What's Out There?

Chapter 33

We start walking at 6:30. We picked everything up then headed out. We all walked silently. Dad, Danny, and Fern walking next to each other in the front. Jackson and Taylor walked by each other in the middle. Clay and I walked along each other at the back. Everyone having their own hushed conversations.
The sky was touched with the slightest bit of light. Just enough so we could see our way.
About 30 minutes later, the sun had risen, and we entered a clearing. In the clearing, there were two cars.
Dad and Clay both pulled out a set of keys, pressed buttons, and unlocked the vehicles.
Clay said, "Sarah, Taylor, and Jackson come in my car."
"Okay," I responded with a smile, "but you have to drive!"
"Clay and Fern, you're with me," Dad said.
"K," Fern chirped.
Everyone got in the vehicles. As we took off I let out a breath that I didn't realize I was holding in.
"You okay, babe?" Clay asked.
"Yeah, for the first time in a long time I am," I reply with a true smile, not there fake one that was plastered to my face for four years.
I finally felt safe again.

I must have fallen asleep on the ride back because I woke up in the car with Clay shaking me away.
"We're home," Clay said with a smile. He leaned down and kissed me. I leaned up into him.
We were interrupted by my dad. Dad had cleared his throat. He was standing not that far behind Clay.
"Come on you two," Dad jokes, "Let's get going!"
Clay backed out of my way. He was grinning like a fool. I hopped down from the car.
"So what's that surprise you told me about earlier?" I ask.
"We are on our way there," Dad responded.
We had pulled up into the village and were walking to my old house.
Everyone started walking slower, but I didn't even notice. Or maybe I was walking faster, running even.
I walked into my old house. The kitchen light was on. I glance into the living room but no one was in there. I walk into the kitchen and see a familiar, light-brown-haired woman making coffee.
"Mom?" I ask. I can feel the tears at the brims of my eyes.
She spins around and drops the spoon that was in her hand.
"Sarah? Is it really you?" Mom says running toward me. Framing her hands around my face.
The tears are splashing down now. "I thought I would never see you again," I smiled.
"Me either," she said. Her smile was wide, and her eyes were shining.
Just then I see a little girl, who looks about three, come running towards us. She has light brown hair like my mom and I and green eyes like my dad and I.
She asked, "Are you my new sister?" Her eyes sparkling with excitement.
I look straight at my mom, tears filling my eyes again.
My mom nods, and I can see her eyes water up as well.
"Yes, I guess I am," I reply with a smile. I crouch down, and she gives me a hug. It felt natural, normal even.
She broke the hug first and grabbed my hand. "Come on let's go play!" She yelled.
"Okay I'll met you there in a second," I respond.
"Okay," she yells back as she runs off to her room, which was my old room.
I turn to mom and ask, "How old is she?"
"She's three and a half," Mom responds, "Your dad came from the woods about a month after you left."
"What's her name?" I ask.
"Bree Kelly Parker," she responds with a smile.
"Bree as in Sarah Bree?" I ask with a smile.
"Yes, as in your middle name," Mom answers.
I stared at my mom for a long time, noticing how happy and relaxed she was.
"What's wrong sweetie?" She asks; her face hardening.
"Nothing, I've just missed you so much," I say.
"Where have you been this whole time?" Mom asks her face frowning like it does when she can't figure out something.
"Luke, he has this place. Luke was awful. It was awful, but I met some really nice people there. They actually are the only reason I found Dad and the others," I replied.
"That's terrible and good. How are you?" She concerns.
"I'm okay now, but I'll always have a limp," I respond.
"Oh my-" she starts.
Bree interrupts, "Are you coming?"
"Yes, I'm coming," I yell back.
"She gets impatient easily," Mom says.
"I can tell. We'll talk more later," I say as I head to my old room.
The walls were painted over from purple to pink. There were princess dresses and toys organized into see-through bins, and a few toys scattered on the ground.
Bree lifted up a doll and handed it to me, saying, "Here you play her," then she picked up another doll saying, "and I'll play her."
"Okay," I say with a smile as I sit down on the floor.