Page 37 of River

“I agree,” Rush nodded. “We need to do it at the same time. I’ll go to the compound and get Joey—that’s a promise I’m keeping.”

“Do we have explosives ready?” I asked.

“Yes, everything we need is here,” Cyclone confirmed. “Let’s meet with the Rangers in the morning and finalize the plan.”

“That’s a good idea. They’ll come after us, so we need to get the hell out of here as soon as we’re done,” I said. “They’ll know it was us, and if Omari’s not dead, he’ll keep this going. We have to make sure he’s gone before we leave.”

The next night, we had a plan. The Rangers went to the nearby buildings to rescue those women and children while we headed for the compound. Cyclone had set up the explosives, rigged to go off with the push of a button.

It felt like the people knew something was about to happen. The clapboard houses were empty, and no one was around. They all disappeared for the day and into the night. We headed to the compound carrying our little jungle jackets for the children. I prayed that everything worked out how we wanted it to.

As we neared the compound, something felt off. The place was wide open, completely different from the other night. Men were laughing, and we spotted Rush, the Navy SEAL, walking past us, disguised like the others. He stepped through the open gate.

“Okay, are we ready? When we see Rush's signal, we’ll get the kids,” I said.

We waited for about thirty minutes before we saw the signal. The kids were coming through a side door. We hurried over and put on their jungle jackets.

“Hold hands,” I instructed the children. I turned to Rush, who was holding a small boys hand. “Did you see any of the girls?”

“Yes, they are coming. They said men were coming for them, Rush said.

“Take the kids to safety. Gideon and I will get the girls,” Isaid, walking close to the wall. “Cyclone, push the button ten minutes even if we’re not back.”

Gideon and I moved close to the wall, slipping inside the compound. I spotted the girls, and one of them spotted us. They were all crying, holding hands. Suddenly, an explosion went off, and they ran toward us. We barely made it out before the compound blew up.

We ran as fast as we could, the kids in front of us, Cyclone leading the way. It was a long trek, and the little ones were struggling. Some of the guys picked up the smallest children, and a few girls helped carry others. Three miles was a lot for undernourished kids.

19

Kat

When I heardmy front door open, I knew I should have locked it; I could hear it from my room. When the puppies started barking, I put them in the closet and grabbed my gun from my nightstand drawer. First, I pushed the button on my digital recorder—no more than two seconds passed before my bedroom door was kicked open.

I pointed my gun at one guy while the other one threw his knife. It landed in my arm, which held the weapon. My gun fired but missed its mark. I couldn’t remove the knife before the man reached me. He slugged me in the face.

That’s all I remembered until I woke up later that day. I was chained to a wall in the back of a moving eighteen-wheeler. I didn’t even know what time it was because it was pitch black inside, and when I tried to scream, I couldn’t open my mouth. It was taped shut.

“I felt my heart accelerate, and when panic kicked in, I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself. I breathed through my nose for a few minutes before I could reason with my mind. I wanted to scream for help.

I had to get away from these men. I had no idea whokidnapped me. My face and arm were killing me, and I remembered the knife in my arm. I heard the chain when I tried to raise my arm. River, I know you can’t hear me, but I promise to do everything possible to escape these men. I love you! I’m sorry for not telling you to your face.

Tears fell from my eyes. I couldn’t help it; I was so scared. These guys want to sell me or kill me. But if they wanted me dead, they would have killed me in my room.

I shut my eyes and tried to make a plan, but I fell asleep. When I opened my eyes, the truck had stopped. I listened and could hear a noise, but I didn’t know what it was. What was that noise? He was filling the tank with diesel. There was nothing I could do; I couldn’t even scream.

I desperately needed to pee. What was I going to do? I tried to get to the waistband of my pants to pull them down. I was able to get on my knees and tried everything I could. Finally, I was able to put my hands in front of me. I reached my waist and pulled my sweats down.

Why am I here? I know they singled me out. What have I done to these people?I tried to remember what they looked like, not their clothes. They were dressed as cable guys, but their nationality was Arab, and their speech gave them away. Why would they be angry at me? I’m a medic; I help whoever needs it.

When I woke up again, my stomach growled. It must have been three or four days since I’ve been here. The truck was stopped, and then I tried screaming as I felt the trailer being lifted off the ground swinging, and then it dropped. I was knocked out when my head hit the side of the trailer.

When I woke up again, I knew what was happening because I heard the ship's horn. I was out at sea in the trailer. They were taking me to another country.

Was I alone in this trailer? Or were there other womenhere with me? I couldn’t hear anything. I turned and, with my foot, felt for the side of the trailer and kicked it.

Nothing, no other sound, came back to me. I must be alone. How long will it take me to reach my destination? I needed water. The bright sun woke me next. Someone was inside the trailer.

“I will take the tape from your mouth and give you water and fruit. I see you were able to get your hands in front of you. You are not allowed to speak, not one word. I will put the tape back on and leave with the water and food. I’ll give you thirty minutes to eat your fruit, and then I will return to tape your mouth shut.”

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