Chapter 4: Evacuate

August 10th, 1992

01:27 A.M.

San Ángel, Mexico

—

Sarah Connor awoke with a start as she felt two hands clasp down on her shoulders. Her eyes opened instantly and she gripped the person's wrists and moved as if to knee the person but the voice stopped her.

"We need to leave… now."

Sarah stared into Jolanda's fear filled brown eyes with a look of confusion.

"What? Why?"

"They are coming."

Sarah climbed out of the bed quickly, surprised that Jolanda was still holding her.

"The deal fell through?"

Jolanda nodded.

"They were not there when Enrique arrived. He called to tell us that they may come here looking for us. We must leave."

Sarah returned with a quick nod and watched as Jolanda rushed out of her room to get her own children and her sister, Salma. She rushed to the end of the bed and slipped on the pair of pants she had worn the day before and shoved her tennis shoes onto her feet without socks. She didn't have a lot of time to get ready.

Sarah drew in a shaky breath as she knelt down next to the bed, shaking her seven year old son awake. His face furrowed in confusion as his green eyes fluttered open slowly. Sarah pushed some of his dark hair out of his face as he stared at her, half-asleep.

"Mom?"

"Get up. We're leaving."

She gripped his wrists and pulled him up into a sitting position. He rubbed his eyes slowly before he rose to his feet, watching her pull both of the suitcases out from under the bed.

"Where are we going?"

"I… I don't know, John. We just have to leave."

She reached into the second suitcase and pulled out a pistol, turning the safety on before she set it down on the ground next to her.

"Get your shoes on now, John."

"I'm not dressed!"

"That doesn't matter. Just get your shoes on and help Jolanda pack the truck."

John immediately did what she said; putting his socks and shoes on before he turned and walked out of their room. Sarah followed with the pistol tucked in her pants, holding both of their suitcases. She watched Franco and Paco run by with the keys to go and start both of the trucks as Jolanda pushed Juanita into the living room. John ran forward taking Juanita's hand and the two of them ran after the twins to the truck.

"Go Sarah, I'll be right there."

Sarah nodded and walked out into the night, shoving the suitcases in the back of the first pick-up truck. Franco and started one and Paco had the other one running not too far away. Juanita was standing in the second truck's bed, holding a pistol before she jumped down and ran into the truck. Jolanda's sister Salma ran to the truck, pushing Paco and Juanita to the back seat. Franco sprinted to that truck and hopped into the passenger's seat, slamming the door shut behind him.

Salma nodded to Sarah once before she sped away from the house, driving down the dirt road as fast as she could. John opened the passenger's door to their truck and quickly moved to the back just as Jolanda ran out of the house. Sarah took the driver's seat and sped off the moment Jolanda was in the truck. Sarah's blue eyes watched every angle, looking for any sign of a speeding truck in the dark of night.

Jolanda's hands trembled as she held a burner phone in her hands, staring at it with fear. Sarah noticed the phone and glanced at her friend quickly.

"Do you know any more?"

"No, I am waiting for Enrique's call."

"Did you grab everything?"

Jolanda nodded.

"Yes, it is all in the other truck with the children."

Sarah shook her head slowly as she took a sharp right, tearing down the dirt road. She glanced back in the rear view mirror to see John looking out the side window, watching for cars just like she was. He licked his lips nervously and spoke softly.

"Where are we going to go?"

Jolanda turned in her seat.

"We are going to the safe house."

"Do they know where that is?"

"No. No one but Salma, Enrique, and I know where it is."

Jolanda turned back to the road and pointed left. Sarah hesitated and didn't take the turn, continuing to go straight. She sped down the road, turning at the nearest gas station and swung into it. She parked the car and turned to Jolanda.

"Call Enrique."

"What?"

"Call him now."

"Why?"

"Because it may not be the guerrillas."

Sarah nervously glanced back at John and tried to fight the fear that was closing in. John's eyes widened at the look on his mother's face.

"They're here? The… the machines?"

"I don't know, John."

Jolanda dialed her husband's number and pressed the phone to her ear. Sarah stepped out of the truck and motioned for John to follow her. He climbed out of the front seat and walked to the bed of the truck. Sarah lifted him up so he could climb over and get into the suitcases.

"What am I getting?"

"The second pistol."

John hesitated but opened the suitcase, handing the gun to his mother quickly. He tied the suitcase down again and jumped out of the bed, climbing back in the truck. He slid into the back seat and sat down while his mother closed the door behind her. She leaned back and placed one of the pistols on his lap.

"Just in case."

Sarah's heart sank and she hoped that her son wouldn't have to use that gun. She turned to Jolanda who was hurriedly speaking to her husband. Sarah backed out of the parking lot and felt the need to hold her breath while she waited for Jolanda to tell her what was happening. She quickly hung up the phone and turned to Sarah.

"He said he doesn't think it is a machine. He believes it is the guerrillas. They were not happy with what Enrique supplied them with. I assume they are going to our house to steal all the firepower there."

Sarah nodded slowly as she turned around and took the right toward the safe house. She let out a small sigh of relief.

"Let's pray that's all they take."