Time waits for no one. For some people, it was against them, there were so much to be done in a short time and lives depended on them. For us, we were waiting for time. It seemed to pass by ever so slowly, that we found ourselves tortured just by waiting. - 12 Noon, 48 Hours To Freedom Everything was perfect. It had came as a surprise that he had somehow managed to do it all by himself. If anyone had asked him anything about the Internet months ago, he would have known nothing. But now, he had successfully created a website that would put even the seasoned Webmaster to shame. He knew didn’t have to make it all fancy, that the information was all that mattered; but this was supposed to be shown to the public and to be given to the future Mayor of Ebay Town herself, no, he had to do a great job at it. The last bits and most important information of all had arrived late evening the day before and it had took him the entire night just to have them all up. Part of him believed that the power of goodness was with him all the way, for no one had ever questioned his sudden interest in computers at all. “All done?” Eric turned to find David and Robbie standing right behind him. “Don’t ever do that again to me man.” Eric whispered loudly. “Scare the hell out of you right?” Robbie chuckled. “That was the plan.” Eric shook his head as his concentration was once again back to the computer screen. “Ready to make history guys?” “About time.” David smiled as Robbie nodded in agreement. “Okay then, here we go.” All it needed was a simple click of the mouse to the button ‘Enter’ and it was done. Better days are ahead. - 3pm, 45 Hours To Freedom School was out an hour ago but Leighanne was held back in the office to prepare lessons for the next day. She had another After Darla gathering in an hour and it would take her a good forty minutes to get there. Finally done with her work, she was about to switch off her computer when she realised she had a new email waiting to be read. “Damn it.” She huffed, contemplating on whether she should read it then or save it for later. She looked at the sender and it had simply said ‘MOG’ with a reference that she couldn’t refuse not to read. It said ‘The Truth About Darla’. - 5pm, 43 Hours To Freedom All it took was a simple line like ‘I have information that could stop Mayor Nielson from winning this election’ and she was led straight to Candidate Dawn Seymour’s office. Everywhere around her, people were busy setting up banners and collages, ready to be distributed to the masses. But inside her office, Dawn Seymour was a picture of calmness. “Miss Wallace, it’s nice to see you again.” “It’s nice to see you too Miss Seymour.” She was led to a couch at the side of the office and with the parcel tugged safely by her side; she sat, ready to explode it all out. “I heard you have something that could stop Nielson from winning, what is it?” “I can’t really explain it. I have to show it to you and let you judge it yourself.” Leighanne replied. She took the parcel and handed it to her. “And I’m supposed to give this to you.” “This does not contain any bomb or anything explosive right?” Leighanne smiled. “No, trust me, this is your key to winning this election.” “Okay then, show me.” “We need to access to the Internet first. All the answers are there.” - 9pm, 39 Hours To Freedom AJ couldn’t believe his eyes, he thought it was playing tricks on him, he thought that maybe, just maybe, Darla had started to show it’s ugly side effects. But he was willing to bet with his life, that the young man standing just a meter away, engrossed at work, was Justin Timberlake himself. His once upon a time best friend, his on going nemesis. He had always known Justin as a stuck up young man, but he never thought he could be this cruel. How could he support this horrendous plan was beyond his understanding. Sure, his lawyer of a father was among the names he found in the list, but he didn’t think Justin had it in him to do this. Like father like son? He approached the young man, knowing that there was nothing Justin could do to him. He was the personal assistant to Coultron anyway. “Let me see, you get this job from your father?” Justin looked up from the file he was reading and showed no signs that he was surprised to him there. His only reaction was to smirk. “Last I heard, it was you who got this job from daddy.” AJ couldn’t deny it; he did get the job from his father. But he had a reason to be there. He was going to save lives and let out the truth. “You won’t understand anyway.” He replied, certain that there was no good way to explain why he was there in the first place. “What makes you think you understand everything AJ? What makes you think you know why I’m here?” Justin snarled. “I didn’t say anything, why are you so mad anyway?” AJ snapped. “I’m just here to do my job okay? And from what I heard, we’re supposed to work together so lets not make this any difficult than it is.” “I can’t believe you’re here man.” Justin smirked. “What’s so surprising about it?” AJ asked. “Well for one thing, you’re the last person I’d expect helping out Coultron. I wouldn’t be here if I have a choice.” “Well…that’s something new. Daddy gave you a job and you don’t want it?” “Not this place…frankly J, I wish you’d know the truth, I bet you wouldn’t wanna be here in the first place either.” “What the hell are you talking about?” AJ asked, obviously annoyed. Around them, people were hard at work, setting up last minute glitches on the coming election debate. Look, I don’t know what that bitch is up to but if whatever she has is really good, then I’m ruined! Calm down, there’s nothing to worry about. That’s just her plot to scare you. She has nothing! AJ turned to look at the figure of Coultron and Mayor Nielson and listened in to their heated conversation. News sure travels fast these days and it began to worry him that their plan wouldn’t last. “That’s what I’m talking about.” Justin said suddenly. “If you knew the truth, you wouldn’t be here.” AJ looked at Justin again, he was actually surprised, Justin definitely wasn’t happy at all. “Are you talking about the South Home?” AJ asked, lowering his voice to a soft whisper. Justin smirked. “You know huh? And you’re supporting this?” “No, I’m not. And I sure can use the help to stop them.” - 11pm, 37 Hours To Freedom Jackie Littrell slumped her body down into the welcoming embrace of her bed and closed her eyes. It had been a long day. She wondered how Leighanne had done it. Perhaps being young and enthusiastic helped. She on the other hand, was too old for something like that. On the bright side, she was glad that After Darla had helped the young woman to move on and do something positive after losing Brian. She doesn’t want her to feel as if she had obligations to her or her loyalty towards a love that was never meant to be. Brian was dead, but lives go on. She wished that the young woman would find a man who truly treasures her. It was the first gathering that Leighanne had absent herself from. Jackie had arrived to the centre only to receive a message that she was to take over for the day, stating that she had to attend to an important meeting. She never really did find out where she had gone. Thankfully, Jane was there to help out and Bob had managed to help out with the fathers too. It was during this lonely nights those memories came easily for her. This house was once filled with laughter. Truth was, Jackie was afraid. One of these days, her neighbour would come up to this house to find her decaying body. Died a lonely old woman. - 1am, 35 Hours To Freedom Jane couldn’t sleep and she knew her husband was wide-awake next to her too. Something was troubling her and she knew Bob had the answer. The only thing that had kept her from asking him was memories. She was afraid to upset him with painful memories. But she had to. “Honey?” She waited and listened to Bob’s slight shift next to her and a soft ‘hmm?’ was heard. “Why didn’t you say anything when they asked us that question at the meeting just now?” “What question honey?” Bob’s tired voice asked. “What would you say if you were given one last chance to see Nick?” Bob pulled his wife nearer to him and started to rub her arm for warmth. He kissed her forehead and let out a huge sigh. He knew she was going to ask him. “Why say anything when you know it’s not going to happen?” Bob replied. “Nick died Jane, our baby is dead. We have to move on. I don’t think it’s fair for the twins if we keep missing our son and ignore the ones who really need us.” “I know honey…but if it ever happen, by some miracle, don’t you want to say anything?” Bob sighed and closed his eyes. Yes, there’s only so much he wanted to say, but what’s the point? “What do you say to the face of our angel baby? I just want to have him in my arms again, like the first time I held him when he was born. I was too happy then that I couldn’t say anything, I don’t think I’d be able to say anything now if it ever happen.” - 9am, 27 Hours To Freedom Howie stood by the window, staring out into the morning sun and watching how it slowly reached him and bath him in warmth. The tapping of death’s bony fingers calling out to him to open that window and join him. This time however, Howie ignored it. He knew he could fight it, and he doesn’t care if no one waited for him outside these walls. He knew freedom was. “Nice view huh.” It was Brian. “You shouldn’t be out of bed.” “And miss this lovely view?” Brian asked. They heard the flushing of the toilet and then, Nick’s irregular footfalls approaching them. They knew he had been throwing up but no one wanted to start that special morning with an argument. “Morning guys.” Nick croaked, a small smile pasted on his face. “Isn’t today lovely? Minus the fact that I had been donating blood to the sink again, that is.” “And the fact that it’s killing me to be standing right now? Yes, it is.” Brian added, making a space in between for Nick to join them. “Just wondering D, do you see one or two sun rise right now?” Nick chuckled as he positioned himself in between his friends, bathing his face with the warmth of the morning sun. “Funny, remind me to laugh later.” Howie rolled his eyes. Nick dropped his gaze to the branch outside that had been making the irritating tapping and rapping noises the entire last night. It had kept him awake, entertaining his nights with shadows of claws and black hooded men coming to claim him. “D, I think it’s about time you do something to this mean creature.” Nick said, tapping his finger lightly on the window. Howie felt beaten once again, how did Nick know? “What are you talking about?” “I’ve seen the way you look at it sometimes D and I never could understand why a stupid branch like that could get you spaced out for hours. I think I found the answer last night.” Nick replied. Brian nodded. “You mean, how it felt like it’s calling out to you? Come Brian, follow me, open this window, you know it’s the only escape.” Howie stared at Brian now. They were feeling the same things too? And all these while he thought he was alone. “And jump, end your tortures?” “I’d say fly rather than jump. Fly and join my father.” Brian replied. “Just like you’d fly and join your family again D.” Nick added. Howie smiled, knowing there was no need for words to let them know that was how he had felt most of the time. “How about you then Nick? Who were you thinking of joining when you think you wanna just do it?” “Me? Oh, I don’t join anyone, I’ll just fly man…fly and fly…as long as I don’t have to be stuck here for another torture.” Brian let out a huge sigh and held on to Nick, motioning him to help him back to his bed. “Well guys, I know for sure that we’re all glad none of us took that jump.” - 10am, 26 Hours To Freedom Justin couldn’t understand what AJ had meant when he said he could use his help. He thought he had made it clear that he didn’t support the Darla campaign that his father was funding. He knew he had always been proud of his father’s wealth and he knew he credited his father for his boisterous nature but he never thought his father could go as far as supporting a man whom he felt is a cold blooded murderer. But AJ had explained and now he understood that they were leaning on the same side. That by some twisted humorous miracle, they were agreeing on the same thing. Now, being in the isolated level of the hospital pretending to look into new cases, AJ had promised to make it all clear for him. “Look, we’ve been here for almost an hour now, what the hell are you trying to show me?” AJ kept his eyes buried under a patient’s medical record, still pretending to look interested in it. “Damn it Justin, be patient and look busy for God’s sake.” Justin looked at the strip of x-ray he had been holding for quite awhile now and squint his eyes. “You gave me a freaking x-ray strip and want me to look busy? How is that even possible?” AJ didn’t get to rebut, Kevin stepped out of one of the room and approached them. “Sorry to keep you waiting, got held up.” “No problem,” AJ replied. “Justin, this is Kevin, Kev, this is Justin.” Kevin shook his Justin’s hand and said, “I’m glad you’re on our side. I’m beginning to worry if AJ had to do this all on his own.” “Kevin is a volunteer down at the South Home. And we’re going to bring Coultron, the Mayor and everyone who supports them down once and for all.” Justin frowned. That was easily said that done. “Is this for real?” Kevin nodded and motioned for them to the seats at the waiting area. Once they were there with no one to get in their way, he continued. “We’ve been planning this for years now Justin, it’s not something that we thought about yesterday. I’m sure AJ will tell you more as you get along, but for now, I need to hear from you if you’re willing to do this.” Justin went silent and Kevin gave him room to think. When the young man looked up again, he said, “That means revealing everything right?” Kevin nodded. Justin looked at AJ. “That means, your parents will exposed too.” “Yeah. And so will your father.” “And you’re willing to do this?” “They get what they deserve Justin, you know what they’re doing is wrong, if you keep quiet about it, your conscience will kill you.” - 12 noon, 24 Hours To Freedom Leighanne took another sip of her coffee as her eyes were still glued to the computer screen. Every time she clicked on a link, the new information she received never failed to shock her. So it was true, that nagging feeling she had been getting wasn’t just her illusion. Something was very wrong about Darla and the people that were running it and she was glad that she had taken up AJ’s suggestion to start the organisation. It was a relief to meet Dawn Seymour and share her findings. It was even a blessing that the latter had not doubted her sincerity and gave her a chance to let her in on the information. She wondered if AJ ever knew that his parents were in the list. Some of the names there startled even her. Some were people she came into contact with everyday of her life. How could this town be so blinded by it still puzzled her. All of last night, she had found herself up in bed, dialling Jackie’s number. She wanted so much to share what she had found with her; but every time she heard the old woman’s voice, she couldn’t bring herself to. Would it be fair to tell the old lady that her only son might just be alive? It was difficult for her to even accept it. She kept staring at that particular link on the site. ‘Surviving Victims List’. All it takes is just one single click and she would find out the truth. And even that simple task she couldn’t bring herself to do. The truth would change everything, and along with it, her yearnings to have him back in her life.