“They drugged me,” she said, her speech slurred.
I stood and faced Melvin. “What the fuck did you do?”
He grinned.
I bolted forward, hoping I could at least knock him over before he stunned me again. But as I approached, gunshots rang out somewhere deeper in the cave, followed by an explosion. Unable to stop myself, I changed directions, running into one of the surprised men wearing long white robes. I punched him in the face and grabbed his AK-47.
The rest of the cavern erupted in chaos. I didn’t see Melvin, but most of the other men were running toward the sound of the explosion.
When I saw Rose curled up in a fetal position, I rushed forward, intent on protecting her. The others had all left by the time I reached her. I crouched down with the AK slung over my shoulder. “Are you okay?” I asked, holding her head.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know, but I’m getting you out of here. Can you walk?”
She shook her head.
“What the hell did they give you?” I muttered. “Never mind. I’m going to carry you.”
I picked her up and surveyed my options.
More gunshots rang out in the distance, and then there was silence. Hoping I didn’t have to drop her to get my gun, I headed in the opposite direction. A few hundred feet later, I saw sunlight from the entrance of the cave.
“Just a little longer. Hang on,” I said, more to myself than her.
She looked up at me, oblivious to the severity of the situation.
“I’ll leave you here,” I said. “I need to see where we are and if anyone’s outside the cave.”
“You’re leaving me?” she said, her speech slurred.
I set her down on the floor and grabbed the AK-47, pointing it toward the sunlight.
“Hold on, I’m a friend,” someone yelled behind me.
I spun around, ready to shoot, but I held off as I saw a man with his hands raised in the air.
“I’m here to help,” he said, taking a step forward.
“Watch it,” I said, raising the gun.
“Dad?” Rose said, sitting up.
“Are you okay, dear?” the man asked, walking toward her.
“I said hold it,” I shouted. “She’s been drugged. How do I know I can trust you?”
“You don’t, son. But if I were you, I’d lower the weapon.”
He nodded toward the entrance of the cave. I turned and saw a half-dozen U.S. Marines with their weapons pointed at me. I lowered the assault weapon immediately.
“It’s okay,” the man said.
I turned and saw he had reached Rose.
“I’m in the CIA,” he explained while bending to check on Rose. “Come and help, will you?”
“Dad?” she said, giggling. “Kim was right for once!”