Making the trip back to Ontario to meet Mackie and Michael was a lot more comfortable in the car than the bus. It was cold at night so we had to get hotel rooms when Sophia became to tired to drive. To be honest it was quite fun travelling with everyone; Lee had the smallest bladder, wanting to stop every few hours to pee. We began to tease them about it, but we didn’t really mind. It was nice to get out and stretch our legs. We had been driving for nearly eight hours on the second day when Reese started asking to stop somewhere for supper. “We’re just about in Ottawa” Sophia told us. “Lets stop for the night and we will finish the drive to Toronto tomorrow.” We all agreed.

Sophia was the only one who had been to Ottawa before. It was a beautiful city, it looked familiar and me and Reese wondered if this was where they brought us for our last OSM together. I told them how getting shot in the museum was what led to the discovery of the vitamins and wanting to be free if SHIFT. Sophia put her hand on my thigh where she knew my scar was. We drove for another ten minute when we pulled up to a small but nice looking hotel. We asked for two rooms, one for me and Sophia and a second for Reese and Lee to share. We didn’t stay in our rooms long because we were all pretty hungry. Christmas was only a week away and Ottawa was cold. We walked fifteen minutes to a restaurant recommended by the lady at the hotel front desk.

The food was really good and they had a piano playing in the back corner. We got a table right by a fireplace. It was very cozy. We ordered a bottle of wine to share, the alcohol made my face flush and warm. I could feel Sophia staring at me. It was making me nervous and giddy to have her look at me like that, so intense. She leaned in and whispered in my ear so the other two couldn’t hear “you look beautiful tonight Luna, I love when your eyes sparkle like this, I can’t wait to get you alone.” I felt my bottom lip fall for a second and my face burn hot red before I was able to swallow hard and smile; that made Sophia laugh.

Reese was the first one to bring up Christmas suggesting we all go shopping after supper because it was our first Christmas as a family and he wanted to celebrate. We all agreed and got excited. Lee and Sophia told us about their family traditions, me and Reese not remembering a family Christmas or if Sarah and Daniel even celebrated the holiday listened learning all about the best parts of Christmas. Lee told us about their older brother and how one Christmas when Lee was fifteen they had just told their family about not being a girl. That Christmas was particularly bad for them because all their gifts were pointedly feminine, except one. Lee’s younger brother bought them a silver chain. Lee still wore it around their neck three years later. Sophia told us how every year her two older brothers and her mom would fly home to Nova Scotia to have Christmas with Nanna. Nanna made the best lemon meringue pie. They would decorate a Christmas tree in the backyard and go tobogganing with all the kids in the family. She laughed thinking about a memory she didn’t share with us.

I couldn’t wait to spend my first Christmas with everyone, especially Sophia. I had only known Sophia for two months but she already meant so much to me. I wanted to get her a present that could show her how I felt. I had never bought a present before though so I had no idea what to get her. We decided that for shopping me and Lee would go together and Reese and Sophia would go together. I thought Lee might be better at knowing what to get someone you cared this much about for Christmas. Lee told me I should get her a necklace. That jewelry was a customary present for someone you’re dating. We went to a jewelry store that was downtown. It was a small store and the shop keeper was an old tiny lady. She greeted us when we walked in, it didn’t take me long to find the perfect necklace, I thought it would look beautiful on Sophia. It was a little silver heart with a second heart of clear jewels. It was simple and lovely. I paid for the necklace and thanked the lady. Happy that I had found something for Sophia I turned my attention on what to get for Reese and Lee.

Reese was easy, I swiped one of the pictures he had from Aunt Mackie, the one with Sarah, Daniel me and Reese at the beach. He had left them in Sophia’s car so all we had to do was walk back to the hotel and grab it. I took it into a digital store where they scanned the photograph, blew it up and reprinted it for me. I also picked out a delicate white and beige frame that had sea shells decorating it to hold the photo. I didn’t like looking at the photo much. I felt no connection to these people, to this past, but it meant a lot to Reese and I hoped he would like this photo and frame.

It had already been a couple of hours since we split up from the others. I was really cold and wanted to head back to the hotel. I wanted to get something special for Lee but it was hard when we were shopping together, I watched different things Lee paid attention to hoping to get some ideas. I noticed they stopped and looked at books whenever we passed some. When we were in a second hand store and I found my favorite Stephan King novel I knew it was perfect. It was a special book to me and to share that with Lee I hoped would be special to them too.

I patiently waited by the door for Lee to finish shopping then we walked back to the hotel together. Sophia was already in our room when I got back. I hung up my jacket and put the presents in the drawer making her promise she wouldn’t peak. She came over and kissed me on the lips and said “I promise”. She kissed me again longer this time. My head was spinning, she was intoxicating. She pulled me over and pushed me down onto the bed. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” She said in a deep voice. “I missed you.” I responded lamely. She got on the bed putting one leg on each side of me as she pulled off her shirt. My hands instinctually went up to her waist. She was so beautiful in her grey bra. I leaned up as she came down kissing me, slipping her tongue into my mouth. Kissing her tasted like honey and she smelled like lilac.

If I thought holding her hand was magic that night with he was a whole new world. I could never have imagined being with another person to feel so perfect. The next morning I woke up she was snoring softly beside me lying on her stomach. The muscles in her bare back moved slightly as she breathed. I traced my fingers on her arm, just wanted to be touching her every second I could. She woke up and rolled over, I smiled “Good morning my beautiful girl.” I gave her a kiss. She smiled and yawned, “Good morning babe”. She got up and went for a shower. I called Reese and Lee’s room telling them we were heading down for breakfast in about an hour. They agreed to meet us. I took a quick shower after Sophia; we got ready and headed to the hotels breakfast room.

Toronto was only another five hours from Ottawa, there we would meet up with Uncle Michael and Aunt Mackie and plan our next steps. Reese was really excited to meet Michael and see Mackie again. He told Lee how Mackie had helped us escape by working for SHIFT and getting us both out. Mackie continued working for SHIFT thinking it was safer if she could warn us if she heard anything from the inside.

There were a few accidents on the way to Toronto, the roads were very icy and Sophia had to drive slow. After three days of being cooped up in a car we were all getting a little antsy. We were about an hour out of Toronto when Lee and Reese began arguing. First it was about Lee having to pee and Reese wanting to wait till we were in Toronto to stop. Then they started arguing over the radio station. Sophia was getting really stressed listening to them and trying to drive through the slush on the road. I hit the radio power to turn it off and told Lee and Reese to shut up. Sophia smiled at me to say thank you and reached for my hand to hold.

Just getting into Toronto Lee began whining to pee again and Reese teased them a little meaner than usual. Sophia pulled off the highway at a gas station. Lee was going to the bathroom. Reese decided to go grab some food and I was going in to grab drinks for me and Sophia and pay for gas while she filled up. “Hey Lu, should we get some food for Lee?” Reese asked me, “Yeah probably and stop being a jerk to them” I said half-heartedly.” “Yeah I guess im just hangry” Reese joked and took a bite of a snack he just bought. I laughed and went and paid for gas. Lee ran into the store “Reese! Luna! Someone is taking Sophia! Help!” we ran out of the store and the store attendant followed. I saw Sophia get pushed into a black van. She looked at me with absolute terror in her eyes. The door shut and the van drove off. I ran after it but knew I’d never catch up, I screamed Sophia’s name. It was a SHIFT van, I was sure of it. They took Sophia. Why? To get to me and Reese? “Did you see the plate number? I’m calling the police,” the store attendant said behind me. “no” I choked, the police would do no good. This was my fault. I put Sophia in danger. This never would have happened if she wasn’t with me. My chest hurt what were they going to do to her? They had killed Sarah and Daniel to get to us as children. What would they do now?

Lee came up and held my hand. I was shaking so bad in the cold “come on, let’s go into the store and wait for the police.” They said. I nodded, none of us were able to drive so it was our only option. Reese turned off the car and grabbed the keys and we went back inside. I sat down on the floor my legs too weak to stand any longer. How could I do this to her, I made her a target. I knew it was dangerous, I knew what SHIFT was capable of and I let her come. I was selfish and didn’t want to say goodbye and now they had her. Oh god what were they going to do with her.

The police showed up asking us what Sophia looked like, what she was wearing, her parents information which I didn’t even know, except that her mom lived in Toronto. They asked if we saw the men who took her and got us to describe the vehicle. It was all a waste of time I knew. We need to call Mackie and make a plan. We had to save her, we had to act fast. Reese sat down beside me on the floor, “I talked to Uncle Michael, him and Aunt Mackie are on their way here.” That was good, I didn’t know if she could help but at least Mackie had an in with SHIFT still.

We explained to the store attendant that our aunt and uncle were coming to get us and the car as we couldn’t drive. The police had left with the stores video surveillance and were going to try and contact Sophia’s mother. They said they would call my cell phone with any information. I didn’t expect much from them. This was my fault and I would be the one to get her free. I had to make sure she would go home to her mom someday. When Mackie and Michael did get there we explained what happened and drove to a hotel. Mackie drove Sophia’s car and we all checked in. Our plans to go west were on hold until we found Sophia. SHIFT was apparently only three hours north of Toronto. Mackie was expected to be there tomorrow morning. She said she would go in and try and figure out where they took Sophia. She would try to get her out if she could do so safely or she would try to get me and Reese in so we could get her out. I didn’t care how safe it was for me, if they got me, as long as Reese and Sophia got away.

I didn’t sleep at all that night, Anytime I closed my eyes I pictured them torturing Sophia. I pictured her beautiful brown eyes filled with tears, begging me to come save her. I toss and turned all night grabbing at the sheets searching for her. Morning could not come fast enough.