Chapter 30—Jade

This morning we are flying to Tennessee to see Raines family. I am so excited. There is still no sign of Ezekiel. That is making Raine very nervous. I know he is anxious today. On the plane, I am sitting next to Raine. Dad and Hope are sitting closer to the back. We are holding hands. I feel him shaking just a little. “Hey, everything is going to be okay. They love you Raine.” He takes a big breath. “I'm afraid they are mad at us for leaving them behind. Three years we have had freedom and they have still been prisoners.” I look in his blue eyes. They look apprehensive. “Raine, they all loved you. They missed you terribly when you were gone. But they are excited you are still alive. They were never feeling abandoned. They felt sad and lost. And then because of you, they were all saved. They didn’t have to plot an escape. You did that. You did it for your Mom, and for them. It took time, but you saved them all. If it weren’t for you, they could have all died in that basement.” He puts his hand on my cheek and says, “thank you Jade, I love you so much.”

After we land, we are quickly escorted by some detectives we don’t know, to a black SUV. From there, we drive about thirty minutes to the facility where they are holding the women and children. We walk into a nice new, clean building where they take us to a huge room. Its full of chairs, a couple couches, and some tables. I notice there are also some children’s toys. We sit down and wait. My heart is going to pound out of my chest.

Hope is fidgeting with the bottom of her skirt. She can’t sit still. Raine is tapping a foot and tapping his fingers on his knee. Then the door opens and in runs 5 kids. They all run straight for Raine. The littlest one jumping on his lap. Behind them are some teenage girls. They seem a little more reserved and shyer. Then come the women. There are a couple of babies in arms and a couple of toddlers. Most of the women head straight to Hope. She stands and they are all crying and embracing. I can tell who the newest women are because they don’t even know Hope and Raine. But they know they saved their life. So, hugs and thanks are coming from them too.

The teenage girls make their way over to Raine. They are hugging him with tears too. I see that Raine also has tears in his eyes. This is just amazing. I can’t believe the love I feel in this room right now. Even though none of these people are blood to Hope and Raine, they were their only family. They are chattering so loudly, I can’t even concentrate on just one conversation.

Raine stands to make an announcement. You can tell that all these kids looked up to him and respected him. They are hanging on his every word. “So, everyone is asking how we got away and what happened after that. I think that Mom and I should tell the story to all of you at once. So, everyone gets comfortable, and we will start ok? One of the Detectives brings in some sandwiches and drinks. Everyone grabs some food and settles in for the story.

Raine tells them all about the tunnel, the fence, and the security system. They are all completely enthralled. They ask questions here and there. One little girl is still on Raine’s lap as he tells the story. She is looking at him like he’s a superstar. As I look around the room, it seems they are all looking at him like that. I love this. They adore their big brother Raine. He is very animated as he speaks to them. I can tell he used to be their storyteller.

When he explains that Ezekiel was going to kill him out in the forest, all the kids gasp. He tells them all about the gun and the struggle. He shows them the scar on his leg. He reminds them that guns are dangerous and never to play with them. Good big brother. One little girl starts crying and comes over to hug him again. She’s about seven, I think.

Then Raine tells them some of the things he has seen out in the “real world”. They are excited to hear about computers and T.V. and iPad. He also tells them about roller coasters, surfing and cotton candy. Their eyes are as big as saucers. They can’t get enough of his story. Then he tells them how they were hiding from Ezekiel for the last three years. He tells them that they will never have to worry about him anymore. That they don’t have to work in order to eat and that they can sleep in a bedroom with windows and stay with their moms whenever they want. They don’t have to be locked in a room ever again.

“Rainey, I missed you so much.” Says one of the girls who looks about 9. “I missed you too princess. See my friend Jade here, she’s an artist. She reminds me so much of you. That’s why I made her be my best friend. She can show you how to paint later today if you want.” She gives him a big hug and then smiles at me. I love that idea. Raine brought his guitar. He picks it up from behind the couch and starts playing. All the kids get on the floor at his feet and listen intently. I can imagine that this is what they did at night before they went to bed, alone. I love this man even more now than I did yesterday.

I see a couple of the Moms are wiping tears from their eyes. So is Hope. After Raine plays for a while, they all start asking them questions about the outside. The kids raise their hands very politely. Raine and Hope take turns answering the questions that they each feel applies to them. Raines questions are a lot about food and playing. It’s hilarious. Raine tells them about something they have never heard of. Pets. He explains some animals are just for playing with and loving. He shows them pictures on his phone of puppies and kittens. They are so excited. I never thought that something as simple as a pet would be so fascinating to these kids.