They all nervously looked around but no one voiced an objection as they emptied their stuff into the bags. When everyone finished filling the bags, they were taken to the front of the bus and put back in the big cardboard box.
Sam’s mind was reeling. She couldn’t even begin to digest what had just happened. She sent up a quick, fervent prayer for God’s protection which made her feel somewhat better. Michel reached over to squeeze her hand reassuringly but said nothing.
The next two hours were spent in uncomfortable silence. No one dared speak. For Sam, it was the fear of hearing something she didn’t want to.
They drove along at a fast pace for a good ten miles, Suddenly, the bus abruptly veered off onto a bumpy dirt road causing Sam to almost fall out of her seat.
This got everyone’s attention as they all focused on the driver and the front of the bus. He was clearly nervous and kept glancing into the mirror. When one of the guards noticed him looking back, he positioned himself so that the driver was no longer in view.
The hair on the back of Sam’s neck stood up. Something was not right. The group started whispering to each other in low voices.
It was easy to see they were heading deep into the jungle as they rattled along the deserted, dirt road. With each passing mile, Sam became more and more frightened. Something was very, very wrong. She quickly glanced at Michel. His face was expressionless.
She swallowed hard and then whispered. “This does not look good.” He shook his head in response. Gone was his look of nonchalance from earlier.
Lee suddenly stood up and started walking to the front of the bus. A guard quickly turned to face him. “Return to your seat!” he commanded.
Lee paused for a moment and then turn around as he headed back to his seat. After all, he wasn’t the one with the gun.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the bus came to a screeching halt. A dust cloud swirled around the bus. The air was so thick, Sam could no longer peer out the windows.
When the dust settled, the “guards,” the tour guide and the bus driver all stood up at the same time. One of the guards yanked the door open and quickly made his way down the steps. The instant his foot touched the ground, five masked and armed strangers in camouflage suddenly appeared from out of the thick jungle.
The bus erupted into mass confusion. Someone yelled, “Get down. Get under the seats.” Others started crying. The entire scene seemed so surreal. Sam’s mind could not register what was taking place.
Michel sat quietly, watching the scene unfolding. He reached over to put a protective arm around her shoulder.
Sam glanced over at Lee. The look on his face appeared calm but his eyes were narrowed and he was intently watching the activity taking place outside.
The guard left standing at the front of the bus started yelling. “Everyone off!”
The driver moved a step closer to the lone gunman onboard. “What’s going on here?” he demanded.
It was the wrong thing to say. The guard turned his gun on the driver. “You get off first.” The bus driver nervously glanced at the passengers in the back. He looked back at the gunman as he wiped his brow and made his way down the stairs.
He had almost reached the bottom when the guard lifted the gun and pointed it at the back of his retreating head. Without warning, he pulled the trigger. The driver tumbled forward, ending up face down in the dirt, blood pouring from the wound. He lay there motionless, leaving little doubt in anyone’s mind that he was dead.
Chaos ensued. Everyone on the bus started screaming and yelling.
The guard who seconds before had killed the driver, turned his attention back to the passengers and pointed his gun at them. “Silence!” The bus was instantly quiet. Sam could almost smell the fear in the damp air of the small bus.
A loud buzzing noise filled her head. “I’m going to faint.” She dropped into her seat. The eerie silence lasted for several long seconds as she tried to control her breathing and get rid of the dizziness that was trying to take over.
Michel carefully stepped over Sam and walked to the front of the bus. “Who’s in charge here?” For a moment the guard studied Michel. Sam turned her attention to where Michel was now standing, certain he would be shot next.
He motioned Michel off the bus. “Follow me.” With that, he led Michel towards the armed group waiting outside. Sam’s heart sank. Michel was next! They were going to shoot Michel!
There was nothing to do but watch the scene unfold. Michel began speaking to them in fluent Spanish.
Sam held her breath as they all stared at Michel. I sure wish I knew what was being said!
After a few tense moments, one of the guards roughly grabbed Michel’s arms and forced them behind his back. The armed bandit pulled a pair of handcuffs from his pocket and swiftly clamped them on Michel’s wrist. Michel put up a brief struggle but it was futile. The gunman pointed his weapon at Michel’s head and he immediately stopped fighting.
When they finished putting the cuffs on, they blindfolded him. Three of the armed intruders dragged him off into the jungle and out of sight.
Sam closed her eyes and started praying fervently. Dear God. Please protect us.
Psalm 91:15 popped into Sam’s head: “… He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, …” (KJV)
She prayed for Michel and all the other passengers on board. She prayed for the poor bus driver who was shot in cold blood right before her very eyes.
This isn’t happening, she kept repeating to herself. It’s just a bad dream.
“Everyone off the bus!” The guard yelled. “NOW!” Sam’s eyes flew open. Not a peep or murmur was heard as everyone quickly shuffled off. They tip-toed past the poor bus driver who was still lying on the ground in a pool of blood.
Just as the last person got off, a large box truck pulled in behind the bus. The driver quickly jumped out, walked to the back and flung the door open. “Everyone in!”
The frightened passengers had no more scrambled into the back of the dirty, cramped truck when the driver yanked the door shut and shoved the lock in place. Soon the truck started off down the same dirt road, heading even deeper into the jungle.
Chapter 10
Sam quickly realized there were no armed guards in the back of the truck with them. People began praying, some started crying while others tried to formulate an escape plan. It seemed hopeless.
Although it was dark inside the box, Sam could faintly make out Lee’s outline. He seemed to be very focused on something he had in his hand. Maybe he has a phone or some way to communicate what was happening and that they were in trouble!
Lee must have sensed Sam’s stare. He looked up at her with an expression of warning that told her not to say anything. She slowly nodded her head that she understood.
Sam felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe there was a chance someone would find out what was happening and they would be rescued!!
Sam prayed again. Please God. Help us find a way out safely. She ended with another quick prayer for Michel, even though he was probably already dead.
As the truck rumbled along, Sam’s claustrophobia kicked into high gear. Her heart started pounding rapidly and she panicked as she gulped the stale, musty air.
She closed her eyes and leaned her head back as she tried to take her mind off the stifling heat. It felt like a tomb. A very hot tomb.
After what seemed like hours, the truck abruptly stopped. The back door flew open. For a moment, the bright sunlight was blinding as it filled the back of the truck. Sam blinked, trying to focus her eyes. Thank God they were getting out!
The driver eventually came into focus. “Everyone out,” he demanded.
Sam and the others crawled out of the back and looked around. They were in some sort of a makeshift camp in the middle of the jungle. Several tents dotted the site. There was a campfire burning. Rickety old Army cots were scattered about and a bunch of blue plastic coolers were piled up in a
small covered shelter off to the side. This abduction had been carefully planned!
The group was settled into small rows under the watchful eyes of the guards. Sam furtively studied her abductors. Even though all of them wore masks, one of them was much smaller than the others and Sam was sure it was a female.
Chaotic thoughts tumbled around in her head. Why them? What was the purpose of hijacking an entire bus full of tourists and bringing them to this remote jungle? They had all their belongings – everything of value. What more could they possibly they want?
The afternoon crept slowly by as the group restlessly swatted at mosquitos and tried to avoid other creepy-crawly critters scurrying around the camp. The heat was almost unbearable. Sweat poured down Sam’s face. Her hair was plastered to her face and neck, her clothes soaking wet.
Dusk was settling in and the weary group was not only drenched in sweat, they were hungry and thirsty. As the hours wore on, the group grew more and more restless. It was obvious they needed food and water.
Finally, Beth bravely spoke up. “Can’t you see that we’re all hungry and thirsty?” The one that appeared to be the leader of the small group walked over to Beth. He stood there as he studied her for a moment. Beth swallowed hard but refused to look away as she stared down her abductor.
After what seemed like an eternity, he abruptly turned on his heel and made his way over to the coolers in the makeshift tent. Without saying a word, he returned moments later with bottles of ice cold water and brown paper bags.
He made his way down the line, handing a bottle of water and paper bag to each person. Grateful for whatever they were given, the group quickly gulped down the water.
After finishing off all her water, Sam slowly unfolded the paper bag and cautiously peered inside. Her heart sank. It was a peanut butter & jelly sandwich and a banana. Despite the unappealing food, there was no way she was going to complain. She quickly ate the soggy sandwich and over-ripe brown banana.
She crumpled up her bag and looked around. Lee was staring in her direction. His eyes tried to reassure her that everything would be OK. Sam attempted a small smile but quickly gave up. She was absolutely terrified and there was no way anything short of a miraculous rescue would make her feel better.
After everyone finished eating, they were separated into small groups. The person Sam now believed was the leader began barking orders on who would be sleeping in what tent.
Sam was assigned the same tent as Jimmy and Vivian. Beth and Emily were put in the same tent as Lee. She was thankful mom and daughter hadn’t been separated but disappointed that she wasn’t with Lee. She wanted to find out what he had been doing earlier and if it could offer any glimmer of hope for a rescue.
Sam ducked inside the tent and cautiously crawled into one of the sleeping bags. She squeezed her eyes shut but falling asleep was not going to happen. She was convinced that if she fell asleep, something creepy and hairy with lots of little legs and hundreds of beady little eyes would most certainly make its way into her sleeping bag and it probably wouldn’t be wise if she started screaming.
She lay motionless in the hot, stuffy tent for what seemed like endless hours. As she stared up at the top of the tent, all the terrifying events of the day raced through her mind like a b-rated, scary movie that refused to end.
Without warning, there was a loud commotion on the other side of the camp. Seconds later, their tent door was ripped open. A long arm reached in and grabbed Jimmy by the feet, pulling him roughly through the opening. Vivian started to scramble to the outer edge of the tent, away from the door. Before she could reach the other side, another dark, sinister figure rushed in, grabbing her by the arm and half dragging, half carrying her from the tent. She opened her mouth to scream but was quickly silenced as a strong hand clamped over her face.
Sam could hear Jimmy’s muffled voice nearby. “Please! Don’t hurt my wife,” Jimmy begged.
After several long, agonizing moments, it grew eerily silent.
By now, the rest of the group inside the tent were sitting upright. Too shocked to do anything, they stared blankly at the empty sleeping bags Jimmy and Vivian had just been occupying. Samantha shuddered uncontrollably as she prayed that God would protect them from harm.
The nightmare they were in was getting worse by the minute. First Michel and now Jimmy and Vivian. Is this how they would all die? Being dragged out one at a time to who knows what kind of torture and torment? I’m going to lose it, Sam thought.
Her mind wandered to Brianna. Would she know how much her mom loved her – that she’d been thinking of her in what could be the last hours of her life?
Sam’s stomach grew queasy and she started to feel physically ill. She swallowed hard, trying to push down the nausea that threatened to overtake her.
She pushed aside the thought of never seeing her beautiful daughter again and focused on getting out of there alive. She needed to find out what Lee was thinking – what chance of rescue he thought they might have. And fast! They were running out of time…
She forced herself to calm down. Breathe in, Breathe out, Breathe……
“Nooooooo!!!!!!!!” More screaming broke the eerie calm. And it was right outside their tent.
Sam burrowed down into her sleeping bag, sure that this was the end of them all. She lay there motionless. Terrified as the noises grew louder and even closer. She could hear the muffled sounds of men shouting and screaming. It sounded like hundreds of people pounding the ground outside.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Several gunshots rang out mere feet from the tent.
In an instant, it went from deafening sound to complete silence. The commotion ended as quickly as it began.
Sam slowly pulled the blanket off her head. She held her breath and listened intently. Nothing but eerie silence. There was no movement. There was no yelling. There were no more gunshots.
The only thing Sam could hear now was her own pounding heart. Surely I’m about to have a heart attack, she thought.
A faint shadow crept over her. Someone had entered the tent and now stood hovering over the top of her. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut. Every instinct told her to play dead. Maybe whoever it was would think she had been shot.
Sam felt a sharp tug on the edge of her sleeping bag. Her whole body numb with fear. She was about to meet her maker. Death was imminent. She put both hands over her face, covering her eyes. She didn’t want to see her killer.
“Sam.” She heard a voice softly say her name. A familiar voice.
“Sam,” more insistently this time. Her eyes flew open. In the darkness, she could only see the outline of a face but she knew that voice – it was Lee! He had something in his hand. With a flick of the switch, light filled the interior of the small tent. Lee was looking down at her, flashlight in hand.
She was quite a sight. Her green eyes were wide with fear. Her hair was no longer pulled back in a tidy pony tail. It looked like she had stuck her head in a wind tunnel and then rolled around in a pile of twigs and debris. Her makeup was smeared and tear-stained mascara lines ran down her face.
Dazed, she sat up and looked at Lee. The others in the tent sat up and were staring at Lee, too.
He gazed around at the small, terrified group. “You’re safe. You’re all safe.” He was talking but his words weren’t registering ….
The wary captives slowly emerged from their sleeping bags and made their way out into the cool evening air.
The camp was in shambles. Some of the abductors lay dead on the ground. The ones that were still alive huddled in a small group, surrounded by armed men in military garb.
In the distance, loud engines could be heard. The rumbling grew louder and louder as it got closer and closer. Soon, the dense foliage parted as all-terrain military vehicles pushed through the thick trees and overgrown brush. Within minutes, the entire area was surrounded. Sam wanted to drop to her knees and kiss the ground in relief.
As she stood there taking it all in, she spotted Lee out of the cor
ner of her eye, talking to one of the men. The man was wearing a military uniform and looked to be the person in charge.
Lee’s brows were bunched together, his mouth set in a hard line as he leaned in to say something to the other man. From the expressions on their faces, they were having a very intense conversation. She wondered if it had anything to do with Michel or Jimmy and Vivian.
At the thought of her three friends, Sam was filled with sadness and consumed by guilt. She was safe and they were all probably dead by now.
Poor Michel. He had been trying to help. God only knows what kind of torture he went through at the hands of this ruthless bunch. She also thought about the poor bus driver. Hopefully they would be able to find his body and give him a decent burial.
Jimmy and Vivian were so full of life. What would become of their children? How could you explain to the families that merciless criminals had cold-heartedly killed their loved ones?
Sam’s eyes filled with tears as she tried to push back a sea of emotions that threatened to overtake her. There would be plenty of time to relive the horrifying ordeal later.
They stood around for a few more minutes before being ushered into the waiting vehicles. The long ride back to civilization was eerily quiet. The shock of all they had gone through and the fact they were really safe hadn’t sunk in yet.
Eventually, the vehicles pulled up in front of a quaint hotel in downtown Belize City. One by one, the weary passengers crawled out of the vehicle and filed into the hotel. They must have been quite a sight.
The hotel staff gazed at the disheveled, stinky, dirty little group sympathetically. They quickly rushed forward to pass out room keys and more bottles of ice cold water. Sam gratefully accepted the water and the key.
Before being dismissed, they were instructed to return to the front lobby in two hours for a brief meeting.
Waves of Deception (Samantha Rite Series Book 1) Page 6