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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Teens
- Theme: Action & Adventure
- Subject: Courage / Heroism
- Published: 03/15/2021
Hijacked
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Darkness was evident in the sky over the large, log cabin in the Colorado mountains where I live. I am Carson, in the rocky,front yard, wearing gray athletic shorts, white t-shirt under a red hooded sweatshirt with gray, Head tennis shoes.
"Eddy," I called. I held a large cage placing it on the dirt. Eddy, my pet snake, poked his head out from behind a rock.
"Bully, Bully," I said. I had some mice for breakfast for him in the cage. He slid in the cage, squeezed them and swallowed them whole. I latched the latch.
I went into the house, slipped my lunch, G.O.R.P., and Gatorade in my backpack, and yelled goodbye to my Mom.
I tell Eddy he gets to go to school today. I use the red wagon to carry his cage down the driveway, up the hill, through the meadow, and across the road for the bus stop. I no sooner get there when the small school bus arrives.
"Hi, Margaret," I said as I climb the few steps on the bus.
"Hi, Carson, she responded. What do you have there?"
"This is Eddy, my pet snake." I replied.
"He is pretty big," she said, "Is he dangerous?"
"Oh no, I raised him from an egg," I said.
"Make sure you keep him in the cage," she instructed.
"Will do," I said. I went to the back of the bus.
"Hi, Dom," I said cheerfully. Dom is blond and blue eyed. He wears tan, lightweight pants and a polo, navy blue shirt with Nikes. He is intellectual so he asks many questions.
"Is that a snake?" Dom inquired, "It looks like a python," "How cool!"
"Yes, I found him as a speckled colored egg in my front yard in the rocks. I am taking him to my science class. He measures eleven feet long and weighs 72 pounds.
"Really, how do you manage him," Dom asked.
"It's like taking care of any other pet," I responded. I put Eddy's cage under the back seat to the far right hand corner so he couldn't be seen. Then, I sit down in the green vinyl upholstery seat across from Dom.
The bus stops at the next bus stop. Talking and commotion incerases as the students climb on the bus. There's Jacob Adams, wearing black jeans with a black, polo shirt with black Nikes. He's a loud talker with brown hair and brown eyes.
"Hi, you guys, another day to do some studying and checking out the cool chicks," Jacob yelled, "Yeah."
Behind him was Ella Jones who was laughing. "Are chicks all you think about?" she said. Ella has blond hair, hazel eyes, and
is wearing a tank top with a lacy overtop with white jeans and Fila tennis shoes.
"That pretty well sums it up, Ella," Jacob replied.
"What's the hold up, you guys?" Ashley Campbell shouted.
"Hold your horses, Ashley, I have to find a seat." Jacob said.
Margaret shouted, "Is everybody ready?" Hearing was distorted due to the commotion, the engine running, and will be the movement of the bus.
Ashley has dark brown hair and brown eyes. She's wearing black and white sweats with a hoodie and Lotto tennis shoes.
Ashley responded, "Smartie, there are plenty of seats." She sits in the next availablae seat on the right smiling.
Jacob flirted, "But I want just the right seat to sit with Ella." He sits down on the right side in front of Carson.
"I can't sit with you, I have to do my homework," Ella replied with a wink.
The bus traveled the winding, mountain road with bumps before it got to the last stop. The sun was about to come up and it still would be an hour before we got to Lincoln High School. The bus stops on the deserted highway by the Bus Stop sign.
Luke Doyle comes on the bus and throws a miniature football to Jacob, but Carson catches it behind him.
Carson said kiddingly, "You have to do better than that if you are going to be the quarterback."
"Okay, Carson, you had your glory," Jacob said laughing.
Luke has blond hair, blue eyes, wearing blue jeans, Texas A&M sweatshirt and maroon Adidas. He is well liked and is playful.
Olivia Samuels trips on the step and almost lands in the bus drivers lap. Everyone laughs.
"Oh, excuse me, Ma'am." Olivia apologized. Olivia has black hair, green eyes wearing faded blue jeans, black hooded sweatshirt and black Nikes. Olivia regains her composure. She is clumsy and a loner. She sits down with a flushed face on the left in front of Luke.
"Hey, Luke, how about lending me you're A&M sweatshirt for the game on Saturday," Jacob asked.
"Sorry guy, I will be wearing it," Luke replied.
Suddenly, we heard Margaret shout, "Hold on everyone." She slammed on the brakes. Ashley and Olivia fell to the floor of the bus. They were able to quickly scramble back onto thier seat. Carson stood up to see a car with the hood up, smack in front of the bus. Not even a few seconds went by when two men with camouflaged military outfits, shaved heads with clean shaven faces pounding on the windshield with their pistols.
I said, "Shoot, no phone service."
"Lady, open this door!" Both men shouted. When she didn't one man shot at the windshield making a hole but missed Margaret. She gasped and her eyes were bulging with the blood rushing to her face. The students tensely sat in their seats without movement or sound.
Margaret opened the door. "What do you want?" she demanded.
Ella screamed, "Please don't hurt us!"
"We are Robert Stiles and this is Harry Bryant and we want this bus. The men had planned this hijack for a year.
Margaret tries to reach for the mic of the mobile two-way radio. Robert pulls the cord and said, "Not quick enough, Missy!"
He cuts the cord with his pocket knife and turns it off. He precedes to hit her in the jaw with his fist. Her upper torso goes backwards in the side window hitting her head. She moans with tears in her eyes. The students gasped.
While all the attention was in the front of the bus, Carson whispers,"Breath, try to relax, be smart, we are a team and we will get out of this safely." Several students shrugged their shoulders, others sat still in their seat.
Harry pointed the gun at Margaret's head. Robert preceded to go down the bus aisle to address the students. "Ladies and
gentlemen," he said and smiled. "All we need is cooperation: then, no one will get hurt."
Robert announces, "Everyone must put all their cell phones after removing the batteries and electronics in the plastic
bucket. Everyone will be searched and if someone withholds anything, there will be a pricae to pay." Everyone passed the bucket around and did as we were told. Harry thanked everyone, took the bucket and gave it to puzzled Dom.
"Listen up," Robert said, "I want all you boys to come with me. If anyone tries to leave, I will shoot a couple of your friends."He takes the plastic bucket from Dom and inspects it.
It was hard to determine what time it was. There were dense white and gray clouds in the sky with the tree limbs movingslightly in the air. I pondered the fact that the morning is going by. How long would it take for the school to realize the bus did not arrive? It would be several hours to get to us. The situation looked bleak.
The boys, Luke, Jacob, Dom, and Carson filed out of the bus with Robert behind them pointing a gun. He had them remove a 4-five gallon as containers from the blue Chevy, the car close to the bus and puts them at the step of the bus.
Robert looks toward me and siad,"What's your name, son?"
"Carson Reynolds, Sir," I said.
"Carson, I want you to fill up the bus with gas." Robert ordered.
The boys stood and watched Carson easily fill the tank. Afterwards, Carson did what he was told, carried the gas containers and put them behind the bus drivers seat. Robert tells them to go in the bushes to relieve themselves. With the boys heads in sight, he goes to the car and picks up a box of handcuffs, a rope, the gray, wide duct tape and some sandwiches. The boys line up on the side of the bus.
Robert lets the girls see to their needs in the bushes with the same threat to shoot a couple of friends. The girls return to the bus.
Robert brings the plastic bucket and places it in the front seat of the car. Then, he drives the car facing the cliff of the highway. He lights the front seat and it catches on fire. He lets it burn for a minute then, he takes the fire extinguisher
and sprays the fire out.
"Come on boys," "Push the car over the cliff," he ordered.
"Why do you want us to do that?" Jacob asked.
"I don't need a car anymore, I have a bus," Robert replied.
It didn't take much to push the car over the cliff with five of us.
"Back in the bus, everyone," Robert said. The students breathed a sign of relief to be back in their seats.
Robert grabbed Margaret under the arm and moved her to the seat beside Olivia. Everyone was frisked by Harry at the front of the bus. It was a process, but everyone was clean.
"Harry, don't you think it's odd that several cars have passed and haven't stopped to see if something is wrong." Robert inquired.
"Maybe they were in a hurry to get someplace," Harry replied.
Robert opened the box and took out the rope, the duct tape and laid them on the front seat.
"Look what we have here; the handcuffs we stole from the police department," Harry bragged. "Has anyone used handcuffs before?" Jacob raises his hand.
"Great, here's four for me and four for you," Harry said.
"We aren't criminals," Olivia pleaded.
Everyone took a deep breath. Their faces were flushed, eyes blinked rapidly and frowns across their lips.
Roberet spots Luke behind Olivia. Robert pointed and said, "What's your name?"
"Luke Doyle, Sir," he responded.
Harry points to Jacob and asked, "What's your name?" "Jacob Adams, Sir," he replied.
Jacob preceded to put the handcuffs on each person, handcuffing one hand and one handcuff attached to the bar on top of the back of the seat. Harry gave him the rest of the handcuffs in order to use them on everyone in this manner.
Robert handcuffed Margaret, then stuck two handcuffs in his pocket. Again, Robert grabs Margaret, then, looks at Luke and said,"Come on, Luke, I have a project for you." He took Margaret off the bus with Luke in front still pointing the gun at Luke. He instructed Luke to go off the highway on a path down the embankment. The walk was quite a distance with thick Aspen trees,
paved with colored leaves and the terrain was rocky. There was a Aspen tree where Robert pushed Margaret's back to the tree and handcuffed her arms behind her. She whimpered and squirmed but it was useless with Robert's strong arms.
He instructed, "Luke, tie the rope around her."
Margaret pleaded, "Why are you doing this?"
"You're a troublemaker," he said. He places a strip of duct tape over her mouth.
"Luke, put the handcuffs around her ankles." he ordered.
"Let's go, Luke," Robert said.
"You are just going to leave her here?" Luke asked.
"Do you want to stay here with her?" Robert replied, "I can tie you up here, too."
Luke didn't say a word. He put down his head. Robert puts the handcuffs on Luke. Then, start back to the bus. Robert talked the
whole time, something about his kids.
Luke's face is white, full of turmoil with worry about Margaret and the others.
Finally, Robert and Luke get to the bus and climb the steps with Harry sitting in the driver's seat.
"Harry, we got to get out of here," Robert said, "We are loosing time."
The students quietly tried to eat their lunches. It wasn't easy being in handcuffs.
"Did you want to drive first?" Harry asked.
"You bet your mother I do," Robert replied. He exchanged places with Harry, started the bus, turned the bus around and sped down the mountain highway. He was hoping the sun would peak out more to brighten his spirits.
Harry planted himself with the gun in a nearby seat sitting sideways eating a sandwich. He nervously looked out the window when he said,"Robert, we would all like to get there in one piece."
"Harry, don't tell me how to drive," Robert said, "I told you we are losing time." Minutes passed.
"I have a confession, Robert announced, "I can't tell you, Harry will."
Sadness comes over Harry's face. He said, "Robert lost his family of nine people in a fatal car accident."
Condolences spread through the students talking to themselves, but could be heard.
Robert with a tear said," Thank you, Harry will you make the announcement?"
We came to the conclusion that Robert was a maniac on the road. We couldn't wait till Harry took the wheel. Robert has frightened everyone.
"Boys and girls, we are happy to inform you that we are your new family. It is going to be a long trip before we get home." Harry said.
Dom, Carson, Jacob, Ella, Luke, Ashley, and Olivia were wide-eyed and speechless. We did not see this coming. Silence hovered over
the students for about half an hour. Then, Carson spoke up, "How many hours before we get home?"
About four or five hours," Robert answered, "Hopefully, you brought a book or somesthing to keep occupied."
Robert began singin, "Old MacDonald." "Old MacDonald had a farm ei-ei-o" "On this farm he had a boy ei-ei-o" "With a moan, moan here and moan moan there" "Here a moan, there a moan, everywhere a moan, moan" Old MacDonald had a farm, ei-ei-o"
Then, the hysterical laughter Robert mad. He continued to sing constantly, making up names, animals, and maybe his family.
I felt like it was a nightmare. I quietly whispered, "It will be okay." Some of us laid down in our seats; anything to pass the time.
Eddy does well anywhere, but I secretly talk to him. He gives me a sense of calm.
"Harry, Harry!" Robert exclaimed, "Your turn to take over the wheel. Harry had fallen asleep, and the gun had fallen onto the floor.
"Okay," he yawned.
Robert was furious as he picked up the gun. "You're supposed to be the watchdog. Wonder if one of those kids got a hold of your gun," he griped.
Harry didn't say a word. He went to the wheel and continued the driving. Robert took his seat.
"May I speak, Sir?" I asked. "I believe pretty much that none of us were able to see the fallen gun on the floor, so nothing happened is the main thing."
"Most of us had our eyes closed laying on the seats," Ella added.
Harry turned his head to everyone and his face wrinkles disappeared from his forehead and he half smiled.
"We can't afford to screw anything else up, Harry," Robert shouted. "Don't let it happen again, if you know what's good for you.
Time moved like a walking turtle.
Harry stopped the bus and took the gas containers and filled the bus. He hopped back in the bus seat and continued driving.
Jacob was scooting around in his seat bobbing up and down so finally threw the miniature football to Luke. Luke catches it and throws it back.
Obviously, Robert was in no mood for anything so he stood up.
"Knock it off, or I won't hesitate to take you out on this highway, shoot your heads off and kick you off the mountain," he exclaimed.
Luke and Jacob made their apologies.
Dom whispered, "We are dealing with crazy."
"I am going to be crazy soon," Ashley confessed.
In the meantime,the mountain bus is reported missing after a long elapse of time. Finally, the school, police and all other authorized personal got on board for the investigation.
Harry went off the highway into a dirt area with thick, close-knit trees; obviously a forests. It looked more like a wilderness. He drove for miles to come across a hidden cabin with a detached garage. Evergreens were everywhere around the cabin. Aspen trees scattered in between. He parked and faced the bus in front of the cabin. Harry unhooked each students handcuffs from the seat
and on each person replaced the other hand completely to the handcuff.
There was a paved sidewalk with a huge evergreen on each side leading to the cabin. The porch was the length of the cabin where there were six latex, white, painted rocking chairs along the front close to the doorway. A white swing hung from the left end of the porch with printed cushions and pillow. It was so charming our faces light up.
Harry put the gas in the garage.
"This is where we are going to stay?" Ella asked.
"Is this where you live?" Luke asked.
"Did you build this cabin?" Jacob asked.
"Can it hold this many people?" Ashley asked.
"Yes, we live here, you all are staying here, I built the cabin, and we will make do," Robert replied.
Everyone filed into the house. The entrance had a double door closet on the left. The flooring was oak stained, hardwood floor with scattered, solid green rugs. The kitchen was a L-shaped with oak cabinets and a large oak rectangle table with matching benchs on all sides. On the right were two large, leather brown couches facing each other with a wagon wheel coffee table. A fireplace was next to the couches and a flat TV mounted above one couch. At the end of the room were two card tables and chairs with a monopoly game, chess, and checker boards set up. Behind was a larage bookcase full of books between the windows with green, brown, and white plaid curtains. There were two bedrooms and bath on the far left side after the kitchen.
"Wash up for dinner," Harry announced.
Everyone lined up for the bathroom. Small talk was in whispers as we took turns.
Everyone took a place at the table with Robert at the far end and Harry at the end closer to the appliances. Harry brought out homemade tortilla soup, French bread and chocolate cake. Everyone agreed that coke would be the choice to drink. Dinner was delicious.
"We can help with the dishes," Olivia offered. Carson offered,"I can load if you can clear the table." In addition, Ashley and Luke joined us.
Afterwards, Harry said, "I love games and I am good at chess."
Carson responds, "I'm your challenger." Carson puts a black pawn and white pawn in each hand behind his back. Harry picks the left hand with the white pawn so he goes first. We sit down to play.
Dom and Luke choose the checkers and Ashley, Ella, Olivia, and Jacob play monopoly.
Robert lays on the couch.
Dom noticed the guns were in their belts.
Robert said,"I have an excruciating migraine. Harry you can take care of the bus. I am going to bed."
Harry is concentrating on his move. Carson said, "I have trouble sleeping at night. I left my book in the bus. Can I get it?"
Harry keeps his head down, waves his hand towards the door.
Carson moves out the door, goes down the pavement and climbs the bus steps. I yell out to Eddy that I am here. I put the book,"To Kill a Mockingbird" under my arm. I carry the cage and put it under the swing. I open the cage and said, "Bully, Bully!" I tell Eddy I will open a window for him.
I go back in the cabin. Harry hasn't moved yet so I excused myself to go to the bathroom. I tug but can't get the window open. My hands are shaking as I scout quickly for another window. I go into the other bedroom and open the window and shut the curtain.
I return to the games and check the monopoly, the checkers and notice everyone laughing and enjoying themselves. Harry finally moved. I put my queen several spaces from his king. Check.
Harry said, "We have something else to do." Harry removes his gun and directs everyone in single file to the inside of the bus. He drove the bus some distancae from the cabin.
"Everybody out!" Harry exclaimed. Everybody got out of the bus.
Like the car, he drove the bus as close to the edge of the cliff. Harry lit the bus upholstery, let it burn and used the fire extinguisher to put it out. Then, he put it in neutral and instructed everyone to push. Everyone watched as the bus went far into the ravine. Dusk took over the day.
While everyone was gone, Eddy slithered into the bedroom with his forked tongue going in and out with his expanding jaw with slobbery, sharp
teeth to see Robert whose black boots were at the end of the twin bed. Eddy quietly climbed on top of Robert who squirmed violently. Eddy wrapped his reptile body around him several times and Eddy squeezed every time Robert breathed, until Robert moved no more. There was not a trace of Robert on the bed. (Digestion of a human takes eight hours with a python.) Eddy went out the next bedroom window and hid under the porch of the cabin to wait for Carson.
Dom, Carson, Jacob, Ella, Ashley, Olivia, and Harry hiked back to the cabin.
"Do we get to play some more?" Ashley asked.
"I think we can keep playing," Harry said.
Everyone went into the cabin and to the tables to play. Harry moved his king. Carson moves his knight for a checkmate.
"Kid, I am not used to getting beat," Harry shouted. He shoves his arm into the pieces knocking them to the floor. Everyone stops the games and jumps out of our chairs. Carson walks to the kitchen.
Harry said, "There are sleeping bags and pillows in the front closet. Everyone needs to get ready for bed. You can set up by the fireplace."
Harry went ‌into the other room. The students were relieved that everything was clean. Olivia, Ashley, and Ella laid together after unrolling out sleeping bags away from the window. Luke, Jacob, Dom, and Carson spread out on the rugs with our bags and pillows by the window.
Harry comes out, stands in front of us. His face is blank and eyes look in space.
"I can't find Robert," he cried.
"What do you mean, you can't find Robert?" Carson inquired.
"Maybe he went for a hike," Ella said.
"He'll be back, Harry," Luke said cheerfully.
"He has disappeared before this," Harry said, But to leave me with all of you, doesn't make any sense."
"He knows you can handle this," Dom said.
"I'm not going to worry about it," Harry said, "We all need to go to bed, it was a long day."
Harry put a pad lock on the front door. He said, "Good night." A scatter of good nights went around the room.
Halfway through the night Carson got up and tiptoed to the windows trying to find one that would open. The one by the entry closet was loose so he cracked it open. He looked at the kitchen clock. It was almost 4 o'clock-the right time Eddy could be ready for another meal. I would not want to make him sick. I laid down a little bit longer, but I was anxious for this to be done.
I tiptoed again to the window and whispered loudly, "Bully, Bully!" I turned around and everyone had put up their faces smiling. I go to the
sleeping bag to sleep while we wait.
Eddy slides out from under the cabin edging close to the cabin to find the open window and glides into the opening through the curtains. Eddy's reptile skin includes box shaped patterns outlined in a dark yellow, jagged border, the inside is bordered with black and a tan color on top of the dark yellow over the entire scaly body. White appears on the tan tips. A solid patch of brown inside the black. Eddy moved with purpose as he slithered upon the foot of the bed. Harry was snoring really loud, but that didn't stop Eddy from crawling around him
and wrapping himself tightly around Harry's body. Eddy began squeezing with Harry's first shout and with his next breath he was lifeless.
Eddy slipped off the bed, positioned himself at the foot and indulged from feet to head. He slowly got off the bed, slid through the window, slithered along the cabin and into the dirt under the cabin. Harry was gone without a trace.
Daybreak arrived. Carson was the first one up walking toward the bedrooms. Jacob followed him. "Do you think Eddy did it?" Jacob
whispered.
"That's what I am going to find out," Carson replied.
Carson carefully grabbed the doorknob with a turn while Jacob breathed in his ear. Carson peeked around the door. No one was in the bed. He quickly opened the door to find the room empty. We both ran to the other bedroom to find it empty.
We both shouted, "We're alone."
We shared our news with the rest of our friends.
"I have been traumatized." Carson confessesd.
"Poor Margaret," Ashley said.
"I hate to think of what happened to her," Luke said.
"I don't know how I am going to recover," Olivia said.
"How did this happen to us," Dom questioned.
"Could this have been prevented," Jacob said.
Everyone shouted, "No!"
Ella begins to cry, "Now what are we going to do?"
Luke so good naturedly expressed, "Breakfast should be the first thing to start the day."
Laughter fills the room.
Everyone goes to the kitchen to figure out what to eat. The refrigerator and cabinets were stocked up with food. Cereal and juice was the main attraction.
We need the key to open the pad lock to the front door. Carson went to Harry's room to look for the key. Nothing. The bedside furniture had a drawer which he opened and there was the key. I grabbed the key, headed for the door and unlocked the door.
I went out to check on Eddy. He was too big for his cage.
"How are you doing, Eddy?" I said as I petted him. "Thank you and great job!" I praised.
I went back into the cabin as Ashley was making sandwiches. All the backpacks were on the table. Everyone was putting everything away and seemed to know what to do.
Jacob and I went out to the garage to see the vehicle that Robert or Harry owned. We scouted around to find a stick shift old Ford truck. We concluded that we are too young to drive expecially a stick shift. It was definitely a dead end for our trip home. I said, "Here's a hatchet and hammer to take off the handcuffs." We joined our friends to report our findings and bring the tools to
help release us from the handcuffs.
We packed our backpacks with sandwiches, fruit, candy, and a variety of drinks.
I announcaed, "We have become good friends the entire trip. Thanks all of you for the excellent team work. I couldn't be with better classmates. We have a tough road ahead of us. We can do this."
"Thank you and Eddy for saving us," Luke said.
Everyone shouted, "Yes!"
I requested, "Everyone needs to search around the cabin for a compass." No one wasted any time to try to find a compass. Time elapsed.
Ella searches inside the garage and finds a compass mounted on the dash of the truck. Shes pulls it off and runs inside the cabin.
"I found one," Ella yelled. She hands it to Carson. Carson said,"Way to go, Ella."
The guys hooked the sleeping bags onto their backpacks. The girls managed their own backpacks. Everyone walked out to the porch and down the sidewalk. Eddy joined us and slid ahead of us.
Carson said, "The compass pointed straight ahead to the north.
The long hike begins through the trees trampling on the colored leaves on the ground. I figured we must be south of Pueblo. We geared left to the northwest part of the terrain. The grassy plains were a few miles before the Rocky Mountains in layered rock.
In the distance a mountain lion spotted the students. We had no protection against this predator. He was circling the hikers, not concerned that he was in plain view. We began breathing heavily. Ella, Olivia, and Ashley held hands.
Ella cried, "I am so scared."
Carson said, "Let's form an inner back circle." We can't run.
"Where's Eddy?" Olivia whispered.
"Everyone stay close together," Carson said. "We hope this lion is the only one." "Bully, Bully!" Carson called.
Eddy comes out from behind the lion and leaps on his back. We see Eddy's long teeth penetrate the back of his neck. The lion is down and Eddy wraps his body completely around the lion. He squeezes repeatedly until his breath ceases. Eddy leaves the lions body in the grassy plains.
"What a sigh of relief, thanks to Eddy." Dom said.
Eddy disappears in the shrubs.
"Can everyone get our wits together so we can continue on the hike?" Jacob suggested.
There are some pine trees in the distance, so we paced ourselves to reach them without difficulty. The sun was intense considering it was fall so the shade felt good to the hikers. Everyone found some crystallize rock to sit on to grab a drink and some lunch. The brush was thick as we loaded our gear on our backs and preceded on the hike.
"Look everyone there's a stream below," Luke said, "Anyone game for a swim?"
"Ha, Ha, Ha, you first Luke," Ashley replied, "Let me see you turn into a ice cube."
Everyone roared with laughter. We hiked down to the water. The water moved rapidly across the rock in a uneven flow. Across the stream there was a huge black bear coming toward us in the water.
Carson said,"We cannot outrun the bear, extend your arms above your head to appear bigger." All of us extended our arms. It was a matter of minutes when Eddy appeared out of a tree.
"Bully, Bully!" Carson said. Eddy leaned up on the tree and faced the bear hissing. It was a miracle that the bear turned around through the water and ran away. Everyone had thumbs up on their extended hands yelling, "Yes." We climbed the embankment to the flat land with many fir and pine trees. Eddy wondered away.
Cason has the compass and talks out lout, "I think we're close to Wolf Creek Pass. Lets stay close to the stream so we may run into a canyon and to the road."
We all were dragging our feet as we collapsed to the ground onto our backpacks. We rested while we drank our Cokes. Then, we were ready to continue the hike with hope of being rescued, but we had miles to go.
"Do you think someone will find us?" Olivia asked.
Carson said, "I believe so, I am sure everyone is looking for us as we speak." Olivia gives me a hug and sheds some tears.
When we rounded a place in the rock there was the canyon and beside it was the road. Eyebrows were raised, mouths dropped open and afterwards, cheers of excitement was magnified.
"I'm in disbelief to see this sight." Ella exclaimed.
"You did it, Carson. You were a tremendous navigator," Luke shouted. Everyone applauded.
Carson yelled, "Eddy." Carson walked several yards to see Eddy in the grass at the shoulder of the road near the rock. Carson lays flat on his stomach and faces Eddy looking in his eyes. Everyone watched but could not hear what Carson was saying. He pats Eddy's head, stands up, and watches Eddy disappear in the rock.
Carson comes back with red eyes and tears to be with Dom, Jacob, Ella, Luke, Olivia, and Ashley. Each of his friends pat him on the back.
"Thanks," Carson sobbed.
"Come on, let's walk, Jacob said.
Ella started humming, "Rocky Mountain High." We all joined in humming where we forgot the words.
Dom said,"We haven't even seen a car yet"
"There's some mountain goats up on the ridge over there." Jacob said, "Maybe we could ride the goats home."
We all giggled and kept singing.
"I hear something above," Ashley said.
Sure enough, it was a helicopter. Everyone jumped, yelled and waved their hands. The helicopter landed on the road.
"Is everyone okay?" The pilot asked. I am Marty, I am here to rescue all of you."
We all clapped with gratitude. "I think I can fit all of you, but not your gear," Marty said. The backpacks and sleeping bags are tossed and piled on the side of the road.
"Where is the bus and the bus driver?" Marty asked.
Luke reported, "Margaret was tied up on a tree far from here. The bus was burned and pushed in a revine."
"How did you get away?" Marty asked.
"Robert Stiles and Harry Bryant disappeared at their cabin where we were being held," Carson reported.
"You all are survivors," Marty remarked. "Let's get you home in this machine of mine."
Jacob was the largest so he sat up in front. Everyone else squeezed in the back. Marty got inside and used the stick handleto the transmission to direct the helicopter. He got on the two-way radio and called the school.
"So many people were trying to figure out what happened to all of you," Marty reported, "I had the honor of finding you with their help.
Carson remarked, "This is a different trip compared to the bus and a lot quicker."
Soon the helicopter reached the school and landed in the parking lot. There was a crowd of people-studens, staff and families cheering.
Several days later I found out that Margaret was found by two hikers and released from bondage. She ended up in a mental hospital for a couple days. She quit her job as my bus driver and is now working in the library. I plan on going to see her to wish her well.
School is back to normal for most. No one mentioned Eddy. For months to come, it wasn't unusual to hear and see the hijack students pass in the hallway saying, "Bully, Bully! giving high fives.
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Stephanie Egbert
04/07/2021
COMMENTS (2)