Warning:
This episode does contain gun violence
I said nothing. Bryan turned to introduce the rest of the men. There was a total of ten men, including Bryan, Sly, Arkon, and Tiger. Bryan introduced Rah, Ruben, Hank, Salton, Leo, and Ignacio. Rah, Ruben, and Hank stood out the most to me. Salton was a plain man from Arabic descent; Leo was a skinny Asian and Ignacio was a heavy Latino. I couldn’t tell you any more about them now. Whatever I noticed then has long left my memory. Yet Rah, Ruben, and Hank are set in my memory.
I had two impressions of Rah when I first saw him. One was of a priest or monk and the other of a jungle cat. There was something about the way he held himself that seemed sleek and agile. Yet his demeanor was calm and reflective. His build was medium with a height of five-eleven. With light tan skin, I almost thought he was American or European until I saw the structure of his face. Based on his jaw line and nose, I took a guess that he descended from Egyptian royalty. That sounds like a weird assumption, but Rah had a regal-ness to his strong nose and jaw line that reminded me of drawings of ancient Egyptian kings. His eyes were slightly hood, dark brown with flecks of black under dark lashes and brows. There was intelligent humor in his eyes, but what stood out were the clean, precise tattoos around both of his eyes like permanent make-up. The graceful lines of his tattoos made the Eye of Rah and the Eye of Horus. There was something penetrating about his calm stare. His mouth was full and round, but small. The dimple under his nose was deep and noticeable. Rah kept his head shaved and had a light shadow of stubble on his face.
As our eyes met, Rah inclined his head slightly in a minute bow, acknowledging me politely. Standing next to him, Ruben stood in stark contrast to the calm, contemplative Rah. He appeared to be a mass of energy, which radiated off him. Standing at six-one, he had a thick, muscular build that showed he spent a great deal of time either at the gym or doing manual labor. Ruben had dark brown hair cut short, only about two to three inches long. At the moment, his broad, masculine jaw was clenched, and it made his lips look like a soft pink heart. A two-day old mustache and goatee lined his upper lip and chin. His nose fit his very traditional Caucasian face and his brown eyebrows were dipping together in his foul mood over his startling green eyes.
There was something about him the made me feel he was cocky to the point of egotistical and the grin he flashed me, crooked and suggestive, when I looked at him confirmed my opinion. Cracking his knuckles compulsively, Ruben flexed his hands, drawing my attention to them. Large and rough, his hands made my hands look petite and delicate. I could see faded tattoos on his right knuckles and biceps. While I was curious as to what they were, I didn’t take the time to look more closely. Ruben appeared to be the “bad boy” that most women went for, not breath taking handsome, but rugged and masculine. Sniffing, I turned my nose up a bit and moved my gaze to Hank, trying to show Ruben I was not impressed by him.
Hank, again, was very different from the other two men. He was very tall, way over six feet, with a thick build. Simple brown eyes that were full of expression sat in a long, almost square face. Possessing a heavy brow line and a square jaw, Hank reminded me of a large Neanderthal. It wasn’t that Hank was ugly; he was just very average and big. Soon as I saw him, I had the feeling he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. Shifting uncomfortably, Hank watched Summer, whose back was too him. Compulsively, he licked his lips and stared unabashed. If I didn’t label him as a Neanderthal, the next closest thing would be Lenny from Mice or Men. There was something country about him with his shaggy brown-red hair and farmer tanned skin. He had to be the worse poker player.
“I would say it’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said after the introductions. “But it isn’t.”
A few of the men smirked at me.
“Let us go make ourselves comfortable. Standing in the kitchen is silly unless we are going to eat,” Bryan said, growing bored.
The person behind me, Ignacio, shoved me forward. Giving him a death glare, I walked forward freely, following Bryan into the family room. Sitting on the couch next to Summer, I touched her hand. Her skin was clammy from fear. Smiling reassuringly at her, I squeezed her hand. Giving me a watery smile, she tried to put on a brave face. I could only image how scared I looked. Arkon sat next to me, plopping onto the couch lazily. Shocked, I looked at him, but he ignored me, holding a book. Without a pause, Arkon opened the book to a marked page and began to read. He didn’t look at me once. The rest of the men settled around the room. A few wandered off to explore the house. An hour later, Peter arrived home. Bryan forced me to the front door, where I had to wave and smile at Hunter’s mom. Bryan stayed hidden, his gun pointed at Summer. Once Peter was at the door, I greeted him, my vision blurring.
“What’s wrong, Eri?” he asked me in his small voice, picking up on my emotions.
His wide earth brown eyes looked at me from his small round face. Peter’s hair was a mess from his baseball helmet, so I attempted to smooth it before he came in the house. He still had baby soft skin. Grinning at me, Peter exposed his missing teeth. He had only just begun losing his baby teeth and it made his grin toothy and adorable. Yet Peter had always had an adorable smile. His smile was mischievous and clever, enhanced by the deep dimples in his cheeks.
“We have guests,” I told Peter calmly. “You need to behave and stay close to me until Mom and Dad get home. Okay?”
“Okay, Eri,” Peter agreed, but seemed confused.
I let him inside and he stopped seeing Summer with Bryan next to her. His eyes went wide, and he grabbed onto my waist instinctively.
“Eri!” he cried out. “That man has a gun!”
“I know…I know…Shhh…he isn’t going to hurt us long as we behave. Okay?” I instructed Peter, hating that I was lying to him.
I had no idea what was going to happen to us. I could only pray that I was right.
“Your sister is right Peter,” Bryan said, his voice and eyes kind as he looked at Peter. “We have no intentions of hurting any of you. We just need you to be good while we wait for your parents. Can you do that for me?”
Silently, Peter nodded his head. Carefully I led him back to the family room and sat down on the couch. Bryan released Summer and she followed on my heels. She sat next to the couch’s arm rest and I placed Peter between us. Arkon hadn’t moved from his spot, absorbed in his book. Scooting close to Peter, I made sure there was plenty of room between Arkon and I. Trying to keep a sense of normalcy, I took Peter’s backpack and opened it up. Grabbing his homework, I talked quietly to him as I helped him complete his nightly assignment. Peter’s eyes kept darting nervously to the men, so I kept my voice kind and strong.
“You are very good with children,” Sly told me after a while.
“Excuse me?” I asked startled.
“You are very good with children,” he repeated, a lazy smile on his face.
“No…Peter is just my brother, so I am good with him.”
“And modest. Both are good qualities.”
Sly, whose long lashes made him look half asleep, watched me as I thought about my response. I had a feeling that Sly saw a lot more than people realized.
“Thank you,” I replied lamely and turned my attention back to Peter.
A few hours later my parents arrived. Bryan signaled for Arkon, who sighed and laid down his book before standing. They went to the kitchen to greet my parents. Ruben stared at Summer and me, his eyes calculating something. Tiger crashed next to me, grinning goofily.
“Don’t worry,” Tiger whispered. “You all will be fine. Just how this has to go.”
“How what has to go?” I hissed back, my voice tight.
“Introductions and establishing our relationship. Bryan just doesn’t want any confusion or mistakes.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You will soon. Don’t worry.”
Patting me in a brotherly fashion on the shoulder, Tiger continued to grin. Leaning back, he closed his eyes as if he were going to take a nap. My parents’ laughter reached my ears and then the sound of a key in a lock. Closing my eyes, I hugged Peter too me. The door opened and my parents stepped inside.
“What the hell?” my dad’s deep voice exclaimed.
“Henry,” my mother gasped.
“Please remain calm, Mr. and Mrs. Lee. Your children are just in the other room. Let’s set a good example for them and follow me. Please hand your cellphones to Arkon.”
“Why should we?” my dad’s stubborn voice inquired.
“Because otherwise things will be less civilized, and I’d hate for that to happen with children present.”
The threat in his voice was not lost on my parents.
“Henry, let’s do as they ask,” my mother begged shakily.
A grunt was my dad’s only response. The sound of metal clacking together told me that my parents had given Arkon their phones. Footsteps sounded as they all walked to the family room. When my mother saw us, she covered her mouth in horror. Resisting the urge to run to us, my mother looked at Bryan, fear etched in her every muscle. Anger boiled in my dad, repressed but present.
“Sit,” Bryan told them, pointing to the love couch that had been left open.
My mother clearly wanted to sit with us, her children, but that wasn’t an option. Taking a seat, my mother stared at us, while my dad stared at Bryan.
“What is this about?” my dad finally snapped.
“Henry…” my mother warned.
Ignoring her, he pressed on.
“What is the meaning of this? Why are you here and holding my children at gun point?”
“We are here, Henry,” Bryan said sternly, “about the future.”
“What does that mean?”
“They are planning on taking over our house,” Summer squeaked.
Everyone looked at her. Blushing, Summer said nothing else.
“What?” my mother gasped.
“That is actually true, in a way,” Bryan smiled kindly at Summer. “Clever girl.”
“What do you mean?” my dad growled.
“Your family has been chosen to home us. It is a great honor and…”
“Great honor?” my dad spat. “Is this some kind of sick joke?”
“No, Henry, this is not a joke. This is a very serious matter. Your family has been specifically chosen for our movement. You are to house and feed us while telling no one of our existence. You will be financially compensated, of course.”
“And what if I refuse?”
My dad always had a short temper. At that moment his face was reddening, and I could see the infamous vein in his neck. Bryan remained cool and collected. Without saying a word, Bryan lifted the gun and shot it. The bullet flew between Summer’s and my heads, missing both of us both by inches. Stifling a scream, my mother began to cry. The color drained from my dad’s face; his lips pressed into a thin line. Peter, who still sat between Summer and me, was so small that he had not been in danger. Summer and I found that we couldn’t speak. Surprisingly the gun made little noise. Looking at the gun, I saw Bryan had screwed a silencer on at some point in his conversation with my parents. None of the men appeared bothered or surprised. All of them acted as if nothing had happened.
“I think my point is clear,” Bryan said somberly. “You will house us, feed us, and protect us. There is no refusing or negotiations.”
“Please, do not hurt my children,” my dad said, his voice holding the smallest of quivers. “They are just babies.”
“No harm will come to any of your family if you follow our rules. I promise you that.”
“Why are you doing this?” my mother sobbed, crying silently.
“We are a very small portion of a group called the Reformers. We are here to help save the carcass of this country. To do so we need housing and protection until the time is right,” Bryan explained slowly.
“The Reformers? I have never heard of you,” my mother said.
“That is not surprising. We have been working quietly for a long time. Your government knows about us, which is all that matters. We had hoped not to involve civilians, but your government has made its choice. And now you have yours. Do you agree to our terms?”
“You are asking us to commit treason,” my dad hissed, his anger flaring only a little.
“I am asking you to make a simple choice. Your family or your government.”
The answer was plain on my dad’s face, even though he refused to speak. Bryan nodded in understand.
“Good. Then we can proceed.”
Waving his hand, Bryan signaled his men. They stood, grabbing Summer, Peter and me by the arm. Standing my parents protested as we called out in discomfort.
“You said you wouldn’t harm them!” my dad protested.
“And we won’t. They are simply going to be escorted to their rooms so we can talk in private. Such discussions are not for children,” Bryan said rationally.
The men who held us began to take us away.
“Wait one moment,” Bryan said, holding his hand up.
Turning to face us, Bryan looked us each in the eyes.
“What has happened today and what will happen in the future is a complete secret,” he said gravely. “You are not allowed to tell a single soul. If you do, we will kill your whole family and anyone you have told. Do you understand?”
We nodded in unison.
“These men are not only your guests, but your superiors. You will do as your told and do not think that them asking is the men giving you options. They are merely being polite. You will tend their every need. You will not cause trouble. If you do there will be punishments. You serve us and only us. Any questions you ask me. If you upset them, I will not intervene in their punishments. Learn what is required of you and keep your mouths shut. Go.”
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