Daisy wakes to the distant sounds of cars driving on the highway.
Sitting up, she rubs her eyes drowsily and looks around. Their car is the only one in an empty parking lot, and the semi-darkness tells her it's early in the morning.
Mom is in the front seat reading with a flashlight. Hearing Daisy stir, she turns around and smiles tiredly.
"Good morning, baby. Ready for some breakfast?"
Daisy nods wordlessly and accepts the piece of leftover birthday cake. It feels so long ago since she blew out her birthday candles yesterday morning in their cozy trailer in the woods.
She eats silently, looking out the window at their surroundings. They're parked near several large buildings and stores, all of which appear closed, with the exception of a building to their right. Squinting at the sign, Daisy tries to put the letters together.
24 Hour Fitness. That must be one of those gym places, like the one Mom took her to several times last summer for swimming lessons.
Mom puts down her book and turns back to Daisy.
"Done? All right, shower time." She says, unlocking the car and grabbing the small backpack with their toiletries.
Daisy steps out of the car, yawning. The pavement is cool on her bare feet, and she's still dressed in her pajamas.
"I don't have my shoes."
"That's okay, bǎobèi." Mom picks Daisy up and settles her on her hip before locking the car doors and heading towards the gym.
Daisy snuggles close, hiding her face in Mom's shoulder as Mom opens the door and walks towards the front desk.
The woman working there greets them tiredly and instructs them to show her their membership pass.
"I'm sorry to ask this, but we don't have a membership. Is there any way I can pay you five dollars and use your showers?"
"I'm sorry, that's not really allowed." The woman says apologetically.
"Company policy is that we have to ask for a membership card."
Mom laughs in an embarrassed way, shifting Daisy higher on her hip.
"I get that, I do. It's just, things are hard right now, and we don't have a place to shower. We won't be long, I promise."
Daisy lifts her head from Mom's shoulder and yawns, rubbing her eyes tiredly.
"Well…" The woman sighs, looking at Daisy with pity in her eyes. "I suppose I could make an exception. I just have to ask that you leave by seven. My boss shows up then, and he won't be happy I've let you in."
Mom sighs with relief and hands her a five-dollar bill.
"Thank you so much. We'll be in and out, I promise."
They head to the women's changing rooms and Mom unpacks their toiletries and spare clothes. Mom helps Daisy wash her hair before going to her own shower cubicle. Daisy turns the water temperature up high, until the water is so hot it turns her skin pink. The water heater in the trailer was broken, so their showers were always lukewarm at best, with hot water being a distant dream. Daisy stays in the shower as long as she can until Mom finally tells her it's time to get out.
Daisy puts on a clean pair of jeans and her favorite Pokemon t-shirt, and then Mom brushes her hair to get all the tangles out.
Mom puts their stuff away in the backpack and lifts Daisy onto her hip before walking to the car. She opens the door and sets Daisy down in the backseat, and Daisy waits while Mom gets her shoes from the trunk. Once Daisy has her shoes and Mom's put the rest of their stuff away, they pull out of the parking lot and get back on the highway.
They drive nonstop for the rest of the day. Mom lets her have the rest of the leftover birthday cake because it's a driving day, and they listen to music on the radio and play games. They play I Spy and word games and even checkers, envisioning the board in their heads. Daisy isn't as good at mind checkers as Mom is, and she has trouble picturing the moves in her head, but Mom says she'll get the hang of it.
They have sandwiches and snacks for lunch and dinner, and keep driving until past dark. Finally, when the clock on the dashboard tells Daisy it's ten pm, Mom finds a Walmart parking lot and parks there for the night. She sets up Daisy's bed in the backseat, laying the pillow at one end so Daisy can lay down on the seat, and then they read the next chapter of the Hobbit, just like every other evening.
The next day, Mom wakes her up at six and gives her a muffin for breakfast before they get back on the highway for another long day of driving. They drive nonstop until noon, and Mom parks near a sandwich shop so they can get some lunch.
Mom is twitchy and nervous, holding Daisy's hand in a crushing grip. She keeps looking around as they stand in line, her gaze flicking back and forth between the front door and the emergency exit. Daisy squirms, the tight grip hurting her hand.
"Mom, that hurts." She whines, pulling away slightly.
Mom blinks and looks down, her expression suddenly remorseful.
"Sorry, bǎobèi."
She lets go of Daisy's hand, ruffling her hair.
"Just stay close, okay?"
Daisy nods, turning her gaze to the sandwich toppings on offer. Her stomach makes a strange somersault, twisting with nerves. Mom is acting even more anxious than she usually does in public spaces, and she seems eager to leave.
The line moves forward slowly, and one of the dead-eyed employees approaches them with the demeanor of someone heading into battle.
"Hello and welcome to Sam's Subs, what can I get for you today?"
Mom nudges Daisy gently. "What would you like, baby?"
"A turkey sandwich with tomatoes and pickles, please." Daisy says shyly, moving closer to Mom.
The employee nods and turns to Mom. "Anything for you, Ma'am?"
Mom shakes her head, glancing at the door again. "No thank you."
The bell jangles as the door to the shop opens, and several men in suits and sunglasses step inside.
Mom suddenly takes Daisy's hand and pulls her towards the back of the shop.
"I'm sorry, we just need to use the bathroom." She says, leaving the line and heading towards the emergency exit. Daisy struggles to match Mom's long strides as she is pulled towards the exit. Mom passes the bathroom door and pushes open the emergency exit door. The alarm bells begin to ring, and Mom starts running, pulling Daisy along with her.
"Hey!" The employee shouts. "What are you doing?"
They sprint to the car, chests heaving and lungs burning. Mom runs so fast that Daisy's arm feels like it's being pulled out of its socket as she struggles to keep up, the wind stinging her face as they run across the parking lot.
They skid to a stop right in front of the car, and Mom rummages through her pocket for the keys. Just as she puts the key in the door, there is a click behind them. Daisy whirls around and sees the men in suits from the shop, aiming their guns right at her and Mom.
Mom gasps and pushes Daisy behind her, holding up her fists.
"Jiaying Johnson?" One of the men speaks, taking a step towards them.
"We're with SHIELD. We're not here to hurt you."
Mom scoffs. "Do you really think I'm foolish enough to believe that? You people have been hunting me for six years!"
The man puts down his gun and sighs, signaling to the others to do the same.
"We were sent to protect you from those who tried to kill you and your daughter. Come with us and we'll explain everything."
Mom laughs derisively. "So you can experiment on us both? I don't think so."
The man sighs, gesturing to one of the other men.
"I didn't want to have to do this the hard way, but you leave me no choice."
Suddenly, someone grabs Daisy from behind, pulling her away from Mom. One of the other men takes out a long syringe and sticks it in Mom's neck, catching her as her eyes close and she collapses.
"Mom!" Daisy shouts, struggling to get free from the man holding her.
"What did you do to her?"
"Don't worry, kid." The man in charge says. "You and your Mom will both be fine."
Daisy stiffens as she feels a sharp needle in her neck, blinking as her vision becomes blurry. She stumbles backwards, and the man holding her lifts her up into his arms.
"You - you - hurt my Mom." She mumbles, feeling dizzy as the ground spins beneath her.
The last thing she sees is their impassive faces as the world goes black.