"As soon as Max and Liz get here we'll leave." Isabel said walking up and standing next to Maria. Her, Maria, Michael and Kyle were waiting beside the van, that was parked next to the empty sidewalk. Even though it was almost noon, it was below freezing outside. Kyle was hugging himself and moving around every few seconds. Michael had his arm around Maria and she was clutching at him. Isabel pressed her hands to her face, but they were just as cold. A door closed behind them and Max and Liz quickly walked out of the small hotel building.
"We are all checked out. We better get a move on, it's getting colder by the minute." Max said when he reached them.
"Really? Didn't notice." Kyle said with a large amount of sarcasm before climbing in the front seat. Isabel smirked and followed the others into the back. They never stayed at a hotel for to long. After staying at one in Colorado for a week, Maria noticed a small camera in her and Michael's room. She had screamed so loud people downstairs heard. They had ran out of the hotel and didn't stop driving for at least two days.
Now they sat like they always did. Kyle up at the front driving. Michael and Maria holding each other on the seat next to Isabel. And Max and Liz talking quietly across from her. Usually the boys would switch every few hours for driving, sometimes even the girls would.
"So Maxwell, where are we heading next?" Michael asked as the car sped down the highway. Max glanced up at everyone, looking slightly annoyed that everyone always turned to him when they needed something.
"Canada?" Isabel piped up. Everyone looked over at her and Kyle looked through the mirror at her.
"Canada would be good. A whole new country, the Special Unit wouldn't suspect it." Liz said putting the idea into her mind.
"And I could really use some Canadian bacon!" Kyle said. They all smiled at Kyle's humor. Even though they were stressed and constantly on the run, it didn't hurt to smile every now and then. Max and Michael nodded, putting the final agreement on the idea.
"So it's settled. But we will need some Canadian money, right?" Maria asked.
"Isabel didn't you say you knew how to change money?" Michael said frowning.
"What!" Kyle said looking back at her. "Of all the times I needed money you never mentioned it?"
"Eyes on the road!" Maria said raising her voice. He faced foward but looked at through the mirror with a strange look in his eye. Isabel ignored it.
"Yeah I guess. Everyone hand in whatever money we have." Everyone reached into their pockets and wallets and passed her the money. It wasn't much, they had been spending more than enough as it was.
"We need more. Lots more." Liz said.
"We could always sell Maria." Kyle said smiling. Maria glared at him and Michael covered his mouth to keep from grinning. She looked up and smacked his arm causing Kyle to laugh.
"Anyway, I'll just double the money." Isabel said. She moved her hand across it and the bills grew larger, changing color. The now Canadian money sat in her hands. She counted it up.
"$75 in total. Plus a few coins." She said looking up. Max frowned and everyone went silent. That would be enough for a few more nights at hotel, and food. But not enough to cross the border. Isabel closed her eyes and put her hand on the money. When she opened them, they were all 20 dollar bills.
"I hope I get that power." Kyle muttered. Isabel counted the money with a satisfied grin on her face.
"$350." She said. They all grinned and relaxed.
After at least five hours of driving, they decided to stop at a gas station for some snacks. They all climbed out, placing sunglasses on their faces to help hide their indentities.
"We look silly in these. It's the middle of winter!" Maria complained.
"It's better than being locked up." Michael said. They walked in the gas station avoiding the few customers who looked at them. They quickly bought their food and went back to the van. Michael got in the front with Maria and turned the key. It rumbled and then quit. Isabel was instantly remembered her nightmare with the strange Topolsky woman. The car wouldn't start, and right after their brutal murders took place. She knew Topolsky was dead, but her breathing suddenly got heavy and she held her head in her hands.
"You okay Iz?" Kyle asked putting his hand on her shoulder. She didn't reply. Michael turned the key again and it rumbled. She heard the car start up and breathed a sigh of relief. She lifted her head and noticed everyone staring at her, worried expressions on their faces.
"Fine. Just a little nervous." No one questioned and they drove off.
For a while, no one spoke. Kyle would sometimes talk to her about anything he could think of, or crack a few jokes, but eventually stopped when he realized she wasn't in the mood. Just thinking about that nightmare brought fear into Isabel. When it was starting to get dark Michael started to mutter under his breath.
"You okay Spaceboy?" Maria asked.
"The car is stopping, I need to pull over." They all snapped their heads up and looked at him. Him and Kyle got out of the car and lifted up the hood. Kyle, being a mechanic, could easily tell something was wrong. The rest of them got out when the saw the fear on Kyle's face.
"It looks like the Glow Plug was somehow taken out. Without that the van will have a hard time moving, or even starting up." Kyle said checking around under the hood for it.
"Who would have done that? And we just drove for three hours." Max said coming up next to him.
"Thats the weird thing. You need proper mechanic tools to get that thing out. This van can run without it for a while, but i'm sure this is the last we got out of it." Kyle said.
"What if someone did take it out. We were in that gas station for at least 5 minutes." Liz said with fear in her voice.
"Its possible. And there are a few people who might wanna do that." Kyle said. They all looked at each other, knowing exactly who.
"They could be following us." Maria said quietly. Michael walked over and put his arm over her shoulder.
Max looked over his shoulder and around the area they had pulled over. It was mostly tree's, but past that he could see a average sized red brick house about a mile away. Isabel looked over as well and then back at Max.
"We can't just go over there Max, its probably abandoned. And if not, that's trespassing." She said.
"We can't stay out here all night. It's freezing." Liz said shivering as she spoke.
"The van-" Isabel tried to say.
"I am not staying in this van overnight with no heat." Maria said, while Kyle nodded. Isabel felt everyone staring at her. She pursed her lips. Everytime it came to decision they were always against her. Even Kyle.
"Fine. But if we get caught I am blaming Max." She said grumpily. Kyle closed the hood and brushed the dirt of his hands.
"Should we just leave the van here?" Michael asked, still holding Maria.
"We should leave it a bit more in the forest, keep it hidden." Max said. Him and Michael lifted their hands the and van slowly moved into the dark forest. The let go and gasped for breath.
"Heavy." Michael got out before coughing loudly. Liz held Max's arm while Maria rubbed Michael's back. Isabel heard Kyle make a gagging sound and felt herself smiling.
"We should get a move on. Anybody got a flashlight?" Liz said dragging Max over to the others.
"No need." Isabel said raising her hand. A huge beam of light shone in front of her and she started to walk into the dark forest. The rest of them followed close behind staying together. The trees were so thick the sky was no longer visible, leaving the only light to be from Isabel's hand. Max and Liz stayed in the back in case anything came from behind. Liz made sure that Max was breathing properly before she let go of his arm and only held his hand. He squeezed it and smiled at her.
It took them at least half an hour to walk through the dark forest before they were standing on the yard of the house. It was a three story building with a huge backyard. Moss was growing down one side of the house, covering the blood red brick. The front door was wide open and most of the windows were as well.
"Lets go."
Isabel walked into the house moving her hand around to brighten the room. Kyle came in right behind her and looked around. Michael came in with Maria on his arm and Max and Liz pulled up the rear. Kyle put his hand on the wall and fumbled around until he hit a light switch. He flicked it on and the chandelier above them turned on, causing them all to wince at the bright light.
Isabel lowered her hand and took in the house. In front of the them was a huge round staircase leading to the dark second floor. A kitchen, dining room and foyer were the only rooms on the first floor.
"It looks like no one has been here in years." Maria said, putting her finger on a small dresser next to the door, revealing lots of dust.
"But why would the windows and door be wide open?" Liz asked slowly walking to the kitchen with Max.
"Wind?" Michael asked.
"Maybe." Isabel replied. They walked through the kitchen and dining room, but it was clear no one lived there anymore. Most of the furniture was outdated and dust was on every surface. They decided to check out the second floor and went back through the kitchen. Kyle walked over to the appliances and opened the fridge. It was an old fashioned one, and a puke green color. Most of the items were empty containers or stale food, but when he moved over a canteen he backed away. His face turned into disgust and he covered his mouth. Isabel walked over and screamed.
"What the hell? That's sick!" Kyle yelled as Isabel bent over and tried to keep from barfing. A decapitated head sat on the middle of fridge. It had long shaggy blonde hair that looked like a wig. The eyes were missing and most of the skin had fallen off. Max and Michael looked, gasped and turned around. Max closed the door quickly with his foot. Maria walked over to Michael who had his head in his hands and looked at him with concern.
"What? What was it?" Liz asked. Max looked over at her, his whole face a nasty green color. Maria looked at the others and then started to walk to the fridge but Michael pulled her back.
"Don't look." He muttered. Isabel stood up straight and then ran over the garbage can, which was really only a bucket, and threw up everything in her stomach. Kyle followed and rubbed her back, while keeping his own barf down.
"Max what is in there!" Liz said frantically. He looked up at her and then pulled it open so she and Maria could see. Liz backed away and crashed into Max, who held her waist. Maria shrieked and covered her eyes. Max closed it again.
"Told you." Michael said walking over to Maria and wrapping his arms around her. Kyle patted Isabel's back and helped her to her feet. She had finished throwing up but didn't feel any better.
"We need to leave. Now." Max said pulling the very scared Liz out to the front room. But before any of them could reach the door the power flickered off and a a huge booming laugh echoed through the whole house. White light flashed, as if a huge strobe light was on the ceiling, causing them all to be unable to see.
When the light stopped, Isabel found herself lieing on the floor. The power came back on and she slowly sat up. She looked around for the others, but she was alone.
"Max? Kyle?" She yelled. She was about to stand up but her head hit the floor before she could.