CHAPTER 13 – Escape Into Darkness

  Francine Parsons, a 38-year-old Caucasian woman with long, curly brunette hair and light skin, paced back and forth in the dimly lit living room. Her face was pale, marked by anxiety as she wrung her hands nervously, glancing at the clock every few seconds. Henry Parsons, her husband, sat on the couch, rubbing his temples, his calm demeanor battling against the tension that crackled between them.

  "This is all his fault, Henry!" Francine exclaimed frantically, her voice cutting through the silence.

  "I warned you... I warned you that Peter would bring trouble to this family! But did you listen? And now look at where we are! Chris and Ruby are gone, and we’re helpless!"

  Henry stood, maintaining his composure despite the knot tightening in his stomach.

  "Francine, please!" he said, his voice steady but firm.

  "Chris and Ruby are fine. Peter wouldn't let anything happen to them."

  Francine stopped mid-step to glare at him, her eyes blazing.

  "Oh, really? How can you be so sure? That man has no morals, no sense of responsibility! He dragged them into this mess with his godless nonsense and that... demonic math!”

  "Enough, Francine!" Henry raised his voice for the first time, the pressure of the situation spilling over.

  "I won't let you keep insulting my brother. He is family. Plus, do you really want to risk Chris and Ruby resenting you by driving a wedge between them and their uncle?"

  Her arms crossed in defiance, Francine replied, "What I WANT, Henry, is for my children to be safe... from him and whatever this is! He’s reckless, and now my babies are caught in the middle of it!"

  Just then, Patrick, their lively 4-year-old son with short black hair, toddled into the room clutching a worn teddy bear. He looked up at his parents with wide, curious eyes.

  “Mommy? Daddy? Where are Chris and Ruby? They promised to play with me,” he asked innocently.

  Henry crouched to Patrick's level, softening his tone.

  “Hey, buddy. They’re just with your Uncle Peter right now. Don’t worry... they’re okay.”

  “You promise?” Patrick asked, his small face scrunching with concern.

  “I promise,” Henry replied, his voice laced with warmth despite the storm brewing around them.

  Suddenly, a loud knock reverberated through the house, startling everyone. Francine gasped, instinctively pulling Patrick close to her. Henry hesitated before cautiously walking toward the door, peering through the peephole. His expression tightened as he spotted two D.C. Metro police officers, one male and one female. He glanced back at Francine, worry etched on his face.

  "Who is it," Francine whispered, her voice trembling.

  Henry didn’t reply immediately, weighing the situation.

  “Who’s at the door, Henry?!” Francine’s voice rose, urgency punctuating her words.

  “It’s... the D.C. Metro Police,” Henry said softly, apprehension creeping into his tone.

  Francine shifted uncomfortably; her anxiety palpable.

  “Mr. Parsons,” the male officer called out, his voice authoritative.

  “We’d like to ask you a few questions.”

  Henry hesitated until Francine interjected, her voice sharp with panic.

  “Open the door before they break it down!”

  Reluctantly, he unlocked the door and opened it slowly, only to reveal Lieutenant Mark Perkins, a tall, stern-looking man, and Lieutenant Mika Mangino, a younger blonde Italian-American woman.

  “Before I invite you in, I need to see both of your badges,” Henry demanded, instinctively protecting his family.

  Both officers complied, the male officer introducing himself, “Mister Parsons, I’m Lieutenant Mark Perkins, and this is my partner, Lieutenant Mika Mangino.”

  Henry is satisfied.

  "Okay, lieutenants. Come on in."

  As they stepped inside, Francine’s agitation surged.

  “Look!” she said sharply, “If this is about Peter, we don’t know where he is! Instead of wasting time here, you should be trying to find my children!”

  “Ma’am,” Lieutenant Perkins replied, his tone icy, “we are looking for your children as well. Your children are suspects in aiding and abetting a fugitive who escaped military tribunal custody.”

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Panic surged through Francine, her voice rising.

  “Chris and Ruby are children! They wouldn’t even know how to aid and abet a fugitive!”

  “This is a serious matter,” Lieutenant Perkins continued coldly.

  “Their age is irrelevant.”

  Henry stepped forward; jaw clenched tight.

  “You’re crossing a line. These are my children you’re talking about.”

  Lieutenant Mangino’s expression softened slightly as she interjected, “Look, I understand. No one wants to harm your children. We just need to find Peter. Since your children are with him, they may be privy to sensitive information.”

  Francine's breathing steadied just slightly.

  “Lieutenant, I promise I have no idea where Peter is.”

  Frustration seeped into Lieutenant Perkins’ voice.

  “Perhaps we should put you two under arrest and call Child Protective Services to take all three of your children away!”

  Francine's eyes widened with horror.

  “We don’t know where Peter is! Just leave us alone!”

  “Okay, that’s it!” Henry snapped, his anger boiling over.

  “Get the hell out of my house and don’t come back without a warrant!”

  Lieutenant Perkins, unmoved, leaned into his authority.

  “Thanks to the Patriot Act and the National Defense Authorization Act, I don’t need a warrant.”

  “Mark,” Lieutenant Mangino interjected, alarm etched on her face.

  “This is all unnecessary! You’re going too far!”

  “Shut up, Mika!” Perkins barked, his voice dripping with disdain.

  “Either follow orders or get the hell out of here!”

  He grabbed his radio.

  “Move in,” he commanded.

  Before Henry could comprehend the full meaning of Perkins’ order, the front door burst open. A SWAT team stormed in, weapons drawn. Patrick screamed in terror, clinging to his mother, who dropped to her knees, shielding him instinctively.

  “If you don’t shut that brat up, I will!” Lieutenant Perkins barked at Francine, his voice harsh and commanding.

  That was the final straw for Henry. In an explosive moment of defiance, he stepped toward Lieutenant Perkins, anger radiating from him.

  “This is why people hate the police! You're nothing but thugs with badges!”

  Without warning, Perkins lunged forward, striking Henry across the face with the butt of his pistol. Henry staggered back, clutching his nose as blood began to seep through his fingers. Francine cried out in horror, squeezing Patrick tightly as the situation spiraled further out of control.

  "Please stop!" Francine yelled, begging the angry lieutenant for mercy. Patrick wailed even louder.

  Henry jumped up and returned a punch to the lieutenant, knocking him down to the ground. Francine shouted "No!" to Henry. Lieutenant Perkins ordered one of his men to shoot him. The SWAT officer pointed his weapon at Henry, ready to pull the trigger, when gunshots pierced through the living room windows and walls, precisely taking out each SWAT officer. As the shots were fired, Francine ran out of the living room with Patrick in her arms. Henry followed behind her. But then Lieutenant Perkins tackled Henry to the ground, leading to a scuffle between the two men. The lieutenant eventually subdued Henry and pointed a pistol at his head.

  Perkins sneered, his eyes cold and merciless.

  “The Old World Order says hello.”

  As Lieutenant Perkins was about to pull the trigger, a shot pierced through the lieutenant's head from behind, killing him. The shot came from the gun of Lieutenant Mangino, who lowered her weapon, her face a mixture of relief and conflict.

  Henry stared at Mangino in shock.

  "Why?" he asked.

  "I didn't join the force to become a criminal," Mangino said coldly.

  "And I sure as hell wasn't going to stand by while this lunatic murdered your family."

  Mangino holstered her weapon.

  "Plus, I never liked him anyway."

  Seven armed men entered the house. Alarmed, Lieutenant Mangino drew her weapon and yelled, "DROP IT!" The men pointed their weapons at the lieutenant. But Henry stepped in.

  "Hold your fire," Henry yelled.

  Francine and Mangino looked at Henry puzzled. One of the men removed his ski mask.

  "Uncle Henry! Are you okay," the man asked.

  It was Charlie Parsons, a 24-year-old Caucasian male with short brunette hair. He is the adopted son of Peter Parsons.

  "I'm fine," Henry replied.

  "Check on your aunt and cousin. They're a little shaken up."

  Charlie follows his uncle's orders and tends to Francine and Patrick. Francine looked up at him, her face a mix of fear and relief.

  "What the hell is going on here, Charlie?!" Francine snapped at her nephew.

  "Who are these men?"

  Henry began his confession.

  "Charlie tipped me off that the D.C. Metro Police would be paying us a visit."

  The scene flashes back to about forty-five minutes ago. Henry was seated at his desk in his study, flipping through a book, when his phone rang. On his caller I.D. was Charlie Parsons. Henry answers his phone.

  "Charlie? What's wrong," he asked with concern.

  "Uncle Henry, listen. Dad told me to call you. D.C. Metro Police is coming to your house. They'll most likely attempt to take you and Aunt Francine into custody... and possibly worse."

  Henry began to panic.

  "What should I do?"

  "Comply until you can't anymore," Charlie calmly told his uncle.

  "Do not tell Aunt Francine... it'll only scare her. I'll be there with backup before they can do any serious damage."

  The flashback ended, returning to the present.

  Francine was furious.

  "You knew this was going to happen?! And you didn't tell me?!"

  Charlie calmly interjected.

  "Aunt Francine, please don't blame Uncle Henry, Dad thought it was the only way to keep you safe."

  Lieutenant Mangino stepped forward.

  "Let me help. I didn't sign up for this kind of corruption."

  Charlie seemed hesitant.

  "If you're coming with us, ditch anything that the department can use to track you, No phone, no radio."

  Mangino nodded.

  "Done."

  Within minutes, Henry, Francine, and Patrick had gathered a few essentials, preparing to leave the home that had been their safe haven for so long. Mangino kept watch at the door, ensuring they were clear to move.

  As they stepped out into the cool night air, Francine paused, looking back at their home one last time.

  “Do you think we’ll ever be back?”

  “I don’t know,” Henry replied, his voice heavy with uncertainty.

  “But as long as we’re together, we’ll make it through this.”

  Charlie led the way to an unmarked car parked discreetly down the street. Henry, Francine, and Patrick climbed into the backseat, while Mangino took the passenger seat. Charlie started the engine, glancing at his passengers in the rearview mirror.

  “Everyone ready?” he asked.

  Henry squeezed Francine’s hand, drawing strength from her unwavering support, while Patrick clutched his teddy bear tightly. Francine nodded, determination etched on her tear-streaked face.

  “Let’s go.”

  As the car pulled away from the curb, Mangino turned to Charlie.

  “Will Peter be at the rendezvous point?”

  Charlie’s eyes remained focused on the road ahead.

  “If there's one thing I know about Dad, it's that he won't abandon his family. He'll be there.”

  In the quiet drive through the city’s darkened streets, a sense of urgency mixed with hope settled over the group. They were heading into the unknown, but they were doing it together, buoyed by the integrity and bravery of unexpected allies.

  The journey to the rendezvous point was only beginning, and the challenges ahead were still daunting. But for the Parsons family, united in their resolve and support for each other, the path forward, however uncertain, held the promise of a new beginning.

  Escape Into Darkness. What a whirlwind of events we’ve witnessed together! This chapter encapsulates the raw emotions and high stakes that define the Parsons family's struggle for survival and unity in a world turned upside down.