Page 23 of River

“What the hell happened?” Drew said, looking at my leg.

“I saw some soldiers and waved to them. I told them I was American because they were getting agitated that I was on this side of the border. Then they shot me. I didn’t want to kill anyone, but I had no choice,” I explained.

“Let’s see if we can get out of here,” Drew said

“How did you get away from the people who were after you?”

“A woman I know told them I went the other way. So I’ve got very little time left before they find me. Can you walk?” Drew asked.

“Yes, help me up. I don’t want to get caught helping you leave the country.”

Standing on my leg hurt like hell, but I had to push through the pain to reach my car. Drew put his arm around me, and we jogged as fast as my leg would allow. I saw men running toward us.

“Is that the men who’s after you?” I asked.

“Yes, I think it is. Where’s your car?”

“Behind this building.”

I got in the driver’s seat, fighting the urge to scream from the pain as we crossed the border into Ukraine. All I wanted was to get back to America as soon as possible.

We got stuck in Ukraine for a few days. I ended up in the hospital, helping with the incoming wounded. So many kids came in, and I wanted to kill those bastards responsible for the terror they were going through. When the boy with the wagon was carried in, I might have shed a tear.

I took his name and put it in my pocket. He was maybe fourteen. When he opened his eyes, he looked terrified.

“Hey, I’m going to fix you up. I’m not a doctor but an Army Special Forces medic,” I reassured him.

“I saw you pulling a wagon a few days ago. What happened to it?” I asked.

“The bomb got it. I worked hard to buy my Xbox and games, and now I don’t even have a home.”

“Where’s your family?”

“In Poland, with my grandma. I said I’d help fight theRussians—some of them are my cousins and friends. I should have gone to Poland with my family.”

“I’ll take you to Poland when I leave. You’ll be here for a couple of days. Why don’t you get some rest?”

As I was leaving the hospital, a bomb exploded in the building across the street. I ran to help the survivors, knowing there were many people inside. I spotted Drew, live-streaming the war for his podcast.

He caught me on video as I ran to help. I saw a baby sitting amid the broken cement chunks, debris swirling in the air. I picked her up, and she smiled at me. This sweet baby who was just bombed smiled at me. I kissed her and turned around as Drew was videoing us.

Then I heard a woman screaming for her baby. I turned, and she saw me. She was so relieved that her baby was alive that she collapsed. I walked over and handed her the baby, noticing a deep cut on her leg running from her knee to her ankle. I picked them both up and carried them into the hospital.

I didn’t know Drew had recorded everything until Gage arrived in Ukraine.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“I saw you on TV. You haven’t contacted anyone, and I noticed you’re limping. What happened to your leg?”

“I got shot. It still hasn’t healed. Let’s grab some water and sit for a while.”

“Kat’s neighbor came by.”

“Why did she come by?” I asked, a sinking feeling in my gut.

“She said Kat told her she’d be back in three days, but it’s been eleven. She’s worried because Kat went to Afghanistan to rescue a little girl. She said two men showedup dressed in fatigues with guns, and Kat was dressed the same.”

“What? Kat went to Afghanistan, and now she’s missing? When did she tell you this?”

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