Speak to me, when all you got to keep is strong
Move along, move along like I know you do
And even when your hope is gone
Move along, move along just to make it through
Move Along—All American Rejects
Julianne wakes up early the next morning, exhausted after a night of tossing and turning. She just lays there for a moment, staring at her closet and debating whether or not she has the energy needed to pack her bags. It's always like this after they get a visit from Dustfinger; pack and leave the next morning, hoping that they'll be safe for another few months. With a huff, she throws the covers back and stands up, shuffling over to her closet to push the curtain aside. She throws some clothes into her backpack as well as the chargers for all her stuff, followed by a couple of books and her iPod.
Grabbing her messenger bag next, she slides her laptop inside and forces her binder of notes in after that so she can work on her term paper while they're on the road. I might have to switch schools, but there's no way in hell that I won't finish this paper after researching Porphyria for three months. She drags her bags into the living room, taking two Tylenol tablets and a thermos of hot chocolate from Mo on her way.
"You should put something warm on," he warns, gesturing towards the nightgown she's currently dressed in. "It's pretty cold outside." She grunts in response, dropping her bags on the couch and making her way back to her bedroom. Julianne pulls on a pair of sweats and a baggy Supernatural tee, forcing her hair into a ponytail. Knowing it's going to be a long day spent in the van, she forgoes the usual makeup routine and settles on a simple line of eyeliner along her lash line.
"This better," she asks as she walks back into the living room, plopping down in the couch and clutching her pillow tightly to her chest.
"You don't look like you'll turn into a popsicle, so I won't complain." He gives her a distracted smile and presses a kiss to the top of her head. "Go on and put your stuff in the van while I go wake up your sister."
"Aye, aye, Captain." She grabs her pillow and bags and heads out the door, glad that the rain had stopped sometime during the night so that she doesn't have to run back inside after a coat. The rain may be gone, but it left a chill behind that makes her yearn for the hoodie her best friend had given her last month. Thankfully, the barn isn't too far from the house and the colorful van inside it makes Julianne smile as she throws her bags into the backseat.
The barn, like their house, has books tucked into all its nooks and crannies; classical literature in a stall filled with bright pink pillows, The Witcher hidden in a small crate up in the loft where Julianne used to hide out when school became overwhelming. There's a mattress up there, too, covered in soft cotton sheets with sheer curtains forming a canopy to keep the mosquitoes out during summer months. Of course Capricorn and his men had to show up just when this place was beginning to feel like home. The thought of Capricorn drives away the good feelings of her hiding place and this time she glances around expecting one of his crows to jump out of the shadows at any moment.
"Have you put bricks in here?" She jumps at Mo's strained voice after getting used to the early morning quiet. Turning, she spots the pair walking towards her with Mo carrying Meggie's book box. "Juli, why don't you run inside and get your box as well?" The look he sends her translates to We probably won't be coming back, so make sure you have what you can't live without.
Julianne runs back into the farmhouse to her little corner of the living room, heading straight for the box tucked out of everyone's way. It's not as large as Meggie's box, but it's still on the heavy side; painted light purple with Azalea flowers drawn on it at random intervals, and Juli's Book Box painted on the front in swirly letters. She picks it up with a grunt, making her way back outside and handing it off to Mo halfway to the barn.
"Are you sure," she whispers as he sets the box down in its spot. "I mean, Dustfinger's not the most reliable or honest person and he could be trying to scare us."
"He wouldn't do that."
"Wouldn't he? Mo, Dustfinger would do whatever he had to if it means getting you to read again." Mo shakes his head, nudging her towards the door of the camper van. With a frown that can rival even Sauron's, she climbs into the very back seat with the intent to pout the entire way to… Well, wherever the hell they're going.
As Mo walks around to the driver's door, Julianne grabs up her camera and takes one last picture of the farmhouse. It's a comforting ritual, something she does when they leave a house for good, so she'd have something to remember it by. The van comes to life with a growling rumble and then they're trundling down the driveway, the house shrinking as the distance grows. Julianne is content to face the back window until they reach the road, but a sudden slamming of the brakes has her toppling backwards with a shout.
"What the hell are you doing up there?" But no one is answering and, once she's contorted enough to crane her head back, she can see her family looking out the windshield in shock. Julianne rolls onto her stomach and raises up on her knees with a wince, shuffling forward until she can grasp the backs of their seats and see what has Mo's hands clutching so tightly at the wheel.
Dustfinger is standing at the end of the driveway and he doesn't look very pleased. He must have been waiting just behind the wall that the girls had spent countless hours playing on, pretending it was a high wire and people were cheering below them and countless other silly games. Dustfinger stands with his arms crossed over his chest, obviously shivering since his coat is discarded and he's dressed in simple pants, shoes, and a sweater.
Could he have contacted Capricorn so quickly? Are men waiting to ambush us like Dustfinger's just done?
Julianne's breath catches in her throat as Mo switches off the ignition and gets out of the van. She follows him out into the open, not wanting him to face Dustfinger alone if Capricorn's men are lurking just out of sight. Dustfinger gives the pair that strange smile of his, leaning casually against the wall. He appears to have all the time in the world, eyes travelling around and only pausing a few seconds on where Meggie's sitting in the front seat.
"Where were you going in such a hurry, Silvertongue," he asks. His gaze turns to Julianne next, taking in the tense line of her shoulders and the fingers twitching and curling half into fists at her side. All her instincts scream for her to get rid of the threat, to make him hurt if he thinks he can take her father. "Relax, you should know by now that I don't like to fight, little bird." Good because I'm a terrible fighter.
"You know why we're in a hurry," Mo replies. "My reasons haven't changed." Mo stays beside the open van door, as tense as his daughter is. Dustfinger pretends not to notice as he inspects his boots.
"Can I know where you're going?" He glances up again, looking like a child that's about to be chastised. "It took me four years to find you last time and you're lucky that it was me instead of Capricorn's men."
"South, we're going south." Julianne frowns, trying to puzzle out why Mo's chosen that direction. "I…. There's family there that will take us in for a bit." Fantastic, that means the great aunt that isn't too fond of Julianne. I accidentally spill chocolate milk on her one time and she never lets it go.
"Would you mind if I accompany you so that I'm not the one who has to give Capricorn's men the bad news?" He picks up two bags that are sitting by the wall, bags that Mo had given him so many years ago. Julianne doesn't know how to feel that the past nine years of his life fit inside two bags and a backpack that's occupied by the horned marten. "Please," Dustfinger continues to beg. "You of all people know what they're capable of. Besides, don't you owe me?"
Julianne starts forward with the idea to strike Dustfinger, going so far as to have her fist drawn back, but Dustfinger latches onto her wrist to keep her from following through with the motion. It's weak and cowardly to prey on Mo's guilt and this bastard has another thing coming if he thinks Julianne won't hurt him for this.
"Julianne," Mo says in a defeated tone," calm down, he's right." Dustfinger turns her to face Mo, releasing her wrist so he can gather his bags in his arms. It's with a lot of reluctance that she joins her father at the van again. This is some major bullshit.
"Hold it," Meggie shouts, hopping out of the van. "Why are we running and who is Capricorn?" Mo and Julianne turn to face her, pleading looks on their faces. Twelve is way too young to learn about the real things that go bump in the night and Julianne isn't about to ruin Meggie's childhood.
"Meggie, just get back in the van," she begs softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. Mo gives Meggie a look that he's given Julianne on several occasions: just do as I say, and I'll tell you when you're ready. But no one is ever ready to learn that an evil tyrant is chasing their family because their dad has the ability to read things out of books.
"I'll get back in when someone tells me the truth." Meggie shrugs off Julianne's hand and runs until she's standing in the middle of the road. Julianne stares down at her sneakers instead of answering, not missing the incredulous look Dustfinger sends her and Mo. "What's so wrong with telling me? I have a right to know!" Meggie is furious, her pale cheeks flushed tomato red.
"This is something you don't need to know," Mo tells her, looking older than he really is. "Please, just get back in the van."
"You haven't told her," Dustfinger asks in a quiet voice. Mo shakes his head, but Julianne's gaze never leaves her dirty shoes, unable to meet Dustfinger's accusing stare. "It's dangerous that she doesn't know and, anyway, she's not a baby anymore." But she's still so innocent and this news can corrupt that.
"It would change nothing if she knew."
"What's dangerous," Meggie asks from her spot on the deserted road. "I'll not move an inch until I'm told!" Dustfinger turns to face Meggie, taking slow steps towards her as she takes a couple steps back.
"You were very small when you first met him, so I have no doubt you can't remember him." It's not his right to tell her these things, but Mo makes no move to stop him and anything Julianne does will just make Meggie question them even more. "Capricorn is the type of man that would feed a bird to a cat simply to watch as it is torn to pieces. Nothing gives Capricorn more pleasure than scaring people until they can no longer stand."
"Dustfinger," Mo says in a warning tone. "Stop this."
"Your father has something he wants, something he'll stop at nothing to obtain." Dustfinger is too close to Meggie for comfort now and Julianne starts towards them. "His men dress in all black and you better hope you don't meet any of them, but if you do, keep yourself small."
"Get away from her," Julianne growls, eyes bright with rage as she pulls him away from her sister. "We may be stuck with you during the car ride, but that doesn't give you the right to tell her those things!" He opens his mouth, but she cuts him off with a hard look. "Get in the van." Dustfinger ducks his head and crawls inside, winding up in the back next to Julianne with his backpack laid gently across his lap. "Nothing is gonna come flying out of there, is it?" Dustfinger gives her his strange smile, pulling Gwin out for her to see.
"We obviously have quite a journey ahead of us, so I thought I'd introduce Meggie to someone." Gwin climbs up Dustfinger's arm, its bushy tail flicking in Julianne's direction and causing her to sneeze. Meggie looks at the marten with a fascinated expression. "You can pet him." At her hesitant look, he aims his smile at her. "Don't worry, he doesn't bite when he's sleepy."
"Yeah, it's when he's wide awake that you have to worry." Satisfied that Dustfinger will keep the creep factor low, she settles in for the long drive with her earbuds and iPod. It isn't long before her eyes are closing, Dustfinger maneuvering so that her feet are in his lap to allow her stretch out. That's how she falls asleep, the song's lyrics following her into dreamland where no monsters are allowed.
Now they laugh about the moment that it happened, a moment they'd both missed until that day, when he saw his future in her eyes instead of just another friendly face.