"Something you want to tell us, Georgie?" Rufus spit out Georgie's name like he had a nasty taste in his mouth.
Four pair of eyes were turned in Georgie's direction. He crossed his arms and stared back. If you looked up 'sulking' in the dictionary there would be a picture of Georgie.
Griffen fiddled with the walkie-talkie. All he got was static.
"Leave that alone! It's mine." Georgie reached out to grab the walkie-talkie. Rufus slapped his hand away. Georgie howled. Griffen lept back, holding the walkie-talkie out of reach.
"Enough!" Anne, never the most patient of the group, blew up at his antics. "Georgie, you either explain now or you are out of here! And I mean on the road, alone. No money, no food. Nothing! Then you can call your new friends to come get you. Talk!"
"There's nothing to tell." He sounded like a petulant six year old. "A friend gave it to me."
Anne bit back the nasty comment she was about to make.
Rufus jumped into the silence. "What is your friend's name?"
"Carli."
"That's a nice name. Is that Sargeant Carli or maybe CaptainCarli? " Rufus asked snidely.
Before Georgie could answer, Anne exploded. "Come on! Quit beating around the bush! What are you up to, you little snake? What did they promise you to betray us?"
They all stared in shock when Georgie burst into tears. "She is my friend. She just wanted to make sure I was okay." His words were garbled. His body crumpled forward. Georgie didn't notice when his nose dripped onto his shirt.
Ann leaned forward, her face twisted into an angry scowl, itching for a fight. Lucy placed a hand lightly her arm. Anne glared at the tiny hand like she was considering biting it off.
Ignoring the furious look Anne sent her, Lucy gently set Twiskers on the mattress. She walked over to the other bed where Georgie sat and crouched down in front of him. Silently, patiently, her hands on his knees, Lucy waited for Georgie to calm down and look at her. Rufus bounced on the balls of his feet, anxious, in case Georgie struck out at Lucy.
Finally, Georgie sniffed wetly, wiped his nose on his sleeve, then, looked up. "I don't have any friends. Not like you guys. I had no one inside that place." He choked on a sob. "I was all alone. I'm always alone. All the time."
Lucy moved so she could sit on the bed beside him, her thin arms not quite circling Georgie as he cried.
Griffen and Anne exchanged looks. Griffen shrugged. Anne rolled her eyes.
For the entire first week at the military base, Georgie had refused to eat. It was a protest so opposite to his nature that he couldn't understand how his guards were not thoroughly impressed. He would only sip water. His act of defiance had no effect on his captors, but sure made his stomach unhappy.
Then, one day, as he lay on his bed, a beautiful girl walked into his room and sat down beside him. Her hip touched his hip when she perched on his mattress. "Hi."
Georgie recovered quickly, his usually snarky attitude re-surfacing. "What do you want?"
She smiled, a beautiful, sunny smile. "My name is Carli."
"So?"
Instead of being put off by his rudeness, Carli laughed. "I heard you were tough."
Georgie looked suspicious.
At first, Carli would pop in for short visits. Then, the visits became longer and usually involved bringing Georgie a treat or two. She was mesmerized by Georgie's talents and encouraged him to practice. She would reward him with a gentle pat and a chocolate bar. When the time came for Georgie to escape and meet up with the others, Carli had packed him a backpack with all his favorite foods. There were also some clean socks and underwear, Carli giggled and winked.
"Be safe." Carli gave him a quick squeeze and pushed him toward the open door. Georgie knew it was time to leave.
"Okay, so, some chick gives you some Twinkies and you are ready to set us all up for the kill?" Rufus sneered.
"No, it wasn't like that." Georgie was tired and defeated. The others loomed menacingly over him. Once again, he was alone.
"Stop it!" Lucy shouted, shocking everyone. "Georgie is one of us, and maybe if you guys had been a little kinder to him, he wouldn't have fallen for their tricks!"
"But..."
"No buts! This stops now. I won't..."
Anne's soft groan was like a shot going off. Silently, they waited for her to speak.
"They are here." Her eyes narrowed. "There is about 20 agents in 5 cars. They are spreading out in the front and back of the motel"
"What do you want us to do?" Georgie jumped off the bed. Rufus and Griffen tensed.
Anne calmly stared into Georgie's eyes. "Are you able to disarm twenty agents, both front and back at once?"
Georgie actually smiled. "Yup."
"Perfect." She turned to Rufus next. "I need all the batteries and alternators blown. But not our car. Then you will have to shut down the agents so they can't follow us. Georgie will help."
"Done." Energy radiated off Rufus. "Agreed." Georgie stuck his hand out, Rufus hesitated, then shook it.
"Griffen, you have to get Lucy safely to our car. Do you still have your tazer?"
Griffen patted his pocket. Anne smiled. "Please, don't tazer Lucy."
"Okay, on the count of three, we move. One.." Rufus winked at Lucy when she scooped up Twiskers. "Two..." Georgie brought both hands up like an orchestra conductor. "Three."
Explosions rocked the motel room. Anne jerked the door open. Griffen blinked out and Lucy's right arm flew into the air, hooked around her invisible friend. Smoke blanketed the parking lot. Men and women dressed in swat gear howled and dropped their weapons, clutching their injured hands.
Stunned, the agents watched helplessly as the five young people ran out of the motel room.
Anne ran to the SUV with all five backpacks slung over her shoulders. Once inside, she curtly nodded at the two government vehicles blocking their exit. Georgie swiped his hands left, then right. The heavy vehicles flew across the lot, flipping as they went. Agents leaped out of the way. Anne roared past them onto the highway.
"Be ready. There's probably more of them ahead."