jump around too much,” I warned, fearing the roof might give out on us.
I waved and called out, and the boat steered our direction. As suspected, Teddy was behind the wheel. A few others were in the back - one other officer and a couple that were wrapped in blankets, likely rescued as well.
“Thank God,” I said as we began loading the kids one by one into the boat.
It became clear there wasn’t enough room for me. There was already one too many with the three kids.
“We can make room,” Teddy said.
“No, I’m too big, it wouldn’t be safe,” I said. “Get them to safety, then you can come back for me.”
“Are you sure? The roof doesn’t look that steady—”
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “If I have to, I’ll swim.”
“I’ll hurry back.”
Teddy took off with the boat, and soon, I couldn’t even hear the motor. I looked at the hill I left Emmy on, praying she was safe. My truck was gone, and there was no sign of her anywhere.
She had listened to me. Good. She was safe. But I had to get to her.
