AN: Hey guys, so I noticed that it's been over two years since I have updated this story! Oh my goodness, sorry about that. But good news fam (if anyone still cares) I'm bac and attempting to continue it. I have seriously been stumped on this story for years with no idea where I was going with it, but I'm going to try and just roll with it to see if I can finish it. I wanted to say a huge shout out and thanks to JuddVicki4eva who wrote the nicest reviews and who I would like to continue the story for as well as everyone else who wrote lovely feedback. So here we go!
By the time the kids had gotten on the road, the sun was going down which would help them hide under cover of darkness. Mark climbed into the drivers seat and Judd sat up front with him. Lionel and Darrion climbed in the back.
"What are we even doing?" Judd groaned, buckling his seat belt.
"We're going to save your wife." Mark replied, raising an eyebrow.
Judd rolled his eyes, "And do you have a plan beyond that."
"Come on, man" Lionel said, patting his friend on the shoulder from behind, "We've done rescue operations before."
Judd knew he was right, but all the 'rescue operations' they'd taken on in the past had been much earlier in the tribulation. Things were much more dangerous now.
"Things are different now Lionel." Judd replied, "They don't just want to throw us in prison, they want us dead."
Lionel sunk back in his seat.
"I think we should pick through the back roads, until we're about five miles out, then we find somewhere to hide the car and head out on foot. Maybe we can scope out the place. If we're right, and they are planning on keeping her alive at least until we show up, we don't have to go in guns blazing tonight. We need to take our time and be careful."
"But even if they're keeping her alive, it's not exactly going to be a day spa in there." Darrion pointed out.
"No kidding," Mark replied, "But there's no point in storming the place and getting ourselves killed before we have a chance to a least try and save her."
Judd tensed up Mark's use of the word 'try'. He'd never felt so hopeless before in his life.
"This is all my fault." Judd said rubbing his face, "I drove her away and right into their hands."
"Stop feeling sorry for yourself." Mark snapped, "You're not the one in GC custody. All we can do is our best."
Mark picked through the back streets silently, headlights off and squinting through the dark. He felt way more distressed about Vicki being missing than he felt he had a right to be. Sure, she'd married Judd, and yeah she'd always loved him, but Mark still hadn't one hundred per cent gotten over the fact that he'd fallen for her too. And, as ashamed as if made him feel, he couldn't help but think that if she'd chosen him, she wouldn't be missing now. I would have never treated her like that, picking a fight with her four days into our marriage, he thought I wouldn't have let anything happen to her, ever. He shook the nasty thought away and focused back on the streets in front of him.
"So when we get there, what are we doing?" Darrion asked, "You've apparently got all the answers, Mark."
"Well there's no doubt it's going to be crawling with guards, so we're going to need to scope it out before we even touch it. I don't even think we can plan ahead until we really see what we're up against."
"This is hopeless." Judd groaned, "I honestly don't see any way we can pull this off."
"Then start praying," Mark replied, "Because the only way I see us pulling it off, is with a miracle."
When they were about five miles out from the holding facility, Mark found a good quiet spot among the rocks and shrubbery of a hill where he parked the car as inconspicuously as he could. They'd noticed the increase in numbers of GC guards and vehicles over the last few miles and a tense and nervous silence hung in the air. The four of them quietly climbed out of the car and began to pick their way through the outskirts of the ruins of the city on foot.
"Stick to the shadows, and stick together." Mark said in a hushed tone.
The four of them huddled together as they neared the holding facility until they could see the barbed wire fences and floodlights of the prison. In the front were bloodstained guillotines and a shiver ran down Judd's spine. Dozens of soldiers lined the perimeter and a watch tower loomed above the grounds.
When they were about five miles out from the holding facility, Mark found a good quiet spot amongst the rocks and shrubbery of a hill where he parked the car as inconspicuously as he could. They'd noticed the increase in numbers of GC guards and vehicles over the last few miles and a tense and nervous silence hung in the air. The four of them quietly climbed out of the car and began to pick their way through the outskirts of the ruins of the city on foot.
"Stick to the shadows, and stick together." Mark said in a hushed tone.
The four of them huddled together as they neared the holding facility until they could see the barbed wire fences and floodlights of the prison. In the front were bloodstained guillotines and a shiver ran down Judd's spine. Dozens of soldiers lined the perimeter and a watch tower loomed above the grounds.
"There's no way we can just waltz in there." Darrion said.
"We should stake it out for a while," Mark suggested, "See what's going down. See if anything is going in or out of there that might give us an opportunity to break the perimeter."
"Mark, you're talking like you're the hero of an action movie." Lionel argued, "Have a look at that place. It's a fortress."
"We've got to do something." Judd said, "Either I get her out or I die trying."
"You dying trying isn't going to help Vicki." Darrion said.
Suddenly, headlights flashed in their direction and they all dropped to the ground, peering over the foliage they were hiding in. A GC prisoner transport van drove toward the facility and turned in. Two armed guards spoke to the driver before opening the gates and waving them through.
Judd's heart felt heavy at the thought of the innocent prisoners in the back of that van, being led to their slaughter.
"Maybe there's a way we can get into one of those trucks." Mark suggested.
"Are you crazy?" Darrion hissed, "The only way you're getting onto one of those trucks is as a prisoner."
"Do you have a better idea?" Mark hissed back.
Darrion crossed her arms and frowned.
"Maybe Mark's right," Judd said, "Maybe we should stake the place out for a while, and see if we can figure out any better option than hitching a ride on a prisoner van."
"But what about Vicki?" Lionel asked.
"Lionel, I absolutely hate the idea of leaving her in there any longer, but Mark's right," Judd said, glancing at his friend, "There's no use rushing in and risking all our lives. That's exactly what they want."
"Twenty-four hours." Mark said, "We'll take turns sleeping. Let's see if we can learn anything about the routine of the place in twenty-four hours. That's the only what we can form a strategic plan."
The next afternoon, Shelley and Conrad helped move Judd and Vicki's things out of their house. If a miracle happened and the rescue mission was successful, there was no way they could go back to living there now that the GC knew their whereabouts. They moved their things into a spare cabin and Shelley tried to distract herself by setting up the room, trying to push the niggling feeling out of her mind, the feeling that she was setting up a home for people who were never coming back. She brushed a tear away in frustration as she straightened the pillows on the bed. She heard a light knock on the door, and heard it creak open. Conrad stuck his head inside.
"Hey." he said softly.
"Hey." she replied with a sniff.
He walked over to her and stroked her cheek, "Are you okay?"
"No," she replied, a tear rolling down her face, "I've never felt more helpless in my life."
Shelley sunk down on the edge of the bed and wept into her hands. Conrad say beside her and rubbed her back.
"Me neither." he sighed.
"Vicki's been my best friend since forever." Shelley cried, "She led me to Jesus, she helped me out in so many ways, so many times. I don't know what I'd do without her around. Everything would be so different."
"I know it probably doesn't help right now," Conrad replied, "But in some strange way, we are better off now than we were before the Rapture in that respect."
She looked at him, confused, "What are you talking about?"
"Well before the Rapture," he explained, "If we lost a loved one, we didn't know how long it would be before we saw them again. For all we knew, if could have be sixty or seventy years before we were reunited with them in heaven. But now, we know that if anything happens, we'll see her again, and very, very soon."
"It still hurts." Shelley said.
"I know." Conrad replied, pulling her into his side, "And trust me, if I lost you, I'd hurt every single day until I saw you again."
Shelley smiled at him through her tears.
"I can't even begin to imagine what Judd must be feeling right now." She said.
"We can't give up yet." Conrad said, "I know it seems hopeless, but we've seen miracles happen these last few years."
"We've also seen our friends and family die left and right." Shelley rebutted.
"All we can do is pray." Conrad replied.
"Somehow it doesn't seem enough." Shelley said.
"I know." He said, "But it's all we've got."
Conrad laced his fingers through Shelley's and squeezed her hand.
"Father, we pray right now that you look over our friends. That you would protect Vicki and keep her from harm. That you would keep Judd and the others safe, give them your wisdom and lead them, and that you would fill us all with your peace that surpasses understanding in this time."
"Amen." Shelley agreed.
Suddenly, the door of the cabin flew open.
"You have to come quick!" Melinda shouted, fear plastered all over her face, "This is bad."
AN: Thanks once again for being patient with me. If you are still around, I promise not to leave it another two years before I update again. x