Chapter 8 – Changes

It was only two days before Reese was set to go to court for sentencing when I finally got a chance to search detective Chang’s house. He lived in an old brick house with tiny windows. Sophia was back in Halifax with Nana for more doctors’ appointments; she was still sleeping a lot and not eating. Sophia was worried about her all the time. She made me promise to bring Lee as back up and because I didn’t want to worry her more I agreed. Lee had continued staying in Reese’s bed, I liked having them around. They were quiet and understanding, I felt comfortable talking to Lee. We talked about my feelings for Sophia and how I’d never been in a relationship before. Lee told me about their troubles growing up not feeling like a girl and having a family that didn’t understand. I had never really thought about being a girl and didn’t really know what they were going through but Lee confiding in me was nice. They trusted me and I felt they would accept me for being different because they knew what it was like to be different. Having people who weren’t afraid of my abilities proved to me again that SHIFT had lied to me about the real world. I never questioned for a second if I had made the right decision running from SHIFT to be free.

It was dark out and snowing hard when Lee and I got to Detective Chang’s back door. I had watched him come home a couple nights ago. He had an alarm system just inside the kitchen. Luckily I remembered the code he used to disarm it. As soon as we picked the backdoor lock I ran to the alarm and hit 74438. The house was dark and we used flashlights to look around. “If he has her here, she is probably in the basement.” I told Lee. They went looking for the basement while I looked around the kitchen. I wanted to understand why Detective Chang blamed Reese. What did he have against Reese?

There wasn’t much in the kitchen. You could tell Chang hadn’t lived here long. There were a few letters beside a computer on the table. I turned on the computer while I flipped through the letters. I thought they must have to do with a case Chang was working on as they mentioned targets and undercover positions. I heard Lee should they had found the basement and heard the stairs creek as they descended. The computer came on with a ding and that is when I knew we had to get out of the house immediately. There in the centre of the log in screen was the silver medallion with a wolfs head pointing up as if ready to howl with the letters S.H.I.F.T that matched the medallion on all my old SHIFT uniforms.

I couldn’t breathe; Detective Chang was working with SHIFT. He must have known who we were all along. I had to get Reese and get out of this city, this province right away. I ran to find lee. They were down the stairs which opened up into a creepy basement that had old wooden shelves on the walls. “Lee?” “Yeah back here, I found her.” I heard from a door at the back of the basement. Lee was in there working at untying a little blond girl covered in dirt. I recognized her from the little girl in Chang’s mind. She had tears running down her cheeks. I went over to help. “It’s okay sweetie we’re going to take you back to your mommy and daddy.” She wiped her eyes. “Lee, were in a lot of trouble, we have to hurry.” I said as calmly as I could trying not to scare Abigail. “What’s going on?” Lee asked. I couldn’t think of a lie to tell Lee, and I didn’t want to lie to Lee. I was panicking and started to ramble everything out. “Me and Reese belonged to an organization since we were five. A couple of months ago we learned they had killed our parents and were lying to us. We escaped and were hiding here. I saw on Detective Chang’s computer that he works for that organization. I need to get Reese, I mean John, his real name is Reese and my real name is Luna and we need to run.”

I picked up Abigail and started for the stairs with Lee right behind me. I wasn’t sure what to do. If we brought Abigail to the police station Chang would know we were in his house. It

would put our escape at a higher risk but how else would we get Reese out of jail? We had to get Abigail home and back to her parents anyway. I took off my winter jacket to wrap around her as we exited the back door. I thought about calling the police to come get us but I didn’t want to risk Chang showing up. It would be safer to do this as public as possible. I called Sophia, she was at her Nana’s just getting back from Halifax. I asked her if she could come pick us up explaining how we found Abigail and what I saw on Chang’s computer. She showed up ten minutes later in her truck. “I need to get Reese and take the first bus out of here.” I said as soon as we got in the truck. She hugged me tight. “I was so worried” she said “Okay first things first lets go get Reese released.” I nodded.

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At the police station people were shocked to see Abigail. Everything was taking a long time. We had to wait for her parents and child counsellors to question her about what happened. Me and Lee lied saying we were passing by when we heard her screaming. Chang was nowhere to be seen but they agreed that after Abigail confirmed that Reese had not been the one to take her that they had no reason to hold him any longer.

Sophia drove us all back to the apartment. Me and Reese started packing what we could take with us. I went into my room and Sophia followed. “Luna, slow down.” “I can’t. I’m Sorry, we have to take the next bus, he could kill us.” I was frantic, she grabbed my hand and for the first time I realized she was crying. “I don’t want to lose you” she whispered. I stopped what I was doing. “I know I am still figuring out who I am away from SHIFT but it means everything to me to have people who trust and accept me. I can’t thank you enough for being my friend Sophia.” Friend. That didn’t sound right. Not even in my mouth. I didn’t want Sophia to be my friend, well not just a friend. With my heart racing and my palms sweaty I closed the gap between us pressing my lips to hers. I was kissing her and she was kissing me back. It was more intense than when I had imagined kissing her. We both knew this was goodbye and I could feel it in the desperation of the kiss. I didn’t want to be saying goodbye to Sophia. Not yet, not today. “Come with me?” I heard myself ask. She was looking deep into my eyes as I stared back into her light brown eyes. They reminded me of sand on a beach, hot under the summer sun. She whispered in my ear “I will follow you anywhere” then she kissed me again and started helping me pack my things. “It’s going to be dangerous” I warned her. “I know” she squeezed my hand. “I want to be there for you.” “I’m ready” Reese said coming into my room. “Great, Sophia is coming with is, we need to go get her stuff and then we will take the next bus to Halifax and whatever bus from there.” “We should call Uncle Michael” Reese reminded me. “You’re right” I tossed him my phone and carried my backpack into the living room. Lee was sitting on the couch. They appeared deep in thought. “Will they come after you?” they asked. “Yes, I think Chang followed me or Reese here, maybe the plan was to get us both arrested so he could take us back to SHIFT without anyone knowing.” “Why do they care so much, you’re just teenagers?” Lee could tell there was something they were missing. “We’re not just teenagers, we can do stuff, we’re special. I control electricity and Reese can move matter.” Lee looked at me skeptical wondering if I was messing with them. Again I knew I would have to prove it, so I did. The surprise on their face was pretty amusing. Lee wasn’t afraid at all. “Woah, that’s so cool.” I laughed; Lee was so pure and sweet. “Where are you guys going to go?” “I don’t know.” I said honestly. “I don’t really have any family, none that want me anyway; can I come with you guys?” Lee was so nervous asking to come that I didn’t want to say no and tell them we didn’t want them either. I cared about Lee, I felt like a big sister to them. “It could be really dangerous Lee…” “oh okay.” “I already think of you as family Lee, I’d be happy to have you come, but I’m not sure if it will be safe, if I can

protect you.” Reese had finished on the phone and joined our conversation. “Oh Luna, we can protect Lee, the more people the harder for SHIFT to take us unnoticed anyway.” I nodded “alright its settled were not splitting up this family.” We all smiled. Michael had to Reese to head west to Toronto where he and Mackie would join us. From there we would figure out our next move. Find a safe place to go.

I held Sophia’s hand as she drove us to her Nana’s and Poppy’s. She was nervous. She had planned to tell them her friend had an emergency and needed to go back to Ontario and that she was going to go with her. Sophia’s house wasn’t far from the bus station, she had already dropped Lee and Reese off and after she packed some stuff we’d walk over and meet them. I was waiting outside so she could say goodbye to her Nanna and Poppy, who knew when she would be back to see them again. She came out smiling and held up a pair of car keys. “Nanna gave me her car, said with how she’s been feeling lately she wouldn’t be using it anyway.” “that’s amazing of her.” We hopped into her Nanna’s silver honda and Sophia leaned over and kissed me. This kiss was different. No desperate edge, it was sweet and safe. “Ready babe?” she said starting the engine. “Let the road trip begin” I joked. I knew what was coming up for us was going to be dangerous, but I had never felt safer than this moment here in this warm car as the snow fell silently around us.