10
This would be a challenge more so for me than for them. The 20's, a year I never thought I'd have to go to. I knew enough about my history to know what it would be like for me there. With the Swedes having thick accents when they spoke English, they'd be seen as second class as well. But then again they wouldn't speak much anyways.
"For this mission we need to be careful. Very careful." I announced after I stopped pacing. Oscar was sitting on the couch with Maddie on his lap, while Otto and Axel sat at my table looking over the different knives and guns they had.
"It will be quick. We go, we leave." Axel replied his eyes moving over a large hunting knife with pride. I shook my head.
"If we can somehow find a place to stay, clothes to wear and be able to get the target on our first try. But there could be obstacles." I reminded looking at slim man over. His face looked old and shriveled like he smoked way too much. "There will be segregation there."
"We know history. We know what to expect." Otto responded as if trying to relieve me, but I was far from it. I shook my head at them.
"You're silent killers. Plus you're white that will keep you ahead of the game. I on the other hand am not. I can't be out with you all without prejudiced eyes around us. When we get there, I will make my way into the home of someone in the African- American communities and you all… well you've never had trouble securing a place for yourselves." I announced. Axel traced his thumb over the knife some as if he wasn't listening to me.
"No." he said lowly. I looked at him quizzically.
"No? No what?" I asked. He looked at me finally getting up from his spot and standing over me.
"We stay together." he said. "We find secluded home, kill whoever is inside and we go from there." However, I was still not satisfied and I looked away in thought. Axel tilted his head observing my face.
"You're scared." he stated. It was not a question but a full-on fact. Otto and Oscar both looked up from their cat and weapons to look at me and I nodded not afraid to admit it.
"Yes I am scared. The 20s isn't a safe era for me. We can't just walk around together like we do here. There are dangers everywhere for me there. I can handle myself if needed, but if we separate then we have to be very carefkul." I explained. Axel stared at me for a moment his eyes slowly cutting over to his brothers who just looked back at their brother with what seemed like agreement. Axel looked back at me his eyes soft and light as they focused on me and I seemed a little put off by it.
"We will protect you." he said, his tone serious yet cool at the same time. My eyes still showed worry but upon looking at the other two, they nodded in unison of their brother's words. I looked back up at Axel and nodded.
An hour after of getting ready and planning, I came out in brown older dress, wearing a beige felt hat with a brown bow on it. I had on black shoes with a small heal. My status wouldn't be lower class in the black community, but it wouldn't be high up either. I wanted to be right in the middle, able to hide who I was in plain sight. I had a green large bag with me some clothes and other items in it. Once I stepped out into the living room, I saw the Swedes standing together as if waiting for me.
When they saw me they looked pleasantly surprised? They were in their older European farm clothes, with older looking hats on their heads. We definitely did not look like we belonged in 2020. I stepped over to them and they just smiled down at me.
"What?" I asked. Otto raised his head some.
"You look… cute." he replied. My cheeks grew warm at his compliment and I nodded my thanks to him. Axel handed me the coordinates of which I read a few times over in my head. I nodded and we took each other's hands before disappearing away. I opened my eyes now and noticed the difference in the smell of the air. The sound of waves crashing together made me jump. We were at the boardwalk itself staring at the ocean. I looked around for the Swedes to see them approaching me. We looked around at the area for a moment, noticing no one was around. The sky was a light blue and we knew no one was up yet. We scanned the area for a brief moment noticing the sign that said "Whites Only". I winced some at it never having actually seen one this close before. The boys looked at me and Axel held his hand out to me.
I leaned into my bag and pulled out a map of the area I had printed. He examined it for a split second before looking up then down then up again before moving off the sand. We all followed. Immediately I was nervous, looking around at the old buildings. It was like walking through some old 1900s portrait or something. As much as I wanted to stand close to the Swedes, I kept a safe distance behind them. I didn't need any wandering eyes moving to us. They glanced back at me from time to time making sure not to lose me as the streets began to fill with people.
The clothes they were made me feel still out of date. No one looked at me though as I kept my head down and my eyes forward. Surprisingly enough all the eyes were going to the Swedes. Their hair seemed pure white here and their piercing blue eyes were making a lot of women, walking with their beaus, stare. I just remained quiet and looked around at the old buildings before me. It honestly was a nice place. I saw older cars driving on the road, African American men in the front seats, looking tired. They'd get out and let the white passengers out who looked to be well-dressed upper-class people.
I looked ahead noticing two men walking right in front of me. Immediately, I moved to the side so they could pass. I looked ahead to see the brothers still walking ahead of me, glancing back at me still. A few people were walking in front of me now causing more space between us. Suddenly, some men in fine brown suits stopped right in front of me. I paused immediately and looked up at the them.
"Well hello there, dolly. What's a cute thing like you doing out here by yourself?" he asked one of them asked. Their accents were thick. Italians. I tried to step around them, but they blocked me off.
"Please sirs, I'm just trying to find my way around." I asked weakly, and the men looked at each other with smirks.
"Oh you hear that boys, she's lost." he replied.
"Why don't you let us help you out." Someone behind me asked wickedly. I tensed, the two men in front of me suddenly were shoved past me and I was immediately pulled forward. Now the three men looked at my saviors who were a wall before me.
"You assholes want a piece of us huh?" one of the men asked pulling out small hand guns. In response, the Swedes pulled out their shot guns ready to fire on them. Immediately the three men raised their hands and backed away hurrying down the alleyway they came from. I exhaled heavily noticing the streets had suddenly cleared out. The brothers put their weapons away and turned and walked past me. Otto just took hold of forearm and just pulled me down the road. As we were leaving the city, we just walked on the side of the road in silence. The pale blue sky was brighter as the sun came out.
I felt more comfortable walking side by side the brothers now as Axel just looked at the map. A truck was suddenly approaching in the distance. We were in the grass, so we weren't really in the way. As the truck passed, I could see the faces of three white men, two in the front and one in back. The truck slowed down close to us and finally stopped. The men seemed to be in their early thirties, wearing what looked like overalls. Axel stopped and as a reaction we all stopped.
The driver leaned out the window eyeing me already with disgust before looking at the brothers.
"You boys look lost can we give you a lift?" he asked. Axel looked at his brothers who just stared at the truck. He then looked at the man and nodded. The man smiled and nodded. "Well come on in… but she ain't getting in this truck." He motioned his head at me, and Oscar and Otto looked at me in response and I honestly wasn't surprised. In response all three of us looked at Axel who tilted his head some before moving over toward the driver's side. He leaned over to his left just a little as if looking as if observing the space in the truck. There was space in the middle for someone to sit. Axel then just looked at the driver and before I could even blink, he pulled out his shot gun, aimed and fired. The bullets went through the driver's head, and then the man in the passenger's seat. Blood sprayed out the truck. The man in the back yelped and fell out the truck making a run for it down the road. Otto walked swiftly to the back of the truck, aimed his gun at him and fired.
The man fell down easily onto the ground. Axel and Oscar opened the truck doors and pulled the two bodies out. I was just standing there in utter shock at how fast this scene happened. Axel snapped his fingers at me to get my attention, and I looked at him and he motioned for me to get in the truck. I moved over toward the open door and looked inside to see there was blood everywhere. I winced some and looked at Axel, showing with my eyes I didn't want to sit on a bloody seat. He looked at me as if annoyed motioning for me to get in. Oscar rolled his eyes and left only to come back from the truck holding up some white Klansmen sheets to us. Axel and I looked a bit stunned now before looking impressed at the men that were killed.
He just wiped the seats and windows off before looking at us two with annoyance as if asking "can we go now?". Otto jumped in the back of the truck and now we all got in. Axel turned the truck around and we began to drive down the road the truck came from. The last man was still crawling away, leaving behind a trail of blood. Axel merged on the side of the road and picked up speed. I shut my eyes tight at the violent bump I felt. After a few seconds I opened my eyes and took a few silent breaths. Well at least we had a truck.