The Price of Freedom

Chapter 4-Reunion

The whole room was silent for about a second before the questions began to fly.

"You're telling me, that they-this Anarchy organization-is after my daughter? Why would they be after her? How did they even know about her?" Katelyn's mother asked getting out of her chair.

She went over to the cyber technician and grasped him by the collar. "Where are they?! Why when I get my hands on them, they are gonna wish they never surfaced!" She lowered her face until it was inches away from the poor technician's face. "You find this Anarchy group, you hear or you're gonna regret-"

"Whoa, there Mrs. Simons, easy now," Officer Kim said stepping in-between the two of them.

Aaron stared at the floor in disbelief. His best friend, Katelyn, a girl he grew up with from childhood was being targeted by this terrorist group known as Anarchy? He had the same questions as Katelyn's mother but his main one was why? Why was Katelyn a target and why now? If only he had gone with her to school that morning. Aaron looked up to see Officer Kim step in-between Katelyn's mother and the cyber technician.

The man's face was a bright red and he coughed to regain his composure. Flustered, he straightened his collar. Officer Kim turned to him.

"Find out as much information on this Anarchy organization and then report back to me," she said.

He nodded and she dismissed him. He closed the laptop, tucked it under his arm, and left the room.

That left the three of them alone once more.

"Have a seat Mrs. Simons," Officer Kim said pointing to her empty seat. Mrs. Simons sat down with a heavy sigh.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lose control...it's just that I'm so worried about Katelyn and I took it out on that poor technician..." she placed her head in her hands.

Officer Kim went behind her desk and pulled up her chair. She looked at Aaron and Mrs. Simons.

"I know where your daughter and your friend is because I was the one who personally ordered that she be moved to a safer hideaway. If this Anarchy group was and is going after her, the police station would do her no good. I have connections with the FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, and whatnot, so I had some officers escort her to a new location. I am going to allow you two to be taken to her, but it is imperative that you do NOT tell her of Anarchy which means you are sworn to secrecy. The less she knows the better. Are we clear?"

"I made a promise to not keep secrets from my best friend," said Aaron quietly.

"Well, this secret is to protect her I'm afraid my son. So what will it be?" asked Officer Kim.

Reluctantly, Aaron nodded. Officer Kim looked at Mrs. Simons.

"Marilyn Simons do you agree to be sworn to secrecy about this new threat?"

"For the safety of my daughter, yes I do," said Mrs. Simons.

"Good. Now please follow me," Officer Kim said getting up and leaving the room.

They followed her down the hall and then outside to the back of the police station where two black SUVs waited for them. Officer Kim motioned for them to get into the second vehicle while she got in the front one. Forty-five minutes later, the vans stopped and they were let out. Aaron looked around him to see some old warehouses and an old processing factory.

"This place looks much safer than a police station," he muttered under his breath.

"Don't let these old buildings fool you," said Officer Kim as she walked by.

Aaron and Mrs. Simons followed her inside, down several hallways before they came to a large steel door. Officer Kim scanned her ID and the door opened with a click.

"Ms. Katelyn, you have some visitors," said Officer Kim to a young distraught looking girl who sat on a couch in the center of the room.

"Mom!" Katelyn cried flying across the room and into her mother's arms. "Your safe," Katelyn said burying her face into her mom's shoulder.

Her mom let out a light chuckle. "Of course I am. I was worried sick about you. Are you hurt?" Her mother asked pulling back and doing a once over on her daughter.

"No, I'm fine. Just a scratch here and there. The house took more damage than I did..." she said trailing off.

"Someone else wanted to see you too," Mrs. Simons said.

Her mother stepped back and Katelyn peered around her to see her best friend.

"Aaron!" she cried and hugged him. He hugged her back.

"Katelyn, I saw your house on the TV. It was completely destroyed and I thought you were inside and I-I don't know what I would have done if I lost you..."

"Hey, it's okay and I'm here. See? I'm not a lost cause," Katelyn said smiling at him.

She turned back toward her mother. "Mom, what in the world is going on? Where's Angel?"

Angel was Katelyn's 5 year golden retriever, her other best friend.

"Angel, oh my goodness! I'm so sorry with everything happening I totally forgot to get her. She is safe. I had brought her to the vet before I left for work this morning and I dropped her off for her training exam. I told Ms. Murry I would pick her up in a few hours when she was finished."

At that her mom's phone rang. "Hello? This is Marilyn speaking."

Her mom covered the phone with her hand. "It's the vet. I'll be right back." She then walked into one of the other rooms to take the call.

Katelyn nodded and motioned for Aaron to follow her. She sat down on the couch and he took a seat beside her.

"This is a pretty slick place they've got here," he said looking around.

One of the agents in the room came over to them. "Can I get anyone something to drink? A water or soda perhaps?"

Katelyn asked for a water, but Aaron shook his head and told the agent he was fine for the moment. The young agent hurried away to get the water.

"Aaron, what the heck is going on? I mean from the very beginning my day has gone from bad to worse. First school then this?" she said gesturing to the stuff around her.

"What happened at school?" Aaron asked raising one eyebrow.

"Oh you're gonna get a kick out of this one. Remember that final geography project I told you about? The one with Amanda Tendols?"

Aaron nodded.

"Turns out she plagiarized her whole part and then blamed it on me!"

"What?! That's a new low even for her. I mean I know she is all out to get you, but plagiarism really?"

Now it was Katelyn's turn to nod.

"After I explained the whole thing the principle called each of us into his individually. He sent Amanda angrily stomping through his doorway."

"Well she should know better. Her dad is not going to be happy," said Aaron.

"You got that right," Katelyn replied. "I actually kinda feel bad for her. To go home and explain to her parents what happened. Ugh." Katelyn shuddered. "Thankfully, my teacher knew whose fault it was and gave me full credit for my part."

"That girl is something else. I tell ya. All blonde and no brains."

"Aaron!" Katelyn said sharply.

"What? You know I'm right."

Katelyn sighed. "I know. So I get hot drama this morning, and then I come home and BOOM my house blows up right in my face!" she emphasized by throwing her hands up in the air.

The agent returned with Katelyn's water.

"Thank you," said Katelyn. "Okay, here's what I don't get. Why my house? Why not Amanda's? Man life could be so much easier without that girl. I've been here my whole life and nothing like this has ever happened. Now my family and I are all over the local news. I'm sure this will make Amanda happy. I can just see tomorrow's school headline: 'Katelyn Simons: A Trajedy or Snuffed Out?' "

Aaron rolled his eyes. "Do you really have to be so dramatic?" he asked.

Katelyn punched him lightly in the arm. He faked a grimace.

"Oh, stop being such a baby, Aaron. I barely even touched you."

"Hey, who are you calling a baby miss I-am-older-than-you by six months."

Katelyn rolled her eyes at him.

"Oh yeah? Who beat who at the soccer game last Saturday?"

"It was a lucky shot! I'll get you next time!"

"Dream on, big boy!"

They both laughed. Then Katelyn's smile disappeared and her brow furrowed. Aaron watched her face as he saw something begin to form in her mind. Katelyn suddenly grabbed his arm.

"Katelyn? What's wrong? What did you just come up with?" he asked beginning to get concerned. He could imagine her thoughts turning over and over in her mind.

"Aaron, what if this attack wasn't random? I mean sure it totally came out of the blue, but what if it was a warning?"

"That's an extreme way to warn someone..."

"My point exactly. It certainly would get the message across real quick," Katelyn said before mumbling incoherently to herself.

"I'm afraid you lost me," said Aaron even more confused. He stared at her as she thought deeply. She seemed to be having an internal argument with herself.

"There's no way...but it might explain a few things..." He heard her mutter under her breath.

Still grasping his arm, she turned to him with a mixture of realization, fear, worry, and shock in her eyes.

"Aaron, what if this attack has something to do with my father?!"