The Called: Chosen (The Called Series Book 2) by Justin Price Page B

up there during all of this and didn’t make it to one of the bunkers then I don’t like his chances.”
    “That’s what I was afraid of”, said Maggie as she teared up. “I just don’t know what to think anymore. John’s here, he’s gone again, Bo is dead, you are dead, DeShawn is alive, nope…you are alive and now DeShawn is probably dead. This has been the single most exhausting day of my life and it may even be worse than the day I was kidnapped by the government and used as bait.”
    “I understand”, said Chaim. “Nothing is easy these days. Sometimes, I feel like we would all be better off somewhere more secluded. I have heard stories about large groups of believers living relatively peaceful lives in the Appalachian Mountains. If we get out of here, maybe that’s where we should go.”
    “I just can’t stand the thought of leaving John in the hands of the government. God only knows what they will do to him”, she said.
    “Yea, I know. We just can’t risk any more guys on a nearly impossible mission. What we had to deal with in getting you was a piece of cake compared to this. They basically gift wrapped you for us. I highly doubt that they will make that mistake again.”
    “You’ve seen the way they operate Chaim. What do you think they will do with him?”
    “I don’t really want to speculate on that Maggie”, he said.
    “Come on. I am a big girl. I can take it.”
    “Alright, alright”, he said; throwing his hands up in surrender. “They will probably use torture tactics on him to see if he will give them valuable information about our operations here. If they can’t get the information, then they will just increase the torture until he wants to die. But, they won’t let him die. He is too valuable of an asset to them. A man with his skills and background would be a prime candidate for cerebral reconditioning.”
    “Cerebral reconditioning? That sounds familiar. I feel like John had mentioned that one time.”
    “Yes. It’s a process reserved for military personnel that have come back home with severe psychological damage. Instead of living with the trauma their entire life, they are taken in for reconditioning of their brain. They basically take the traumatic memories and replace them with any memory they want. If the subject is still physically able, they put them back out in the field many times for combat. They are essentially recycled.”
    “That’s terrible”, said Maggie; nearly coming to tears.
    “I know it is. The worst thing is that it is a pretty secretive thing. Most of these people are caught during debriefing before they even get to go back to their family. They will usually make up a story about them being killed or missing. I have no doubt that was the plan for John until he escaped. He knew what was coming.”
    “It’s terrible to think about what they could do to him. What they could make him forget…or what they could make him think he remembers. That’s probably the scariest thing of all. He wouldn’t be John anymore. He would literally be another government puppet.”
    “I know that you want us to try to rescue him, but with the resources we have right now…it’s just not possible.”
    “Maybe God can rescue Him. If He can do that, then I would believe in Him completely”, she said with desperation in her voice.
    “We walk by faith and not by sight Maggie. Have faith and then you will see.”
    ―――――
    Javier and Noah pulled up to the curb and ran inside as fast as they could. There wasn’t any time to waste. As they came blasting through the door, Joanna and Ryan jumped.
    Noah put his hand up to calm them. “I’m sorry to startle you guys. We just need to go right now. The position of the group has been given away and everyone is in danger. Let’s gather a few belongings and get out of here.”
    “But, where will we go?” asked Joanna.
    “Joshua Tree National Park is where we will meet”, said Javier. “We aren’t sure yet where