Malnourished

Chapter 15 Elise goes home

Elise and Julie had made it down the front steps of their prison.  That is how the two of them had come to think of the Facility and it was time for them to get out but they were not quite that sure where to go.  "Let's stop a cab so we can get away from here quickly before those guards come out to look for us" Julie panted.  She may be twenty five years younger than Elise but she was tiring quickly.  "Look! There's a cab quick waive it down" This was a funny thing to say since Elise didn't do anything quickly.  Julie was yelling to get the cabbies attention but it didn't work it kept going.  Then there was another one but again it kept going as if they didn't exist.  The two woman kept walking hoping they can get out of the area before they are found.  Julie had tried to hail several cabs but they all behaved the same and just kept going.  "This is not going to work" yelled an angry Julie "we have to think of something else if we are going to get a ride".  The two women looked at each other then turned and kept walking.

Ten minutes later Elise grabbed her friend's arm and said "look", she was pointing with her cane at the small hotel at the end of the street.  In front there was a line up of cabs "that's what we need Jules but I think we have to behave as if we are guests at the hotel or they are not going to take us.  They all think we are just a couple of old derelic's and don't have any money."  She was right and Jules knew it which meant she had to come up with a better idea then pretend to be visitors and she was pretty sure she had it.  They moved as quickly as was possible and were exhausted by the time they approached the hotel.  Elise could not go any further and had to sit on the bench by the front door.  "Jules, I just can't go any further, honest." sweat trickled down her wrinkled face.  "I don't think they are going to help us dear."  "Now don't you worry about it dear, I will get us a ride right now, just you watch a master at work" Julie winked at her friend and grabbed the little purse attached to Elise's belt.  She walked up to the first cabbie then bent down to talk to him but he immediately closed his window to ignore the old woman.  Without being perturbed Jules walked over to the fifth car in the line up.  This guy was going to be a little more desperate with the fear that he was not going to get a fare with all of the other cabs in front of him.  It looked as if the hotel was not very busy and these guys were getting worried.  The cab the old woman choose was an older model with rust just forming around the edges.  One look at it and you knew this fellow was not in very good shape which made him perfect.  Jules bend down and knocked on his window, she could see the fellow thinking about putting his window down but something stopped him and decided not to even acknowledge her.  Jules didn't move, she was not going to give up and he was more desperate then most.  She tapped on the window again but this time with more insistance, when he finally looked at her his eyes widened and he opened his passenger door.  Jules was holding the money she had given Elise up to his window.  "Come on Elise, you chariot awaits you." she laughed.  The older woman groaned and forced her old body to get up and walked to the car.

Once inside the cabbie asked where they wanted to go but neither woman knew the answer so Elise finally said "oh just drive for now and we will tell you later"  this was very unusual because most of his fares are short rides and never amount to much money but this could prove to make his day.  He may actually take a profit home with him.  He slowly pulled his cab out and started down the street but before the women could say anything to him he was driving past the Facility.  They ducked down but out of curiousity peered over the edge of the door.  It looked as if all of the guards and the senior staff were gathered outside.  It seemed they had called the communicators as well. "I didn't realize you were that important Elise.  What great secrets are you keeping?"  she raised one eyebrow when she looked at her friend.  "cabbie please take us to this address please."  She gave him the piece of paper she kept in her little purse.  He read it and nodded "this is not going to be quite as good as I hoped" he muttered.

It was getting close to nightfall when the cab approached Devon's house but there seemed to be some sort of commotion a couple of houses before hers.  The cabbie slowed down to see why there were so many people on the street as well as the flashing lights. They couldn't quite make out what it was because of all the adults and children that were laughing and crowded around what looked like a car.  The cabbie pushed his alarm to make people move out of the way so he can pull in and once they did all three inside the cab could not believe what they saw.  There was a camera crew taking a video of some men in uniform trying to break into a dark car.  The car had been painted with a giant face on the front and some words on the side.  It looked as if there was someone inside but none of the doors or windows would open.  "That is very curious." the driver said as he pulled into the drive of the address he was given.  He turned and looked at the strange old women in the back. Without saying a word he held out his hand.  There was a small vid screen on the back of the front seat which flashed advertisements and the amount the fare was.  "That's outlandish!" yelled Julie but the fellow simply smiled at her and waited expectantly.  When he got his payment and the two women got out he hurried on to see if he could get another fare before quitting time.

Julie helped Elise up the front steps and knocked on the door.  "This is a pretty little place Elise, who's is it?" she asked  "Mine" smiled the older woman.  She had not realized how good it felt to be back at the old place.  "That's odd" she said "knock again, either Devon or Gred should be home.  The dogs aren't barking so that means one of them are home,"  Julie knocked even harder this time yelling "helloooo, I've brought Elise for a visit, helloooo?" A curtain moved in the front window then a moment later they heard a latch lift and the door slowly open.  "Grandma! Is that really you?" Devon peered out from behind the door.  "Yes little one I've come to see you, it's important.  Can we come in?" "Oh my goodness, of course of course, you don't have to ask to come into your own house.  For goodness sake just come in!"  She stepped out and took a hold of her Grandmother's arm.  "We have to get in quickly before anyone notices us" advised Julie "but I think we are safe with all of that commotion going on out there".

Elise looked around the livingroom and took a deep breath.  It still smelled the same as the last time she was here and her beautiful grand child had kept it looking the same as well.  "Oh Devon I am so pleased to see you and how good it is to be home again."