himself, his smile still wide. He left the kitchen and made for the garage.
In the garage, Vincent found a chair and placed it in the shadowy corner opposite the exterior door and cabinets. He draped himself with a large moving blanket and just waited.
He heard the turning of the doorknob followed by a slight creak of the exterior door that came into the garage from outside. For a brief moment, the sunlight splashed into the garage as Noah slipped in and closed the door. He paused for a moment and looked at the door that led into the house. Seeing it was closed, he dashed over to the cabinet and tried to open it but found it locked. He looked around but saw nothing. On the opposite wall, a long built-in workbench spanned the length of the garage. Noah rushed over there and began to search for something that would help him break in. What he didn’t notice was just six feet away in the dark corner, Vincent sat quietly watching him.
“Oh, c’mon,” Noah lamented at not finding something.
Not able to contain himself any longer, Vincent said, “The keys would make it easier.”
Noah screamed and scurried back away from the bench. “Don’t hurt me.”
Vincent stood with his rifle slung across his body, holding a single crutch in the other.
Noah kept taking small steps backwards away from Vincent. “Please don’t hurt me.”
“Did you come to find the medicine you thought you took?”
“Yes,” Noah answered, his voice quivering.
Just behind him several small boxes sat in his way.
He took two more half steps away from Vincent and fell backwards over the boxes. He landed on his butt hard and yelped in pain and surprise.
Vincent approached, genuinely concerned for Noah.
“No, leave me alone.”
Vincent stopped and said in a reassuring voice, “I won’t hurt you. Trust me, I’m a Marine and I’m actually one of the good guys.”
Noah held up his trembling hands and begged, “Please don’t hurt me. I messed up. I got the wrong stuff and, um, my mom is so mad at me.”
Vincent held up his hands, his palms out and replied, “Noah? It’s Noah, right?”
Noah nodded.
“I won’t hurt you, I promise. I was wondering if you or your mother would come back. And what do you know, here you are.”
Noah scooted away and got back to his feet. He looked at Vincent; then out of the corner of his eye, he looked towards the exterior door.
“Go, you can run. I won’t chase you or hurt you, but you’ll just leave without the medicine you need. Or you can stay for a few minutes while I get you what you need.”
“You promise?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“You swear?”
“I already promised, but I’ll swear too if that’s necessary.”
Noah looked at Vincent apprehensively, but didn’t know what to do. He thought about making a run for it but was too frightened.
“Does your mother know you’re here?” Vincent asked as he hobbled over to the exterior door and opened it.
Noah didn’t answer.
Vincent stepped outside, turned and said, “Follow me.”
Noah took one cautious step after another until he was outside. He looked for Vincent but didn’t see him. He knew all he had to do was turn left and he’d be within a quick dash towards the gate. He thought about making that left turn but stopped when Vincent called out.
“Do you want the medicine or not?” Vincent called out from around the other corner. He stood next to one of the SUVs, which was covered with a thick tan car cover.
Noah looked at Vincent but hesitated.
Seeing how scared Noah was, Vincent tried to reassure him that he was safe. “Noah, I won’t hurt you, but if you feel nervous, I understand. How about this, I’ll get the medicine and put it in the bag you brought? Just toss it over here.”
Noah took off his pack and did as Vincent asked.
Vincent picked up the bag and laughed when he saw it was a superhero backpack. He imagined Noah wearing this to school or taking it with him on a sleepover at a friend’s. It reminded
In the garage, Vincent found a chair and placed it in the shadowy corner opposite the exterior door and cabinets. He draped himself with a large moving blanket and just waited.
He heard the turning of the doorknob followed by a slight creak of the exterior door that came into the garage from outside. For a brief moment, the sunlight splashed into the garage as Noah slipped in and closed the door. He paused for a moment and looked at the door that led into the house. Seeing it was closed, he dashed over to the cabinet and tried to open it but found it locked. He looked around but saw nothing. On the opposite wall, a long built-in workbench spanned the length of the garage. Noah rushed over there and began to search for something that would help him break in. What he didn’t notice was just six feet away in the dark corner, Vincent sat quietly watching him.
“Oh, c’mon,” Noah lamented at not finding something.
Not able to contain himself any longer, Vincent said, “The keys would make it easier.”
Noah screamed and scurried back away from the bench. “Don’t hurt me.”
Vincent stood with his rifle slung across his body, holding a single crutch in the other.
Noah kept taking small steps backwards away from Vincent. “Please don’t hurt me.”
“Did you come to find the medicine you thought you took?”
“Yes,” Noah answered, his voice quivering.
Just behind him several small boxes sat in his way.
He took two more half steps away from Vincent and fell backwards over the boxes. He landed on his butt hard and yelped in pain and surprise.
Vincent approached, genuinely concerned for Noah.
“No, leave me alone.”
Vincent stopped and said in a reassuring voice, “I won’t hurt you. Trust me, I’m a Marine and I’m actually one of the good guys.”
Noah held up his trembling hands and begged, “Please don’t hurt me. I messed up. I got the wrong stuff and, um, my mom is so mad at me.”
Vincent held up his hands, his palms out and replied, “Noah? It’s Noah, right?”
Noah nodded.
“I won’t hurt you, I promise. I was wondering if you or your mother would come back. And what do you know, here you are.”
Noah scooted away and got back to his feet. He looked at Vincent; then out of the corner of his eye, he looked towards the exterior door.
“Go, you can run. I won’t chase you or hurt you, but you’ll just leave without the medicine you need. Or you can stay for a few minutes while I get you what you need.”
“You promise?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“You swear?”
“I already promised, but I’ll swear too if that’s necessary.”
Noah looked at Vincent apprehensively, but didn’t know what to do. He thought about making a run for it but was too frightened.
“Does your mother know you’re here?” Vincent asked as he hobbled over to the exterior door and opened it.
Noah didn’t answer.
Vincent stepped outside, turned and said, “Follow me.”
Noah took one cautious step after another until he was outside. He looked for Vincent but didn’t see him. He knew all he had to do was turn left and he’d be within a quick dash towards the gate. He thought about making that left turn but stopped when Vincent called out.
“Do you want the medicine or not?” Vincent called out from around the other corner. He stood next to one of the SUVs, which was covered with a thick tan car cover.
Noah looked at Vincent but hesitated.
Seeing how scared Noah was, Vincent tried to reassure him that he was safe. “Noah, I won’t hurt you, but if you feel nervous, I understand. How about this, I’ll get the medicine and put it in the bag you brought? Just toss it over here.”
Noah took off his pack and did as Vincent asked.
Vincent picked up the bag and laughed when he saw it was a superhero backpack. He imagined Noah wearing this to school or taking it with him on a sleepover at a friend’s. It reminded
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