After walking for hours, I find a place to stop and feed the baby. I have been walking along the highway. No cars have yet to pass me. I slip into the dense forest that borders the highway. I walk in a straight line away from a highway until I find a tree large enough to lean up against. I pull out a bottle and measure some formula into it. I pour the water in next. I finish the bottle by shaking it until it is completely mixed. I lift Allison out, then I take off the carrier. I place it on the ground next to me. I get her in my right arm. She reaches up to me, as if she is telling me to hurry up. I give her the bottle, and, as usual, she greedily eats. Once she has finished, I pull the changing pad out of the diaper bag. I place it on top of the fallen leaves from the previous fall. I pull out a diaper, then I place her on the pad.

After I have changed her, I pack everything up. I decide to leave some things behind, fitting everything I need into the diaper bag. I am getting too tired trying to carry all of this stuff. I leave all of my extra clothing behind. I also save some room by talking the diapers out of the package and stuffing them in small, open spots. I keep most of the water, the container of formula, one bottle, the energy bars, and a few changes of clothing for the baby. I also keep some of my personal care stuff. At the last minute, I decide to ditch the baby carrier too. It just weighs me down, and I would rather have Allison in my arms. I cover everything with leaves. I don't need to leave a trail for them to follow.

I turn back to the highway. I need to keep going, find a place to spend the night. I don't have any money, I realize.

Thats when I see it. There are giant tv monitors in the city, which must be Boston. They are all showing pictures of someone's family being dragged out of their house. I see it then, it is my family. But what are my pictures doing on the screens? The government couldn't have possibly wanted those to be shown. More of my pictures flash by on the screen. These pictures are telling a story of a girl on the run from the people who stole her family. The last picture that is shown is the last picture I took. A picture of the military surrounding me. The men look like ghosts in their black clothing, under the poorly lit street lights.

I keep on my way along the highway until, seemingly out of nowhere, people surround me and the baby. I realize how vulnerable I am in that moment. These people could kill me, I thought. I clench Allison tighter to my chest with my sweaty hands. I am inwardly in a panic, but I have learned to never show fear in these kinds of situations.

A tall, scruffy man steps forward out of the group. He has a stern look about him. He is young, probably mid 30s and very strong. I consider trying to back up, but quickly realize that would make me look weak and afraid, and I am neither of those. I stand my ground. Finally, after what seems like an eternity, I break the silence.

"What do you want? I don't have any money." I state in the strongest voice I can muster.

The leader speaks first, "We don't want your money. We want you to help us."

"I already told you. I have nothing." I gently stroke Alison's soft head.

"We would recognize that face anywhere. Your the Ember. We want you to help our cause. You would be great. You and the baby would be safe. We just need you to be in some videos."

"You know nothing about me. I have never wanted safety. I want my country back. I would never sit on the sidelines while i let other people fight my fights."

"You know its not just your fight, right? This is everyones fight, weather they want it or not, everyone is going to have to pick sides. Sooner or later, they will have no choice but to choose a side."

"Of corse I know that. Look, I want nothing to do with you. Get out of my way."

"If you continue on this absurd solo mission, you are eventually going to get caught."

"I'll just escape. Its not like I haven't done it before."

"You've escaped? How?"

"Its really not something I want to talk about with you. Would you just get out of my way! I need to find a place for us to stay for the night."

"If you want to, you can stay at our camp for the night. You don't have to stay, but Im sure you and the baby could use a place to rest."

Well, I am tired, and I know Allison is too. "How far is it to your camp?"

"Don't worry about it. If you have made it this far, your not weak. You can make it a few more miles."

"Alright." I agree weakly. As I am following them back to their camp, I try to decide who these men are. Ex-military? Ex-CIA? They are all extremely fit and strong looking, but they also look older. Most of them are late 30s to mid 40s, but I am so tired now that the adrenaline is wearing off. I hope I can make it to the camp. Allison seems to weigh ten pounds more for every step that i take. She seems to understand how exhausted I am, because during the whole walk to the camp she doesn't fuss. Eventually, we get to the camp. I think that some of the men might have been talking to me, but the only words that i caught were "bed, over there, no pillows."

The beds turned out to be about fifty military cots lined up in a tent. I pick an end one. I place the diaper bag where the pillow should be. I lay down on my back an lay Allison on top of my stomach on her belly. I cross my arms overtop of her so that she will not fall off. I will only take a short nap, then I will get on the road, I decide in my sleep-deprived haze.