The Cold Unknown

Chapter 18 - Almost There

The bus ride lasted about 20 minutes. Instead of crossing the border from the bus like we thought, the bus stopped. There stood a huge pavilion type building, and it seemed like more border control. They really must be on edge. I thought as the bus doors opened, and we all slowly filed out. As we were getting off, Kara looked at another soldier.

"Excuse me, what's going on?" She asked him. "Border control." He responded. I knew it. "All passengers must leave the bus... Please move along." We did as we were told, and got in one of the many lines that eventually led into Canada. Kara looked a little bit ahead, and I could tell she was nervous. "They're doing temperature checks... We're trapped." Kara said. Oh no... "What are we going to do, Kara?" I asked, also nervous. "Don't worry, Alice... We'll find a way." We moved up a place in line. I glanced up, and saw Kara make a weird face. I think she was talking to Luther through their minds.

Kara then looked to her right, and I saw what she was looking at. A few lines away, stood Jerry. He seemed to also talk to Kara through their minds, then he turned away again. Kara and I looked to the left. We spotted a couple more familiar faces. "Rose?" Kara quietly questioned. A line or two away, stood Rose and Adam. Rose saw us, and her look was telling Kara that she wanted to talk. Somewhere discreet, of course.

"Luther, stay in line, we won't be long." Kara told him, then she and I left the line, heading towards the bathrooms. A soldier stopped us. "Where the hell do you think your going?" He asked. "My daughter needs to use the bathroom." Kara lied. He let us through, and we walked into the restroom. Kara then looked into the mirror, and it seemed like she was going to cry, but she couldn't.

Rose then walked in a few moments later. Kara gave a sigh of relief. "Rose..." They hugged. "I'm so glad you're safe." Rose said. They let go. "We saw the Jericho raid on TV, I was terrified, I thought you might've been killed." That's nice that she cares about us. I thought, happily. "Thank heavens you're alright." Kara seemed to be thinking. "You gave me your brother's address. Do you think that I-" Kara stopped short. "Of course. He'd be delighted to have you. We're going there, too. You'll be safe with him." Rose told her. "You're leaving Detroit?" Kara wondered. "They're searching for androids door to door. We have to leave before someone turned us in." Rose said.

Kara suddenly began panicking. "T-They're checking for androids! We won't make it through!-" Rose interrupted her, trying to calm her down. "You have to! You know what they'll do if they catch you." Kara did calm down a little bit. "What's happening with Markus?" Rose smiled slightly. "He's protesting peacefully outside one of the android camps. Whatever happens now, he's already made the history books." She told Kara. Kara looked at her seriously. "Rose, if anything should happen..." Rose smiled again. "I'll be there, Kara." They hugged once more, then Rose turned and hugged me. She left, and a few moments later, we left as well. Adam approached us as we neared the lines.

"I couldn't understand why my mother wanted to help you guys. But seeing what Markus is doing, made me realize she's right. You're alive. You deserve to be free. I just hope people realize that one day." He smiled, then joined his mom back in line. We went back into our line with Luther, who had moved up quite a few places. Oh, boy... We were next.

Kara looked around a little bit, then seemed to make a decision on something. "Next, please." The border guard said. We walked up to him. "ID, please." He said through the Plexiglas. Kara gave him the forged passport she'd received back at Jericho. He looked at it carefully, then put it down and brought up the temperature scanner.

Please, please, please let us through. I wished as he scanned us, and it beeped as it brought back the results. "Please," Kara begged quietly. "We just want to be free..." The guy looked over at the news that was playing on a screen. It showed Markus' peaceful protest that was currently happening. Then the guard looked down at me. He seemed to show some sympathy, seeing how I looked just like a real, human, little girl. He stamped the passport, looking up at Kara with a little smile. 

"Welcome to Canada."