His mind was spinning. He knew he had to get somewhere. Soon every cop in the world would be looking for this SUV. He did have one thought—a hiding place that no one would think to search for. He headed in the direction of Pine Forge.
The neighborhood around the old Thomas Mutter estate was quiet. He abandoned the SUV on the street and then hobbled to the estate. The homestead at night was eerie—the breeze between the trees sounded a ghostly howl and there seemed to be shadows moving about the land. He recalled that the estate frightened him as a child, now he was here once again escaping like a slave.
Deni came to the hole in the ground. The idea of going underground was disconcerting. He leaned over and put his hands around the stone outline of the hole and slowly lowered himself down. He looked up and in a flash he saw his ten-year-old self looking down at him when visiting the site years ago on a field trip.
The sight sent shivers down his spine. He ducked just under the opening. Slumped in the tunnel, it wasn’t quite as horrendous as he expected. Curled up underground, Deni closed his eyes tightly. The pain from his wounds was excruciating and as he crouched, he could not get comfortable. What a fitting place to die.
In the underground darkness, Deni’s mind couldn’t help but wander to his brother. No doubt the police had broken into Mikail’s house. Jamie and Elena were most likely in police custody and Jamie would be forced to answer a ton of questions she had no knowledge about. He felt sorry for her. She is such a sweet, loving girl having to face such adversity.
He wondered what Heather was doing, was she crying or putting on a brave face for everyone around? Does it really matter anymore? It’s all been done! There is nothing left but to die.
Nightmares haunted his sleep and every time he awoke from one, he was shocked he was still alive. With every awakening, his body felt weaker and sicker. One more nightmare and I will find myself in hell, he thought.
Morning light shone through the Underground Railroad hole and with it came voices. The voices disturbed Deni’s sleep. When he woke up he was shocked to hear the voices of children. Despite the pain that radiated through his entire body, he had to chuckle. Children on a field trip, wouldn’t it be a trip if I poked my head out? That would really scare those little buggers.
As Deni fell in and out of consciousness, he couldn’t really tell if the voice he heard were real, ghosts of slaves, or the angel of death ready to take him to meet his maker.
“Deni Alexei Daudov?” a male voice called through what sounded like a tunnel.
“I’m ready. You can take me now,” Deni muttered incoherently.
“Deni Alexei Daudov!” the same male voice shouted.
Deni opened his eyes and realized it wasn’t an angel calling him to him; it was the police. That was something he was not ready for. With any might he had left, he tried to slither further into the tunnel. He didn’t realize that a rescue worker had jumped down the hole.
Suddenly, Deni felt someone grab his feet and start pulling him toward the opening. He gave himself up; he was too weak from loss of blood to fight. Two cops grabbed Deni roughly by the arms and tossed him to the grass. An ambulance crew arrived with a stretcher and placed Deni on top. Once placed on the stretcher, Deni passed out.
Deni opened his eyes and realized that he was still very much alive and feeling stronger every day, despite his solitary confinement, but it was far too late for what could have been. What could have been can never happen; any dreams Deni had are gone and with the death of dreams, goes life.
Morning arrived with the opening of his cell door. The guard found Deni still sprawled on the hard cement floor. The guard lifted Deni to his feet and shackled his wrists and ankles. Deni didn’t even bother asking who he was going to see, Marsha, Dr. Sodhi, or maybe his maker. It didn’t matter anymore. Everything has been said; it has all come out, and now it was time for a fair trial. He knew his chances were slim.
The guard sat him down in the same interview room he had grown accustomed to. Weary from an emotional day and night, Deni rested his head on the table. When the door opened he didn’t even look up to see who it was.
“Aren’t you even going to say hello?” she said.
Deni lifted his head, shocked to hear Heather’s voice. He couldn’t believe it; she was sitting right across from him. She looked very tired and strung out, yet she wore a very strong expression. He knew the police and the FBI were working her over well, but she was holding her own. “What are you doing here?”
She chuckled. “I think they want to put us together to see if I can draw any more information from you.”
“Are you okay? They didn’t hurt you or anything?” he asked.
“They don’t want me; they’re just using me to get to you. I know their game, and I’m not going to give them anything,” she replied.
Deni reached out his arms and took hold of her hands. “Why? Why are you doing this?”
She sat back in her chair. “I was taught when you believe in something, you never stop fighting for it. Some people fight for an ideology, some people fight for religion, some people even fight for money. Me, I fight for love; I fight for you. It’s what I believe in.”
“What if the cause isn’t worth the fight?” he said.
“That’s been your problem all along; you never thought you were worth it, but it wasn’t your decision. It wasn’t for you to decide the value I hold in my heart. I own my heart Deni, not you,” Heather said and then shrugged awkwardly. “I can’t stop thinking about it, witnessing all those victims, seeing all the blood. I feel for them and I cry for them. People, my father, friends ask me how I can possibly support you. How I can even love you after what you did. I say to them, if they have to ask me that question, they do not understand love. Love is not for the good deeds someone does. It’s not just for the victims, and it’s not just for the heroes among us. Love is not something one has to strive to deserve. Love is universal and it belongs to everyone. The biggest lie in the world is quantifying good and evil. Good and evil doesn’t exist; only love does. It is why this world is so fucked up, because people do not understand the concept of love.”
Deni squeezed her hands. “I’m not getting out of here, you know that. They have me on conspiracy charges. They are going to hold me responsible for my brother.”
“I know, but we most likely succeeded in keeping you alive and that was what was most important to me. It doesn’t matter where you are in this world, all that I care about is that your heart is still beating.” She laughed. “Heck, it’s even better than that. I can safely say I know where my boyfriend is at night. I know he is not out playing the field or sleeping around with other women.”
Deni broke a grin. “That’s kind of sick, you know that.”
“I think it’s kind of funny,” said Heather and then she grew serious. “I know the chances that we will ever see each other again are slim, but whether you are still with us on this planet or somewhere else, you will always be in my heart.”
“And you as well,” he said. “Take care of yourself Heather. Find a good man who is worthy of you, who will take care of you. Don’t deny yourself happiness because of me.”
“I’ll try, but I cannot promise you.”
The guard entered the room. “Time’s up.”
Heather and Deni both rose. Heather reached over and grabbed Deni’s shoulders. “Don’t give up,” she whispered in his ear, and then the guard escorted her out of the room.
Deni sat back down. It would be easy for him to see his life was wasted and all those opportunities he threw away. Every man has choices and chances. Now with the time to reflect, he may be able to find some wisdom and meaning. The main lesson was love, had he been able to harness love instead of dismiss it; he truly could have made promising changes to the world. Maybe through the thick walls of a prison cell, it’s not too late.
The end.
Table of Contents
Welcome
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
The Insurrectionist Page 26
