Strings: An Unwind Story

Chapter Thirteen

EMME

They packed up and drove a day later. Emme overheard her aunt telling her neighbor, Carla, that she was going on a trip to see family. The neighbor obviously didn't suspect anything odd about it. She climbed into the passenger seat and Eleanor got in seconds later. She started the car and they began their long journey to Ohio.

Emme wondered which direction Brian had gone. Back down the West Coast? Or maybe north into Canada. Wherever he is, she just hopes he safe. She can't even think about the possibility of him being captured and in a harvest camp.

They were in Idaho in no less than a few hours, since her aunt already lived in the middle of Oregon. They were actually making pretty good time and had to stop once for gas. It was weird for Emme. She didn't particularly feel like an Unwind AWOL. She was lucky enough to have a family member that still cared for her. She was lucky enough to meet a boy that literally saved her life. She was lucky enough to have someone who still loves her. But she was no one in the eyes of her parents and the government and the world. She would be a no one for two years.

Emme had fallen asleep at some point about five hours in. She was awoken by the car coming to a stop. She brushed aside a stray strand of hair and furrowed her brows.

"Where are we?" Emme asked, her voice tired from just waking up.

"We just entered Wyoming. I'm hungry. I found a Chick-Fil-A off the side of the highway," Eleanor explained, grabbing her purse and opening the car door. Emme got the popcorn chicken and her aunt got a chicken sandwich. Emme stole some of her fries. Eleanor told a joke and Emme laughed. It felt good. She hadn't laughed in so long. She hadn't felt like this in what felt like so long.

In half an hour, they were back on the rode again. Stopping again for gas. Falling asleep at a somewhat nice motel. Waking up. Getting breakfast at a diner on the border of Wyoming and Nebraska.

ELEANOR

This was all too familiar for Eleanor. Is taking Emme to Sonia such a good idea? She took her daughter there and that was the last time she ever saw her. Then why is she going back? How could she put trust back into the old woman once again?

But she is.

Because she believes that this is the only way Emme will actually stay safe.

"Why are you doing this for me, Auntie?" Emme asked while they sat and picked at their American style breakfast.

The answer was so obvious. Yet, in Emme's head, she thinks no one loves her anymore. And Eleanor understands that.

She reached across the table and took Emme's hand gently. She smiled warmly and in all honesty she said, "Because I love you. And I wasn't going to just stand back and watch you get taken away by juvey cops. I want to make sure your safe."

Emme didn't respond, but Eleanor could see the thankfulness in her eyes. When her niece first showed up her doorstep, looking exhausted and scared and relieved, it was definitely a shock. She was the last person she thought Eleanor would see. And she never would have believed it that Emme was signed to be unwound.

But it was it really impossible for her sister to do that? That family did seem to be low on money. And her sister was always desperate. But on a few occasions, Eleanor did offer to lend them money. But she still refused. And look where it ended Emme up.

The journey was taking longer than she remembered. Maybe it was the anticipation. Maybe it was because she somehow ended up on a different route. But it was killing her. What was Sonia going to think when I show up with another girl? Will she even remember me? That was some of the questions she thought as she drove down a freeway lined with trees.

Emme sat in the passenger seat, her head on the window and asleep. She felt pity for this girl. It wasn't fair that she her parents signed her to be unwound. She's such a sweet girl. But they did it all for money. And Eleanor definitely was going to have a talk with her sister. She's going to make sure her sister feels regret for ever signing that paper.