Midnight Surrender (Freedom Fighters Series Book 2) (2 page)

Bombing. War. Casualties. Injuries. It increased all around us, the war claiming more fatalities, more victims, and more innocent lives with every passing day. Refugees came pouring in to the militia hospital and I was overwhelmed and overworked, trying to help as much as possible. I spent extra time on the weekend, whenever I could break away. Alec indulged me, knowing it was futile to refuse me. I would have gone anyway.

One morning I was on the fifth floor again, helping triage new patients. Most of them had minor injuries, and many were hungry and dirty needing a place to get well and fed. The hospital provided that, never turning anyone away. The chaplain pleaded with the militia to allow sanctuary and the military had agreed reluctantly. The peace held but it was tentative.

After helping with the patients in triage, I was asked to check on patients in their rooms, offering fresh water, hot coffee, and other items as necessary to keep people comfortable. Warm blankets were needed in the hallways and waiting rooms. The cold outside seemed to seep in through the walls. I entered the C-wing of the hospital and started knocking on doors. It had been a busy morning. In the third room, I entered and stopped dead in my tracks.

Big Dog was laying in the bed. His arm was in a sling, bandaged up close to his side, and his head had bandages that were soaking through with blood, wrapped in layers that half hid his face. My mouth opened in surprise, not believing who I saw. He recognized me right away, his eyes darting to my belly and then back to my face.

“Lizzie! I thought you were kidnapped! How are you here? You’re pregnant? What’s going on Hun?” His words tumbled out in a rush and he winced, unable to hide the pain.

He was just as surprised as I was. Darren’s stories were all that he knew. I explained, in a hurry, anxious who might walk in through the door.

“Hi Big Dog. I’m not kidnapped…obviously. I got married and I’m having a baby. He is an officer…Alec. Remember?”

He nodded, slowly figuring it out. “Yes, the supplies. Are you ok?”

I walked to the bed slowly. “Yes, I am very happy. How are you? How is everyone?”

I looked around nervously. I needed to get out of here. Fast. This wasn’t good.

“We all survived the bombing but the last attack separated us. Darren found us a new place. It’s good for now, more primitive than we are used to but that can’t be helped. I got injured on a supply run and came here for a quick recovery. Darren will be happy to hear you are alive and well.” He told me, clearly not knowing the truth about how I left.

I almost panicked. My promise to Alec to leave if I saw anyone popped back into my head. I had to get out of this room, especially before something happened. I didn’t want Darren to know anything about me or where I was. It could put all of us in danger. I knew Darren would do something. He might try to kill Alec. Or worse, try to kill me.

I shook my head and backed slowly out of the room. It was already too late. Big Dog knew I was here. He would tell Darren when he saw him. What could I do to prevent it? The next time I saw Mal I would ask him to talk to Big Dog. Maybe I could stop Darren from finding me. I would leave Mal a note. For now, I had to go as quickly as possible.

I managed to exit the hospital and make it outside, my side aching with the fast speed I was walking. Relief washed through me as I realized I had made it without bumping into anyone else. I quickly crossed the street and started walking toward Alec’s office. He would want to know what happened right away. I could see his office window from the sidewalk.

In my hurry I neglected to pay attention to my surroundings. If I had, I might have been able to prevent or at least delay, my imminent capture. Of course, hindsight is twenty/twenty, and I was careless. My mind was on escape. Nothing else.

Leaves rustled in the bushes straight ahead. The noise should have clued me. In the amount of time it took for me to become surprised, a lone figure jumped in my path. Nearly colliding with me and grabbing my arm, he dragged me toward the side of the brick façade. One hand reached high enough to stroke my cheek.

I had run into the very person I dreaded seeing and had avoided for all these long months. The one who terrified me and haunted my dreams. The man who almost killed us both over the summer. The man that would never let me go. In an instant my whole body started shaking, fear making my eyes wide and I gasped.

“Hi Lizzie, long time no see.”

Darren.

Fear filled my stomach, icy and cold, the curling tendrils of ice lodged deep inside my core. I would not escape him this time. In his eyes I saw the hard and precarious edge he teetered on. It would not take much to push him over, and if that happened I doubt whether I could survive his wrath.

I backed against the brick wall, my hand clutching the cell phone inside my sweater pocket.

“Hi Darren,” I replied, my voice shaking a little. I hated that I let that little bit of vulnerability show through. He did not miss my reaction.

“Hmmm,” he answered.

His eyes darted to my stomach and my left hand, clearly seeing the diamond ring. They narrowed.

“I think you and I are overdue for a long chat.”

His voice was low and harsh, reverberating through my skull, slamming against my consciousness.

No. Oh God, no.

My eyes widened in horror. “I can’t go with you Darren. I’m needed here. I help refugees and people in need in this hospital. That’s how I help now.”

Darren walked over to me quickly, grabbing my upper arm.

“For all I know, you’re the one that informed the militia where our base was…or your husband. You’re coming with me.” His voice brooked no refusal.

“I would never do that. Neither would Alec. You’re wrong Darren. Please let me go,” I begged him, trying to be convincing.

I struggled to get out of his grasp but without luck. He held onto me, not letting go, his fingers tightening their hold.

“Lizzie, you are going to walk with me. You’re going to act completely normal. You’re not going to contact anyone or do anything stupid. Do you understand?” He asked, squeezing my arm.

“Ouch, yes, I understand. You don’t have to hurt me Darren. I’m not an imbecile,” I responded angrily.

He relaxed his grip but held on, nodding. I rubbed the feeling back into my upper arm. I was glad I had my cell phone. I would keep it hidden until I could use it. It was a last resort. The only means I had to call for help.

Alec was going to flip out when I didn’t show up this afternoon. I couldn’t even imagine his wrath. Darren was messing with the wrong person this time.

We made our way across the parking lot, not far from Alec’s office window, and around the townhouses. No one paid attention to us. People were taking walks and playing in the unseasonably warm day. I tried to make eye contact a few times but everyone was busy. I told myself not to panic.

I reached inside my pocket and hit the redial button, knowing it would dial Alec’s number. I heard the tiny buzz go off a couple of times and then silence. He had answered the phone. I was certain of it.

“Darren, where are you taking me? Please, just let me go. No one has to know you were ever here,” I said loudly.

“Shut up Lizzie. You are coming with me. We have much to discuss. Let’s get moving,” he told me gruffly.

“Stay away from me,” I warned.

“Now that’s not a way to greet an old friend is it?” Darren laughed lightly.

“I’ll scream,” I warned again.

A deep sinister laugh echoed in the still afternoon. “Go ahead. You think that will matter?”

“Alec will kill you if you hurt me,” I told him with certainty.

“I have no doubt his anger will lead him straight to us. Let’s go, and no funny business.”

“Darren, let go of me. Now!” I screeched.

“I said move, or you will be sorry,” his menacing tone struck fear in my heart.

“Lizzie!” A muffled voice yelled.

“What’s that? What have you done?” Darren stormed.

“Hello? Lizzie!” Uh-oh. Alec’s voice.

Darren heard it too. He reached inside my pocket and pulled out the phone.

“Alec!” I screamed, panic in my voice.

“Very clever Lizzie. Alec? Say goodbye. You’ll never see her again,” he promised, his voice menacing, then he seemed to think of something and smiled cruelly. “Hey lover boy,” Darren spoke through the phone, “come find your little prize. I’ll be waiting. But I would hurry…she’s in a delicate condition.”

Alec’s voice was angry and yelling. Darren took the phone and dropped it on the ground, smashing it into the concrete.

Horrible, still, aching, frightening silence.

Oh God.

I screamed at Darren again, telling him to let me go. Just let me go. Oh God please.

He grabbed me by the neck and shoved me roughly into the wall nearby. I gasped, my left side aching. Pain seared my body and I nearly collapsed.

“I would be careful if I were you, especially in your condition. Accidents can happen. Follow me and cooperate Lizzie. I don’t want to have to hurt you.” He brushed his finger along my cheek, like that small act of tenderness would make me forget his harsh and rough treatment.

Tears filled my eyes quickly. Blinking them back, I could see he still cared for me. His eyes betrayed it briefly before he grabbed my arm again and we walked away, toward the main gates. I could use that, somehow, to keep him from hurting me. I just had to figure out a way.

We left without incident, the lies Darren told the guards easily believed, and he led us into forest and away from the militia base. He never said a word or stopped. The pace he kept was quick and determined, I had no choice but keep up.

As I watched his back in front of me, a myriad of thoughts swirled in my head, not the least of which was how I was going to escape him. I had one solace, one comfort, one lifeline that rang in my head and echoed in my heart.

There was one person I could count on besides Alec.

Mal.

We walked for the next two hours until I couldn’t handle it anymore and I sat down on the ground. Darren finally stopped, glancing at me.

“I’m seven and a half months pregnant. I have to rest, please Darren. I need some water. I won’t make it,” I told him, panting and out of breath.

He handed me some water and a granola bar which I ate gratefully. I drank most of the water, feeling better after about fifteen minutes.

“How much farther is it? I’m exhausted,” I asked.

“It’s another two hours to the truck. Then we will drive to the base location. Can you make it?” Darren answered, his face stoic.

I nodded and stood, with great effort. My body was sore and weak. The baby kicked, probably upset with me for not eating and drinking enough. Just a little further…

I managed to make it to the truck. Once I was inside, there was plenty of room. I asked to lay down and I covered up with a blanket on an empty seat. I fell asleep instantly, completely exhausted, unable to keep my eyes open for even a minute.

It was dark when we arrived at their base. XXX must have been waiting for Darren’s return. I saw him approach the truck and Darren speaking to him in low tones. It looked almost like an argument. Maybe he was upset about my capture. I hoped so. The more people on my side, the better.

At Darren’s request, XXX picked me up and carried me into the compound. I was taken directly to Darren’s room and laid on his bed. It was late, after one in the morning. I took off my shoes and got under the covers. I fell asleep, thinking of Alec and missing him so much my chest ached.

The next morning I opened my eyes to Darren watching me, from across the room. I shrank away from the edge of the bed, wary of his intentions.

He seemed thoughtful but determined.

“I have a plan I think you should agree to.” He paused and stared at me until I acknowledged him. “The others think you were kidnapped and held against your will. I found you and brought you back. You are having my baby, conceived right before you escaped. This should buy your acceptance here. It is the only option if you and your baby are to be safe,” he informed me, his voice cold.

Fear held me in place. What would he do if I refused?

I had no choice. “It looks like that is my only option.”

“You’re going to have to be convincing. You are going to have to pretend that you love me.” At my frown he leaned forward, undaunted. “You will be staying here in this room. It is your new home for the duration of your stay.” He stood and walked closer. “Will you cooperate?” He asked, his voice was still hard and bitter.

It was more of a demand than a question.

I nodded. “It’s my only choice. I have to if I want to survive.”

His expression softened a little. This time when he spoke he was less harsh.

“I’m sorry for treating you so roughly. I hope you can forgive me.”

I stared at him like he was crazy. Forgive him? Hell no.

“This isn’t the way I wanted things to happen when we saw each other again. I’m surprised…to find you married and pregnant so quickly,” he admitted, clearing his throat.

What did I say to that? I remained quiet. He wasn’t expecting an answer. It was all rhetorical.

“Lizzie…do you love him?”

He might have thought he was fooling me but I remembered
everything
. His manipulations. His lies. How he beat and flogged me and nearly killed me after I returned to base with Mal, only to shoot at me and almost kill me again when I escaped with Alec. Even how he threatened to kill Alec in cold blood with a sniper rifle, simply because I wanted to escape him.

Darren was dangerous. He was crazy. An unpredictable and violent lunatic. A determined sociopath.

I wasn’t going to give him any ammunition against me or Alec. Nor would I cooperate and answer questions more than I needed to. He would get nothing extra from me. I raised my chin in defiance and remained silent. He was not surprised. I had stood up to him multiple times before this.

“I see. I hope you aren’t going to make things difficult. We have a group of refugees to convince. Come, let’s get breakfast.”

I got up, pulling on my shoes and braiding my hair. I had to go to the bathroom. Darren barely let me out of his sight. I practically had to go in front of him. It was ridiculous.

He held my hand when we entered the mess hall to eat. All eyes were on us, watching our interaction with great interest. Darren sat next to me and pulled me close, placing a kiss against my lips. I smiled at him affectionately. People went back to eating, convinced of our love, and oblivious to my suffering.

My heart broke right there.

I ate a lot of food, starving and dehydrated from yesterday. I took a cup of water and tea back to Darren’s room. Laying on the bed, I turned my back to him, the tears coming to my eyes despite my effort to control them.

“Lizzie? Please don’t cry. I’m not going to hurt you. Don’t you remember all those months ago, when I told you of my feelings? I love you,” he reminded me.

Like he loved Jamie, Ballard’s daughter, before he got her killed? How could he say that? So carelessly and callously declare something so intimate without meaning it at all?

Hurting me was nothing to him. He had done it easily at the militia base and I was pregnant. He did not care about my condition. If I made him angry he would hurt me again. Maybe worse next time.

I shook my head, the tears falling down my cheeks with greater speed. How long would I be stuck here, forced to be Darren’s lover? Pretending to be someone I wasn’t? I cried harder, until out of exhaustion, I fell asleep.

The next few days passed slowly, agonizing in its pace. I didn’t have much interaction with anyone except Darren. He didn’t allow me to go anywhere alone. I had to be chaperoned to the bathroom or the mess hall, nicknamed the pit, whenever I was hungry.

Darren told me little. The knowledge I had was gained by eavesdropping on his conversations with XXX. I knew Big Dog was back but he did not visit. I assumed that Mal and Donnovan were there but I heard nothing about them. It was like radio silence.

Darren tried to talk to me but I didn’t say much. Hurt and angry, my emotions were on overload. I would not engage him in any sort of way unless I had to. In his room, I kept to the bed and read books from his library to pass the time. Frustrated often, he would leave for hours. As a result I would be stuck in the room alone.

No one checked on me. No one asked if I was hungry, thirsty, or needed anything. The only time I spoke to Darren was when we were in front of others in public. He took advantage of the situation, kissing me and putting his hand on my belly, pretending affection.

I hated it.

I wondered if Alec would be able to find me. Was he coming already? How would he know where to go? What was he going to do? I had no idea if he would be able to find this place or not. Did he try to contact Mal? Would they hatch a rescue plan? What if he never came?

I decided that I needed to escape. It was my best option. The next time a supply run or something big happened, I would escape while Darren was away. It was a good plan. It probably would have worked. But Darren never left me for more than a few hours at a time. He skipped the supply runs. He stayed by my side, playing the role as a loving mate and father-to-be.

To make matters worse, I was under constant guard, twenty four hours a day. Armed refugee soldiers stood at their post outside my door and never left, except to switch. Darren informed everyone the guards were for my protection but who really believed that? Was there nobody who became suspicious or doubted his intent? No one who wondered why I was always behind lock and key?

Darren walked into the room the following morning after breakfast, looking angry and irritated. He paced back and forth across the hard floors, nearly forgetting I was there. I watched warily, hoping he would not vent at me.

“I have a meeting. One I think you should attend. Put down your book and follow me,” he ordered.

I slipped off the bed and cautiously followed behind, careful to keep a small distance. We ended up in a large conference room, surrounded by military posters, war bond advertisements, and old militia propaganda posters. We sat at the end of a long wooden table. The room was a startling white, walls and furniture alike. Sterile. Creepy. Cold.

Several minutes passed by.

When the doors at the other end of the room finally opened, I could not have been more surprised. My eyes widened and I could not stop the gasp that escaped my lips. Mal and Donnovan entered the room and stood before us.

“Lizzie!” Mal exclaimed, running to me and scooping me up in a bear hug.

I laughed. “How have you been Mal?”

“Good, long time no see.” He glanced at my belly. “I hope you are all right.”

He whispered the last part in my ear, too quiet for Darren to hear.

“No,” I whispered and then spoke louder. “I’ve missed you Mal.”

He slipped his arm around me and hugged me to his side, a protective gesture that seemed to bother Darren.

“That’s enough catching up. Who is this Donnovan I needed to meet?”

Donnovan looked uncomfortable but managed to act like he never saw me before.

“I gave you the details, remember?” Mal reminded him.

Darren’s eyes narrowed. “Tell me again.”

Mal stayed by my side. “I found him beaten and almost passed out. He needed help and medical attention. He begged to speak to the leader.”

Darren turned his attention to Donnovan. “What do you want?”

“The militia tried to kill me. I hate them. I want to join the refugees and give them serious payback and all the hell I can,” he answered.

Darren seemed to ponder his words. “Why should I trust you?”

“You probably shouldn’t. I wouldn’t. But I am offering a trade until I prove myself. I know military secrets, schematics, plans and information you will need to defeat the militia. Let me help and I promise you will not regret it.”

Nobody spoke for a minute.

“What has he been doing for the last week?” Darren asked, his eyes never leaving Donnovan’s face.

“Patrols and basic training. Nothing else without your approval,” Mal replied, his face carefully blank.

Darren nodded. “Why does the militia want you dead?”

“I found out they were experimenting on their soldiers, sneaking drugs into the food, and putting surveillance equipment everywhere. They nearly killed me when I threatened to expose their lies and deception,” Donnovan told him, bitterness in his voice.

He must have been convincing because Darren smiled. “I think we can find common ground. But let me make myself clear. If you harm anyone here you will be punished. If you are spying for the enemy you will be punished. If I find any cause to doubt your one hundred percent dedication to the refugees, you will be dealt with quickly and severely.”

“You have my word,” Donnovan promised.

“Good, because your first test is now.”

He gestured to one of the guards and he disappeared out the door. A few minutes later he returned with two militia soldiers, one of whom was Parker. The young soldier who watched the front militia gates. I knew him. He was only a kid, maybe seventeen at most.

Without warning several refugee guards came in with baseball bats and started to beat the militia soldiers. Terror gripped me and I opened my mouth to scream.

“Watch and learn Donnovan. Your fate will be worse if you betray me.”

Mal spun around and pulled me to his chest, holding me tight. One hand held me close at my lower back, the other cradled my head, covering the ear that was exposed to the air. I buried my face into his shoulder, unable to witness the carnage.

“Don’t watch Lizzie. Think of something else, anything, but don’t listen,” Mal whispered.

I tried to ignore the sound of thumps and smacks meeting flesh, the sound of blood squirting and dripping onto the ground, and the groans and yelps of pain coming from the militia soldiers. Oh God.

Trembling, I managed to distance myself from the horror unfolding around me. In my mind I ran. Far away. My parents, my sister Lydia, my life before the war, being a little girl, happy and safe, and the memories flooded me. It all flashed in my head, a photo album of reminiscences, stored in my mind. I kept my face buried in Mal’s chest and let his strong arms keep me from collapsing on the ground.

All at once it was quiet. Deathly quiet. I knew at once they were gone. Done. Murdered. They did not have a chance at defending themselves. They were not prisoners or captives. They were simply killed, annihilated, destroyed, to promote an agenda of loyalty and fear. That was how Darren governed now. This was how he led the refugees.

“Be careful Lizzie. I’ll come for you when I can,” Mal promised, “don’t give up.”

His words gave me hope. It kindled, renewed. I would be rescued. Mal would make sure of it.

“Take Donnovan and make sure he is supplied with what he needs. You will have a mission soon. Dismissed,” Darren ordered, his voice hard.

The refugee guards removed the bodies and I looked away, toward the wall. I would not remember Parker that way. He might have been a militia soldier but he was young and innocent, manipulated by forces much greater than he realized. His death was tragic. No good would come from this senseless murder. It sent the wrong message. I could only hope Darren buried the bodies…and not something else viler.