Searching at the Darkness

Chapter 3

I had the best dream ever. Everything was just perfect. No wonder I knew it was a dream. It’s been three more hours and my mother has not moved an inch. She’s still holding me close to her body. I was tired again. I could feel my body drifting. My mind shutting down. I felt a little shake of my shoulders.

“Maddie, stay awake baby. We’re about to go through a drive thru and order.” My mom kisses the top of my head. I stretch out my tired and stiff muscles. My mom was watching me like a hawk. I realized I was asleep for a whole day and a few hours. We were still in Colorado. We still had twenty hours to go. My dad had to stop at a gas station almost three times. I still had no idea why we were going to Seattle. I tried to press the matter but I was silenced every time.

My dad pulled into a nearby Arby’s as my stomach grumbled. He pulled up to the drive thru and ordered for him and mom. He looked at me for the first time this entire trip.

“What do you want to eat?”

“A plain roast beef sandwich and curly fries. Sprite to drink and a cup of cheese sauce.” My mom smiled against my hair again and gently rubbed my hair. She was being so affectionate but, she was always like this. I knew my mom loved me more than life. My dad pulled up and paid. He quickly got our food and handed it out. As soon as I bit into the sandwich, my mouth watered. I didn’t realize how hungry I was. I saw where they had eaten, bags were littered all over the car floor. I finished my sandwich within minutes and started on my sandwich. I smiled as I dipped the fries into the warm cheese and ate them. I finished them just as fast and downed my Sprite.

“Thanks dad.” I smiled up at him and he raised a hand in response. I cuddled back into my mom as she was still on her sandwich. She wrapped her arms around me and continued to eat.

I dozed again. I know I did. I wake up to see my mother driving this time. Her eyes are red. My dad is asleep in the passenger seat. I sigh. My mother looks in the rearview mirror and smiles at me.

“Good morning baby girl.”

“Morning mom.” I smile back at her. I look outside and see it’s still very dark outside. I look at my iPod and see it’s four am. I put my headphones in my ears and pull up a music app. I hit random and listen to the song that plays. It’s a very fast paced song. It’s pop I know. I don’t skip it, just listen. I watch all the trees and lakes go by us as my mom drives. The song closes and a new soft one comes on. I know this song. It’s the Flower Duet. One of my favorite classical pieces. I turn it up more and see a sign that says “Welcome to Washington”. I see my mom watching me and the road cautiously. I smile at her again and look out the window.

We drive in silence, other than my iPod playing in my ears. We finally pass a sign welcoming us to Seattle. My palms are dry as I rub them anxiously together. My heart is beating fast. I’m nervous and scared. Why are we here?

My mom drives us for about twenty minutes until she wakes up my dad. Her face is ashen again. Fully afraid.

Her voice is soft, like a scared child. “We’re almost there.”

We’re in the city. Tall skyscrapers looking down at us as if we were ants. I smile a little. I love cities. It’s almost five am as ,y mom pulls up to a smaller building. It looks like an apartment. I frown a little. It’s older, not like the many skyscrapers around us. It’s brick and has cracked wooden windows. A woman walks out with a smile. She looks like a drunk. Her greasy brown hair in a bun. Her brown eyes demanding as she walks up to the car. 

“What are we doing here?” I demand. My mom and dad look back at me. My dad is the one that speaks.

“Maddie. This is Ms. Jones. She’ll be taking care of you for a while.”