“Hey, I got one! I got it!” Christine shouted, jumping up and down, holding the stick up with a fish wiggling at one end. Chase smiled at her exuberance. She stood in the shallow stream looking for all the world like a cavewoman waving her catch about.“Looks like we’re having a decent breakfast for once.” Chase said. He sharpened sticks using an edge of one of the metal containers. It was laborious work, but it paid off. His knee hurt less, but it was still swollen and stiff. Using the piece of palm log as a crutch he moved about better.“Yeah, pity we don’t have lemon butter to go with it.” Christine sighed. “And decent plates to eat out of.”Chase laughed, “Look on the bright side, no dishes to wash. Palm leaves are completely disposable.”Chase stoked the fire and Christine proceeded to gut the fish with the piece of broken bottle she had stepped on and cleaned. She grimaced in di

“Chase, wake up. WAKE UP!” Christine shook the man hard. He slept like the dead.“What…” He rubbed his eyes, trying to focus.Christine bent over him, shaking him.“Stop it. I’m awake. What?” He sat up, brushing leaves and grit out of his hair. The night sky had only just started turning to a purple haze.“Listen.” She pointed towards the ocean.Chase cocked his head to the side. He heard it. The unmistakable sound of a motorboat. The sound seemed to be getting closer fast.Christine sprang up. “Could this be them?” She looked up at the outcrop of rocks, contemplating to climb up to get a view.Chase stopped her. “Don’t even think about it. There’s no time.” He was breathing fast, adrenaline pumping through his veins. “We have to get to our hiding spot.”Christine helped him up. She prayed they would not be spotted and t

The group of hostages spent a restless night in the lounge. The armed men took turns watching them while they tried to sleep. Chase stayed awake most of the time, only nodding off on occasion. The throbbing pain from his knee injury kept him from sleeping, as well as trying to think of ways to get out of their situation. Christine lay curled up on the couch next to him. The De Santis family sprawled over the rest of the couches, the young Stefano lay on the carpet, watching the guard. Chase watched him, hoping he wouldn’t try anything foolish. He wondered why Red hadn’t contacted his father. He couldn’t wait to hear Alexander’s voice one more time. Never in a million years would he have thought that he could miss his father so much. It was like a physical pain, the longing. There were no more feelings of resentment or betrayal in his heart, only the need to hear his father’s voice. “Can’t you sleep?” Christine whispered to him. “Not really.” He whispe

Stepping into the corridor they heard yelling and then a short burst of automatic rifle fire. Chase held onto the sides of the corridor. “Hurry,” he said, “We need to get to the bridge.”Gabrielle and her mother went in front with Chase following and Christine at his back. Before they reached the bridge, an unsteady Imran came staggering out of a cabin. His eyes were wild and staring and he held a hunting knife in his hand.“Hey! American! Where are you going?” He yelled, reaching for Angelica who was nearest to him. Gabrielle shrieked and pulled her mother away from his clawing hand.“You little bitch! Come here!” Imran slashed at her with the knife. “I kill all of you!”  He screamed like a person possessed, all the while slashing and stabbing with the long blade.Gabrielle threw her arms up in front of her face to ward off the attack.“Shoot him! Shoot him!” Angelica scr

Alexander wasn’t prepared for the media that accosted them as soon as they got through customs. They were besieged with a horde of reporters shoving microphones and cameras in their faces.Chase who was being pushed on a wheelchair by one of the flight attendants, let loose a string of profanity at the sight before him.“Dad, what the fuck? Who let these vultures know we were coming back?” Chase scowled at them, holding his hand in front of his eyes when a flash went off right in his face. He had no patience with reporters, he was hurting and tired and wanted to go home.Christine lay a calming hand on his shoulder. The attendant asked if she should call security to remove them.“No, it’s alright. I will handle them. Please just get my son, Ms. Morrison and her parents to my limo.” Alexander took his wife’s hand and they went to the barrier to speak to the reporters.“Right away, Mr. Ward.” Said