The Mesmerized

Dragging a deep breath of cold air into her lungs to steady her nerves, Minji nodded. “Yes, Ava.”

“With Daddy and Bailey?”

“Yes. Yes. With Daddy and Bailey.” Minji forced a smile.

Ava beamed affectionately at her mother. “Can I have more tattoos now? Mine got all gone.”

Minji snuggled her daughter. “We’ll ask Daddy.”

Chapter 34

The mesmerized awakened the moment the doorway between the two worlds closed. Outside the first facility, the crowd stirred in one great wave. Cries of fear and shock filled the night as people found themselves far from home, famished, dehydrated, and among complete strangers. Some fell to the ground, too weak to stand. Others sobbed in terror, a hazy memory of a beautiful, yet horrific dream haunting their thoughts. People of faith prayed. Others screamed in terror. Many were too stunned upon finding themselves stranded in the dark desert to do anything more than wait for someone to help them.

In the Grand Canyon, Kristen and her family remained crumpled corpses at the bottom.

In Texas, Ruben awakened to find himself tied to a tree along with his sisters. In shock, he watched his best friend unfurl himself from the sleeping bag laid out on the ground beside them.

“Finally,” Chuck said.

“You found my sisters,” Ruben gasped.

“What’s going on?” Esmer demanded.

Chuck just grinned. “First time I ever roped myself some humans. Hopefully, the last time.”

“We were like the others?” Ruben asked, horrified.

“Yep. It didn't affect me though. So I rounded you up and watched over you. It just took some time to find you in the big crowd.” Chuck cut the three loose while Esmer and Terry exchanged confused looks.

Once free, Ruben enfolded Chuck in a tight embrace. “Thank you, brother.”

In Virginia, Rachel and Juan Carlos came to with a start. Battered, bloody, and bruised, they stared at each other, then the wall that had taken the brunt of their attempts to escape the house while mesmerized. In a panic, they raced into the rooms of their children to find them struggling to free themselves. Once free, their reunion was joyous.

Across the world, the mesmerized were released from their fugue states. Countries that had enough time to prepare awakened to less chaos than those in North, Central, and South America. The Unites States Armed Forces immediately sprang into action. Early intel had allowed them to formulate a plan of action before the event had consumed the world. The men and women of the military had discarded their uniforms and been secured with ropes to keep them from wandering off. Upon awakening, they ate, drank sports drinks, put on their uniforms and mobilized.

Inside the bus, Jesse woke with a start, looked around, and then swore. Witnessing the turmoil outside, he claimed the medical supplies Simone had packed and immediately hurried to help.

Jake roused gradually, lifted his head, saw Simone holding Bailey, then looked down at the straps keeping him in the wheelchair.

“Please tell me my wife has something to do with this.”

Simone attempted to explain what had happened as the roar from the crowd escalated. People were afraid and pounded on the sides of the shuttle bus, crying out for help.

Alec, Minji, and Ava emerged from the facility’s delivery tunnel after disengaging the security on the massive blast doors. They mingled with the crowd until they reached the shuttle bus. Jesse, police officers, some military personnel, and first responders that had all been part of the massive crowd of the mesmerized eventually were able to calm the frightened people. Using the shuttle bus as a headquarters, they attempted to reach the outside world.

When Minji climbed onto the bus, Ava pulled free from her grasp to run to her father. Already holding Bailey, Jake snuggled his eldest daughter. After brushing away tears with the heels of her hands, Minji cupped her husband’s face and tenderly kissed him.

“Let me guess. You saved the world,” Jake said, pride in his voice.

“She sure did,” Alec agreed, patting Minji’s shoulder.

Turning about, M

inji wrapped her arms around Alec and gave him a fierce hug. With a smile on his lips, Alec returned it before tugging Simone into the mix.

In the sky above the facility, National Guard helicopters descended, their rotors slicing through the warming air.

Help had arrived.