#runningoutoftime

Darien: (Hugging his mother tight) Mom! I got into the University of Louisiana, the best art school in the country.

Rei: That’s wonderful honey, I knew you would; a whole new life a wait’s you.

Darien: You mean us! Come with me, let’s leave right now. We will pack what we can and just leave all this behind. I have money saved and I know we will be ok.

Rei: Yes, it’s time; I’ll go pack right now. (They each go to their rooms to back).

(They take what they can and leave that night, never to return. Now it has been three months since they left Atlanta and Robert. Darien and his mother have settled in New Orleans, Louisiana. Darien is in school and his mother is working, life is going well for the both of them. One day while Darien is in class he meets a young lady who will become his girlfriend.)

Lena: Hi, is this seat taken?

Darien: No, not at all. (Looking her up and down).

Lena: Will the class run late? I have to go to work.

Darien: No, it usually lets out early. My name is Darien Thomas, what’s yours?

Lena: My name is Lena Johnson, (sitting down next to Darien, smiling).

Darien: Well Ms. Johnson; I was wondering if maybe you would like to get a cup of coffee with me sometime?

Lena: That would be nice Mr. Thomas. Here is my phone number; give me a call sometime, (winking at him and smiling).

(The next day they go out and learn all about each other and their pasts; nine months later they are living together in a nice apartment).

Darien: (Walking in the door) Lena I’m home!

Lena: (Staring out the window) Huh! Oh hi sweetie.

Darien: Daydreaming again? (Kiss on the cheek), what about this time work, or school?

Lena: My family! Today’s the anniversary of when mom and I left my dad.

Darien: (Rubbing her shoulders), oh babe, are you ok?

Lena: Yes, I’m fine, (patting his hands). You know I think someone has been following me (turning to face Darien)!

Darien: (Staring her in the eyes). Why do you think that?

Lena: I don’t know; I just do. Lately I’ve been feeling like someone has been watching me where ever I go.

Darien: Maybe because of what today is that’s why you are feeling this way.

Lena: Maybe you’re right, (hugging him). So it’s Friday what are we going to do tonight?

Darien: Don’t you remember my friend Chase is in town; we’re going to have dinner with him and Angel. I want to try to fix them up, (smiling).

Lena: Oh this should be good, Mr. on a journey and Ms. Dark magic. This will be interesting, (laughing).

(That night at the Saga Club the four friends eat, drink, and talk until the early morning).

Darien: (Sipping his drink) so, how long will you be in town Chase?

Chase: Only a month or two at the most.

Angel: (Smiling at Chase) Where have you been on your travels Mr. Taylor?

Chase: (Smiling at Angel) All over the world Ms. Williams. I’ve been all over the US, Europe, and Africa.

Lena: (Smiling at Chase) when are you going to settle down and stay in one place?

Chase: (Looking at Angel) Maybe when I have the right motivation to stay in one place.

Angel: Well hansom that could be arranged, I can put you under my spell (smiling at Chase).

Darien & Lena: (Messing with Chase and Angel) Woo; kissy, kissy!

Lena: So Angel; are you still taking that magic class or whatever it’s called (smirking)?

Angel: Yes! And it’s called the Study of Ancient Spells and Mysticism, thank you.

Darien: (Sipping his drink) seems cool to me.

Angel: (Smiling) It is; I’ve really enjoy learning about it.

Chase: I’m sure (smiling at Angel). Well guys we should call it a night, its 2am.

Darien: Yeah, I have school and work today (looking at his watch).

Lena: We all do, so let’s go. (They all got up, paid their checks and left).

(The friends say good night and part ways in front of the club, each returning home. A week later; Lena is late returning home from work, Darien is worried).

Darien: (On the phone with Lena) Lena where are you, its 2am?

Lena: I know; I had to fill in for someone a work. Then I went to the library to study, I’m on my way home right now.

Darien: Ok, I’ll see you soon.

Lena: Ok, by sweetie.

Darien: By babe, (hangs up the phone).

(One hour later, Lena is still not home).

Mysterious Man: (On the phone with Darien) Hello is this Darien?

Darien: Yes! Who is this?

Mysterious Man: Who I am; is not important, what I have is. I have your lady Lena.

Darien: (Heart beating fast) what! Please don’t hurt her; I’ll do whatever you want!

Mysterious Man: Good boy! I want 1 million dollars in three days or I’ll kill your little girly here, understand?

Darien: Yes, yes I understand! (Heart racing; can hardly catch his breath).

Mysterious Man: Good! I know you’ll call the cops' that’s fine, they don’t concern me. Have them help you get my money; remember you only have three days. (Hang up phone).

Darien: Hello, hello! (Calls 911), Help! Please I need the police please!

(The next morning the police are at Darien and Lena’s apartment; so are Chase, Angel and both Darien’s and Lena’s mothers Rei and Mia).

Darien: Why is this happening? We’re no body special; I mean we’re just a couple of kids, (sitting on the couch with Chase and Angel)!

Chase: Don’t worry man, everything will be fine.

Angel: Yes, Lena is strong and so are you, everything will work out for the best.

(Two Detectives walk into the room, Ron Delco and Steve Morris who both have 20 years of experience in missing persons and kidnapping cases).

Delco: Hello, is one of you Darien Thomas, (pulling out his badge)?

Darien: Yes, sir I’m Darien (shaking the detectives hand).

Morris: Hello son, we need to ask you some questions!

(Darien and the men walk in to the dining room for questioning).

Delco: Has anything like this ever happened to either you or Lena before? (Writing down the answers as Darien speaks).

Darien: No, nothing like this has ever happened to either of us before.

Morris: Did either of you notice anything strange in the days leading up to this?

Darien: No, not really! Waite I take that back. Lena told me she felt like someone had been following or watching her; last week before this happened. I just dismissed it as her imagination, but I guess she was right.

Delco: Look Darien, we will do all we can to bring Lena home safely okay!

Darien: Okay, thank you both (He shakes both Detectives hands).

(Later that day at noon, the Mysterious Man calls Darien to see how things are progressing).

Morris: Darien we have set up our equipment. We have a tracer on your phone to pin point any and all incoming calls, and we are compiling the money as we speak.

Delco: Our plan is to do what this guy wants to safely get access to Lena, and see if we can locate her before the 3 day deadline. So when this guy calls try to keep him on the phone for as long as possible, alright! (Darien nods his head in agreement).

Darien: (The phone rings), Hello!

Mysterious Man: (Laughing) Hello boy, how are you doing?

Darien: (Breathing heavily) is Lena okay?

Mysterious Man: For now!

Darien: I want to speak to her!

Mysterious Man: Okay!

Lena: Hello! (Crying) Darien; help me please, he has a knife and is threatening to kill me!

Mysterious Man: That’s enough (Lena screaming in the background), are you getting my money boy?

Darien: Yes; as we speak it is being done. Just don’t hurt her please, I’m pegging you!

Mysterious Man: Just do as your told boy, (hangs up phone).

Darien: Did you get it; what you needed to trace the call, (looking eagerly at the detectives)!?

Delco: (Putting the phone down) No; we needed another minute! All we got was a general area.

Chase: Don’t worry Darien, just do what the guy wants and she’ll be fine.

Darien: I know, I know; I just want her back (putting his head in his hands).

(Two days later; it’s the third day, there has been no other calls from the mystery man. All Lena’s loved ones can do is sit and wait).

Darien: (Pacing the floor) Why hasn’t he called yet?

Angel: He will call soon, it’s the third day.

Delco: Look Darien when he calls he will give you a location for the exchange. We need to get as much on this guy as we can; his appearance anything. So we want you to make the delivery and wear a wire ok, (handing Darien two suit cases of money)!

Morris: Along with the wire we have placed a tracking device on your car and also one in with the money. This guy won’t be getting away with this.

Darien: Ok, I understand. (The phone rings its 10am), Hello!

Mysterious Man: Well this is the day boy; is everything ready?

Darien: Yes, I have the money and I can bring it to where ever you want me to. Let me speak to Lena!

Lena: (Crying), Darien; hurry please hurry.

Mysterious Man: That’s enough. Now let’s get to it, bring the money to the East dock at midnight. You give me the money; I’ll give you the girl (hangs up the phone).

Darien: (Glaring) I’ll be there!

Angel: Is there anything you want us to do Darien?

Darien: (Going into his room to wait for midnight). Yeah! Stay with our mothers, and pray that we return home safely tonight.

Chase: You got it man, come on lets pray. (Chase, Angel, Rei, and Mia stand in a circle; joins hands and prays).

(Midnight at the East dock, Darien drives up and sees Lena tied to a chair under a street lamp. A man stands in the shadows his face cloaked by darkness, the blade of a knife at Lena’s neck).

Mysterious Man: Hello boy, put the case down and back away from it.

Darien: Fine, now let her go!

Mysterious Man: Fine! (He cuts the rope and sets Lena free, she runs to Darien who puts her in the car).

Darien: (Yelling) before you scurry back into the shadows I want to know why you did this to us? We have done nothing to deserve this!

Mysterious Man: (Walking up to Darien in a black mask). Wrong you little punk you deserve this and more. You have been a thorn in my side ever since you were born! She gave you everything and me nothing. So I decided to get some payment for my troubles.

Darien: What do you mean, who are you?

Mysterious Man: You still don’t know, and she thought you were so smart. (The man takes off the mask and Darien sees his tormenter; it is Robert his stepfather).

Darien: No, it can’t be; why? (Looking shocked)!

Robert: After the two of you up and left me, I got to thinking. Why would Rei leave me or better yet who would make her leave me, and only one person came to mind you. So I tracked you down and decided to teach you a lesson about pain.

Darien: (Yelling)! Pain! You made our lives a living hell. My mother cried over you and everything you did to her all the time!  We were sick and tired for how you treated us; so we left and have been much better ever since!

Robert: (Yelling)! We were just fine except for you! She belonged with me her husband and savior. Not with her pathetic excuse for a son!

Darien: Robert, you’re crazy and I hope you rot in jail; and I hope they got all that (speaking into the wire).

Robert: (Running towards Darien). Why you little punk, I’ll kill you!

(Darien and Robert fight each other to the ground and the knife slides across the ground. Darien breaks free and gets the knife. Robert lunges for Darien and then falls to the ground dead, with the knife in his heart. After the fight Darien stands over Roberts’s body with pity in his eye’s).

Darien: You left me no choice dad, I hope you find peace. (Lena runs over to Darien and hugs him).

Lena: Are you alright?

Darien: Yes, I’m fine let’s go home. (The couple gets into the car, and drives home).

(A year later at the wedding of Darien and Lena, life has been great for the four friends and happiness and peace is in their futures. Darien and Lena have put their ordeal behind them and are looking toward a happy future. Chase and Angel is a couple now, and in the aftermath of what happened with Robert the case was closed. Darien and Lena’s relationship only grew stronger as a result).

Darien: I love you Lena!

Lena: I love you to Darien! (They kiss).

Chase: (Acting silly). Hey! Look at the newlyweds; it’s time to party.

Angel: Chase; stop fooling around. (Hitting him; playfully on the arm).

Darien: When are you two going to get married, (smiling)?

Angel: Maybe sometime in the spring. (She say’s smiling).

Chase: Really, yes!!! (Jumping up and down; then kissing Angel).

Lena: This should be good! (The friends all laugh).

(They all lived long happy lives. Even though Darien and Lena’s lives may have had a rocky start, in time everything worked out for the best; and love triumphed over evil).

image: Do You Feel The Pressure That We Are Running Out Of Time For Preparedness from Modern Survival Blog