Episode 83

“So where are we going?” Miah woke to hear Gail ask.

She heard Connor reply, “It doesn’t matter, as long as it’s far away from them.”

Miah opened her eyes and looked around her.  The car slowed to a stop, pulling over to a rest stop on the side of the mountain road, and Connor opened his door.  Stepping out, he helped Gail out and then peered in at Miah, who looked back.  “Want to get out and stretch your legs?” he asked.  No pun intended, Miah thought, not rolling her eyes.

She nodded, scooting over and stepping out when Connor gave her his hand in support.  Ben got out of the car and took a deep breath, rubbing his stomach.  It was then Miah realized she was starving.  “Is there anything to eat?” she asked.

“Let’s see,” Connor muttered, digging through a backpack he pulled from the trunk.  “Ah, here’s some granola bars.” He tossed one to each of them, taking one himself.

Miah bit into the crispy, gooey, chocolate-and-oat goodness and felt like she’d never eaten anything more delicious.  He handed them another after they finished the first, and Miah ate that as well.  With a sigh, they leaned against the car and looked up at the mountain and around at the misty scenery.  For a moment, Miah felt at peace.

Then, their driver, still clad in black, opened the door and walked around from the driver’s side and stood beside them.  Miah looked up at the person’s face, and for the first time saw that it was a woman.  Her shoulders were broad, but she was barely taller than Miah herself.  Her hair was tucked into the black cap she wore, but a tuft of red or brown hair, Miah wasn’t sure, stuck out from beneath it.  She heard Connor gasp, and then saw Ben turn, startled, in a double-take.  Miah blinked.  She’d never seen either of them this surprised or horrified before.

She was afraid to ask, but the woman’s name suddenly came to her mind.

Amy.