The Fate of the Unknown

Chapter 13: On the road

When there was a knock at the door, we all kind-of just froze. How is it 5 already? We can’t leave already. I don’t know what I am going to do without our girls.

Caitlyn slowly gets up as the person knocks again, breaking her from her frozen trance. She makes her way over to the door and opens it.

On the other side of the door are the two people from the pictures our dad sent.

“Hello ma’am. We are here to escort you and your sister to your father. Where are your bags?” Asked the male.

Caitlyn walked over and gestured to our luggage. Both of my dad’s employees walk over and start grabbing our stuff. I was impressed when they were able to grab it all in one trip. They threw the backpacks on over a shoulder, a duffle bag over the other shoulder, the female grabbed 1 suitcase and the male grabbed the other 2 suitcases.

As they were heading out the door the male turned around and looked at Caitlyn, “we need to leave in t-minus 5 minutes. Please use the restroom and say your goodbyes. We have a tight schedule to keep.” He then went outside, shut the door, and disappeared to wherever the suv is I assume.

Once the door shut we start to look at each other and begin tearing up. We knew we didn’t have a lot of time so we didn’t want to start bawling or take too long. We went into a big group hug, more of a circle, so close our foreheads were touching.

We both used the bathroom and we all started to head outside. I locked the door, and handed Penny the spare.

“Thank you for offering to keep an eye on our house, and water my plants. You are the best.” I said starting to crying and launched into a hug.

“You guys are the best. I don’t know what we will do without you. Hopefully you can come back soon. Until then, you can trust me to keep your green babies safe!” Penny said as she hugged me again, and then hugged Caitlyn.

“Lex, you need to make sure to stand up for yourself while you’re away. I can’t be there to help keep you safe. You need to be the mouthy girl I know you can be! Don’t let anyone walk on you! You are the jolly green giant, you are stronger than you will ever know!” Saige said while tearing up, she always jokes and calls me the jolly green giant since I am taller than a lot of people, including everyone in our friend group. Also I have a love for the color green and plants. So it’s rather fitting. She then turns to Caitlyn, “and you! You keep being amazing! Don’t let anyone change that heart of gold you have!” She then hugs Caitlyn.

“Alexis, I know we have had our issues, but you will always be the little sister I never had. You have been growing up to such a great person, don’t let anyone put a damper on that light you have in you!” Leilah said as she hugged me. She turned to Caitlyn, she stood there for a second trying to not start full on bawling. “Girl, you better not forget me! You will always be my sister. I don’t know how I will get through school, dance, or cheer without you. You are the Ying to my Yang. You are the better part of me. Please come back soon!” She lunged at Caitlyn hugging her so tight.

The 4 of them get off the porch and head to the suv. I forgot to grab my blanket off the bench. As I’m grabbing it I get the same feeling that I’m being watched. I assume it is the two employees, but they are on their phones. The girl in the passenger seat, and the guy leaning against the side of the suv waiting for us to get in. I look around but I don’t see anyone. I shrug my shoulders, and walk to the suv. At least wherever we are moving, this feeling should stop. Since the person has to be from here.

The girls hug us both one more time and head to Leilah’s jeep, yelling bye and they love us both. We wave and get into the car. The male gets in and we start to head off, to the great unknown. Hopefully the people there are nice.. Hopefully our dad is nice..

As we are driving I see Sam leaving his house. I wave but I don’t think he saw me. The windows are pretty tented. At least I told him goodbye earlier.

I was hoping the two would turn on music or something, but they didn’t. Thankfully I had my headphones shoved into my purse/bag. I pulled them out and looked over to Caitlyn. She already had her headphones in, and was staring out the window. This is hard on both of us, but she is losing so much more. Being a senior, cheer captain, the chance to compete in a championship, her prom, graduation with her friends, everything. I wonder if when she turns 18 next month, if she is going to just go back home.

I put my headphones in and start the playlist that Penny had made me. I am going to read for a little, at least until the sun is gone.

We stop 3 hours in to get some food quickly and use the restroom. That is when they informed us that we will not be stopping at a hotel, they had orders to drive straight through. So we will have to sleep in the car. We head back to the car, and both got comfortable. Apparently Maverick, the male, noticed that Caitlyn didn’t bring a blanket so he had went and bought one for her. I didn’t even think to grab her one. I just wanted my favorite one I used on the porch, and barely even remembered to grab it. It was a very nice of him to do.

It is only 9 but is now pitch dark. We both decide to just get comfortable and go to sleep for a while. I am worried about the types of dreams I will have, since I have been having nightmares of my mom every night since she vanished.. I pray she is ok.

My mind is working overdrive when Caitlyn reached over and grabbed my hand. “Lex, please calm down. It will all work out. You know I am a firm believer in everything happens for a reason. Once we find that reason, I am almost certain we will find mom. Until then, please try to calm down and stay out of your head. Worrying will not help anything. Please try to get some rest, ok? I love you. We are in this together, don’t you EVER forget that.” She said with love and gentleness to her voice.

She always has a way to make me calm down. It’s like she can see through me, and see what I need most. I don’t know what I would do without her. Still holding her hand I close my eyes, and fall into a deep sleep. Hopefully when I wake, we will be a lot closer to wherever my dad lives.