As Joseph drives to Southcrest Community Hospital, the road makes him more worried about his family’s trip to the farm. There’s a heavy traffic because people are relocating away from Mississippi. Joseph’s mind is full of emotions. He is worried about his family, but he also knows that his patients need him.
“Should I go back?” It was the words that came out of his mouth.
With unfamiliarity, he was about to turn the wheels when his phone rang. He put in his wireless earphone and continued driving.
“Doctor Brave speaking.” Joseph talked while waiting for the other line to respond.
“Hi, Doctor Brave. It’s Dr. Carlton. I am sorry to bother you, are you free to speak right now?”
“Hi, Doctor. Sure, what can I do for you?”
“Well, I am currently sick, and I don’t think I can attend my patients as of the time being. I know it’s too much to ask, but can you give me a hand on my other patients please?” Dr. Carlton sincerely asked.
“Sure Dr. Carlton. I’ll get their records, and check them today. Please get well soon. The hospital needs you.” Joseph was hesitant at first, but he thought if he’s on Dr. Carlton’s shoes.
“I will. Thank you so much Doctor Brave. Take care.” They both hang up. Joseph forgets about his plan of returning to their home. He continued driving until he reached the hospital. He parked his car, go straight to his clinic to drop his bag, and prepared his medical tools. Joseph then go to the hospital’s mini chapel before making his rounds to the patients.
Maxine feels miserable leaving their home in Mississippi because it has their memories built with time. All their ups and down as a family is in there. She’s unsure if they can return to their house because rioters can ruin it anytime soon, but she hopes that it can give Joseph protection he needs while they are apart.
They are on their way to the farm in Humvees that is almost a five-hour drive from their home. After two hours of driving, the kids felt the need to use a bathroom. Maxine pulled over to the next gasoline station the moment she saw it. Upon checking, a few unfamiliar people were walking the street and thought that they’re harmless. The two boys are responsible enough for peeing alone, so she’s confident to use the women’s bathroom.
The boys were waiting outside the comfort rooms when Maxine came out. Then they all walked towards the auto. As Maxine opened the door of the vehicle, a man suddenly appeared from behind that has been hiding at the back of the car. Maxine and the kids didn’t notice the intruder then he pulled Maxine’s hand. The intruder twisted her arms to her back, and point the Glock G19 on her head.
“Mommy!!” The two boys shouted at the top of their lungs.
“Shut your mouth, or I will pull the trigger!” The intruder threatened them.
“What do you want? We have foods, money. I can give it to you. Just don’t hurt my sons.” Maxine tried to remain calm, but the adrenaline caused her to tremble.
“I don’t need your money. I need you to drive!” The man ordered.
“I will drive. Please don’t hurt us. Not my kids.” Maxine pleaded. The intruder opened the car and pushed Maxine into the driver’s seat. He quickly placed himself at the back to point the gun to Maxine. The boys immediately went inside the car. Bobby beside her mother, while the youngest son beside the intruder.
Everyone is shaking, afraid and utterly astounded. Maxine knows that she has to do something. She recalls everything about self-defense, the news she had written and the gun that Joseph gave, but she has no idea how to get it because Maxine dropped it inside the glovebox. She feels that the man is taking them as a hostage, and she started praying for their refuge. Maxine heard on the news that some people kidnap others to get ransoms or eat them alive. Bobby was distraught while the youngest son was crying.
“Where are we going?” Maxine tried to ask the intruder.
“Just follow my lead.” The intruder replied as he instructed Maxine.
“Shut up young man, or I will blow your mother’s head.” The intruder shouted at youngest son as he continued to cry.
Maxine drove at full speed until an explosion behind the car’s wheel saved them from being in the place where the intruder wants them to be. Fortunately, Maxine had her senses to push the break before they hit the post.
“What happened!?” The intruder shouted.
“Flat tires,” Maxine replied.
“Get out of the car if you want to be alive.” He ordered to them.
Maxine went out of the car and instructed her kids to do the same. She was desperate to save their lives. Maxine pushed the man and aimed to kick his groin, but she missed. The intruder got hurt a little, then Maxine started to scream and run towards her sons. The man got the chance to stand up and pulled Maxine’s hair even before she could reach her sons.
The intruder slapped her face followed by a punch on her stomach twice then she fell to the ground. When he got the chance, the man pointed the Glock G19 at her. For a moment, Maxine thought that it was the end of her life, so she closed her eyes and surrendered her destiny to the Almighty. The intruder was about to pull the trigger until they heard a gunshot.
With blurry vision, Maxine saw Bobby already beating the man with a baseball bat. Bobby hit the man countless of times after the intruder got hurt. Every hit was full of anger and fear. Bobby didn’t stop beating the man until he stopped moving and was bathing in his blood. When Bobby’s senses came back, he felt weak and fell on the road as he was gasping for breath. His younger brother, on the other hand, was crying while holding the .380 ACP.
Bobby’s hands, the bat, and clothes have splashes of blood. The youngest son was shocked that he fired a shot. He was aiming for the head but ended up on the hip because he couldn’t handle the gun’s pressure. That was the time when Bobby ran towards the intruder and hit him to death.
Maxine tried her best to stand up and run towards her kids.
“Hush… Hush baby. It’s alright. We are safe now.” She kept on repeating those words to her sons. Maxine didn’t stop, with little knowledge about fixing tires, she tried her luck to replace the tire with all her strength. She’s so thankful that Joseph planned their trip so well that he was able to put in necessary tools and extra wheel on the car. For the first time, she was also thankful that a gun saved their lives.
She successfully replaced the tire and continued their journey. None of them was talking, and everyone was still frightened. However, they have no choice but to keep on moving. Maxine was so worried that the incident can cause trauma to her sons. She didn’t care if the Police Officers find that dead man on the road, he cares more about her sons. They don’t deserve any of this.
CHAPTER THREE
Joseph was having a busy day in the hospital, without the knowledge that an intruder almost took the lives of his family. He just finished operating his second patient that morning just in time for their lunch meeting. In the conference room, the Southcrest Community Hospital Committee was already waiting. Unlike before, there were a lot of empty seats because other Doctors have moved out of the town. There were just a few of them who are willing to sacrifice for the sake of their responsibility.
As Joseph entered the conference room, he sat next to Dr. Tommy Ames, one of the seniors of the hospital, and the only remaining General Surgeon besides him and Dr. Carlton. Then there were Mr. Jobs and some more doctors. It was noontime, yet everyone looks weary. The number of patients coming in of the hospital doubled since the riot has started, and it outnumbered the few doctors left.