21 (XXI) Trapped

"Is there a problem, sir?" One of the Military Police asked as he approached.

"No." Kyle said, shaking his head and smiling at the officer, "Just a disagreement between old friends. You may return to your post."

"Sir!" The soldier replied, saluting the mayor before spinning on his heels and returning to the entrance.

"Dad!" Isaac said, running up, "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, son." Kyle replied dismissively before patting his son on the shoulder and returning to his wife.

"Are you alright, Ms. Sanada?" He asked, approaching her with concern.

"Yes, sweetie!" Sarah answered absentmindedly, her mind racing as she sat down and forced a smile at the young man, "Of course! How are you and your friends holding up?"

"We're good..." Isaac answered, sitting on the cot next to Samael's mother, "Just wondering where Sam is and how he knew about everything..."

"Same here, sweetie..." She answered, her heart racing at the thought of her son trapped out there with everything going on, "I wish I knew..."

"I can't believe he kept this secret from me! We've always told each other everything!" The young man sighed, releasing some of the frustration pent up inside him.

"You don't need to worry. He should be back anytime now, and when he does, we will all get the answers we need." Sarah said with a smile, rubbing his back.

"He better! I swear I'm going to kick his ass when he gets here!" Isaac declared before covering his mouth and staring at her, stunned, "Excuse my language, Ms. Sanada!"

"You'll have to wait until after I do it!" Sarah laughed, playfully smacking his shoulder, causing the young man to blush and laugh with her, "Now, run along back to your friends. You have no place keeping a widow company."

"Yes, ma'am!" Isaac nodded, walking away, leaving the older woman alone with her thoughts as she reached into the cot beside her, grabbing an object wrapped in an old baby blue cloth with a gold border and white stars in the center.

She carefully unwrapped it, revealing two medals inside. One was a golden star with a spartan soldier in the center of the star below an eagle clutching the word 'VALOR,' connected to a baby blue ribbon.

The other was an emblem of the first president in gold surrounded by purple and encased in a golden barrier, creating a heart and attached to a purple ribbon with a gold star pinned to the ribbon.

Sarah ran her fingers over the medals, tears starting to fall from her cheeks as she whispered, "James... Please... Protect and watch over our son..."

*BANG*

The two military police officers jumped, spinning around as they raised their rifles at the sealed blast doors behind them, looking between one another as the beating at the door occurred again.

*BANG*

Kyle ran up to them as a crowd of people started to gather around, speaking excitedly, some with hope they were saved and others with fear over what could be their final moments.

"Mr. Mayor!" One of the soldiers turned his head, "Should be open the doors?"

"They won't be able to get in will they?" He asked as both soldiers shook their heads and confirmed they could not, "Can we communicate with them through the doors?"

"Normally, yes. However, everything has been down since the evacuation orders were issued; we have no means of confirming their identities without opening the bunker." The other officer explained.

"Shit!" Kyle cursed under his breath, turning as he scanned the large group behind them before staring at the sealed blast doors, rubbing his mustache as he thought.

*BANG*

"We can confirm they are not part of the military." One officer said.

"Really?" The mayor asked, looking between the two military police.

"Affirmative, sir." The other nodded, "Given their pattern, they are not soldiers. It is safe to assume they're not hostiles either. Most likely civilians."

The other soldier nodded in agreement, "A hostile force would most likely have attempted to break into the emergency shelter."

"I see..." He nodded, a voice shouting above the murmur of voices behind the crowd as he turned around.

"Open the doors!" Sarah screamed repeatedly, straining as she forced through the crowd, "That's my son!! He said he would be coming to the shelter later!!"

"Ms. Sanada, you have no way of knowing if that's true!" Kyle said, shaking his head as she panted, leaning forward and bracing herself against her knees as she reached the front of the group.

"I know it is!" She panted, huffing loudly as she stood up and shook her head, "He promised he would be here!"

"I understand your concern, Ms. Sanada..." The mayor replied, reaching out and placing his hand on her shoulder, "We cannot risk the lives and safety of everyone here on the slim chance that he survived whatever dangers are outside."

Sarah slapped his hand away and shook her head, "It's not a whim! I know it! I can feel it in my bones, he is still alive!"

"Dad!" Isaac shouted as he and his friends cut through the crowd, running up and gathering around Sarah, "It has to be Sam! He told me the same thing!"

"Isaac! Silence!" Kyle spat, shaking his head and pointing to where Dora was lying, "Go take care of your mother, leave this to the adults!"

"I am an adult!" Isaac countered, shaking his head, "Why aren't you letting him in??"

"You are still a child! You live under my roof!" The mayor argued, "I don't have time for this! I need to ensure everyone's safety; he might be part of the group that attacked our city!"

"That's crazy!" His son shouted, "He's the one who warned all of us to hide here!"

*BANG*

The repeated beating on the blast doors had started to create panic, and the entire group started shouting simultaneously, arguing against and in favor of opening the doors.

Kyle repeatedly called for everyone to calm down, but his words fell on deaf ears. Ultimately, he turned to one of the military police officers and held out his hand as the soldier unholstered the pistol strapped to his waist and handed it to the mayor.

He switched the safety off and raised the gun above his head, firing a single bullet, causing everyone to scream and crouch, "Now that I have your attention!"

He switched the safety on and handed the gun back to the officer, turning around with a smile and extending his arms, "Ladies and gentlemen! I promise you, we are safe in here, and they will not be able to break in! Let's all return to our loved ones and ignore them!

The group slowly started to thin as the people reluctantly returned to their cots. Isaac and his friends stood alongside Sarah, not moving as they all stared at the mayor resentingly.

"Son, this is the last time I will ask nicely." Kyle said sternly before pointing, "Take your friends and run along."

"It's alright, sweetie..." Sarah said softly, turning and giving him a brief smile, "You kids go on."

"Are you sure, Ms. Sanada?" Isaac asked, placing his hand on her shoulder as his girlfriend tugged at his arm to follow her and their friends.

"Of course!" She said with a smile, "I know how to handle your father."

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