A pager in Nevada and a pager in Arizona went off only moments apart.
Both carriers looked nervously down at the flashing numbers on the little
screen. 752 632 565 flashed. 'GET OUT NOW.'
****
It was a regular evening at the Stevens' house. Brian was running around with an old remote controlled truck, Teli was sitting at the dinning room table, paging through the day's newspaper, glancing over the different stories while her parents were bustling around in the kitchen, preparing dinner. Teli was skimming through the sports page when she felt a familiar, rubber and plastic caused crunch on her bare toe.
"Brian! Get that stupid truck away from my feet!" Teli snapped, trying not to be too loud and attract parental attention. Brian grinned mischievously. Teli glared back for a moment. 'What on earth did I do to deserve a little bother on top of everything else?' Teli mumbled to herself.
"Teli, make that ramp for me again." Brian demanded, ignoring her annoyed tone. Teli's eyes narrowed.
"Are you gonna keep that toy away from my toes this time?" She asked shortly. Brian nodded enthusiastically, but that didn't necessarily mean anything.
"Brian, help your mother set the table." Dave said suddenly, poking his head into the dinning room and glancing at the toy truck at Teli's feet. Brian scrunched up his forehead and wrinkled his nose.
"But Teli was just gonna…" Brian's brief protest was cut short.
"Teli can build you a ramp after dinner." Dave said with a fatherly look. Teli grinned at her dad and followed Brian into the kitchen.
"Teli, sweetheart, would you run to the store for me and get some bread?" Jane cheerfully asked while she handed Brian the placemats to set the table.
"Sure, Mom." Teli replied, turning towards the door and slipping on a pair of sandals. The store was only a mile down the road; Teli would be back before dinner was out of the oven.
As Teli left the store, bag in hand, a dark red and black motorcycle screeched to a halt in front of her. Zane's dark locks fell over a new pair of shades. Teli was about to make a smart remark about the new glasses, but a sudden sense of alarm clutched at her heart. She didn't say anything; she stood frozen, waiting for him to speak the words she feared – words which she had no choice but to heed.
"You've got one hour. Meet here, 19:30." Zane's direct words stung her ears. Teli broke the eye contact and nodded quickly. She didn't watch as the motorcycle roared away.
"Just in time Tee!" Brian bounced in his chair as the family sat down to dinner. "I saved you a seat, too!" Teli tried to smile at her little brother, forgetting their earlier dispute over the truck.
"Thanks Brian." Teli said softly as she took her seat beside him. Jane set her daughter's plate down in front of her. Teli looked around at her family, gathered together in their homey little kitchen. The knowledge that this would be her last family dinner boar down on her mind and a liquid weight began to sting her eyes.
"Excited for school to start soon hun?" Dave asked, starting up the dinner conversation. Teli blinked quickly and smiled weakly at her dad, hesitating before she answered.
"I think so." Teli paused, wondering how swallowing helped to ward off tears. "It'll… be good to see everyone." She said in slow, deliberate words. 'I can't tell them. I can't even warn them…' Teli thought miserably.
Dinner was over quickly, too quickly for Teli. Brian had scampered off to show Dave his latest construction creation, completely forgetting about the toy truck, as usual. Teli was left alone with her mother. She took a deep breath. There was not much time left, but she had to say something.
"Mom…" Teli started but her voice broke off in a miserable sigh. This time, Teli couldn't stop the tears from welling up.
"What is it, honey? You've been acting down ever since you came back from the store." Jane said as she sat down by her daughter. Teli looked into her mother's loving face and felt the misery in her own become all too evident.
"Mom, I have to…" Teli started, "I have to go away for a while – it has to do with my…" Teli's voice failed her and she could not stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks.
"What is it Teli?" Jane asked, now sounding very worried and slightly alarmed.
"I…" But Teli couldn't say it. "I'm sorry!" She burst out, and sobbed into her hands. "I'm, so, so sorry." She whispered through the tears. Jane felt tears of her own roll down her cheeks as she put a loving hand on Teli's shoulder, trying to comfort, trying to be an understanding mother, though she did not fully understand.
"Shh, shh. It'll be okay, honey. Whatever it is, it'll be okay. Hush now." She said soothingly. Teli took a few deep breaths and finally raised her tear stained face.
"Mom, you have to promise me something." Teli made her voice strong, the light of determination glinting in her eyes. "You can't look for me. You *can't*. It will only put you in danger." Teli paused, "Please, promise you won't look for me." The final words rushed out forcefully, yet clear tones of misery and urgency rang in them. Jane just looked at Teli, afraid and not sure what to think. Her eyes filled with fresh tears. After a moment she reached for Teli's hand. Something in Teli's voice, in how she'd been acting the whole summer, in the ever-mysterious past, had warned Jane this day might be coming.
"Okay Teli." She said finally. "I promise." She whispered in a broken voice. "But please, come back." She said softly, a desperate note in her tone.
"I will Mom. I swear it." Teli leaned forward and Jane hugged her tight. When they pulled apart Teli quickly jumped up and ran to her room. Jane watched her dash away and let a few more tears fall.
An extra pair of jeans, a dark shirt, her pocketknife, and her journal were all Teli shoved into the backpack. Donning her leather jacket, Teli ran back down the stairs, caught her parents' eyes one last time with a sorrowful look, and hurried out the door.
Kat heard the call whistle and glanced at the clock. It was 7:15 – an odd time for Teli to be visiting. Kat opened the window and whistled back. Once outside, Kat sensed the change in Teli, saw the tear stains on her cheeks, and knew, even before Teli said anything, what was happening. Kat threw her arms around her friend and hugged her tight. Teli returned the embrace, but pulled back after a moment to look directly into Kat's sad eyes.
"Kat, you know about me." Teli said slowly, but firmly. "That puts you in a lot of danger." Kat nodded gravely. "If anyone, military or other, comes looking around, you have got to get out of town." Teli said, a note of urgency ringing in her tone. Kat nodded again, dropping her eyes and letting the information soaking in, realizing clearly then the danger she was potentially in. After a moment, she looked up, silent tears falling down her cheeks.
"I'm really gonna miss you." She said softly, feeling the need to state the obvious.
"You just be careful while I'm gone." Teli whispered back.
"What about Shane?" Kat asked a moment later. Another wave of sadness flashed through Teli's eyes. 'If only I had more time…' Teli thought.
"Say goodbye to him for me?" She asked. Kat nodded uncertainly. Teli checked the time. 7:25.
"I've gotta go." She said softly. Kat blinked hard to keep more tears away.
"Just come back." She whispered urgently.
"I will." 'If I can.' Teli thought, and she felt tears rise up again at that thought. She quickly turned and slipped away. Kat watched Teli leave, half jogging down the road. She couldn't make herself look away from the path Teli had taken, hoping for some miracle to turn her around. Finally, the faint sound of a motorcycle reached Kat's ears, and she knew that Teli was really gone.
****
Tye had said all his goodbyes, save one, and they had only talked briefly so that Aliana would know what to do if people came looking. Now all he had to do was say goodbye and leave. 'Easier said than done.' Tye thought miserably. 'No. Don't be weak. All you have to do is say good bye and walk away.' Determination echoed in his mind. Then he looked up. Aliana was walking down the barn aisle towards him, not even trying to conceal the tears that ran in rivers down her soft cheeks. Tye could not bear to watch the pain in her eyes, and his resolve faded.
She stopped barely a foot in front of him. Tye slowly raised his gaze from where it was fixed on the ground and looked into her sad eyes. Aliana's outline blurred for a moment as he blinked back tears. He suddenly wanted to say a thousand things, but knew that he couldn't, that he shouldn't. A fresh welling of tears rose in Aliana's eyes and Tye knew she was holding back sobs. Slowly, she reached out to touch Tye's arm and wrap her fingers in the soft fabric of his shirt, wanting to hold on to something, anything. Tye felt a single tear trace its way down his cheek, and he couldn't stand it any longer. He pulled Aliana close and wrapped his arms tight around her. She returned the embrace, holding on as if she never planned to let go. Tye rested his temple on the top of her head and rocked slightly, trying to comfort. He felt her soft sobs against his chest.
After a moment, Tye pulled back slightly, put his fingers under her chin and raised her tear-filled eyes to his. He almost couldn't speak.
"I promise you," he whispered fiercely, his hand moving to stroke her cheek, "I will come back." He felt Aliana take a shuddering breath as she nodded. "I promise." He repeated, never looking away from her eyes. Slowly, Tye leaned down as Aliana raised her face to his and their lips met softly for the first time. She tasted slightly of cherry lip balm, yet salty from the tears that had run down her cheeks.
"Goodbye, Tye." Aliana whispered when they pulled apart. Tye rubbed his thumb across her smooth skin and wipped away a tear.
"Goodbye, Ali." He looked into her eyes a moment longer. One last tear trickled out of his eye. Then quickly he turned and walked away, his mind already trying to shake itself free from the pain of emotions as he forcefully whisked away the final tear from his face. Aliana just stood there, frozen. One hand still outstretched as if to pull him back. A moment later a car door slammed and an engine was gunned. As the tires squealed, Aliana crumpled to the floor and sobbed.
****
It was a regular evening at the Stevens' house. Brian was running around with an old remote controlled truck, Teli was sitting at the dinning room table, paging through the day's newspaper, glancing over the different stories while her parents were bustling around in the kitchen, preparing dinner. Teli was skimming through the sports page when she felt a familiar, rubber and plastic caused crunch on her bare toe.
"Brian! Get that stupid truck away from my feet!" Teli snapped, trying not to be too loud and attract parental attention. Brian grinned mischievously. Teli glared back for a moment. 'What on earth did I do to deserve a little bother on top of everything else?' Teli mumbled to herself.
"Teli, make that ramp for me again." Brian demanded, ignoring her annoyed tone. Teli's eyes narrowed.
"Are you gonna keep that toy away from my toes this time?" She asked shortly. Brian nodded enthusiastically, but that didn't necessarily mean anything.
"Brian, help your mother set the table." Dave said suddenly, poking his head into the dinning room and glancing at the toy truck at Teli's feet. Brian scrunched up his forehead and wrinkled his nose.
"But Teli was just gonna…" Brian's brief protest was cut short.
"Teli can build you a ramp after dinner." Dave said with a fatherly look. Teli grinned at her dad and followed Brian into the kitchen.
"Teli, sweetheart, would you run to the store for me and get some bread?" Jane cheerfully asked while she handed Brian the placemats to set the table.
"Sure, Mom." Teli replied, turning towards the door and slipping on a pair of sandals. The store was only a mile down the road; Teli would be back before dinner was out of the oven.
As Teli left the store, bag in hand, a dark red and black motorcycle screeched to a halt in front of her. Zane's dark locks fell over a new pair of shades. Teli was about to make a smart remark about the new glasses, but a sudden sense of alarm clutched at her heart. She didn't say anything; she stood frozen, waiting for him to speak the words she feared – words which she had no choice but to heed.
"You've got one hour. Meet here, 19:30." Zane's direct words stung her ears. Teli broke the eye contact and nodded quickly. She didn't watch as the motorcycle roared away.
"Just in time Tee!" Brian bounced in his chair as the family sat down to dinner. "I saved you a seat, too!" Teli tried to smile at her little brother, forgetting their earlier dispute over the truck.
"Thanks Brian." Teli said softly as she took her seat beside him. Jane set her daughter's plate down in front of her. Teli looked around at her family, gathered together in their homey little kitchen. The knowledge that this would be her last family dinner boar down on her mind and a liquid weight began to sting her eyes.
"Excited for school to start soon hun?" Dave asked, starting up the dinner conversation. Teli blinked quickly and smiled weakly at her dad, hesitating before she answered.
"I think so." Teli paused, wondering how swallowing helped to ward off tears. "It'll… be good to see everyone." She said in slow, deliberate words. 'I can't tell them. I can't even warn them…' Teli thought miserably.
Dinner was over quickly, too quickly for Teli. Brian had scampered off to show Dave his latest construction creation, completely forgetting about the toy truck, as usual. Teli was left alone with her mother. She took a deep breath. There was not much time left, but she had to say something.
"Mom…" Teli started but her voice broke off in a miserable sigh. This time, Teli couldn't stop the tears from welling up.
"What is it, honey? You've been acting down ever since you came back from the store." Jane said as she sat down by her daughter. Teli looked into her mother's loving face and felt the misery in her own become all too evident.
"Mom, I have to…" Teli started, "I have to go away for a while – it has to do with my…" Teli's voice failed her and she could not stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks.
"What is it Teli?" Jane asked, now sounding very worried and slightly alarmed.
"I…" But Teli couldn't say it. "I'm sorry!" She burst out, and sobbed into her hands. "I'm, so, so sorry." She whispered through the tears. Jane felt tears of her own roll down her cheeks as she put a loving hand on Teli's shoulder, trying to comfort, trying to be an understanding mother, though she did not fully understand.
"Shh, shh. It'll be okay, honey. Whatever it is, it'll be okay. Hush now." She said soothingly. Teli took a few deep breaths and finally raised her tear stained face.
"Mom, you have to promise me something." Teli made her voice strong, the light of determination glinting in her eyes. "You can't look for me. You *can't*. It will only put you in danger." Teli paused, "Please, promise you won't look for me." The final words rushed out forcefully, yet clear tones of misery and urgency rang in them. Jane just looked at Teli, afraid and not sure what to think. Her eyes filled with fresh tears. After a moment she reached for Teli's hand. Something in Teli's voice, in how she'd been acting the whole summer, in the ever-mysterious past, had warned Jane this day might be coming.
"Okay Teli." She said finally. "I promise." She whispered in a broken voice. "But please, come back." She said softly, a desperate note in her tone.
"I will Mom. I swear it." Teli leaned forward and Jane hugged her tight. When they pulled apart Teli quickly jumped up and ran to her room. Jane watched her dash away and let a few more tears fall.
An extra pair of jeans, a dark shirt, her pocketknife, and her journal were all Teli shoved into the backpack. Donning her leather jacket, Teli ran back down the stairs, caught her parents' eyes one last time with a sorrowful look, and hurried out the door.
Kat heard the call whistle and glanced at the clock. It was 7:15 – an odd time for Teli to be visiting. Kat opened the window and whistled back. Once outside, Kat sensed the change in Teli, saw the tear stains on her cheeks, and knew, even before Teli said anything, what was happening. Kat threw her arms around her friend and hugged her tight. Teli returned the embrace, but pulled back after a moment to look directly into Kat's sad eyes.
"Kat, you know about me." Teli said slowly, but firmly. "That puts you in a lot of danger." Kat nodded gravely. "If anyone, military or other, comes looking around, you have got to get out of town." Teli said, a note of urgency ringing in her tone. Kat nodded again, dropping her eyes and letting the information soaking in, realizing clearly then the danger she was potentially in. After a moment, she looked up, silent tears falling down her cheeks.
"I'm really gonna miss you." She said softly, feeling the need to state the obvious.
"You just be careful while I'm gone." Teli whispered back.
"What about Shane?" Kat asked a moment later. Another wave of sadness flashed through Teli's eyes. 'If only I had more time…' Teli thought.
"Say goodbye to him for me?" She asked. Kat nodded uncertainly. Teli checked the time. 7:25.
"I've gotta go." She said softly. Kat blinked hard to keep more tears away.
"Just come back." She whispered urgently.
"I will." 'If I can.' Teli thought, and she felt tears rise up again at that thought. She quickly turned and slipped away. Kat watched Teli leave, half jogging down the road. She couldn't make herself look away from the path Teli had taken, hoping for some miracle to turn her around. Finally, the faint sound of a motorcycle reached Kat's ears, and she knew that Teli was really gone.
****
Tye had said all his goodbyes, save one, and they had only talked briefly so that Aliana would know what to do if people came looking. Now all he had to do was say goodbye and leave. 'Easier said than done.' Tye thought miserably. 'No. Don't be weak. All you have to do is say good bye and walk away.' Determination echoed in his mind. Then he looked up. Aliana was walking down the barn aisle towards him, not even trying to conceal the tears that ran in rivers down her soft cheeks. Tye could not bear to watch the pain in her eyes, and his resolve faded.
She stopped barely a foot in front of him. Tye slowly raised his gaze from where it was fixed on the ground and looked into her sad eyes. Aliana's outline blurred for a moment as he blinked back tears. He suddenly wanted to say a thousand things, but knew that he couldn't, that he shouldn't. A fresh welling of tears rose in Aliana's eyes and Tye knew she was holding back sobs. Slowly, she reached out to touch Tye's arm and wrap her fingers in the soft fabric of his shirt, wanting to hold on to something, anything. Tye felt a single tear trace its way down his cheek, and he couldn't stand it any longer. He pulled Aliana close and wrapped his arms tight around her. She returned the embrace, holding on as if she never planned to let go. Tye rested his temple on the top of her head and rocked slightly, trying to comfort. He felt her soft sobs against his chest.
After a moment, Tye pulled back slightly, put his fingers under her chin and raised her tear-filled eyes to his. He almost couldn't speak.
"I promise you," he whispered fiercely, his hand moving to stroke her cheek, "I will come back." He felt Aliana take a shuddering breath as she nodded. "I promise." He repeated, never looking away from her eyes. Slowly, Tye leaned down as Aliana raised her face to his and their lips met softly for the first time. She tasted slightly of cherry lip balm, yet salty from the tears that had run down her cheeks.
"Goodbye, Tye." Aliana whispered when they pulled apart. Tye rubbed his thumb across her smooth skin and wipped away a tear.
"Goodbye, Ali." He looked into her eyes a moment longer. One last tear trickled out of his eye. Then quickly he turned and walked away, his mind already trying to shake itself free from the pain of emotions as he forcefully whisked away the final tear from his face. Aliana just stood there, frozen. One hand still outstretched as if to pull him back. A moment later a car door slammed and an engine was gunned. As the tires squealed, Aliana crumpled to the floor and sobbed.