The wind whipped through my long dark hair. It felt too open. The vegetation was sparse and not suitable to take cover in if necessary. I felt Jared beside me and he squeezed my hand when I glanced at him in concern. If it were just Jared and I on this mission, I wouldn't be worried. But Jamie and Wanda and Ian came along too. These days Wanda and Ian were inseparable and Jamie was well Jamie. Over the past three years Jamie grew taller and now had a little stubble growing. I still cannot believe that three years has passed since I acquired my old body again! I felt like I never left.

The setting sun and cast a soft glow over the faces of my family. We would stop in a hotel for the night. The last one before we left civilization for good. Over the years we had grown careless, and eventually the souls caught up with us. That was one day that is now burned into my memory. Chaos reining. Shannon and Maggie's grins spreading wider and wider as they fed off of the disunity. Jeb attempting and failing at keeping everyone calm. The entire colony had to move to the extra caves and there was little food there. Therefore, the five of us were sent out to gather food and other such supplies. Well Jamie wasn't but he was old enough to make his own decisions. Or at least that is what I keep telling myself.

"Hey are we there yet?" Jamie yelled over the roar of the wind.

"Almost, we have a few more stops before we get there," Wanda called from the driver's seat. "You all remember the drill right? Stay in the car until I can get you into the hotel. Understand?" Wanda glanced in the review mirror piercing us with her stare. I have to say, over the past few years, Wanda has transformed from the sweet little girl she was when she came upon the body to the drill sergeant she is today.

"Um, Wanda honey, I think we would not be alive if we did not have the plan drilled into our heads," Ian said as he running his hands through her hair, twirling a piece around his fingers. Wanda leaned into him, absorbing his warm touch.

"I know but still, I am paranoid. My family's safety is on the line here. My other family that is" Wanda corrected herself at the last minute.

"What are we? Chopped liver?" Jared laughed beside me. My heart skipped a beat at the sound. I pulled him closer to me and held him. My arms just long enough to wrap fully around his built body.

Finally, after several more long minutes, the black car pulled in the hotel parking lot. Wanda parked the car a safe distance away. Far enough away from the entrance to provide safety, but close enough that it no suspicion would be aroused. Wanda left us with a quick kiss from Ian and mummers of encouragement.

Wanda was an asset to the community. No matter how much Ian wanted to deny it. Wanda had not failed us since she stumbled upon the camp. As a result, my fear and concern dissipated as I watched her enter the hotel. She could do this. I know she could. I had faith.

It was taking too long. She should have been back by now. How long does it take to get a key for the room? Something's happened. Something went wrong. How could it go wrong. The four of us were hunched over in our seats. My hands grasped Jared and Jamie. I held them close and I would not let go until I was sure that Wanda was safe.

" Would you stop that!" Jamie whispered across the car at Ian who was drumming his fingers rapidly across the top of the dashboard.

"Oh sorry," Ian said absentmindedly. "We need to go in there. I has been way to long. She should have been back. I know for a fat that it does not take an hour to get a key to a hotel. It takes like 10 minutes." Ian started to open the car door, but Jared immediately leaned forward and shut the door quickly.

"No. Do you want to risk further exposing us when we are already under a microscope? Why would you do that?" Jared whispered in a harsh voice that carried through the car. "I love Wanda but we need to think of Jeb and the rest of the humans that are waiting and counting on use to bring them food and other supplies so that they can survive! We really should not be out here in the first place! It is too risky! We should have stayed in the car and just slept on the side of the road!" Jared glared at Ian and leaned so far forward that he blocked Ian completely.

"Wait a minute here! By saying that we should just leave Wanda to her fate is like saying we should be leaving Mel to her fate! Would you do that Jared? Would you?"

Ian's remark hit too close to the truth. "Ian" Jared's voice was barely audible. "I already did once and I am not going to again." Jared looked at me with such tenderness that my heart nearly stopped. He gave me a soft kiss and then returned to glare at Ian.

"Guys settle down here! I want to save Wanda just as much as the next person. So we are going to! Mel what is the plan." Jamie's voice interrupted the bickering and it created a very sober tone.

"Ok, we are going to..." I was trying to see how this would all work out when two seekers rapped on the window of the car and opened the driver's door that was left slightly ajar.