Paradise Escape

by Mia Rodriguez

  "Why couldn't Barstowe have used his influence for good?" I blurt angrily.

  "He felt he was entitled."

  "No human being should be entitled to another person," I snap.

  Miguel nods. "The Elders and Masters will never understand that concept."

  "The Mister thought that loving me meant owning me," I retort. "I wonder if he felt that way about his legitimate wife Mildred."

  "People like him have to own and control everything around them."

  I frown. "What about you, Miguel? Do you think you can love someone without having to possess her?"

  He eyes me carefully as if searching for the right words. "To me love doesn't have anything to do with ownership. It's about sharing, growing, and building together." He takes a gulp. "It's about making mistakes, forgiving one another when necessary, and being in sync with each other."

  I smile. "That's a nice description of love."

  "Frida, I--"

  "What'll we do now?" I blurt, changing the subject. "Wait for the plane to get here?"

  Miguel looks disappointed that I didn't allow him to finish the sentence. "Yes, we wait."

  "I guess we can hide out in the warehouse until it gets here."

  "It's safer than the jungle. We could actually live here," he states.

  "But we won't, right?" I rush. "I mean, we'll do everything possible to get back to our real families, right?"

  "Right."

  I smile at him, and a yawn suddenly comes over me.

  "Tired?" Miguel asks.

  "Very," I state, suddenly realizing how incredibly tired I am. My bones feel like jelly and my eyelids keep wanting to close. "What about you?"

  "I'm exhausted too."

  We choose a hidden place to sleep behind the freezers and a stack of boxes. Not wanting to risk that the Elders, Masters, or guards show up unexpectedly, maybe for supplies, we make sure we're well hidden.

  The beauty of rest seeps deep inside of me. I soon doze off. It is a deep and heavy slumber with no nightmares.

  A loud noise wakes me up.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Miguel wakes up too. It's dawn and we see the light filter in through some of the windows high on the walls. The sound comes in from the outside, and I look toward a window with worry.

  "It's the plane," Miguel informs me excitedly.

  "Really?" I can hardly believe that our chance at full escape is already here.

  "Let's see what's happening outside to see how we can sneak on."

  "Let's go."

  Giddy, we rush to some boxes underneath a window. Miguel climbs on top the boxes and peers outside. Scrambling down, he frowns.

  "What's wrong?" I question.

  "The delivery truck is on its way."

  "It is?" It was a small truck that was only used to deliver goods to the food warehouse at Paradise Village.

  "If we walk out now, they'll see us for sure."

  I'm crestfallen. How do we get on the plane if we're stuck in the warehouse?

  "Is there a back door to this place?" Miguel takes the flashlight since it's still somewhat dim in here with there being so few windows. He shines the flashlight all around. No other doors. The disappointment wants to swallow me alive.

  "We'd better hide," he blurts.

  We rush to our hiding place. Not having a choice but to wait, I start counting in my head, so I stop fidgeting.

  When the door opens, I have enough control of my pent up emotions to breathe evenly. It's not easy, but I manage to accomplish it. Male voices immediately reverberate through the warehouse.

  "How was your flight?" Grinder asks. My insides growl at hearing his name.

  "That flight was a killer," a man says. "We almost threw the supplies to the ocean."

  "Why would you do that?" snaps Grinder.

  "We're having a few problems with the plane," a female voice states. One of the pilots is a woman.

  "But we got here okay," the other pilot explains. "It's good, though, that we don't have this cargo going back."

  A shuffling is heard. I imagine that it's the guards restocking the warehouse. Hopefully, they won't come anywhere near to where we're at.

  "It would be too heavy for the plane," the female comments.

  I wonder if the pilots know about what kind of man Grinder actually is. Do they know about Paradise Village? Do they know about the stolen children? Do they know about the slavery?--the abuse, the True Faith religion, the starvation, the landmines? I'm pretty sure they've never been inside of Paradise Village because all of us know each other and if a stranger would've arrived, we would've known. I hope that these two know nothing of this because if they do, they must be diabolical.

  "So how are things going for your retirees?" asks the male pilot.

  Retirees? Is that what they think that Paradise Village is--a retirement place?

  Grinder groans loudly. "There have been a few problems, but we have it under control."

  "What kind of problems?"

  "Nothing we can't handle," sneers Grinder.

  "It's amazing how you've all managed to live on this island for so long."

  "We're all mature people," Grinder states. "We keep a tight rein on the community so that everyone's happy."

  "I can't imagine retiring to an island," the woman says. "You're all so lucky. Maybe someday . . ."

  "Sorry, you can only join our group by invitation," snaps Grinder.

  "Oh," she says with disappointment.

  Lady, you don't know how lucky you are not to belong to this community.

  "Anyway," Grinder states, "As soon as we finish unloading, you can leave."

  "I was thinking that maybe you'd allow us to stay for a few hours in your town," the man says. "We need to give the plane some rest since it's malfunctioning."

  "No!"

  "We promise we won't be any trouble," the woman quickly says.

  "We have a very private and exclusive community. You need to leave as soon as possible."

  "But--"

  "Leave. You can stay in the warehouse for an hour after we unload the plane but that's it. After that you have to leave."

  "Okay," she says, her voice sounding a little angry.

  "Stay in this vicinity. There will be a guard here with you, so you won't be tempted to go anywhere else.

  "Why would you place a guard on us?" the man questions.

  The disappointment that Grinder will leave them with a guard strikes me with a blow.

  "For your own safety. There are landmines all over the place."

  "Landmines?" she asks, shocked.

  "Why would you have landmines in a retirement community?" the man questions suspiciously.

  "They were left by the previous owners," Grinder rushes. "We decided not to disable them because it keeps dangerous animals out of our community."

  "Dangerous animals?" the man asks.

  Grinder groans. "There's a jungle in this island. Did you think that all we have are pretty seagulls and colorful fish?"

  "I hadn't thought of that," states the man.

  "It's very dangerous here," asserts Grinder. "Very, very dangerous."

  "Then it's better if we leave as soon as we can--as soon as our engines get a little rest."

  "That's a good plan," Grinder assures.

  "In fact, we'll go ahead and leave as soon as all the supplies are off the plane," states the woman. "I think our plane will be sufficiently rested by then."

  I have to subvert a loud groan.

  It will be almost impossible to get on that plane!

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  The pilots and Grinder step outside the warehouse as the guards continue to unload and bring in the supplies. I'm so frustrated that boiling tears want to pop out of my eyes. I don't let them.

  We've come too far to shrivel up and lose focus.

  Besides, as Miguel said we can live in here if we have to. We'll wait for th
e next delivery trip.

  Finally, the door closes with the last delivery guard leaving. I sigh heavily. Miguel does the same.

  "Looks like we'll have to stay here for a while," states Miguel.

  I nod. "Unless we can find a way of getting on that plane undetected."

  "We'll try but I don't think we should take any unnecessary risks with a guard watching."

  "I agree."

  Miguel climbs the same stack of supplies as before and peers out the window. His face looks grim.

  "They're almost finished loading the delivery truck," he informs me. "But a guard is with them."

  "The pilots said they'd be leaving right after everything is unloaded," I mumble.

  "Sorry, Frida. We have to stay in here."

  "When do you think they'll be back?"

  "Who knows?" His voice sounds as disappointed as mine.

  "What bad luck."

  "Uh-oh," he mutters, scrambling down the boxes.

  "What's wrong?"

  "The pilots are coming in here. Hide fast."

  Unfortunately, we don't have time to return to our hiding place but hide behind a small stack of boxes next to us. We barely make it because the door abruptly swings open as we scrunch down.

  "How did you lose your I.D. tag?" asks the woman.

  "I had it in my pocket. It must've fallen out when I pulled out a handkerchief to wipe my face. It's hot in here."

  "Where do you think you lost it?"

  "Who knows? Let's look at where we walked."

  "Good thing you got our flashlights from the plane," she comments.

  "It would be too dark in here to find an I.D. tag."

  "We'd better find it," she guffaws. "It's a pain to get a new one."

  "Murrow will put me on suspension for a week for having lost it."

  "We'll find it," she says reassuringly. "It's got to be here somewhere."

  I stiffen up. If they go through the warehouse then they might find us. I just pray that they find the I.D. tag fast.

  Then it occurs to me to talk to them to see if they'll help us. After all, it's obvious by the conversation they had with Grinder that they don't know what Paradise Village is. However, with Grinder and the delivery guards just a few yards away there's no way I'll risk it.

  "I know we've only been given this assignment recently but I'm uneasy about it," states the woman.

  "Why?"

  "Something's weird here, don't you think?"

  "No, not really."

  "Don't you think it's strange that the guards are armed?"

  "He said that there are dangerous animals," he asserts.

  "But still."

  He frowns loudly. "Felipa, don't spoil this goldmine for us. We make a lot of money for these trips and get bonuses too."

  "It's just a bad feeling I get."

  "Soothe your bad feeling with all the money we're making," he states.

  "Seriously, don't you think Mr. Grinder is an oddball?"

  "Of course he is," the man agrees. "He's a rich eccentric."

  "Mr. Barstowe is odd too."

  "He's the most eccentric of all, Felipa. The guy owns a whole island."

  I knew it!

  "Why won't anyone here allow us to visit the community? The last time we were here, Mr. Barstowe wouldn't let me go to the bathroom there. He made me go into the jungle."

  "Maybe he didn't like anyone using his bathroom."

  "There must be something going on in their community if they don't want us in it," she blurts suspiciously.

  "Felipa," he says, his voice exasperated. "Some people are just very private."

  "There's more to this than meets the eye. I just know it."

  "Listen, Felipa, you'd better mind your own business or you'll be kicked out of this sweet deal. I plan on having this lucrative gig for a long time, and I'm minding my own business."

  "I suppose your right."

  "Look at it this way. This is a steady gig. We're here every month and leave with bulging pockets."

  "I know," she mutters.

  "If you want to be here again next month, I suggest you keep your feelings to yourself."

  "You're right."

  "Any luck finding my tag?" he asks.

  "No. What about you?"

  "I hope I don't have to go back without it," he says, his voice frustrated.

  "We'd better hurry. Mr. Grinder seems in a hurry to get us out of here."

  "I know."

  "Maybe we should just leave," she comments.

  "Let me take one last look."

  Uh-oh. He shines the flashlight close to us. The stupid tag is close to the boxes we're hiding behind. I scrunch lower. Miguel does the same.

  "Found it," he states. He rushes to where it's at, swipes it off the floor, and puts it in his pocket.

  "Got it?" Felipa asks.

  "Yep, but that's not the only thing I found." He pulls out a pistol from his pocket. "Get out of there," he growls, pointing in our direction.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  "There's someone hiding in here?" a surprised Felipa questions.

  "Yep," he chimes. "You two behind those boxes, you'd better come out now."

  "There are two people hiding?"

  "Yep. They'd better be out of there soon, or I'll have to start shooting."

  Miguel and I realize we have to show our faces before he kills us. We step out with our hands in the air.

  "My gosh!" exclaims Felipa.

  Jason points the pistol at us. "I told you."

  "How did you see them?"

  "I saw them when I pointed the flashlight here for the I.D. tag. I saw bits of their clothing."

  "What were you two doing hiding in here?" she asks.

  "Save the explanation," Jason snaps. "Felipa, call Mr. Grinder. I'm sure he'll know what to do with these two.

  "No!" I burst.

  "You can't do that," Miguel chimes in.

  "Why not?" Felipa asks curiously.

  I try to keep my rushing words in order. "You'll be handing us over to our deaths."

  "What?' she asks.

  "He'll execute us," Miguel asserts.

  "I don't know what you two are talking about and I don't care. Felipa, go get Mr. Grinder."

  Felipa shakes her head. "Not before I hear what they want to say."

  "I don't think we should get mixed up in this," Jason growls.

  Felipa's face contorts in anger. "I already told you that something seems funny here. I want to hear what these two have to say!"

  "But Felipa--"

  "Speak you two! Do it fast. You'd better have a good excuse for being here."

  I don't waste any time. While telling them the story of Paradise Village, the abductions, the brainwashing, the slavery, the murders, and our escape, their faces are wracked with disbelief. I scour my brain thinking of how I can make them believe us.

  "That story is really out there," Jason comments.

  Felipa eyes us carefully as if trying to dissect us and our story.

  Miguel's steady eyes sit on Jason. "But it's one hundred percent true."

  "I can't believe--"

  "Why do you think you've never been allowed in the community?" I snap.

  "Privacy?" Jason asks weakly.

  I shake my head. "That's bogus and you know it."

  "Be logical," entreats Miguel. "The Elders don't let you in because they don't want you to see what goes on there."

  "That can't be true," states Jason. "It just can't."

  "Why would we be hiding in here in the middle of a jungle island?"

  He shrugs. "I don't know."

  "How do you think we got here?" I demand to know.

  "Maybe a shipwreck," he mumbles.

  Miguel shakes his head. "If we had a shipwreck then why are we afraid of a retirement community? Why haven't we asked them for their help to get back to our homes?"

  Jason looks bewildered. "Maybe you're the gr
andchildren visiting here and are acting out," he blurts. "That must be it!"

  "You don't really believe that?" I question.

  Jason nods. "That's the logical explanation.

  "So we're idiot grandchildren?!" Miguel exclaims "We're out here with dangerous animals and landmines in order to hide from our grandparents?!"

  "Yes," Jason says weakly.

  "How did we get here?" I interrogate.

  Jason's face shows that he doesn't understand my question. "What do you mean?"

  "How did we get to this warehouse? The road here has armed guards as you've seen. We had to go through places with landmines and fierce animals to get here. If we were just hiding from our grandparents, we'd already be dead."

  "Then how did you make it here?" Jason challenges.

  "Miguel knew the terrain very well," I state. "He helped place those landmines. That's why he doesn't have an arm."

  Jason and Felipa turn to Miguel. Their eyes sweep over what's left of his right limb.

  "I'm tired of listening to all of these crazy stories," Jason states. "Felipa, I think we need to call Mr. Grinder and let him sort this out."

  "You'll be signing our death warrants," I snap.

  Miguel nods. "Do you want us on your conscience for the rest of your lives?"

  "You won't be on my conscience," he retorts. "I doubt very much that anything you're telling us is true!"

  "It's all true," I snap.

  "No, it isn't," he snaps back. "You're making all of it up."

  "You don't want it to be true," retorts Felipa, her voice disgusted and face sitting on Jason.

  Jason is taken aback by her reaction. "What does that mean?"

  "You just don't want your sweet gig to be up."

  Jason coughs nervously. "That's not true. Felipa, I--"

  "You'd sacrifice these two so you can keep you're cash cow" Felipa blurts.

  "Is money that important to you, Jason?" I question. "So important that you'd be willing to look the other way while the Elders abduct children for their evil purposes?"

  "I . . .I . . ."

  "Do you have children, Jason?" Miguel questions softly.

  "Yes. One girl."

  "What's her name?" I ask quietly.

  "Sally."

  "How old is Sally?" I continue my line of questioning.

  "Five."

  "That's the age I was taken," I state. "They took me from my mother who loved me and took care of me. Do you love Sally?"

  "Of course!" he snaps angrily.

  "What if one day she was abducted," I needle him. "One day she's with you and the next day she's gone. Poof! Gone!"