Fracturing My Will

Chapter Four - Abraham

     We must have passed through a dozen of small towns. There was not a single sign of which I could pinpoint where exactly Lincoln was driving to reach his grandparents. Small green signs that read "Anora" or "Hazel Point" were passed on our long drive, yet I knew of no such places. Clearly, Lincoln was quite intent on taking all of the backroads. An attempt to avoid authorities, I decided. 

     Trees lined the road in an endless blur. That must have been the fifth or sixth forest that we had driven through; I was sick of trees. If I never saw another tree again, it would be too soon. I was yearning for skyscrapers or parking garages or something with a sort of billboard or painted writing. Anything that could tell me where the fuck I was without me having to ask Lincoln Maddox.

     "Have you ever been there before?" My voice tipped over the still silence. A stupid question, surely, but I was itching for a slight piece of information. 

     "Twice, when I was younger. The second time when I was about to transfer into middle school."

     "Then they haven't seen you since you were little. And Tawnee?"

     Lincoln's lips pressed. "I don't know."

     I let his words float in the cab of the Explorer. How strange that Tawnee, such an accepting woman when it came to Lincoln Maddox, did not want to see her grandparents. The single revelation had me wondering if they were possibly worse than Lincoln. I shivered. 

     "Tell me about school." 

     Lincoln's inquiry had me thrown. Recently, he had been trying to pry. Perhaps I was just surprised that he even cared enough to ask.

     "Uhm. . ." I began, flustered. "Well I'm a nursing student. I work at the hospital-" I glanced at him, his brow raised as if he were saying, "Oh, is that right?"

     "-but you knew that much," I finished, embarrassed. Obviously.

     "And how are you liking it?"

     I sighed. "It's wonderful. I mean, some days it's shitty. But most days I can leave the hospital with sore feet and a warm heart, you know? It feels so good to help people."

     I had drifted focus for a moment, recalling the little girl I was with the day that Lincoln arrived. Rose, was her name. The doctor was supposed to be with her shortly after I had left. I vaguely fantasized about what happened exactly after I was taken; did the police escort people out? Did anyone in the immediate area get to meet with the doctor? Did Rose?

     "I can see your passion," Lincoln murmured, breaking my reverie. I didn't think Lincoln could see past my tits so I was surprised at his acknowledgment. 

     "Thank you." My voice was quiet as I didn't know what else to say, specifically because I didn't want to talk about the hospital anymore. 

     Silence followed us for a short while. And then there was a small break in the trees, revealing a road to which Lincoln began to slow the car down. "Here we are," he said. I thought I detected a hint of nervousness in his voice.

     The driveway was a dirt trail, lined on either sides by trees. I was thankful for our arrival, as storm clouds had been gathering for some time, small droplets of rain beginning to hit the windshield of the police cruiser. The driveway was fairly short. Much shorter than what I had witnessed at Lincoln's own household. The road bent to the right a small ways, and then a house appeared through a cluster of trees on the left hand side. I had to peer over Lincoln's shoulders to get a better look. The house was painted white, though rather weather-worn to a more off-white tone. The build was simple, albeit modern. Not what I had expected. A small ranch-style that sat in a circle of trees like a hidden oasis. A great bay window was set in the front of the house. A green hedge ran along the front, up to one side of the porch and continuous on the other side of the porch. In that very window I spotted an older woman looking through the glass on the other side, rather surprised to see our cruiser. More than likely not expecting the police. Less likely that she would be expecting her grandson and his kidnapped girlfriend.