Greg pulled over at the spot where he had let Max out of the Jeep. Shutting off the lights and engine, he got out and started searching the trees nearby. Fear coursed through his veins. He didn't know what to do. A college education did not prepare him for something like this. As quietly as possible, he walked from tree to tree looking for Cassi.
Why had she come? Why had she left the Jeep? Greg leaned against a tree and closed his eyes in despair. There was no way for him to find her. Max was the only one with the abilities to find her in these conditions. That was, if he ever saw Max again...
Suddenly, he felt a hand go over his mouth and his eyes snapped open. Max's voice was quick and quiet. "We are okay but I can't get everyone over the fence." Her arm was hanging limply at her side.
"Cassi's somewhere..." Greg began.
"She's with me." Max interrupted, ignoring Greg's wide eyes. "I'll explain later. Right now, we need to get out of here."
Greg thought for a second. "Can you get everyone to the main gate?" Max nodded. "Good. Get them there and I will meet you in less than five minutes."
"You sure about this?" Max asked.
Greg just nodded and ran to the jeep. It was time to get his girls.
*****************
Max ran back to the fence. She hoped that Greg knew what he was doing. Trusting someone wasn't one of her strengths in life but she had no choice in this situation. She climbed the fence with one hand for the second time and jumped down to the other side. There was no way that she could get all three of them safely over the fence with the way her shoulder was feeling. She was beginning to wonder if the bullet had gone deeper than she thought.
Looking around carefully, she made her way to where she had hid Miranda and the others behind a small shed. Miranda was squatting down with the baby in her arm and Cassi huddling close almost clinging to her. Max was worried about the girl.
Miranda looked up as Max approached. "Everyone okay?"
Miranda nodded but at the same time, cast a glance down at Cassi. She was worried too.
"Let's get them out of here." Max said and scooped up Cassi. Under the weight, Max's arm jerked in a spasm and she shifted the girl's weight to the other arm.
"Are you alright?" Miranda asked.
"Fine." Max lied. All she wanted to do was get to that gate and get out of this place.
Coming out from their hiding place, they began to creep along the fence. Fortunately, security was concentrated at the front of the building and the main gate. These people would never learn. Who snuck in that way?
They moved to within a hundred feet of the gate. They were behind the side of the guard shack which had no windows. Max motioned Miranda to stop and held Cassi against her. She was edgy. They were pretty much out in the open here. They had two children, a confused recovering mother, and a wounded genetically engineered soldier. They only had one chance - Greg. And for him, they had to wait.
*****************
Greg started the engine back up and took a deep breath. "Please God, just let me get them out of there safe."
He turned and went down the access road. Soon, the gate came into view. There were two guards out front, one with his hand up, motioning for Greg to stop. Wanting to close his eyes, Greg used all of strength to keep them open. He kept a picture of the girls in his mind, gunned the engine, and hit the accelerator. The guards shouts could be heard as the jeep approached them. Then the bullets started. One of them jumped out of the way and landed on the ground. The other stood in front of the gate, unmoving. Greg willed him to move but the man didn't budge. Not wanting to kill him, Greg swerved slightly but still kept on course. He couldn't let anything get in his way. Unconsciously, Greg flinched. In that second, he felt the thump of the jeep hitting the guard and his body bouncing off of the hood. Instantaneously, the jeep rammed the metal gates and in a crunching of metal, he was through. He veered to the right to position the jeep near the guard shed where he saw Max.
Jumping out of the jeep, he ran to take the bundle from Max's arms that he recognized as Cass. Being relieved of the weight, Max followed Greg to the jeep. He put her carefully in the backseat and covered her with the blanket. He embraced Miranda quickly and guided her to follow Cassi. She shook here head. "Max needs it more than I do. I'll sit in the front." Greg looked around. "Where is Max?"
Miranda followed his gaze and then they looked at each other. Greg knew that he couldn't leave without her. After all, it was only because of her that they had come this far. "Stay here, I'll be right back." He said to Miranda.
"Wait," she said, grabbing his arm, "Take this."
Removing her hand from the blanket around the baby, she handed him the gun she had taken off of the bed before they left the cell.
Greg looked at her in shock, "Where did you..."
"Let's just say I thought we might need it. Go find Max."
