Chapter 55 Grandpa’s Cabin
"Is everything ready?" Carlos asked the men when they finished loading the car with the weapons.
I am standing beside Carlos, he’s with a gun and I am too, even though I am not the best shooter. Carlos has been cautious with everything today. He’s doing all he can to ensure the plan goes well.
The guns and weapons are all ready and set. Carlos has been double-checking ever since to make sure that they are solid.
Once he made sure everything was intact, we got into the car and started driving. Carlos’s armed guards were in four different cars, while he and I with two other armed guards were in the other. We made sure to part ways and be away from each other so we don’t seem suspicious, especially since we are headed to a remote area.
I looked out the tinted window, my heart speeding. I am very anxious about this. I’ve been thinking about it and it’s making me go crazy. I don’t feel good about this. I know I’m not supposed to feel this way, especially since I promised Carlos I’ll be fine.
The drive started to feel longer by the minute. Carlos turned to me and smiled. "Are you ready for this?"
I exhaled heavily. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for this. I replied "Yes! Are we almost there?"
"Just some more minutes and we’ll get there. It’s far from the city and it’s a way into the town, so I’ll give it some amount of time."
I nod and turn back to the window. A part of me feels like going back to Grandpa’s cabin will bring up a whole lot of memories and emotions, but another tells me that it won’t be that bad and I’ll be alright. I hope I will.
When we got to the first checkpoint, my heart froze when I saw the soldiers lying in a pool of their own blood, dead. I quickly turned to Carlos, who didn’t seem moved by them at all.
"They’re dead," I said, panicking. "The Menendez must have done this. They are gonna come after us too,"
"No, they won’t Nala. My men shot the soldiers not the Menendez," He casually said as if it was nothing.
"So you’re killing people now?" I asked, in total disbelief.
"It’s the only way to have access to the roads." He said
"It can’t be Carlos." I groaned "You could have made them unconscious. You could have done anything but not kill them." I exclaimed
"This is the only way and if I did get them unconscious, it wouldn’t take them any time to regain their consciousness and call on the Menendez." He explained, but I don’t buy it. Killing people can never be the only way.
As if he heard my thoughts, he held my hand and said, "I know it’s awful and I’m sorry about it, but this is much better than having several people killed because of the Menendez."
I sigh heavily. "It’s this bad, Carlos. Just promise me they are the only ones, no one else will get hurt."
"I promise," He said, and then kissed my forehead. "I didn’t even want to do this but I had to. I’m really sorry."
"It’s okay." I smiled weakly before turning back to the window.
The city looked so much more beautiful in the sunlight, each building glowing brightly.
When we reached the nearest bridge, Carlos and I switched to another car. It was his way of staying off the radar; if anyone was tracking us, they’d never be able to tell where we were headed because we kept changing cars without them noticing.
We merged back onto the road.
Minutes later, we pulled up in the woods and Carlos, I, and everyone else stepped out of the car. We walked for quite some time before we got to the cabin—my grandpa’s cabin.
It looked exactly the same as it was in my memories, maybe a little damp and dusty, but it’s still pretty good.
Two of the guards walked in to make sure it was safe before Carlos and I joined. It was quiet, peaceful, and for some reason it made me feel safe.
I looked around the place and the dining table caught my eye. Memories of me and my family saying grace before the meal roamed through my mind. It was living the moment again, I could almost see them and young-me eating happily.
"Do you remember anything that could lead us directly to the Ore code?" Carlos asked.
I didn’t respond, I just kept looking around. The memories were coming all over again and I didn’t want to disrupt them. Suddenly, it hit me.
That night when we were being attacked, there was a boy, a teenage boy who wore a black hoodie. I don’t remember his face as I don’t know if I ever made eye contact with him but I know he was there along with many other people.
My mind was completely consumed with memories, ones that I couldn’t contain alone. Everything started to feel hollow and it felt like I had stepped into a castle of my own mind and I was living in the past again.
I could see my grandpa again, I could see Susan, and even Mario. Everything was happening all over again, but what stood out the most was Grandpa, how he fought them and then he threw some keys to me.
He had keys and a map to the Ore code. He threw it at me and I rushed outside to keep it. Now everything was vivid to me. I could see it crystal clear.
Grandpa didn’t keep the Ore code in this cabin, he only worked on it here. And the map to find it is somewhere around here. Somewhere that I know because I kept it there.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I turned to Carlos and found him holding me close, worry etched all over his face.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
I ignored his question. "There’s a map and a key to get the Ore code."
"Where?" He asked.
"I buried it outside the house," I said. He looked confused, so I added, "That night when my family was attacked, Grandpa gave me the map and keys. I buried them outside. I don’t remember the exact spot, but I know it’s somewhere around there."
Carlos turned to his men; with just a look, they understood what he wanted. As they all headed out to get to work, I rested my head on his shoulder, and he rubbed my back in comfort.
"It’s going to be over soon," He murmured.
I hope so. I’m really tired of all this. I can’t wait to go back to my normal life— that’s if I still have one.