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24 Hours To Freedom!

1pm, 23 Hours To Freedom Aaron watched as their babysitter’s gaze fell from one framed picture to another, engrossed at what was staring back at her. He liked her a lot and he believed Angel liked her too. She lets them watch cartoons all day and actually listens when they were talking. Most of their previous babysitters were too content at making them busy with some kid stuff while they sat comfortably on a sofa and read magazines after magazines. This one is different. He abandoned the train set that he had been playing and checking up to make sure that Angel was occupied herself, he approached her. “I really like that picture.” She nearly jumped, he must have scared her. That was cool, he thought. “Oh hey…yeah, I think I like it too. You guys seem so happy in it.” “Yes, we were.” Aaron smiled. “It was mom’s birthday, I gave her a chocolate, she likes it.” She chuckled and then ruffled his hair. “I’d love someone to give me chocolate for my birthday.” “Just tell me when is your birthday, I will buy it for you.” “And why would you want to do that?” She asked. Aaron shrugged. “Because you’re nice and I like you. Nick said all the nice people in the world deserves a bar of chocolate.” She giggled. “And who is Nick?” “My brother.” She studied all the pictures arranged neatly atop a display table and nodded her head. She had always wondered who this young man who looks like the adult version of young Aaron is. She had never seen him around before. “Is this Nick?” She asked, pointing to a grinning young man not much older than herself in the picture. Other than his blue eyes, he was a splitting image of Aaron. Aaron nodded and sadness overwhelmed him. She noticed this immediately and kneeled down to meet his eyes. Cupping his face in the palm of her hands, she asked, “Hey, what’s wrong?” “Nicky’s dead.” Angel said, stopping awhile from brushing Barbie’s hair. “Oh, I’m sorry.” Aaron smiled. “It’s okay, it’s not your fault.” “I know sweetie, I’m just sorry.” “Don’t you want to know what happen to him?” She got up and reached for the frame. Holding it in her hands, she studied the picture of Nick again. A young life wasted. “What happened to Nick?” Aaron went back to his spot next to his train set and started switching the power on. The train whistled and started moving around the track. “Darla got him.” 2pm, 22 Hours To Freedom The twins were finally asleep. Jane had told her that they like taking afternoon naps and promised that it would be easier to take care of them after that. She was right. The Carters’ house was silent again. She switch the baby speaker on and brought another pair down with her to the living room. She was still in the middle of the stairs when the phone rang. She practically flew the rest of the steps down, not wanting the sudden noise to wake the twins up. “Hello?” “Jennifer?” “Speaking… Mrs. Carter?” “Yeah, we’re having a break right now so I thought of calling…how are the twins? Did they give you any problems?” She smiled, Jane really needs to stop worrying. “They’re asleep now, and no troubles at all.” “Oh, great to here that. Listen Jenny, I’ll be here longer than expected, is that okay with you? Do you have any plans for tonight?” “Don’t worry, I’ll be here. Just take your time. I’ll be sure to call if there’s anything I need to ask.” They said their goodbyes and the house was silent yet again. She should start on her history essay but she doesn’t feel like writing about some boring history. Her gaze fell to the picture of Nick again. It was one of her favourites. He was in his high school basketball jersey together with two of his friends. Poor Jane and Bob, they must have missed him a lot. Just like she was too. “Hey Nick, I know this is stupid, but um…I’m Jennifer by the way, your twins’ babysitter…listen, could you look around heaven and find my brother for me? His name is Marcus Fisher…if you find him, could you tell him that his sister miss him so much? She really wish he could be here right now cause she’s hitting a rather rough patch and has no one to talk to.” She stopped, held back her emotions before the tears start to fall and smiled. “It’s really sad Jennifer, you’re talking to a freaking picture.” 3pm, 21 Hours To Freedom “We are in deep fucking shit.” AJ growled as he finally got to pull Justin aside from the crowd. Everywhere, workers were busy putting up the stage and lighting, Ebay Open Field will be transformed into a debating stage by midnight and he still had yet to get everything in place. “Yes, very nice choice of words, so why are we so deep in this stuff?” Justin asked, annoyed that he was interrupted. “They’re all over the place, how the hell do I get backstage and rearrange the wires without being seen?” Justin wiped his forehead, the afternoon sun was glaring mercilessly on them. By this time tomorrow, everything will be out in the open. His father will go to jail, his mom probably too. He wondered if the government will revoke all their properties and leave him without a roof on his head. Tomorrow, this time, a new beginning awaits. “We have to find a way man, if this don’t go as plan and Nielson wins again, we’re fucked.” “Yeah sure, lovely words to you too.” AJ rolled his eyes. “Look we need a diversion, all I have to do is switch some wires, install some stuff on the main control panel and we’re done. We can’t screw up man, there is no second shot at this.” “Second shot at what?” AJ and Justin turned to the voice behind them. In their heads, only one word kept repeating itself. Fuck! 4pm, 20 Hours To Freedom Felicia Levine looked at the two young men disgustingly. How could the Mayor trusted them with his future? They were barely out of high school! And now she had heard them planning on an attack on their own team. And she was kept ‘prisoner’ in some empty volunteer’s room listening to their excuses. “Let me get this straight, you want ME to help YOU out? Help you sell outs? NO WAY!” “Damn it Felicia, didn’t you hear anything we said at all?” AJ groaned. “That Nielson is evil? He killed thousands of people? I’m sorry but your twisted Hitler story, I’m not buying!” Felicia yelled. “YOU ARE SIMPLY IMPOSSIBLE!” Justin exclaimed as he paced the room, making her dizzy. “Will you stop it? Sit down and spare me the headache!” Felicia yelled. Justin glanced over at her for a second and increased his pace. “How about if I go faster? Yeah, like this…headaches now?” Felicia glared at him and closed her eyes. How can two of the richest heirs of Ebay kinapped ME? Shouldn’t it be the other way round? AJ shook his head and disappeared into a small room and came back with a laptop in hand. Having accessed to the Internet, he typed in the URL and placed the laptop on her lap. “Let me show you something.” 6pm, 18 Hours To Freedom Three hours ago, she was just another struggling reporter dreaming of a breakthrough news to come falling on her lap. A coverage that would help soar her career and lift her another level up from everyone else in that crowded office. A simple phone call was all it took and her prayer was answered. Who would have thought it’d be that easy? She sank deeper in her seat as she calmly tried to process all the information she had just seen on the computer. This was too huge for her. She wasn’t sure if she was good enough to do it, but the man had called her personally. He must have believed that she could do it. And why would he be so secretive about it? All she knew about him is his name. Eric. No last name, no middle name, just Eric. How far could she believe all these information? Was it just meant to bring Nielson down or was it an urgent cry for help? I’m giving you the truth, spread it out for me. Yes, she should do it. She can do it. She started typing out her report, knowing that by noon tomorrow, the truth will be spread and she had helped. She looked at the heading and smiled. “Yeah, I can do this.” HELP ME! - THE CRIES OF DARLA by Beth Ibrahim 9pm, 15 Hours To Freedom “Paulien, get the hell out of bed!” She woke up from the pounding and stormed out of the room, all signs of sleep gone. She ran for the front door and swung it open, as expected, Emile Heskey stood there. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Paulien whispered. “It’s in the middle of a freaking night!” “It’s only 9 Paulien.” Emile replied, ignoring her irritation. “You’re asleep already?” “I just got back from a fifteen hour shift Emile, I deserve some sleep. And you know very well NOT to shout like that!” “What the hell were you thinking taking fifteen hours of shift?” Emile asked, again oblivious to her annoyance. He let himself in. “We were short of volunteers, but that’s besides the point, you KNOW Randy is asleep!” Paulien snapped. Emile slapped his hand on his forehead. How could he forget? “Oh damn, I forgot, I’m so sorry!” Paulien rolled her eyes. This was getting like a ritual lately. She slumped her body down on the sofa next to him and sighed. “Why are you here Emile?” “We have to go. They need us at the station.” “WHAT!” “Shhh!!!! Remember Randy? Your son? Sleeping? DO NOT disturb?” Paulien crumbled. This couldn’t be happening. “I can’t do this anymore Emile. I just got back from work, why can’t they get someone else?” “I’m sorry cupcake, but they want only the best and we’re those.” Emile joked. “They say it’s really important, they want every unit ready by ten and we’ll get a briefing.” “About what? Nothing in Ebay is ever an emergency.” “I don’t know…but I heard from Jack that it’s some really huge scandal and this is like really major.” “What’s wrong with you? Huge and major, sound kinda alike, you’re repeating yourself.” Paulien shook her head. “Paulien, I’m not here to be lectured for the way I talk, I’m here because you refuse to answer your calls and I have to drive my ass here to get you. Now lets go!” “I’ll go change. Can you call Andrew next door to come over?” “Yeah.” Paulien disappeared into her room and quickly change into her uniform. Sometimes she wondered why she even bother holding a job that was too demanding for her. She could have been anything else that she wants to be. But when it comes down to it, she knew this was her dream. She went over to Randy and lightly kissed his forehead. “Sleep tight baby, mommy will be gone for awhile.” She sighed and a picture frame on the dressing table caught her attention. She sat at the edge of the bed and reached for the picture. Her fingers tracing the contours of the man smiling back at her. “I’m going to work, take care of your son okay Brad?” 10pm, 14 Hours To Freedom It was silent yet it was comfortable. For the second time, luck was on their side. The doctors were gone, attending a speech by Mayor Nielson and a good luck party for the start of his election campaign. It meant no tortures for them that night and if everything goes well the next day, it meant they will never have to go through hell ever again. Marcus and Brad had joined them in their room and Kevin promised to come up once he had settled some last minute planning with Phil the security guy and Nurse Lisa. “I can’t wait to get out of this place, it’s been too long.” Marcus said as he placed another card in the small space in front of them. Yellow, 3, he turned to Brad. He looked at the card Marcus had just placed and studied the once he had in his hand. “Yeah, we need to play some real games.” Brad said and placed two Red cards with the number 3 on it. “I love UNO.” Brian protested as he quickly dropped a red skip card. Howie glared at him. Brian smiled. “I don’t.” Nick looked at his card, knowing that Howie missed his chance. He looked up at them and threw a sly grin. “Oh no…NO WAY you have a draw four! You already use it just now!” Marcus whined, knowing he was next. Nick placed two cards on top of the red skip card. “Draw four!” Everyone groaned. “Multiplied by two, draw eight!” “You’re such a killer, you know that?” Marcus grumbled as he placed another draw four. “Whoa! Marcus got one too!” “So Brad Pitt, think you can handle this?” Marcus teased. Brad rolled his eyes. “Hey, I’m Brad Pitt, I never lose.” And he dropped a draw four card. “Ha! Brian! Let’s see what you got!” Nick giggled. “Can I throw in a draw two instead?” Brian asked. Brad patted him on the back. “You know what buddy, for old time sake, I’ll let you.” “Yes!” Brian cried and placed the draw two card. “You know what, I’ve had enough of this game!” Howie exclaimed. He painstakingly counted the cards he had to take. “You know this is all your fault?” Howie looked at Brian. “What did I do?” Brian groaned. “You and your skip cards!” “Hey D, it’s four multiplied by four plus two, that’d be…18 cards in all Sir!” Nick cried and started helping out with the cards. The door swung open all of a sudden and came in Kevin, with a basketball in one hand. “I’m in charge tonight, how about a game of basketball?” 12am, 12 Hours To Freedom It was funny at first, how being in an open space scares me. It felt like I was intruding into someone else’s space. It even felt like I didn’t belong out in the open, under the company of black sky, glittering stars and the solitary moon. Even the smell of fresh air surprised me. When Marcus suddenly said that it had been a long time, I realised then that I wasn’t the only one that felt that way. We had our game of basketball and just for that one hour, we got a taste of how freedom felt like again. It was almost amusing that just hours go, we were all sick and playing UNO in bed. Out there, none of that mattered. There were no hints of Howie at risk of losing his eyesight when he passed the ball accurately to one of us. There were no hints of Marcus being out of breath when he dribbled past any of us. Brad was even livelier than he ever had been. Brian’s legs didn’t even cave in once as he kept shooting the ball home. And I seemed to forget that I had a backache of an 80 year old. I guess I get to play bball with you after all huh Nick? Brad had asked me. It brought me back to my first day in the cafeteria. The only person I had known back then was Brian and he was whisked away from me for a session which I would later learn to fear. And Howie learnt of the death of a friend. Marcus lost his roommate. And Brad…Brad had decided that we should have a game of basketball even when he knew that was impossible. I guess I shouldn’t have doubted him. Nobody asked how Kevin managed to slip us out there that night. None of that really mattered. When we were comfortable again being out there, all we cared about was having fun. At least, when we finally get out of this place, we will have one fond memory to think about. So as lay down in my bed, the clock struck 12 midnight. My heart beat faster and there was this tightness in my stomach. I was never sure if it was from nervousness, anxiety, or the fact that my back was throbbing from all the running I did earlier. Yet I fondly remembered saying my goodnights to Brian and Howie. That night, I slept knowing that the next time the clock struck twelve again, it would be a Sunday noon filled with new hope and a step to freedom. Little did I know that among us, that would be our last sunrise ever.