I woke up to the booming of thunder. I groaned, turned away from the window, and closed my eyes again. Another boom. A click. My eyes drifted open.
"Mom? What are you doing? I know there's a storm, but it's late and—"
"Lunaris! Sit up, sit up! Get out of bed, you have to leave, now." Her usually kind voice was urgent, desperate. She tugged at my arm, flinging me out of bed. I barely caught my footing before falling.
"What's going on? What happened, where are we go—" She grabbed my face tightly, squeezing till it hurt. I grunted. She steadied me and focused on my eyes.
"You have to leave," she hissed. "It's for the best, I promise. I've packed you a suitcase. You have ten minutes to get anything that you want from your bedroom. I'll explain on the way there."
I was too groggy to argue, and too afraid of whatever might be going on. I decided to take an old notebook, mechanical pencils, my favorite handknit sweater, all of my merino wool, and my interchangeable circular knitting needles. My mother came in just as I picked up our family photo, which was simply me and her.
"Are you ready?"
"I guess so. Are you going to explain now?"
"Come, get in the car. Your suitcase is already there." She ushered me out of the room. I slid into the back seat of the vehicle as she got into the driver's seat. She passed me a juicebox. "You look pale, sweetie. Have this. We have a long trip ahead of us."
"Uh... Alright, then." I took the drink, consuming it quietly while the rain pounded on the aluminium roof. Within a minute, my head began to feel airy and light, and my fingers tingled. It was uncomfortable. "Mom, I don't feel so well."
"Lunaris, you know that I care for you very much. Right?"
"Y-yeah."
"So you must know that I'd do anything to protect you. In order to fulfill my motherly duties, I have to send you away, lest we be killed." A pang of fear shot through me, hitting me in the chest.
I murmured gently, confused but exhausted, just before passing out.