Small talk with Emily was easy; she did most of the talking. She told me she was born in the Caribbean’s and moved to Canada when she was ten. She moved up to North Wells for school five years ago but her family remained in Barnesville. She was going home for her father’s fiftieth birthday party. I wanted to tell Emily the truth about me she seemed genuine and I hate lying to her. I opted for silence over lying but every time she called me Laura I felt sick. I don’t know who I am outside of Shift but I know my parents gave me Luna and that was all I had right now. After an hour of driving we stopped to eat at a drive thru. She insisted on buying me something to eat. Once on the road again I looked as she stared out the front window one hand on the wheel the other popping a fry in her mouth. “Hey, Emily?” I spoke up. “Yeah” “My name. It isn’t really Laura.” “I sensed that, you’re always slow to respond to it. It’s not uncommon for scared women to give us a fake name. Do you want to tell me your real name?” “Yeah but It would be dangerous for me if you told anyone.” “In my job I meet a lot of women who need protecting you’re not alone. I know it may seem that way and I wish it weren't true but abusive boyfriends happen more than you think. I’ve helped a lot of people and I have never told any of their secrets. You can trust me.” “It’s Luna, Luna Riley” “That’s a pretty name.” I turned my head back to the window and fell silent.

Thinking of Reese again I didn’t know how he was going to escape or when. He had to wait for a solo mission like I did. Would they be more observant now that I ran away, would he get his chance? “How about some music?” Emily cut into my thoughts. “What kind of music do you like?” she asked. I didn’t want to tell her I’d never heard music before, that would bring up to many questions so I searched her thoughts. “Rock, rock is good with me.” I didn't even know what rock was. “Great!” she said and pressed the cassette tape into the car. A brilliant loud sound filled the car. I could feel the beat in my chest. I had read about music and felt it in peoples minds but this was way stronger than I ever expected. Then a man’s voice came singing about love. I listened as his deep voice went along with the music. Emily was singing along in a high sweet voice and I felt happy.

Finally we pulled off the highway into Burnsville, the sun was low in the sky but it was warmer than yesterday. “I found you a shelter that is going to put you up in a hotel for a week. They have the reservation booked, I’ll drop you off. They want you to come by tomorrow afternoon. They can help you find a job, if you want or whatever you need” “Okay, where’s their office?” “It’s on Main street, I can come get you tomorrow if you’d like?” “That’s okay, you’ve done so much already, enjoy your weekend home” she had stopped now outside a rundown hotel. “Your name inside is going to be Laura Brown, they’ll give you a key no questions asked. Here’s my number if you need anything just call.” she handed me a business card with a cell number written on the back. “Thank you Emily.” I said getting out. “Good luck Luna.” she waved good bye.

The hotel was just as she said, they let me in and I went up to a single bedroom with a desk, a television and a small bathroom. After reading for a while I got bored and decided it would probably be safe for me to go for a walk. I walked around for twenty minutes and went back to the hotel. I went to bed early that night thinking about how to leave a message for Reese without Shift seeing and finding me.

The next morning I woke up at seven and after a small continental breakfast I decided to ask the front desk for directions to the public library. I wanted to do some research. Look up who my parents were before they died. Once at the library I sat at an open computer with a guest code to log on. I was nervous about what I might find. I pulled up the internet browser. I couldn't remember my life before foster care, not even my parents’ names so I typed my name into the search bar to see what came up. There was some article advertising hair products, but the third read “Where are Luna and Reese Riley?” It read, at seventeen Mackenzie Blaine lost her big sister and brother in law in a car accident. Too young to adopt her three year old niece and one year old nephew they were placed in foster care. At nineteen Mackenzie old enough to adopt searched for them but the Vancouver foster agency had no record of the children. She is now reaching out to the public hoping anyone has any information on the children. Now five and three years old. “I love Luna and Reese, they’re special. My sister would want them with family.” Blaine told reporters. Below was a picture of a young version of me and Reese. I sat in shock. Reese is my brother, now I know I have to find him. Why didn’t they tell us this? And I have an Aunt who wanted me and looked for me. Where is she now? I typed Mackenzie Blaine into a new search bar. It brought up the same article as before but also brought up a wedding announcement from July fifth 2010. Michael Woods Professor of Archaeology at Jamestown University Marries Mackenzie Blaine. It showed a picture of Mackie with an attractive man. Holy Fuck! Mackie is my Aunt. I remembered the memory she had shown me back at Shift. Me and Reese we were the kids in the family, she was showing me my family, my parents.

I had to find her out here she would help me. She would be able to answer so many questions. I didn’t know how I was going to find her but I figured I start with Michael he worked at a university. I hoped he'd be able to give me her number. I typed in Michael Woods this time. It brought up a few research articles and a few school articles. I searched for his phone number on the Jamestown University site and wrote it down. For now I had to go to the shelters office. They were paying my hotel bill after all. The meeting at their office was short, she told me of a few places hiring and that I could use their computers to work on a resume if I needed. I had no idea how to do that but for today I would focus on talking to Michael Woods. I walked back to the hotel. Going up to my room and dialed in the number. It rang but went to voicemail. Hello you’ve reached Michael I’m in class leave your name and number and I’ll call you back. Damn Okay I’ll try again after lunch.

Calling again after lunch I was even more nervous. What would I say if he answered, how much had Mackie even told him? Shit “Hello?” “Um hi, Is this Michael Woods?” “Yes Hello who is this?” “Hi my name is Luna Riley” “Luna! Macks was hoping you’d call” “What?” “She emailed me today saying you’d escaped. She hoped you'd go online and figure out who she is. It didn’t take you long. She said you were smart.” “She’s my Aunt.” “Yes and she’s been looking for you for a very long time, she never gave up” “Can I talk to her?” “No I’m sorry, she lives at that place. She’s been there for two months now. I haven’t even seen her. But she planned for this.” “How?” “You can’t tell me where you are Luna, the phones aren’t safe, they could find you or come for me, but tell me an address I can mail you some money, take that money and get out of that city. I will give you my email privately with that money. I change my email every month to be safe. You can reach me there. I will explain more in the letter. Call me back today with an address okay?” “Okay thanks” I said confused and hung up. That wasn’t what I was expecting to happen. I thought about what address I was going to give him. He told me not to use my current location. I called Emily “Hi Emily, It’s me Luna Riley” “Hey Luna, everything okay?” “Yeah, I need to ask a favour. Can my Uncle mail some stuff for me to your parents place and I’ll come get it?” “Uh yeah sure, I guess that’s okay.” and she told me the address. “Thanks Emily, someday I’ll find you and explain everything.” I hung up and called Michael back. I promised I would use the money to get out of the city.

The next day I got a call from Emily saying a package had already arrived for me. She said she was going to bring it over. As I waited I turned the television on for the first time. I didn’t know what was good so I left it on a cartoon. After twenty minutes I got a call telling me Emily was at the front desk. I ran down and brought her back up to my room. The box was bigger than I expected. “What is going on Luna? This is more than an abusive boyfriend isn’t it?” she asked when I opened the box and it was filled with cash, a cell phone and a letter.

Dear Luna

By now you know I am your aunt, your parents died when

you were 3 they said your mom, my sister had been

drinking and driving. Don't believe them Sarah didn't drink

and neither did your father. They were out to a work

Christmas party that night. I was babysitting you and Reese

yes I knew of your powers they’re from Daniel, your father

his family was special I tried to protect you and I’m so sorry

I couldn’t. You’re away now I've saved money for you. You

need to get out of this province they will be looking for you.

inside this box is an untraceable cell phone you can use it

to call Michael you can trust him. When I get Reese out I

will call and send him to you. I love you Luna you are

strong and brave and we will be together again some day

Michaels email is [email protected] also in the box

is some fake ID for you and Reese. Good luck

Aunt Mack xoxo

Ps. you gave me that nickname sweetheart

I felt some tears run down my cheek, I had help. Reese had help. She never gave up on us. “Luna?!” I forgot Emily was still in the room. “Okay, I can’t tell you much, there are very dangerous people after me. But there are also people helping me. I’m leaving the province tonight. You need to pretend you never met me.” “What the hell, you need to go to the police, you can’t keep running.” “They killed my parents I think” “I’m calling the cops Luna” “No! You admit you know me and you will bring them to your door. Please it’s safer if you don't know me, I’ll be okay.” Emily seemed to sense the reality of the situation in my voice. “Okay, I’ll drive you to the bus station where do you want to go?” “I don’t know where in Canada are people unlikely to go?” “Go to Nova Scotia, no one would think to look there.” I thanked and even gave her a hug good bye at the station. I went and bought a ticket to Halifax.