The Hostage

She sat staring into the pitch darkness trying hard to see if, by chance, she could see the eyes of her son. She could see the outline of the gun, waving loosely in his left hand, his body outlined by the light of the moon flickering in through the blinds.

The room was purposely unlit.

She knew that she had only a few minutes left. They had told her ten minutes was all she had to convince the man to give up his hostage and come out. Five minutes to save her son.

‘Where is the hostage son? They said you are holding a woman’

‘Somewhere at the back. Cant say more’ he sounded cold and distant

‘Why son?’ she sobbed’ tell me what do you aim to achieve? What happened to …’

‘Its’ time to leave mum. It will get bloody soon’ his voice had a cold chill. A finality she knew.

‘But son…’

She did not see him come, in the brief moment she dabbed her eyes with the handkerchief he felt a hand on her shoulder. Firm and strong.

He hoisted her up and led her to the door.

For a brief moment they stood still in the doorway, they could hear the activities outside; a helicopter hovered overhead. Men were shouting instructions back and forth.

‘Please son just come with me. The police chief said he can work something out…’

He kissed her gently on the forehead

‘Too late ma… I shot a man dead. There is no going back’

‘But son, why did you shoot. At least tell me who was this man’

‘He opened the door slightly, allowing her to step out, his body shielded away from the possible range of fire of the snipers he knew were out there.

‘You really want to know?’

She nodded, sobbing

‘It’s my father. I found the fucking bastard and I shot him. I have his mistress in the back room and she is next. I am going to make him pay for all those years he left us mama. Pray for me”

He shoved her gently and slammed the door shut.

As she turned and ran towards the police cars she heard a shot.

Suddenly everywhere seem to come alive. She could remember police Chief Douglas grabbing her S.W.AT team members pushed past the gate and headed for the house.


* * * *

From where they sat they heard the car pull into the driveway. They sat, waited, in the darkness. They could see their mum seated in the sitting room, her housecoat pulled around her small frame.

A few minutes later the door opened and Dr Long walked in. He stood transfixed for a moment, apparently surprised by fact that she had waited up for him.

‘Sorry did I wake you?’ He asked

She shook her head

‘Anyway I just came in to take some of my stuff. I am leaving. This time for good’
He made to walk per her and headed upstairs.

‘Darling’ she swallowed hard. Daniel could see that she was crying. He looked at his sister who was seated beside him watching intently the scene unfolding below them.

‘I thought we could work this out…for the kids sake…for old time …’

He looked at her, and just continued up the stairs.

Mrs Long simply broke down and cried. She grabbed a cushion and muffled her sobs with it.
The whole house was in deep silence broken only by the noise of the grandfather clock in the sitting room.
Ten minutes later, he came down the stairs and walked past her.

‘Tom!’ She cried from her soul. The sound seem to fill the whole house and for a brief moment he stopped and his eyes flickered. She tried to stand up, to grab the man sheloved, looking into his eyes trying to see if something, no matter how little remained. Something she could hold onto.

Then he turned and left. They heard his car take off into the night air.

Daniel pulled his little sister up and motioned her to follow him.
He tucked her in that night.

‘Why was mummy crying? and is daddy leaving us?’

‘Don’t know Jane but I am sure they will work things out. Now say your prayers and go to sleep’

As he laid in the darkness he could hear Jane praying for daddy and mummy. He turned to the window and looked straight to the moon." I hate you dad" was the last thing she said before falling into sleep.