Free Ruled By Fear by C. Cervi Page B

glare.
         “Don’t you think we’ve tried to get away from here?” the man asked.  “We’ve all tried, over and over again.  The last one to try was Emily’s father, and trust me . . . nobody should have to die like that.”
         Aaron noticed a slight movement near the door and looked up to see Emily standing there.  Her eyes filled with tears and confusion.
         “What do you mean?” she asked, setting down the buckets she had brought for them.  “You . . . you told me he didn’t suffer.  That . . . that it was over quickly.”
         “Emily,” Tom said, taking a step toward her, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were there . . . I”
         “No!” Emily shouted, pulling away from him.  “Don’t come near me.  What happened?  You have to tell me!”
         Aaron watched in amazement as the usually calm and quiet girl stamped her foot, her eyes blazing.
         “I . . .” Tom began, then lowered his head and whispered softly, “I . . . can’t . . . I’m sorry.”
         Emily turned and fled the building, her tortured sobs causing Aaron’s gut to twist inside him.  The room was absolutely quiet for several minutes as each man worked to reign in his emotions.
         “You two take the next batch out to dry,” Tom said after a while, then silently turned to continue the washing.
         Aaron and Keith grabbed the heavy basket of wet sheets and, as they passed through the door, Aaron nodded toward the buckets Emily had left.  Keith reached inside and took two bundles.  Aaron didn’t feel much like eating, but knew that he and his brother needed the nourishment.  As they ate their meal silently, Aaron worked on what he should say to his brother.
         “Keith,” he started, “I know it’s not easy for you, waiting I mean, but that’s exactly what I need you to do right now—just wait a little longer.  I’ll come up with a plan, but we’re gonna have to be careful.  Please, promise me you’ll give me a little more time.”
         Keith turned away and Aaron could see that his gaze was focused on the gate that was so close, so tempting.
         “For four days, Aaron, I’ve done everything you’ve told me,” he said finally, never taking his eyes off the gate.  “I’ll try and be patient, but I’m not going to make any promises.”
         He turned then and looked straight into his brother’s eyes.
         “Not this time.”   Jumping up, Keith grabbed the basket, heading for the huge lines where they had been stringing things up to dry.
         Aaron watched him and, for the first time since they’d been there, fear overwhelmed him—fear for his brother’s life.  He thought about what Keith had said.  Could it be that they’d only been there four days?  He felt as if they had already spent a lifetime inside this miserable prison.  He wished he could tell Keith it wouldn’t be much longer.  That their Pa, and probably a whole posse were already out looking for them.  But, he knew it would be another two weeks at least before his father would even begin to expect them home.  No, if anyone was going to rescue them, it would have to be him, and he knew he needed to come up with something fast, or Keith was going to do something stupid.
     
         Aaron continued thinking all through the rest of that long tiring day, his mind becoming as weary as his body, as he tried to come up with an answer.
         They were just about done for the day when Aaron reached down to grab the last few items that had fallen on the floor.  He pulled his hand back with a gasp, cursing the tiny creature that had caused him pain.  Sticking his thumb into his mouth, his eyes searched the room, looking for something he could use to kill it.  That’s when he noticed a small box lying half hidden near the floorboards.
         He crossed the room, as the ugly, yellow scorpion made its escape and, forgetting all about his