The Cold Unknown

Chapter 12 - Rose's Spaghetti

After getting a good-nights rest the previous night, we said goodbye to the Jerry's and set off late the next morning - It was almost noon. Since Zlatko's car was still broken, we decided to walk the rest of the way, which Luther had said wasn't too far. I didn't mind. It wasn't super cold, and it was nice just to look around at the snow-covered nature while the sun shone brightly on it. I even saw a Snowy Owl, perched on a tree. I only recognized it from a description from a book I had read: Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone. I know that there are more books from that series, but Todd had only owned the first, and he wasn't one to go to the library.

Anyways, while we were walking, I looked up at Kara and Luther in front of me. They talked, occasionally laughing at each-other's jokes. Luther had gotten rid of his LED last night, so they both just looked like ordinary humans, having a normal conversation. They're so cute. I thought to myself. They are, though - It's like they were meant to find each other. At some point, I told Kara my hair was bothering me - it was itching my neck - so she put it up in a bun, and put my hood on for a little more warmth.

After about an hour or so, we came across a farmhouse. I assumed this was the house we were looking for, because it was the only house for a couple miles. We walked up to the front door, and Kara rang the doorbell. Nobody answered. Kara decided to check around back, while Luther and I waited for her.

She must've found someone, because she started talking to them. "Hello? I'm looking for Rose. Is she here?" "What do you want from her?" I heard an older boy answer back. "I need to talk to her." Kara told him. "She doesn't want to talk. Go away." The boy replied, a bit harshly. "Please, I really need to see her." Kara insisted.

Another voice appeared. This one was a woman's. "I'm Rose. What can I do for you?" Knowing we were at the right place, we began walking towards Kara. I asked if Luther could carry me, - even though I'm an android, my legs still ached a little bit - so he picked me up, and carried me over to where Kara's voice came from. "I was told you could help us." She said to the woman. "Help you?" Rose asked back. She saw us approaching, while Kara held her hand up, making the skin disappear to show she was an android. "Come on, it's better if we talk inside." Rose said.

Rose looked like a nice woman, she was also short and a bit rounded. The boy was taller, and seemed a bit skeptical of us. What I mean is, he kept giving us weird looks as we went to the front door, like he didn't want us there. But, I shook it off.

"You think we can trust 'em?" Luther asked Kara, quietly. "We don't have a choice." Kara softly replied. Rose opened the door, and walked in, the boy behind her. "Come on in." She said. We also walked inside, and Luther set me down. Kara shut the door behind us. She and Luther took off their coats, putting them on a coat stand as Rose looked down at me. "What's your name?" She asked. "...Alice." I shyly said. Rose put a hand on my forehead. Retracting her hand, she said, "She's running a fever." Wait, am I? I am? How? That's weird. Maybe my system is overheating...

"We've spent the last few nights outside. She's exhausted." Kara told her. Rose nodded. "There's a spare room upstairs. You can put her to bed, and I'll bring her something to eat." Food? But I can't- "Adam, will you show them upstairs?" The boy - Adam - seemed annoyed. But still, he walked up the stairs anyways, and showed us into the spare room. He then quickly left. Weird.

Kara helped take off my winter-worn vest, sweater, shoes, socks, and pants, leaving me in my long sleeved undershirt and some undershorts. She tucked me into the bed, which was nice and all, but I'm pretty sure I'm not sick. "I'm fine, Kara. We can't stop 'cause of me. We've got to get across the border." I said. " You need rest." Kara argued. "Get a good-night's sleep, and we'll set off again tomorrow." But isn't it like, still afternoon?