The Second Shot: Chapter 2

I go to my mom to kiss her on the cheek and as I pull away she pulls me back, so as to whisper into my ear, "I love you son. Promise me that you'll keep Max and Susan save and," she stops. Reaching into her breast pocket she pulls out a small tin, presses it into my hand, and closes it. "This tin has helped this family through hard times. Open it only went you truly are in danger." I feel her hot tears streaming down my neck and her grip loosen as I pull away again.

I grab Susie's arm and take Max from my mom's lap walking away from my parents. Little did I know that I would not be seeing them for a very long time. Pushing such thoughts from my mind and continue to the staircase despite Susie's insistent whining.

"George, where are we going? Why are leaving mom and dad? Can you believe what that Mr. Bolton said? Do you think he could really help us?" she kept on asking. I remained silent until when we were nearing the staircase she asked one too many questions, "Why did Dad tell us to flee?"

"You know what Susie! I don't know! This is all one big mystery, and I hate to break it to you, but I am just as clueless as you are right now!" I blurted out, my lips seething with rage. She stopped moving at all, then suddenly her face turns red and eyes begin to water. For I moment I was content with her bawling, let alone feeling bad for what I had said.

Though I freeze in a wave of sudden guilt. I know that I have always worked to keep my family in order with my parent's always working late, which had put a ton of bottled-up stress on my shoulders, but she had taken a big load too, for an eight-year-old.

I started, overwhelmed with guilt, "Susie, I'm so sorry I didn't--"

I was cut off by the sound of Chancellor Bolton coming over the speakers again, "Ladies and gentleman, I have been informed that to keep this democracy you all must come down here to vote. On the ballot will be myself, Quincy R. Bolt and the option to oppose me for someone else. So at this time I ask you to come down to the stadium field."

For a moment Susie and I both look back but remembering our parent's warning continue to the very top. Looking over the edge I spot the fire stairs between here and there the rest of stairs has eroded away leaving a twelve foot gap. I give Susie a glance and she tosses a concerned look back spotting in too. Though we both now stare intently at Max, who gawks back in a way that makes me stifle a laugh.

"What's so funny?" Susie inquired.

"Nothing really. I just miss I could be that young and carefree again," I responded vaguely, while drifting off in self-reflection. Shaking my head to focus I continue, "So how are we going to do this?"

"You're asking me?" she says in a slight shock. "Well I guess we could um... I've got nothing."

Jumping up on to the ledge I try to imagine rationally leaping off the perch, even if my parents had told me to. I crouch down and hang my feet off the concrete monolith trying to judge how I am right now. Suddenly, I feel a rush of fear when looking straight down. I buck backwards into Susie's open arms and her head just inches from my face smirks at me.

"Somebody afraid of heights big guy?" she cracks at me with a big grin. Though her joy is short lived as the loudspeakers come to life once more.

"Security, get the three children attempting to escape the arena there must be killed as well!" screams Chancellor Bolton. A gasp erupts from the crowd and shots begin to go off. Down below I see people dropping to the grass like flies and in the distance a bulky guard is sprinting up the stairs. Knowing that I still have a minute or two I lift Susie and Max on to the ledge slowly.

"Susie," I say to her. "I need to trust you to hold Max here. What ever you do don't think about going back inside the stadium. Who ever they are, these are terrible people and down there," I gesture below, "they are doing terrible things. Good luck." I fake a smile and with the hunk of a man just yards away I grab Susie and with gunshots in my wake, jump into midair.
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Hitting the ground, I feel sudden pain rack my body. After the initial shock, I jump up knowing that we had not yet escaped our captors. Pulling Max and Susie up with me, we stagger forwards and slowly break into a run. We all try to stay together, linking arms but I just end up tripping over Susie's big feet. Turning the corner, I hear the squeaking of wheels as a sleek, black limo races onto the sidewalk.

"This..." I pant, hands on knees. "Should be us!" I say softly between breaths. Now, three large men jump out of the still moving vehicle and shove us in. They state in burly voices, "We are here to protect you, but for your own protection you must sleep."

They now all take a cloth from their suit pockets and throw one over each of our faces. Recognizing this scene from an old James Bond film, I try to push the man's arms away, but they seems to peg me to the seat with superhuman strength. Being unable to resist his grip, I begin my trip to slumberland. My blink becoming slow and long, I am lost in the strong smell of chloroform.