Marked Souls

by Adrienna Turner

  “Sunny, I see her footprints towards this way.”

  “Thank God,” Sunny looked towards the heavens.

  Sunny said, “Mom and I’ll drive over there.”

  “I’ll walk over there then, to see where it goes,” Lavonne said, and winced.

  “I’ll go with you,” Sondrea reached for Lavonne’s hand.

  Lavonne glanced down when she touched her fingers and clasped her fingers with Sondrea.

  Lavonne smiled. “We’re going to find her.”

  Sondrea’s warmth glowed. “I trust Jesus.”

  They followed the tracks of footprints in the dirt.

  “You see that?” Sondrea said pointing at footprints looking like a man’s dress shoes in the dirt.

  “That’s a man’s footprints. Looks like at least a size 12.” Lavonne stated.

  “Yes, definitely doesn’t look like a size 10,” Sondrea said, thinking about her Bernard’s size 13 feet. She wore a size 10 shoe size and stepped over the dirt print to size it up.

  Lavonne held her hand forward, “Don’t put your feet in it.”

  “I’m not.” Sondrea shot. “Just proving it’s not woman’s size.”

  “Look over there, Sis,” Sondrea pointed. “There’s a woman’s footprint. It looks like she lost a shoe. Oh, dear God, I hope it isn’t Roy.”

  Sondrea counted in her mind how many different tracks she noticed. It had to be at least two males following her by the imprint of the tracks in the dirt.

  They turned as the Mercedes drove up.

  “Get back in the car, girls.” Jewel said.

  “We verified there were at least two male prints in the dirt and looks like a woman’s footprints, may be Roya,” Sondrea said when she climbed in the car.

  Lavonne sat in the backseat with Joy and Sunny.

  “Did you find Mommy?” Joy asked.

  “No.” Sunny offered, “Your grandma is going to drive to where the trail ends. We’ll find your mom.”

  “I keep getting her voicemail,” Lavonne said after she tried to call on her cell phone.

  “Stop, Mom.” Sunny shouted. “There’s a blocked area and a barrier reading, ‘Do not pass.’ On the other side of the road, there’s a roadblock with police officers.”

  “Snap. I think they see us,” Lavonne said.

  Jewel did a quick spin to get back on the ramp to the freeway.

  “Oh, my goodness, my heart is pounding so hard. That was close. We have to get out of here quick!” Sondrea snapped. Jewel pulled some tissue from the visor holder to hand to Sondrea. “Wipe your face, girl. You’re dripping.”

  “Mom, what happened to Roya?” Sunny wondered as she was shaking.

  “I don’t know sweetie. We’ll find her. Someone, keep trying to call her cell phone.”

  “What if they captured her again?” Lavonne cried.

  “She wouldn’t have let that happen if her life depended on it,” Jewel shouted.

  “I tried a couple times already,” Lavonne said.

  “I’ll try,” Sondrea pulled her Smartphone from her purse and pressed her security code in her phone to make the call from her favorites. “I pray she answers. I need to hear her voice.”

  “We all want to hear her voice. Joy needs her, too,” Sunny said. She rocked Joy in her arms.

  “This is crazy, Aunt Sunny. I’m tired of missing my mom!”

  “We’re not going to think the worst, young lady,” Jewel shot back.

  “We waited so long to check on her,” Sondrea snapped. “I blame myself.”

  “Stop that nonsense right now,” Jewel fired.

  “Are we being followed?” Lavonne asked.

  “No. I don’t see anyone in my rear view,” Jewel responded and kept driving.

  “How do we know?” Sunny asked, looking at Lavonne.

  “Know what?” Lavonne sounded confused. “If someone is following us? A legitimate question under the circumstances.”

  “No. What you said earlier. If she was captured?”

  Lavonne shrugged. “It was all over the news when they did that cover story on Solomon Whitmore’s hanging if you want to call it that.”

  “They hung my father?” Joy cried.

  “She didn’t mean to say it like that, Joy,” Sunny held her close, “You know all about how your father died.”

  “Oh, Lavonne,” Sondrea said in exasperation and turned to look at her.

  “You know,” Lavonne waved her hand while putting the other one on Joy’s shoulder. “The media has wool over our eyes. We’ve become so desensitized or so fearful of what will happen to us to the point we will not do anything!”

  “True,” Sunny agreed.

  “No one has done anything to these men who murdered my father,” Joy said boldly, trying to join the grown-up discussion.

  Lavonne, Sunny, and Sondrea glared at Joy in shock.

  “They’re even showing scenes and commentaries on YouTube,” Joy added as Sunny gasped. “They even made fun of him as if he was the male scarecrow, as if it was not a real man up there,” Joy’s voice rose in anger.

  “Hold on. I got someone on the phone,” Sondrea shouted and waved for them to stop talking.

  “Shh. Someone answered the phone.” She pressed speaker.

  “Holla.”

  “Hi. Roya there?”

  “No habla English.”

  Sondrea could hear movement as if the phone was handed to another woman, and heard her voice, “Hello?”

  “Hello. Can we speak to Roya?” Lavonne spoke.

  “This is her,” Roya answered. “Lavonne, is this you?”

  “Yes. Where are you?” Lavonne said. She continued to speak, “We left the church and wondered where you went or what happened to you?”

  “I left about an hour ago.”

  “We stopped at the roadblock up the way, near the freeway, and noticed cops posted there,” Lavonne rushed her words, “Are you okay?”

  Sunny interjected, “We also saw a barrier with a warning sign, blocked area, and saw footprints in the dirt near the creek. Were you being chased?”

  “Yes, to all your questions. I cannot talk on this phone.”

  “Why, Sis?” Lavonne yelled.

  “They may be tracking my signal. Location. Refuse. To. Get.” The phone broke up.

  “What?” Sondrea and Lavonne yelled.

  Jewel looked around, waiting for a response too.

  “I’m waiting for Josh to call again.”

  “Whoosh. Good you are safe. Josh. Amen to that.” Jewel said, sounding worried but relieved.

  “He’s on his way to take me to my boys.”

  “Jesus, please tell me they’re fine.” Jewel said nervously.

  “I hope they’re okay,” Sondrea responded too.

  “Sis, you there. Tell us,” Lavonne shouted.

  “Roy,” Sunny’s voice rose.

  “Mom! Can you hear us?” Joy leaned forward to speak into the phone.

  “Chase. Was. A. Distraction. Lead. Me to them,” Roya’s voice broke up.

  “Hold on. Chased you, to lead you to—” Jewel’s voice rose and cracked.

  “They’re after them. Mom. Sisters.” Roya voice shook. “I will not let them harm my babies!”

  Lavonne, Sondrea, Sunny, and Jewel all tried to speak at the same time, “Roya. Are you okay?”

  “Mom. Sisters. Read the text sent. Meet me. Turn the cell off, remove SID card. Pull over now. Do it. Now.” Roya disconnected her line.

  “Did she drop the call?” Sondrea stared at the phone and read: CALL ENDED

  “Do as she says! Read the text quickly. Memorize it,” Jewel pulled the car off the ramp, and parked at the nearest curb.

  Sondrea agreed. She read the text aloud, hoping they’d all be able to remember it.

  “How would we get there without Google map, or our phones?”

  “I know the area pretty well,” Jewel admitted.

  “Lucky. I use my phone for everything,” Lavonne shutting her phone down
.

  “Before I drive on, one of you check the car,” Jewel said, sounding concerned.

  Sondrea offered. Lavonne opened her door and also searched on the opposite side of the car. Lavonne said, “What’s this!” Sondrea rushed to the bumper of the car, and saw her yank the device off.

  “Show that to Mom. It might be a piece attached to her trunk.”

  “I doubt that, Sis.” Lavonne shot. “It doesn’t look right. Hanging off the bumper like that. Get in.” She commanded, and threw the device on the ground.

  “Step on it!” Lavonne shouted as she got in, and they heard a crunching sound as the tires crushed the item into tiny pieces.

  “Girl, watch your tone, what do you think I’m doing?” Jewel glanced over her shoulder.

  “Mom Jewel. I know this area. Turn right. Get on Interstate 15,” Sondrea directed.

  She drove for thirty minutes. Sondrea then told her to get on the 80-freeway headed to La Mesa. She was heading to San Diego.

  “What is she doing in San Diego?” Lavonne spoke.

  Lavonne’s phone chirped.

  Sondrea snapped “Lavonne, we might be tracked! Remember that device?”

  “I wasn’t sure if you knew where you were going,” Lavonne shrugged as she turned her phone off and pulled the SIM card.

  After two hours, Jewel parked.

  “I see someone peeking out the window!” Sondrea pointed.

  “I pray it’s Roya,” Jewel placed her hands on her face. She turned the engine off.

  Jewel stepped out of the car. Roya raced out of the home and into Jewel’s arms. Lavonne slammed the car door, extending her arms for a hug too. Joy stepped out of the car and hugged Roya from the side.

  “Mommy. I missed you.” Joy screamed and waved her hands.

  “I’m fine. I’m happy to see you’re alright. All of you.” Roya cried. She embraced Joy and planted several light kisses on her face.

  Behind Roya, the family spilled out the door, speaking Spanish. Jesus spoke in English. “Please don’t leave us. They’re tracking us.”

  Juan turned quickly, and shushed him.

  “Wait a minute. What do you mean?” Roya quizzed.

  Jewel, Lavonne, Sunny, and Sondrea drew closer to get a better look at the unusual bracelet.

  “Why are you wearing it?” Sondrea pondered. “I hope it’s not like one of those movies to shock her if they leave the location. Like an ankle bracelet that will send electrical current in her body.”

  “You are partially right,” The teenager offered.

  Roya turned to Consuela, “You and your mom didn’t seem concerned earlier. What’s going on?”

  Julia spoke passionately, shooting her fists in the air.

  “What is she saying?” Sondrea asked.

  “She’s saying, her husband, my father, risked his life while saving her,” Consuela said, pointing at Roya.

  “My mom,” Joy added. She held Roya’s waist.

  “Yes. She’s afraid they’ll come in droves. My signal is glowing yellow. Caution. We have green, and also red lights. They told us, once it goes red, we’ll be dead,” Jesus answered.

  “What happened?” Jewel sounded frightened.

  “Mom. These are immigrants. I found out they’re under the new system—not using the chip card, but her husband agreed to wear a chipped bracelet, years ago. From what I understand, it is still the original model, even though they thought they were freed from the consequences.”

  “We have to leave now!” Jewel sounded panicked.

  “Josh is on his way.”

  ‘How’s he coming? He’s across town, literally. At the other side of the U.S.” Jewel’s voice rose. “How long have you been with these people?”

  Roya calculated. “At least 3 hours.”

  “You’re scaring me.” Sondrea spoke. “I think we’re all frightened. If their bracelets turn red, would it be an explosive that lights us all up within a few feet?” She backed up.

  “Hold on. This man and his son saved me when I was being chased!” Roya held her hands up.

  “Tell us, Roya, what’s going on?” Jewel questioned and drew closer to Roya.

  “Mom,” She turned to speak to her and eyes darted at everyone present while speaking, “I’ll explain. I don’t think it is wise to make a scene here in front of their home.”

  “Right. Are we allowed in their home?”

  Juan spoke, “You’re welcome in our home.”

  “You speak English!” Joy said, eyes lit up.

  He nodded and flagged them to come inside their home. He took the lead. The others followed, and Roya and her family trailed behind.

  Consuela reached for Roya’s hand, “I’ve never felt such love and warmth from anyone like you before.”

  “Glad to hear. Give credit to my Savior.” Roya said.

  “Roya, will you stay a night with us?”

  “I promised Julia I’d keep in touch.” Roya said. “Julia, this is my daughter, Joy. Joy this is Julia.”

  Consuela translated her mother’s voice. “Nice to meet you.”

  “You too,” Joy shook her hand. “I live in Los Angeles.”

  “I know. Your Mom gave me her number to text her, call her, or email her.” Consuela smiled.

  “Remember what I said,” Roya embraced Consuela and placed a soft kiss on her cheek near her right ear.

  “I’ll miss you. Introduce us to your family, please?”

  “Yes. These are my three sisters: Sondrea, Lavonne, and Sunny,” She pointed at them. “I introduced you to Joy.”

  They listened while Juan turned to translate Julia’s response to Roya, “Your daughter looks just like you. She’s a beauty,”

  Juan spoke again, “Your family is welcomed in our home anytime.”

  “Gracias. So, what has happened to this family to wear bracelets?” Jewel asked.

  “I take it that this is your mother?” Juan said with polite amusement.

  “Sorry, I didn’t introduce you. My mother, Jewel. Jewel, this is…”

  “Juan,” He offered his first name only. He shook her hand. “Glad to make your acquaintance.

  “Like my granddaughter said, what happened, and how do you speak English well but your wife doesn’t?”

  “I wanted us to cross the border, but that wall, and they had new regulations. They had people come in droves to agree to taking a chip. We were given a choice. We could take the chip or a bracelet, or wait without any promises. We didn’t know the side effects. My wife refused. She was left behind, and later, she crossed when we called her…but she shared with Roya what happened to them. It’s not important. I took it to get my family here. I signed documents to agree that my children would, and Jesus is able to speak English as well as our native tongue. The other children were born here, so we have a bilingual home.”

  “I’m not understanding.”

  “Once people were injected or took the bracelet, we could speak and understand English. This was the perk for having the chip. The part they didn’t tell us, anyone would be sterile, to stop the population problem.”

  “Whoa. Hold on, if I’m hearing you correctly, they make anyone who wants to come to this country sterile—and cannot have children?”

  He nodded, lifting his pant leg. “Eventually. We were given six years, so we have seven children including Jesus. Then we stopped having babies. They also put these bracelets on me and Jesus, since we came first.”

  “It’s like house arrest,” Jesus volunteered.

  “Doesn’t the chip already tell your whereabouts? Location. Tracking.” Lavonne quizzed. “This sounds unethical,” She shook her head.

  “I only wanted a better life for my family. I used to be a chemistry professor. I’d learned a little English, but not enough to explain, and our native country was dangerous.”

  Jewel said, “You’re not dressed like any chemistry professor in America. Why aren’t you doing that?”

  “They’ll only let me work at jobs that need to be don
e.”

  Roya spoke up, “That is understandable, but what a waste of talent. You’re still young enough to take a job with a university.”

  Juan said, “One day at a time. We’ve managed to survive. We built this house with the help of volunteers. It’s ours.”

  Lavonne stated the obvious. “The chip doesn’t give you freedom.”

  Juan nodded sadly. “My wife said ‘no,’ and perhaps she was right. We thought the bracelet couldn’t hurt with the world using chip cards and medical chips. So far, we’ve still been able to be free.”

  “Dad, we’re marked.” Jesus shot back.

  “Marked?” Sondrea questioned.

  Juan waved, dismissing his son, “Just a saying, when he got on the internet to research this nonsense.”

  “Roya. This is worse than turning off our phones or even removing the SID chip. They probably already know where we are,” Sunny rose from her seat.

  “Stay calm,” Roya stretched her hands.

  Sondrea carefully looked to see if the color would change on their bracelets. Juan’s, the father’s, turned green.

  “What does the green mean?” Joy asked.

  “Clear.”

  “Clear from what?” Joy questioned.

  “We’re in the clear. Nothing to worry about,” Juan answered.

  “I don’t like this. Not at all,” Jewel shook her head as her leg twitched.

  “Mom, don’t worry,” Sondrea reached to touch her.

  They heard a tire shriek as a car came to a stop. Roya jumped from the couch, and Joy trailed behind. Roya peeked out the window, “It’s Joshua! Both Joy and Roya ran to the car, “How did you get this vehicle?”

  Joshua responded, “Does it matter? I’m here,” He glanced, “Whose nice ride is this?”

  “You know that’s mom’s car,” Roya teased as she stared at the rent-a-car, a Chevy Impala.

  “Get in now!” Joshua shouted, waving his hand for Roya to get in the car while his other hand rested on the steering wheel as the engine was running.

  “Wait, I have to say good-bye to everyone. I’m taking Joy with me,” Roya answered.

  Thankfully, everyone came out of the home, to wish their goodbyes. She quickly hugged all of Julia’s family members and her immediate family last.

  “We can’t go with you?” Sondrea inquired.

  “Please make sure my daughter is safe,” Jewel said abruptly.