Ericose

We Are Fortis

01

- C A R T E R -

8.13.2062 // 11:22 p.m.

"Mommy, where are we going?" I asked sleepily, sitting up in my bed.

"We're continuing our girls night while Daddy and Cyrus are still on their boys trip," Mom explained.

"But Apoch's not a girl!" I giggled.

"Right, so we'll continue our boy and girls night," Mom corrected, ushering me to get out of bed and get dressed.

Apoch walked in the room, "I'm ready!" he shouted, excitedly, "Hurry up Carter! Mommy said this is going to be fun."

I yawned and got out of bed. I put the outfit and jacket on that my mom set out on the edge by my feet. I wondered where we were going since no one was allowed outside of their houses that late at night. Apoch and I were starting the second grade in less than a week, and daddy told us we needed to start getting in the habit of going to bed early so it would be easier for us to get up in the mornings once school started again.

My mom waited for Apoch and I to eat the applesauces and sandwiches on the table that she made us, and when we were all done, we got our shoes on and walked out the door.

"Look mom! It's a full moon!" I smiled.

Instead of getting in our regular car, a small weird shaped car was waiting on the edge of our driveway. Mom pulled the back door open for us to get inside, and got in the front seat. Apoch and I looked at each other and just shrugged, knowing something exciting must be coming up.

We drove for awhile in silence, mimicking our mom who wasn't talking much. We finally pulled up to the edge of a woods and got out when mom opened the door for us. I could tell that Apoch was just as confused as me, but we both knew mom would never bring us to any danger. We followed behind her and the person who had been driving the car. I couldn't make out their face since it was dark outside and they had a black hood covering a lot of it.

We followed the driver and our mom through a construction site that looked like it hadn't been touched for years, and eventually down a path into some deeper woods until we reached the biggest tree I had ever seen.

"Hey guys! Over there!" a man's voice in the distance yelled. We started hearing a number of people running through the woods, sticks cracking beneath their feet, and their flashlights getting easier to see by the second.

My mom turned quickly to the unknown person in the black cloak, panicking, "Zoa, please take them! I have to stay here so they won't come searching for you all.  They'll never know you guys were here. Take these," Mom said, panicking, handing Zoa two envelopes, "Please go quick!"

Zoa opened a door that was on the ground near the bottom of the tree. I wondered how my mom knew there was a secret door at this exact location, and why there was a door literally in the ground, but I had no time to ask any questions. My mom pulled Apoch and I both into a tight hug. That hug felt like one you would give to someone you would never see again. But I was only seven years old, I didn't have any doubts about seeing my mom again after that night.

"Mommy's gotta go for a little while, but Zoa here is going to take care of you guys until you get back home. Listen to everyone she says and do what she tells you to do. She's here for the best interest of you both. May fate align us once again." She bent down and gave us each a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Now go!" Mom ushered us in and closed the door behind us.

Zoa pushed for us to go before her and followed closely behind. We had no idea what was going on, but we trusted anyone that our mom told us to.