The Tunnel Children huddled together in the corner of cage for warmth.  Although the overhead fluorescent lights were harsh they did not heat up the warehouse in the least. All of their clothes were still very damp. Baby Lacey stretched her arms out to Panney. He took her and she immediately fell asleep on his chest.

As Bell shivered in her dark and silent world she thought about what she knew thus far. The Tunnel Children had been taken by force, by armed soldiers (she felt the barrel of a gun in her ribcage!) They were separated onto two different trucks. The healthy children and Grandfather were corralled onto one truck and she and the other "damaged goods" onto another. It took them an hour's ride to reach this repulsive destination. Now she was in a 10ft by 10ft cage in a imposing factory warehouse. There were hundreds—possibly thousands of other mutant children. What she didn't know was the whereabouts of the second group. Were they someplace in this wretched facility or at another place entirely?

She whispered in the dark, "Can anyone spell?" Bell hoped at least one of the children might know a few words.

Tentatively the shy JM wrote on Bell's back. "I C-A-N A L-I-T-L-E."

Bell asked, "Who is it?"

"J-M." JM shook as she painstakingly drew the letters. She wasn't merely shy she had severe social anxiety.

Bell turned and felt for JM. She smiled and said, "Good girl! Nicely done! Who taught you?"

JM wrote, "M-O-M B-U-T D-E-A-D."

Bell reached for JM and hugged the skinny girl. "I'm sorry to hear that sweetheart. We're your family now and families are supposed to help each other right?"

"Y-E-S."

JM knew she had a special purpose while in this putrid confinement and this gave her hope and a reason to live. She'd always felt like a freak who didn't belong and now she not only belonged but had been elevated to leadership. For the first time in her young life, she knew what it truly meant to be happy.

"Put your ear close to me. I want to tell you a secret." Bell felt for JM's ear. She noted she had thick, dense, curly hair. Bell whispered, "Listen JM I don't want the guards to know you can spell. Never let them see you spell for me okay?"

Timidly JM spelled "O-K" on Bell's palm.

JM believed her webbed fingers and toes made her look like a hybrid—half fish/half girl. She had no idea how gorgeous she really was. Her bronze skin glowed as if she were always bathed in moonlight. Her light topaz eyes were almond shaped and set wide apart. She had an upturned nose and her full lips were perfectly pink. She would never need to wear make up as it would only mask her beauty.

Bell whispered so as not to wake the children. "JM, Panney told us we are not alone in this room. Who else is in here with us?"

JM didn't know how to explain the living nightmare to Bell. So many children deformed children. Some were rocking back and forth, others were wailing and moaning. Were their kidnappers planning the biggest freak show in history? Her hand shook as she attempted to spell the impossible.
"L-O-T-S O-F K-I-D-S L-I-K U-S."

Bell asked, "How many cages JM?"

I C-A-N-T S-E-E T-H-E E-N-D."

Bell's heart raced. She needed to remain perfectly calm. Good King I know you have us here for a reason. Your servant is listening! "Okay JM... Are there any guards in here with us?

"N-O-T N-O-W."

"Good. If I speak to the other children will they here me?"

"U W-I-L N-E-E-D 2 Y-E-L T-H-E-Y C-R-Y
L-O-T."

"Please point me towards the closest cage."

JM took Bell's hand and brought her to the south wall and for the first time in her young life, she spoke to strangers. "Hey listen up! My friend Bell wants to speak to you!" She spelled in Bell's palm,
K-I-D-S  R-E-D-Y."

Instantly hundreds of children stopped screaming, rocking and crying. Bell climbed the cage. JM climbed up beside her. They listened intently to the pale, beautiful prisoner with cascading golden hair and vacant eyes. She spoke as one having authority. "Children my name is Bell Quest. I know you're  frightened but you need to be still and listen to me. I understand most of you have lost your parents but you are not alone. You have an invisible King, who loves you more than any earthly father or mother ever could. He is with us this very moment. The mighty King has sent his Warrior Spirits to watch over you."

Instinctively the children looked up and witnessed glorious messengers materialize and descend on top of each cage. Majestically they flapped their glowing wings, (which spanned the length of the 10 ft cages) and caused a warm breeze to fall upon the children instantly drying their wet clothes.

Through spiritual eyes, Bell caught a glimpse of the majestic beings. Neither male nor female these enormous creations resembled Greek marble statues and shone bright like the noon sun. In their muscular arms they held massive, glistening-gold, swords across their gleaming breast plates. Slowly their pure white wings moved up and down while their piercing, glowing eyes looked neither left nor right. Bell climbed down and fell to her knees. The King's love was overwhelming. Waves of liquid love flowed through Bell. Through tears she spoke, "Thank you dear King, thank you!"

Bell always believed before she saw which is a sign of true trust. She held a special place in the Author's heart.

---

As Leon was about to stir the ashes into his bubbling Stew Surprise he received a shock of his own. A toddler's pinky floated to the top. He knew it couldn't belong to one of the campers on base it was too small. Something smelled funny in the galley and it wasn't the gamey stew. How did a child's finger end up in a pack of government issued meat? It had been clearly marked: GRADE D SAFE TO EAT. Leon pondered his choices. He could alert Sergeant Bad Breath (but he knew that wouldn't end well) or he could discard the finger, pretend he never saw it and add a pinch more pepper to the stew. He opted for his third choice. He placed the evidence in the far back corner of the freezer.

With the stew finished he needed to add the final ingredient--the ashes. Since Spite already hated him and he didn't wish to alienate the rest of his bunkmates he decided to omit the ashes from the stew. In its place he found a large container of parsley, gave it a good scorching, and sprinkled it on top of the stew. Despite the finger it looked delicious!

Alfred read the sign as the truck pulled onto what looked like a rundown army base. "Camp Unity." He had heard about this place but was puzzled as to why a man of his age was at a reeducation camp for adolescents and teens. He hoped against all hope Izzy and Tommy hadn't been captured as well. Only four children had made it onto the healthy truck with him. Sami, a timid very hairy fourteen-year-old Indian boy , Chi, a twelve-year-old mute boy and Big Boy, an eleven-year-old autistic child who the soldiers mistook for sixteen and thankfully "normal" and finally, Devin, Tommy's 8 year old little brother. Earlier the soldiers had dropped Devin off at a nearby base for Junior Unity Campers. Alfred doubted there would be team building games or campfires at either "Camp,"

The truck jerked to a stop. Two soldiers with guns opened the back hatch. With weapons drawn, they roughly forced the four "recruits" out into the cool night air. They did their best to stand at attention.

"My name is Captain Wilcox and you sloppy jokers are in my squadron. You've been selected to be a part of a very special regiment called Unity Camp." He sauntered down the line of unhappy drafted misfits. "If it weren't for Private Niles here you would've been sent to Fat Camp. However Niles here, thought you'd make descent soldiers and that is precisely why you are in my charge."

The four frightened campers looked at Private Niles who appeared to be not much than a boy himself. Alfred wondered what he'd seen in the misfits. While the captain sauntered down the row, Private Niles moved his army boot in the dirt. With his heel he drew a straight line in the sand and smiled ever so slightly at Alfred. Very slowly, Alfred drew three points in the dirt signifying the King's crown. Sergeant Wilcox slammed his regulation army boot's heel onto Alfred's ankle causing him to wince. "In this man's army we do not move when we are being addressed by a superior officer. Do you understand old man?"

In anguish, Alfred managed a respectful, "Yes sir." Then he nodded with his chin towards Private Niles. The young soldier nodded back. He was one of them.

"Private Niles get them their supplies and assign them to barracks 66-F."

As the new recruits followed Private Niles to their quarters, the looming Captain Wilcox blocked Alfred. "Not you old timer. We've got special plans for you. Starting tomorrow morning you're our full time cook. Our last cook died suddenly."

Alfred thought, "Message received."

-End of Chapter 8-

Author's note: I'm thrilled you're on this journey. What do you think Nana's is doing? Leon and Alfred back together! What could happen?
Voting, commented and really helps a story to grow.