Ellyssa scrubbed her face and arms, then dried them. As she ran a soft-bristled brush through her tangled hair, Woody left and returned a moment later with a clean pair of camo pants and a black T-shirt.
“I’ll go across the hall,” he said, handing her the clothes. He shut the door behind him.
As soon as she exchanged her filthy, stiff clothes with the fresh ones, Ellyssa felt better, more calm and relaxed. There was still much to be done, but the task didn’t seem as hopeless. Woody was right. His contacts would prove to be useful.
A knock sounded on the door. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
Woody opened the door, and the scent of food followed. Ellyssa’s stomach voiced its outrage.
Laughing, Woody grabbed her hand and pulled her into the hallway. “Let’s eat.”
They entered the kitchen just as Sarah opened the back door.
“Have all you want,” the old female said, indicating the bowls on the table. “I’m going to fetch Tim.”
Ellyssa sat down at the table and glanced at Woody.
He plopped a spoonful of potatoes on his plate. “Make yourself at home,” he said, grabbing a chicken thigh.
She helped herself to the creamy potatoes and selected a piece of chicken. She took a bite and flavor exploded in her mouth. The seasoned bird was juicy and delicious, and the potatoes were buttery. She devoured everything on her plate, leaving only a few crumbs.
The back door opened and Sarah entered, followed by her husband, who wore service industry attire. Tim was a burly man with a rounded stomach, huge jowls, and a friendly face. Except for the beard he sported, he was hairless, including his eyebrows. His head was as shiny as a polished doorknob. He lit up when he saw Woody.
“Son, how’ve you been?” he asked, gripping Woody’s hand and shaking vigorously. “And who is this pretty girl?”
Ellyssa, once again, found herself blushing. Woody wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
“This is Ellyssa. She’s new to the community.”
Tim eyed her for a moment, sizing her up. “I see.” He paused before holding out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Ellyssa.”
Although he gripped her hand firmly, Tim didn’t shake it as vigorously as he had Woody’s. Maybe because she was a female, or maybe the man didn’t quite trust her.
“Nice to meet you, too, sir.”
“No need for formalities. We’re all friends. Just call me Tim.” He glanced at Woody. “What brings you here? I hope things are all right in the community?”
Woody’s face fell. “We just need to make the train.”
“Why the rush?” Tim asked, pulling on his beard.
“Listen, I don’t want to involve you any more than we have to.”
“I understand. One o’clock is cutting it close. You’re lucky Sarah came out when she did, I was just about to head out. I have a delivery to make. You can be part of it.”
Based on her upbringing, and her father’s betrayal, trust was something easier said than given, even after staying within the little community. Ellyssa couldn’t chance the possible consequences, not with Rein’s life at stake. With ease, she slipped into Sarah’s mind, then Tim’s. Guilt immediately followed. How she hated that emotion. Neither of them had ulterior motives. They were willing to help just as they’d done for years and years.
Without another word, Tim opened the back door and led them onto a wooden porch. A beautiful back yard stretched behind the house. Large apple and peach trees, still bearing harvestable fruit, reached toward the sky, and fall blossoms fragranced the air. A rock path led from the porch to the garage.
Tim led them into the garage where a cargo van waited. Shipping crates were stacked against one wall, while the other had a long table covered with labels and documents.
Rubbing his hands together, Tim looked around at the different containers. “Yes, that will do nicely.” He placed his hands on his hips in satisfaction.
“Will they not get suspicious?” asked Ellyssa, her tone monotonous. She hated the sound of her voice, but she couldn’t help it. Apprehension kept sneaking around in her and she needed to focus, not worry.
Pursing his lips, Tim gave her a hard stare. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
Wary, Ellyssa hesitated a brief moment before answering, “No. Why?”
“The way you speak and your accent, both are dead giveaways. From The Center?”
She saw no reason to lie. “Yes. How did you know?”
“Sarah and I have been helping Renegades for more years than I can remember. You’re not the first I’ve met from The Center.”
Although Ellyssa had suspected the possibility of others escaping, Jeremy’s mother for instance, the thought of them crossing Tim and Sarah’s path surprised her. “You have met others?”
“Of course. Guess you haven’t heard about anyone running away though, have you?”
“No.”
“And you never will,” Tim stated with conviction as he crossed the room to a rectangle-shaped crate. He lifted the lid. “Your chariot.”
Ellyssa peeked inside the crate. The inside was lined with packing material. A comfortable ride, maybe, but one she wasn’t going to take. One thing she’d been taught was never to let herself be trapped. Always have an escape route. Shaking her head, she stepped back. “There must be another way.”
“Not unless you plan to walk. Take a look inside here,” he continued. “There is a latch that will let you out if the need arises.”
Tim fingered the release mechanism. A simple set up, one pull of the lever, and the lock popped open. That made her feel a little better, but her flesh still crawled when she thought about being locked up for the few hours. What if they piled stuff on top of her box? She suppressed a shudder and pushed the thought out of her mind.
“It’s very important for you to stay still. No moving. No talking. You understand?”
“Yes,” she said. She sounded more confident than she felt.
He moved to another crate and lifted the lid. “This is how it works. I’ll take you to the warehouse, get the rest of my load, then take you to the station. You’ll get loaded on the train, and a member of the Resistance will retrieve you at the other end. If all goes well, the next set of eyes you see will be on a friendly face.”
“And if things go wrong?”
“Then the whole operation will be a bust.” He tapped the wooden crate. “Hop in.”
Ellyssa glanced from the coffin-like box to Woody. He didn’t look too please with their travel accommodations either.
“Don’t worry, dear,” Sarah said, patting her shoulder reassuringly. “We’ve kept our work under the radar for decades. We know what we’re doing.”
Woody sidled over to Ellyssa and gave her a one armed hug. “Remember, this is for Rein,” he whispered in her ear. “I promise, nothing will happen.”
Keeping her eyes on Woody, Ellyssa stepped into the crate. His encouraging half-smile did nothing to make her feel better. Without any other recourse, she lay down. Tim closed the lid and she was instantly submerged in darkness.
Despite her calm demeanor, panic bloomed throughout her body. Her heart stuttered for a second before it picked up speed and pounded against her breastbone. Her breathing increased dramatically. An incredible desire to get the hell of that crate overwhelmed her.
It took every bit of self-control Ellyssa had not to flip the latch. The latch. Closing her eyes, she focused on the small contraption that led to freedom. Knowing it was there helped to ease her frantic mind. She inhaled deeply, and exhaled slowly, over and over, until the beat of her heart slowed.
Times like these, Ellyssa understood and appreciated the need for suppression. She had to maintain control.