Strings: An Unwind Story

Chapter Four

BRIAN

He thought he could easily have the girl get out of the car and he leave. But no.

When the car came out of nowhere, Brian saw this as an opportunity. He hurried to the passenger door and tried the handle. And to his luck, it opened and he climbed in.

The girl looked to be only a couple years older than him. And she could be an AWOL, but she sure doesn't look like one. And he wasn't going to take his chances.

After they drove a bit away from the site of the accident, Brian pulled the tranq pistol out and aimed it at her. But he wasn't thinking completely. Because there was a moment of fear in the girl's eyes and then she laughed.

"You really think I'm going to ditch this car? You need to think these things through."

This caught Brian completely off guard, but he tried not to show it. He gripped the pistol more tightly. "Pull the car over and get out or I'll shoot."

"And then what? The car turns into a tree or ditch and we both die? Little do you know, I'm an AWOL too," the girl scoffed, continuing the same speed. "But I wouldn't mind pulling over so you can get out."

This confused Brian, but it also angered him. Why had this car have to hold this girl?

Brian sighed in exasperation and lowered the gun, ultimately defeated. She was right. If he tranq'ed her, they'd crash. And he wasn't going down like that.

"I'm Emme by the way," the girl greeted, sending a glance his way.

Brian sighed once again. "Brian."

"Where you headed, Brian?"

"No where. You?" Brian had never actually thought about where he was going. He had never actually thought. Everything was so sudden. From being ripped from his bed to crashing in the cruiser to pulling a tranq gun on a random girl. Brian hasn't actually had the time to think.

"Northern Washington," Emme said casually.

"What's for you there?" Brian asked.

Emme sighed, "Heard that there are safe havens there. Also, most of the people there seem against unwinding."

"Well let's hope we don't come around that few people who support unwinding," Brian realized what he had the moment he finished his sentence. Emme's brow furrowed and she looked over at him. "I mean-"

"You mean you want to come with me. I get it. I don't really want to be alone either," she grew quiet at the end of her words. When Brian really thinks about it, being with another AWOL might not be so bad after all. "We at least stay together till I reach the town in Washington I'm thinking of. Then you can take my car and go anywhere you want."

"Are you saying we're a team now?" Brian asked, sarcasm in his tone. A small smile grew on his lips.

Emme scoffed, "I would call it more as co-working to survive."

Brian's smile grew. "I get that."

——

At around 2 pm, they were in northern Oregon, just about to cross the border into Washington. The two got to know each other some, but the inevitable question hadn't been asked yet. Why were you sent to be unwound?

Neither of them dared to ask. But there would be a time.

They were running low on gas. Emme had told Brian about her encounter at the last gas station.

"I'll go," Brian offered as they pulled into the station.

Emme was silent for a few seconds. "Be careful."

Brian nodded and started to get out of the car when Emme grabbed his arm. "Wait." She opened the center console and started digging in. After a moment, she pulled something small out. Emme dropped it into his hand. It was a ring. "Put it on. It'll make you look older."

Brian caught on and nodded. The ring was to pretend he was married. He slipped the ring on the proper finger and stepped out of the car. He walked into the store with his head down. He tried to act confident and certain of what to do. The store clerk barley even made eye contact with him as he set the $40 on the table.

"Regular. Number four," Brian said, making his voice deeper than usual.

The young store clerk continued to play on his phone as he gave Brian his change back. The change was not accurate, but he wasn't going to wait to fix it.

Brian hurried out of the store and back into the car. Emme looked at him wide eyed. Even though the interaction between him and the store clerk was anything but scary, he was still somewhat shaken by the experience.

"What? What happened?" Emme asked, her hand on the gear and her foot hovering over the gas pedal.

"I got regular."

Emme sighed in relief and stepped out of the car to fill the gas tank.

——

It was now getting late. And Emme looked exhausted. They were finally in Washington, but they still had a while to go. Brian offered to drive, but Emme insisted that she was the only one at the wheel.

"You need to sleep, Emme," Brian insisted, his voice sincere.

"No. The farther we go, the quicker we'll get there," Emme defended, hitting the steering wheel lightly with the palm of her hand.

"We'll never get there if you fall asleep and crash the car. And I've already been in a car crash. It ain't fun."

After a few minutes of arguing, Brian somehow convinced Emme to pull over. He offered to go get a motel, but Emme said it would be too risky. They were able to find a spot off the side of the highway to crash for a few hours. They both put their seats back and Emme fell asleep within seconds. But Brian couldn't.

He stared up at the car ceiling. How did I get myself in this situation? Does this girl actually care about me? Or did she just let me come along because she needed me? Why didn't my dad help me go AWOL earlier if he actually felt sorry? It just doesn't make sense.

Then his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a car pulling in behind them. But this car didn't have any headlights, as if it was trying to be as silent and camo as possible.

———