They Never Knew
Chapter 7
You Do What You Have To Do
"Emma and I eventually got away from there. We took to living on our on, we would steal from gas stations or convince someone to give us food or money. We would move frequently in fear they would find us and take us back. We would go from living on the streets to convincing someone to homeless shelters. It only lasted for two months, but it was the happiest we had been in a long time."
Flashback to 17 years ago
"Emma wait!" Amy yelled trying to keep up with her sister. "Well hurry it up then. We have to find shelter before the storm comes in." Amy ran to match Emma's pace. "Think about it Emma. We've been walking all day and haven't eaten in three days. I know you're as tired as I am." This caused Emma to stop and look at her sister. "We'll find food soon I promise, we just need to find shelter first." Amy as quick to counter her, "By the time we find shelter the storm will be too close, we need to get food now before it's too late."
There was a pause before Amy attempted to continue "Emma-""No Amy! We have to keep going! I would much rather go to bed hungry and be safe from the storm rather than the other way around!" She turned to start walking again but fell to her knees instead! "Emma!" Amy dropped to her knees as well putting her hand gently on her sister's shoulder. "Emma…are you ok?" Once the nausea passed Emma looked up to meet her sisters eyes before replying. "Ok maybe your right."
Emma at this point was too weak to help with their plan so Amy had to go in by herself on this one. She tried to be as discreet as possible when walking into the gas station. She couldn't help but give the clerk a friendly smile (that was just the kind of girl she was). She always felt guilty about doing this, but it was survival. She and Emma would survive.
She quietly picked up two bags of chips and two Slim Jims shoving them quickly into the pockets of her jacket. She took a minute to look at her reflection in the freezer, making sure that the food was secure and as natural looking as she should get she started walking to the doors. When there seemed to be no sign that she was going to be caught she made her way out the doors and to the safety of her sister.
If only she had realized her mistake she could have gotten away free. She knew someone was following her when she heard the footsteps coming. It seemed no matter what alley she turned down, no matter how fast she quickened her pace, they were always following her. Finally she stopped 'If I'm about to get caught for something I don't want to lead them to Emma.' She though reluctantly at what she was about to do. She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk slowly turning to face her competitor "Well you may as well come out."
When the people came out from the shadows she immediately recognized them to be her caretakers. The people who had been assigning her and Emma homes as long as she could remember. As soon as they were close enough Amy did exactly as she planned kicking one of them in the stomach effectively knocking them down and punching the other knocking them out cold.
After that she bolted for it as fast as her legs would carry her! Once she had gone back to Emma in the most difficult way possible she found her. "Emma! Emma we can't stay here!" She yelled collapsing against the soft cushion of a blanket. Emma looked up quite disappointed…"What are you talking about? I just set everything up, I even got a fire going. Come on Amy, its nice and warm here."
"No Emma! You don't get it! We have to get out of here now!"
Emma rolled her eyes quite annoyed with her sister. "And why is that?"
There was a pause as Amy decided whether or not she should scare her sister with the news. "Emma they found us." She hated seeing her sister stiffen and suddenly become a much more mature version of herself. Without saying a word they both started to pack up their things. "How long ago did you run into them? Do you know how they found you?" Amy hung her head in shame…"Yeah I know how they found me." Emma waited a minute until she realized Amy had no intention of answering. "It was the cashier. I didn't notice him at first but…he knew who we were. Either that or I came off suspicious. He called them while I was getting food. I saw him on the phone and didn't even think about it!" Emma nodded putting her hand on her shoulder "Amy this isn't your fault. How were you supposed to know he was talking to them? You couldn't guarantee-""That's the issue Emm! I should have left as soon as I saw him on the phone! I should have been more careful! Who CARES if I wasn't sure! I should have left for the pure fact I wasn't sure!" Emma knew exactly how she felt considering the last time they had run away and gotten caught it had been her fault.
They grabbed their bags hoisting them onto their shoulders before making their way "Freeze! Hands in the air!" They immediately dropped their things out of the fear that traced up their spines! Neither said a word as the police officers circled them, they didn't do a thing when they were handcuffed. What set them off was when they were taken to two separate cars! "No! What are you doing! That's my sister we stay together!" Amy could hear Emma yell at the officer as he attempted to shove her into the car. It threw her into a fit! "Amy! Amy run!" Amy knew at this point Emma was in panic mode and had no idea what she was saying. Amy had committed a crime and if she were to try to run the police would have the authority to shoot her. Either way she wasn't getting away.
"It's ok Emma! It's ok!" It broke her heart to see the look of complete despair on Emma's face as they shoved her into the car. Amy's view was blocked from her sister as they shoved her into her car as well.
It had been a few hours since their arrest. Amy sat numbly in her cell as she waited for CPS to decide her fate. Her head snapped up as the door opened revealing the only person in the world she cared about. "Emma!" She jumped up from her seat instantly hugging her sister as tightly as possible. "Hey." Emma mumbled into her shoulder. They finally pulled away keeping each other at arm's length. "Amy we don't have much time but do you remember where we said to meet if we were ever separated?"
Amy knew as well as Emma that she wouldn't be able to say where they were meeting for the known fact there were microphones in this room where they would be able to hear everything they are saying. So she simply nodded. She could feel the tears coming to her eyes at the thought of not being with her sister. "Good." Emma said quietly before pulling her into another hug. "I love you." Emma mumbled loud enough for her to hear. "You too Emm."
Soon after that they were separated. Amy didn't see Emma for two years, up until the day she turned 18 and could leave the foster system, and that's exactly what she did. She treaded her way to the woods to the exact spot where she and Emma were mysteriously found. She sat on a tree stump staying alert while waiting for her sister. Finally after an hour she heard the snap of a twig. She jumped up hiding in case someone had somehow followed her. She watched and waited watching the figure walk right up to the tree. She smiled lightly knowing exactly who it was.
She stepped out from behind the tree. "Hey Emm." She said quietly. Emma stayed where she was, analyzing her as though she was trying to see if it was Amy or not. "Hey Ams." They quickly brought each other into a tight hug. Each breaking quite easily into a fit of tears. "I missed you so much!" She cried into Emma's shoulder. She could feel Emma nod into her's "You too." They were both reminded of the day they were separated, holding each other at arm's length. Eventually after they had both come to see the differences they had formed over the last two years. Emma smiled pulling her arm around Amy's shoulder before pulling her along. "Let's go."