Page 128 of No Fear

“I... I don’t know. There’s some stuff we need to sort out.”

Amanda squeezed her hand. “Do you love him?”

“Yes,” Charlie whispered. That was the problem. She did.

“Does he love you?”

“I don’t know. We haven't said it to each other. I know he cares about me.”

“Is he a good man?”

“Yes.” He was. Despite everything, Donnie was a good man, with a pure heart. None of what happened had been intentional.

“History and the past craft us into the people we are today, but remember, the past is the past. Sometimes we lose sight of the present because we are stuck living in the past. Don’t let fear rob you of happiness.”

The ambassador closed her eyes. She looked sad.

“Amanda, are you still with me?”

“Yes. Just tired. Tell me about your man.”

Blocking out the shouts and screams from outside, Charlie talked. The ambassador opened and closed her eyes and gave the occasional nod. Hopefully, her story was distracting the woman from the pain she must be feeling.

When Charlie finally stopped talking, the ambassador opened her eyes. “You know your brother’s death wasn’t Donnie’s or your fault. Sounds like you both need to let go of that guilt. If you love each other, you can help each other move on from this.”

Amanda let out a gasp, clutching her stomach.

“Amanda? What is it? What’s wrong?” Charlie looked around for the sergeant or any of the marines, but a much bigger explosion than the last one sounded right outside. Then gunshots. Lots of them. The building was under attack. Another explosion sounded above her and plaster fell from the ceiling missing her by inches. Instinctively, she leaned over, sheltering the ambassador who couldn’t move.

“Go, Charlie. Get out of here,” Amanda rasped.

“No. I’m not leaving you here. We leave together.”

The rest of the staff had disappeared. Had they run? Has someone taken them? She’d been focused on the ambassador, and there had been so much noise, dust, and smoke she hadn’t noticed. Tears filled her eyes at the thought they were going to die. There was no way out. She could make out bodies around her. People had already died. Were some of the staff dead? A man was running toward her, a large gun in his hand. Oh, God, her poor parents, losing both their children. Donnie. She would never get a chance to tell him she loved him.

The man reached her, an evil sneer on his face and grabbed her by the arm.

“You’re coming with me,” he said in accented English.

“No!” She struggled, but he was too strong. He dragged her outside onto a bus. The rest of the staff were already there. Frightened faces stared at her as she was slung into a seat.

Several men with painted faces and large guns were on the bus. They were not the good guys.

“Where are the Marines?” she whispered to the woman next to her.

“I saw one get shot. I think maybe they’re dead. Where’s the ambassador?”

“She’s hurt. Bad. I was with her, but they dragged me away.” She swallowed down a lump in her throat and moved to look down the center aisle of the old school bus.

“What do you think is going to happen to us?” the woman asked, eyes wide in fear.

“I don't know. Another team were coming, hopefully they get here soon.”

But then the bus’s old engine roared and they rolled forward.

One of the armed men shouted, getting their attention. “Ladies and gentlemen.” His voice had a strong accent. “If anyone tries to escape, you will be shot. If anyone tries to be a hero, I will shoot the person next to you.”

No one said anything. Charlie closed her eyes as fear crawled over her.