Taken
Chapter Two
Zebraboymom
Disclaimer: They do not belong to me. That's okay.
Author Notes: How do you escape with seven young children?
Steve and Kono sat cross-legged facing each other. This was a surprise. When they took the case they had no idea other children were missing as well. Why wouldn't the FBI let them know something like that?
Sarah crawled into Kono's lap and put her arms around her neck.
"I'm scared."
"It's okay Sweetie. I'm Kono and this is Steve and we're police officers. We're going to take care of you. We've been looking for you."
"I want my mom."
In a few seconds, the rest of the small group of children surrounded Steve and Kono. The four little girls attached themselves to Kono. Kevin crawled into Steve's lap and the other two boys sat on either side of him.
"Kono and I knew about Kevin and Sarah, but where did the rest of you come from?"
The kids began to talk one by one. Two of the girls were sisters taken four days ago while their parents were vacationing in California. They had been playing at the hotel pool. They had been flown there in a plane and told their parents were dead. The two boys were brothers taken from the island the day before, which meant they had only now been listed as missing. The other two girls had been taken separately from other islands in Hawaii in the last week. One had been taken from the Big Island and one from Maui. That meant they were all part of a recent abduction. That meant they were moving fast. It had to be part of a slave ring. Steve knew these men played for keeps. He had to get them out of there fast. Kevin turned in Steve's arms.
"Steve, we been tryin' to escape. Come see."
Kevin took Steve's hand and led him over to the back of the shed in a corner behind a bail of hay. He showed Steve where the boards were loose.
"We got one loose, but nobody is small enough to fit. We need to get another board loose."
"Kevin, that was good thinking son."
"Thanks!"
The little boy beamed. Steve pulled on the board next to it and it gave way. It would take one more to get the two adults through. He pulled, but it was too secure.
"I can't get it."
Steve turned to look at the little boy.
"We need to get out of here. Kevin, do you think you would be brave enough to squeeze through and go around and let us out?"
Kevin looked at Steve for a couple of moments and then nodded his head.
"I can do it."
"You be careful and watch for the men, okay? You're a brave kid Kevin. Your mom and dad would be proud of you."
The little boy hugged him and then was gone out the opening before Steve knew it. It seemed like forever, but it was probably only a few minutes when they heard the bolt pulled back and the door slowly opened.
"Good job, Kevin. Okay, everybody, we need to stay together. Hold hands and stay right with Kono and I. Don't talk, or make noise and no matter what happens, stay together. We have to keep walking for a very long time without stopping to rest. Can you do that?"
Seven little heads nodded solemnly. None of them was over seven or eight years old. Most of them were probably kindergarteners. Steve prayed they could put quite a bit of distance between them and the kidnappers before they found out they were gone. They headed outside. Steve looked around as he closed and relocked the shed. He looked at Kono and they had a silent conversation. It was possible they would be caught at any minute and they both hated putting the kids in this situation. Steve had no idea which way civilization was. He took Kevin's hand and headed off into the jungle.
"Let's hope they don't have a tracker."
Kono took Sarah's hand. Sarah grabbed the littlest girl's hand and the two older girls held hands. They tried to keep up with the boys, but after about twenty minutes of walking and jogging, the little ones needed a rest.
"Steve, can we take a break?"
Steve turned back when her heard Kono. He looked at the faces of the little girls. They were cold and afraid out in the dark. The jungle was dense and they had to climb over vines and foliage. They were pretty beat up by the trek so far. Steve knew they didn't have enough of a head start. He could hear the sound of running water not far ahead. He scooped up the littlest girl in his arms and whispered in Kono's ear.
"I need to talk to you."
"Okay, kids. We're going to rest for a minute."
Steve hugged the little girl and sat her down on a rock. He reached for Kono's hand and pulled her away from the kids far enough that they couldn't overhear them.
"There is no way they haven't discovered we're gone. You know they wouldn't wait long before they interrogated us. They were just waiting for me to wake up."
"So, we need to keep going then."
"Kono, you need to take the kids and follow the sound of the water. When you find it keep following it. You'll eventually get down to civilization."
"What do you mean I need to take the kids? Steve, where are you going?"
"I'm going to double back and see what we're up against. I'm also going to try to get a weapon or two."
"Are you kidding me? You've probably got a concussion, your head has a big goose egg on it and we have seven kids here. No, Steve."
"Kono, unless I do something, we're sitting ducks out here. We can't keep seven little kids ahead of a group of grown men: ruthless, criminals I might add. I was a Seal Kono. I can do this and catch up to you guys."
"I…no…Steve, we need to stick together."
"Kono, you know I'm right. Now I am your boss. Do I need to order you to take these kids and go?"
"No, but please promise me you'll be careful."
"You worried about me Kalakaua?"
"Maybe."
"Good."
Steve's eyes twinkled in the moonlight as he looked down into hers. Kono could see his affection for her and before she could think about it she reached up and kissed his cheek. As she pulled back, Steve put both hands on her cheeks and softly kissed her on the mouth. Her eyes went wide in surprise and Steve chuckled as he released her.
"That's just in case I don't come back."
Kono punched him in the chest.
"Jerk, don't talk like that. You better come back."
"After a kiss like that, you better believe I'll come back."
He pulled her into a fierce hug. His voice was filled with emotion and Kono felt herself start to tear up.
"Take care of yourself, okay?"
She couldn't respond so she just nodded her head. Steve wiped away a tear that escaped. He held her close and whispered into her ear.
"It'll be okay."
Before she could react, he disappeared into the jungle. Kono turned to seven kids whose eyes had just gone wide.
"It'll be okay. Steve will be back soon, but we need to keep going, okay?"
All seven children stood and looked to Kono to lead. She took a deep breath. The littlest girl tugged on her pants.
"I'm scared Kono."
She smiled down at the girl and took her hand.
"What's your name sweetheart?"
"Cassie."
"I'm scared too Cassie, but Steve will make sure we all get through this, okay? Let's go everybody."
They walked for only another hundred yards or so before they came to a stream cascading down. Kono followed the stream and started down the mountainside. She hoped Steve came soon. When they came to a clear space all Kono could see for miles was jungle. They seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. As undeveloped as it was Kono would have to guess they were on the east side of the island in the Koolau mountain range. There was very little development on this part of the island as it was not part of the tourism.
Steve moved quickly back through the dense brush towards the compound they had left. He could hear the sound of men coming towards him through the jungle. It sounded like a small group. Steve fell back and watched as they moved past him. It looked like there were eight of them. Steve saw one moving away and behind the others. He waited for him to pass. Steve stepped in behind him and quickly snapped his neck, catching his rifle on the way down. Nine to go. Steve moved methodically like he had been trained. He took out two more before he skirted away and headed back the way he came. Fortunately they were headed in the wrong direction from the kids and Kono. He had two pistols and two rifles now. Once he was out of hearing he broke into a run and made his way through the jungle quickly. He found the stream he was sure Kono was following and slowed down. He was sweating and his head was pounding. One thing he knew about concussions was the need for rest. He had been able to get two canteens off the dead men. He hated to cheat the kids out of any of it, but he needed to take a small sip. He made it just enough to quench him and started off again. All he could think about was getting back to Kono. He smiled to himself as he walked. He thought about the kiss and that made him move even faster. How stupid was he to be daydreaming in the middle of the jungle, in the middle of the night, while being chased by an international kidnapping ring. All he could think about were those dimples and that smile. He had to get back to her.
Kono kept the kids moving as best she could. Little Cassie had finally gone as far as she could. Kono scooped her up and carried her. Kono was feeling the effects of fighting with their captors and every bone in her body hurt. She always played the bad ass, but truth be told, she wanted Steve there with her. She needed his strength.
Sarah pulled on Kono's shirt.
"Can we stop again? I'm awful tired Kono."
"Okay, for just a few minutes. She set Cassie down and collapsed on the ground next to her. The girl immediately snuggled up to her. The jungle was cool at night and the little girl was so cold. All the kid gathered around and huddled together. Kono was struck with the responsibility in her hands. Don't worry guys, Steve will find us. I know it. He's never ever let me down. Okay?"
Kevin smiled at her.
"He'll find us again Kono. I know it. Besides, if he doesn't I'll help you take care of the kids."
"Thanks Kevin. That means a lot."
"I'm thirsty."
"I know Cassie but we can't drink this water. It might have bugs in it that will make us sick."
"This doesn't."
Steve stepped out of the jungle and handed a canteen to Kono. Their hands brushed and Kono relaxed. Inside her heart was saying Steve. Steve is here!
He handed her another canteen and she passed it to the boys.
"Not too much kids. We need to make the water last."
"Okay Steve."
Kono stood and they moved away from the kids again to talk.
"There were eight of them."
"Were?"
"Now there are five. They're headed in the wrong direction right now, so if we can get down to a road, the beach, or a town, maybe we can get some help before they figure out we didn't go west. They're moving away from us right now. We need to let the kids get some real rest: maybe a couple of hours. They're at least an hour away from us at this point, so let's start looking for some place to rest."
Kono went to walk back to the kids, but Steve caught her hand and pulled her into a hug.
"I told you I'd be back."
"I never doubted it. The whole time you were gone I kept thinking, I couldn't do this without Steve. Thank God you're okay."
Steve held her tighter and Kono buried her face in his neck.
"I've got you Sweetheart. Always will."
Kono turned her face up to his and they kissed again. A little voice was sing-songing.
"Steve likes Kono."
The two of them looked over to see all seven children watching them.
"Yes, he does. Who wouldn't like her, right?"
"Yeah, she's pretty and nice."
"Thank you Kevin."
Steve took back the canteens.
"How about we find someplace to rest?"
"We can keep walking Steve. It's okay."
"You've all done a great job so far, but let's find a place, okay?"
The slope wasn't as pronounced where they were and the ground was beginning to flatten out. It wasn't long before they came across a huge banyan tree. It was perfect. They all crawled inside the extensive prop roots and went deeply into the middle of it. There were plenty of places to lie down leaning against one of the twisted roots. They weren't visible once they were deeply inside. Steve and Kono sat down side-by-side and the kids lay down with their heads in their laps and on their thighs. Kono stroked Sarah's hair and Cassie, who looked to be only about four, crawled up into Steve's lap and curled into the two of them. Kono put her head on Steve's shoulder and was out quickly. Steve remained awake watching over their little "Family". He prayed they were safe for the time being.