Transported.

Journey wasn’t sure how long she and her mother had been driving. She watched the sky turn from blue to black, the fields of crops flanking the road had been traded for thick trees that blocked any view within their depths. Journey shifted in the backseat that seemed to swallow her whole. The seat belt of the old car was digging into her neck. She was tired and hungry, the long drive was hard for anyone, especially a four year old who had abruptly been forced out of her home. “Mummy?” she moaned anxiously, “Are we there yet? I’m tired and hungry.”

After Journey shouted at her mother several times, the frightened woman in the front seat gasped and looked at the child’s silhouette in the backseat. The darkness hindered her from seeing her properly unless a streetlight gleamed through the windows as they passed. “Oh,” Sunshine said in a soft voice, feigning happiness. “I told you, love,” she paused as she gripped the steering wheel tighter. “We’re going to see Valley. ‘Member her?”

“Valley,” said Journey as she thought very hard to try and place the name with a face. It was difficult. They moved a lot and her mom had many friends. “I don’t know,” she answered, looking out the window. “I’m hungry.”

“I’ll stop soon,” Sunshine promised, continuing down the winding road.

It felt like forever before the rundown car came to a stop in front of a convenience store that was just as rundown. The windows were decorated with faded advertisements. The marquee that sat on top of the building flickered weakly, unable to hold its light for more than a few seconds at a time.

“Alright, pet,” whispered Sunshine as she turned in the front seat to look at the child. “I’m gonna run in very quickly and grab us a few snacks. Don’t unlock the doors for anyone, okay?”

“Don’t leave me,” wailed Journey, shaking her head feebly. “It’s too dark. Please let me come!”

Sunshine looked around at the deserted parking lot. There was only one other car—probably the attendant’s. “Alright,” she said hesitantly. “But we must hurry!”

A minute later, the two were inside the store. The man behind the counter watched them intently, as if they were going to try and steal from him. Journey’s tiny hand thumbed across the line of candies waiting for her to find something that appealed to her. She found a chocolate bar in yellow paper. It looked good. Around the corner and up the other aisle she did the same thing with the chips. Her mother was at the coolers, choosing out beverages for them before she came around to meet her daughter. “You ready?” she asked, before her eyes drifted towards the worker who was hiding behind the bulletproof shield, his back was to her and he was on the phone.

Sunshine was nervous, leading her daughter up to the counter. She laid their snacks on the surface, her hands were shaking. “Sir, we’re ready,” she said in hopefully a pleasant voice. He didn’t come or even acknowledge her. “Sir?” she said again, a bit more urgently.

And that’s when she saw the small television hidden in the corner of his station. Paid programming was running, but above the box, there were wanted flyers of criminals and ads for missing children. She saw the one for Journey and she panicked. She scooped up the supplies in her arms and told the child to follow her. “Let’s go,” she said sternly and told Journey to be quiet when she asked about paying.

Sunshine threw the food into the backseat through the open window. Journey barely got her door shut before her mom was reversing the car. “Wait, my seatbelt!” she tried to insist, but Sunshine kept going, flooring it out of the parking lot. “Mummy? What’s wrong? Why did we steal that food? Why are you rushing?”

Sunshine was silent for a few minutes, she kept looking out the rear view window like a mad woman. When it was clear that no one was following her, she exhaled and spoke more gently to Journey. “It’s alright, love. I’m sorry. He was a bad man. He had a gun. I had to get you away from him. Rest now, please? Close your eyes and try to sleep.”

As soon as Journey was asleep, Sunshine pulled into a trailer park and found a vehicle.. She hot wired it and then put all of their belongings in the new car, including the snacks. Once everything else was there, she grabbed the sleeping child and gently laid her down on the back seat, trying not to wake her.

The next morning, the sun warmed the car quickly. It was hot. The AC in the car was horrible, it just blew out warm air on them. Soon, Journey was awake. Her hair was sticking to her neck, she was sweating. “Mummy?” she said sleepily and then noticed they were in a new car. “Whose car is this?”

Sunshine smiled at the child through the rear view mirror. “It’s ours. Do you like it?”

Journey rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat up straight. “Are we there yet?” she said miserably.

“Almost, my love. Almost.”

Sunshine was right. Within half an hour, the large Buick turned onto a gravel road. It was bumpy and long. The car bobbed through the potholes and steep hills before it finally turned smoother, a grassy field greeted them. In the distance, there were a few RVs and lots of tents. People were scattered and children played beneath a tree. Sunshine stopped the vehicle and stepped out of it, holding the door close to her body as she searched the faces. A few moments later, a red-haired woman started towards them. She wore a floral dress much like Sunshine’s.

“Oh, Mummy!” said Journey happily, “I remember her! I remember Valley!”

“That’s good, baby,” Sunshine said distractedly and shut the door. She opened the back door and rolled up the window. “Stay here for just a moment.”

Sunshine ran through the field until she reached Valley, they embraced before pulling apart to talk. Every few moments, they looked towards the car and Journey who sat patiently, waiting for her mom.