Page 401 of Eternal
“Safe Passage Anti-Trafficking Unit. How can we help?”
Azra’s voice was calm, careful. “This is... a concerned citizen. We found a group of children, about twenty, outside an old church in Las Vegas. They’re safe now but need immediate help.Medical attention, shelter, transportation. Lots of vehicles. It’s urgent.”
There was a pause. “Can you give us the location?”
She gave the address, keeping her tone calm.
“We’re dispatching a team immediately,” the voice said. “Stay with the children and keep them calm until we arrive.”
Azra hung up and looked at me, eyes dark but resolute. “They’ll come. We have to hold on until then.”
I put my arm around her, and exhaled.
After what felt like an eternity, the distant rumble of engines broke the wait. Headlights appeared. The cars rolled slowly toward us, vans, SUVs. Some of the kids, worn out and shaking, had already curled up on the grass, waiting.
Azra knelt beside a small girl whose white dress was stained with dirt and fear. The child’s lashes fluttered, but she didn’t wake. Azra’s fingers gently brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek, her touch careful, almost scared. Then, she looked up at me, eyes heavy but steady.
“At least we saved more tonight,” she said quietly.
“You did that. I’m only trying to keep up.”
Her lips twitched into a tired smile.
“Let’s get up, but stay far enough away. We can watch, but not be seen. Not now.”
I nodded, took her hand, and together we helped the kids sit up, softly whispering reassurances.
“Hey, listen to me. People are coming to help you now. They’ll get you food, clothes, and doctors. You’re safe here. We’re staying right with you.”
A tiny boy, no older than six, suddenly shuffled forward. His bare feet were dirty, and his eyes wide with something between hope and disbelief. He reached out and grabbed the hem of Azra’s blood-stained dress, then tugged gently on her pant leg.
“Where are we going?”
Azra knelt down slowly, careful not to startle him. She brushed a tangled lock of hair from his forehead, her fingers trembling a little. On his wrist, a worn bracelet with a tiny silver star caught the moonlight.
“Somewhere safe,” she said softly, locking eyes with him. “You don’t have to be scared anymore.”
He blinked, then shyly held up his wrist. “Thank you, ma’am.”
Azra’s eyes welled up. She pulled him close into a gentle hug, holding him like she wished she could hold away every nightmare he’d ever known.
The boy’s lips twitched into a small smile. “Are we superheroes now?”
Azra’s smile grew warmer. “Yeah. Superheroes with a secret mission.” Another child giggled nearby. “But shh,” Azra whispered, leaning close. “We can’t let anyone know we’re here. It’s our secret game. We’re the heroes, but we can’t be famous.”
The kids nodded, some giggling, some squeezing each other’s hands tightly.
“Promise you won’t tell anyone, okay?” she added softly.
“Promise!” they all said together.
We eased away from the group, staying out of sight behind a cluster of thick desert bushes. From here, we had a clear view of the church’s garden, now alive with urgent activity. Men and women in uniforms, rescue workers, medical staff, social services, they all fanned out across the grounds, gently gathering the children, handing out blankets and water.
I slid my arm around Azra’s shoulders, pulling her close. Her body was trembling with fatigue and something deeper, grief, anger, maybe a flicker of hope.
“Okay,” I murmured, “Let’s go home. You’ve done more than enough tonight. Now I’m taking care of you.”
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