Chapter Four: Totally Dangerous

March 18, 2016

It was amazing how quickly she was able to build herself a new life here in San Francisco thought Eloise, as she stood a top the Golden Gate Bridge. She had found a job bartending, in Brian's cousin's bar, and she got good tips on account of she was hot. And Brian was almost at the level of being a steady boyfriend, as far as she was concerned, but then that was something she had never had before.

Eloise was suddenly struck that she felt more comfortable up here on the bridge, perched like some great bird, than she had ever felt in her life. Was that some X5 thing? Enjoying high places?

"Come on Jondy! We're going to the High Place," whispered Max. But Jondy shook her head. The high place was silly. Jondy liked Ben's stories, but she knew that they weren't possible. Ripping out her teeth and giving them to a piece of paper was silly, and she knew it would only do her more harm than good.

She watched Maxie follow the rest of her siblings out the window. Despite the fact that she knew it was silly, the eight-year old girl felt lonely, and very left out. The only other one left in the barracks with her was a sleeping Jace. Jondy lay back in her bed, and covered her face with blankets, to try and block out her feelings.

A tear trailed down Eloise's cheek at the memory, but she smiled anyway. Up here she didn't feel left out anymore. Looking down she picked out the light that was Aldrea's bedroom window, and saw it go out. It must be real late, she thought. Aldrea always went to bed late. Eloise sighed, and started to climb down. Suddenly she wanted to be home, warm and with Brian and Aldrea.

"Hey," said Eloise, walking into her apartment. "How was Aldrea?"

"She was great, but doesn't that girl ever sleep?"

Eloise smiled. A six year old Max looked at Jondy thoughtfully, moonlight shining through a window, illuminating the area between them, but leaving both girls on Jondy's bed in shadows. "Maybe we have shark DNA in us," Max speculated, "and that's why we can't get to sleep. Then she laughed. The two girls giggled like the six-year-olds they were, Maxie rolling on her side in the square of moonlight, her features the happiest Jondy had ever seen them.

"Aldrea's like her mommy," Eloise said at last, and as if on cue, Aldrea exited from her room.

"Mommy!" she yelled, and ran towards Eloise, wrapping herself around a leg when she got there. "You're home."

Eloise picked up her daughter. "I am home, and you're not in bed," she said, poking Aldrea's chest.

"I was mom!"

Eloise laughed.

"Mom lwet's play hide and seek with Brian! Brian likes it; we play tonight for a long time," said Aldrea.

Eloise put on her mom look. "Hmm, I see two problems with that. One, you're supposed to be in bed. And two, Brian must be sick of hide and seek after you played it so long already!" Aldrea frowned, but Eloise continued. "Come on Kiddo, back to bed."

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Eloise woke up at 4:45 the next morning, not quite sure of why she had awoken. She didn't want to get out of bed. It was warm, and so cozy that it was torture just to keep her eyes open. Rain tapped lightly on the window, soothing Eloise back to sleep, and there was another sound… Eloise was sure of it. It was what had woken her up.

A helicopter.

A pang of paranoia hit her chest like a bucket of ice cubes. The last time she had heard one of those was before the Pulse. No one could afford to use them for medical purposes anymore, and traffic reports were needless, as there were much fewer cars.

The most likely place of a helicopter's origin was Manticore when an X5 was in the area. Zack would force her to move again, Eloise knew it. Just as she had found herself in a good place, and a good life again.

A place where everything felt so right.

Eloise got out of bed, and was just about to reach for the phone when she pulled her hand back quickly. She would deal with this on her own. No reason Zack had to know.

"Come on Aldrea. Get up girl," Eloise murmured, shaking Aldrea's shoulder lightly."

"Mmmm…"

"Aldrea," Eloise said again.

"What?" Aldrea said crankily, and hardly audible.

"It's time to get up Kiddo."

"Okay," Aldrea sat up. "It's hardly light out yet Mommy. How come you want to get up all earlwy today?"

"I have an errand to run Aldrea," said Eloise. "And I need you to be awake while I'm gone, just in case. Okay?"

"Is Brian gonna baby-sit me?"

"No, just… Come on. Get up." Eloise led Aldrea out into the living area. "I want you to watch some cartoons on very low volume." Eloise set up the TV for the three year old, and indicated for her to sit on the couch.

"If anyone comes to the door," Eloise continued, "don't answer it. If anyone knocks, or if you hear a sound like someone picking the lock, I want you to hide in the cupboard under the sink. The one with the childproof lock. You know how to open that right?" Aldrea nodded. "Good, don't forget."

Aldrea nodded again.

"I'm going to run my errands. You be good." Eloise shrugged he leather jacket over her shoulders, covering a gray tank top. She dropped her keys into a pocket of her plaid pajama pants.

"Mommy?"

"What Aldrea?"

"Is this the danger Zack talks about?"

"No. Everything's' going to be okay kid," lied Eloise, and smiled reassuringly for Aldrea. "You just remember what I told you to do, and everything will be cool."

Eloise walked out into the light drizzle. She had to get rid of her car. The helicopter's probably already had it spotted, but she hoped not. In any case she still had to ditch it. It was an old piece of junk anyway.

An old beat up piece of junk, sitting in the middle of a parking lot, in plain view of anyone passing by, or flying over head. Looking just the same as it had in the parking lots of restaurants and gas stations Eloise had stopped at on the way to San Francisco.

Zack's right. I am too careless, thought Eloise, and she hauled Aldrea's blanket and stuffed dog inside the apartment building, leaving it just inside the main doors. That was all that was in the car that anyone would want.

Eloise got back in the car and drove off. It had stopped raining, and a light morning mist hung in the air, putting droplets on the windshield as Eloise drove through it. She groaned, even though if it had still been raining it would have been worse. The wipers on the piece of junk didn't work.

Eloise drove a few blocks to a pier and stopped in front of it. This was the end of her car's amazing legacy, she thought, and then laughed at the idea's cheesy stupidness.

Eloise started the car and drove onto the pier, positioning herself so that she was headed strait for the ocean. Eloise slammed her foot on the gas.

The car hurtled forward, and Eloise put her left hand on the door handle, and kept her right hand on the wheel, keeping the car headed into the Pacific.

At the last possible second, Eloise threw open the door and hurled herself out, rolling across the concrete.

Filled with adrenaline, Eloise stood up and brushed herself off. She looked at the tail end of her car, sinking steadily into the dark water. The sun was rising now, making small rainbows through the misty air, and the wind took Eloise's long hair and whipped it around.

Eloise did her best to get her hair to cover the back of her neck again. Now was not the time to have her bar code exposed. She needed a new car. Preferably a cool one.

TBC…