Picking her up (Chpt. 16)

"Okay, Étienne, if you're hungry or thirsty there are some drinks and food in the bag." "Okay."

Then

everyone falls silent as she passes directions with Chris. But then suddenly Temptation's phone rings, he

picks it up and out comes Eadgyth's voice. "Eadgyth? Are you okay?" "Help!" Then the call cuts off.

"We're going back." Your mother says as she turns the car. "Okay, but this time I'll call some people over

to help just in case." "Okay." Instead of going on the road they turn onto the highway.

Then Chris stops at the roadside where there is another car. He steps out and takes a bag and goes back

in his car. Then he moves on and the other car follows.

After a while you arrive back to the gates. In the front you see an old woman and man as well as your stepfather. All

standing above Eadgyth who is being hit with a stick. "Who took them?!" You hear him yelling at her. "I-I don't know." Then the men in the other car all get out and kick on the gate.

"Open this gate! Right now or

we'll open this by force!" They all turn around and then the old woman steps up and yells, "Who do you think you

are?! Ordering us around? Pah, in your dreams!" "Ma'am then please step away." "Wh-what?" One man

steps up and hacks at the lock. Then they open it and storm it restraining the three. Your mother goes in

and picks Eadgyth up. Then Chris and your mother take Eadgyth to Chris's car. "Mum, I can switch with

Eadgyth." Says Ray as he gets out of the car. "Thank you, sit slowly, don't lean back."

She places

Eadgyth down and then Chris calls again. "Do you need alcohol and bandaids for Eadgyth? I have some

in here." "Yes please." Chris comes over with his bag and pulls out a bottle of alcohol and some tissues .

"Here, I got some bandages in here." He rummages as your mother puts some alcohol on her wounds

and then puts on the bandages that he gave her.

After a while they settle down and Chris goes over and tells the men something and then goes back into

his car. Then your mother goes back into the driver's seat and starts to drive.

"Why did they hit you?" She asks as she keeps her eyes on the road, her phone still on call with Chris.

"They-they wanted to go and catch you but I told them I didn't know where you were. They knew I was

lying and so then Grandma slapped me. I kicked her and so then Grandpa started hitting me." "I should've

brought you with us no matter what." Then silence, your mother passing directions with Chris again.

It's been a couple of hours and now it's 7:24 pm. "We should stop for some gas." "Okay, there's a station

up ahead." "Okay, kids if you need to go to the restroom you can do so there." Then they stop at a gas

station. "Okay you can go to the restroom, we'll be filling the tanks." You go down and go inside to the

men's room. After you finish your business and wash your hands you go out and back into the car. Then

everyone else goes in as well. Your mother finishes filling up the tank and goes back in.

"Okay, it's

already 7:40? We'll go and stop at a hotel orrest spot." Your mother and Chris try to find one but only by

9 can they find one. "We'll sleep herer. I think we have 3 blankets." She goes into the back with the

flashlight of her phone. She turns up with 2 blankets. "We can share, I can use my jacket as a blanket."

and so the back row, the middle and Étienne have a blanket. Your mother finds one of her big sweaters in

the back as well. You and everyone else fall asleep very quickly.