It has been four months since Skylar saved Mckenzie from the SHAP. As she nears summer, she looks forward to having no school, no responsibilities, just fun in the sun. But that all changes on the last day of school, someone has put a 85 million dollar reward on Skylar and McKenzie. Dead or alive. Now it seems that everyone is after her and they have no choice but to go into hiding, in a little town called Someweare.
By the time the agents and the Director left we had our new identities, and looks. Me and McKenzie had brown hair, I requested that I have blue streaks in my hair as McKenzie requested purple streaks in her hair too. We got our hair cut, ours was just below the shoulder. I was sad that my hair was cut. I loved having long hair. But I did like the dyed streaks in it, because of the school dress code I could never have dyed hair. McKenzie was shown her room, it was right across from mine. Her room was a bit smaller, it had a full size bed, with a trunk at the foot of the bed. It had a window seat, with a dresser, desk, vanity, and nightstand on both sides of the bed. She frowned, this was nothing like her room at home, but she had to make the best of it. And so did I. She swung her suitcase on the bed and opened it. She was unpacking, and I should to the same.
"I'm going to unpack too," I said. "my door is always open if you need me."
She nodded. I left her door open and walked inside of my bedroom. I grabbed my gigantic suitcase and swung it on my bed. I stopped realizing, I already packed this suitcase for church camp. I opened it and took out my clothes, shoes, my favorite blanket, and my favorite teddy bear. I smiled, I remember stuffing him in the packed suitcase. I couldn't sleep without him. For some reason I always made fun of Sophie for sleeping with one of her stuffed dogs she got on her first Christmas. But since McKenzie's abduction, and my captivity, even though I wasn't held captive for long. I still get nightmares about it, and vivid flashbacks. Some nights I can't sleep and Joey, (my childhood teddy bear) helps with that. I threw Joey on my bed and took out a dress that I was supposed to wear to one of the worship services. I hung it in the closet and took out the last few things in my suitcase. My Bible, my swimsuit, sleeping mask, and a couple of beach towels. I set the towels down on the trunk and set my Bible on the window seat. I put my swimsuit in the dresser and the sleeping mask inside my pillow case. Once I took off the big suitcase I put it in the closet.
I wish I brought some of my old books, if there was one thing I loved about reading; it was no matter how bad or good your life was reading took you on adventure. Entertainment distracts you from reality. And I wished more than anything that I could distract myself from this hard reality. I heard a knock on my door.
"Hey, um... me and Claire need to talk to you downstairs." Chris said. "Can you please come down when you're ready?"
"Yes sir." I said softly.
When he was gone, I spread out the blanket from home and set my teddy bear next to my pillow. After a while I walked downstairs and sat in a recliner watching Frozen with the little girl. A couple of minutes later, McKenzie walked in and sat next to me.
"Why do you think he's called us down here?"
"I don't know." I answered. "But I feel like I'm being called to the principles office."
McKenzie smiled at that comment. Suddenly the movie was paused, and McKenzie and the little girl groaned.
"Sorry, but we need to talk about something."
"Mommy what is it?" The girl asked.
"Annie, these are the girls I told you about yesterday," Claire said. "They're going to stay with us for a while."
McKenzie stood up and waved at the small girl. "Hello Annie I'm... Makayla."
"Are you going to be my big sister?" She asked.
That question surprised McKenzie.
"Huh?"
I quickly decided to help her.
"Hi Annie, I'm Scarlett!"
"Hi!" She said, "You're very pretty."
My mind went blank for a second, "Thank you." I said.
"We wanted to introduce you to Annie, like you she is a superhuman. An empath, like me, she can feel emotions just by being in the same room as you."
"How are you?" I asked.
"Five." she answered. "Do you have powers?"
I nodded at the little girl, I smiled as she bounced with excitement.
"Show me show me!"
I smiled as I got a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water. I bent over for her to see, I squeezed on the cup, and the water froze. She gasped and looked at the up in amazement.
"You're like Elsa!" She beamed.
I walked back in the living room and sat down again. Suddenly there was a pause, a long silent, awkward pause.
"Is there anything else?" McKenzie asked.
"Just because you're under this protection doesn't mean you shouldn't be doing teenager things." Claire said. "Have fun, swim, go make some friends."
"What she's trying to say is." Chris said. "You don't have to spend your whole time here locked in this house, you're allowed to go outside. Just make sure you're cover is secure, and what you're doing is inside the law."
I nodded.
"We got you some phones, they're not like you're old ones, but they will keep us in touch."
They handed us each a small flip phone.
"Use them only in emergencies. Got it?"
We nodded.
"We understand."
