Moonlit Escape

Chapter 1 - The Arrival

"CASSIE!" I startled at the sound of my mother's voice. Blinking, I tore my gaze away from the blue mountains outside my window and looked at my mom.

"Cassie, we have to send you to this camp, it's only temporary. Seriously we all still love you...indefinitely right?" My mom said glancing at my dad for his input. My dad stayed concentrated navigating our Blue Sedan through the rocky paths to my camp.

"You put yourself in this situation Cass bear, the stunt you pulled....we're not mad, but please, please behave at the camp okay. Forgive us?" My mom asked her eyes sorrowfully staring at me from the passenger seat. Sigh, again with her perfect family, perfect mayor, perfect image bullsh*t. I was seriously tired of it. Beside me my brother mouthed Cassbear sending himself into a fit of giggles. My childhood nickname was pretty stupid although it always made me nostalgic remembering the times when we were carefree before my mom became runner-up for mayor. Now if I were to pretend to be a bear it would scar and ruin my mom's reputation. I watched the shadows as they crept onto the road wondering what created such a big shadow though not bothering to look up. The car slowed to a stop as the shadows stopped moving as well.

"Uh, did our car break down again?" My brother Toby asked voicing my concerns before he continued on saying "Told ya we shoulda gotten a Porsche."

"Tobe truck, you are nine! What do you know about fancy cars. I have said many times that having a Porsche will make us look egotistical and it is certainly not an economical car." My mom exclaimed in disbelief.

"Now, Brent, honey what happened?" my mom asked with her I am Melissa Clark runner-up for mayor voice.

"We're at the camp." My dad announced, his voice sounding strained. "Melissa it really isn't too late to turn back, maybe this isn't the best place for Cass to be after what happened." My dad said glumly, tearing his gaze away from the windshield to fix my mom with a stare.

"Nonsense dear, we don't have a choice and I'm sure she'll love it - Oh my...." My mom said her hand flying up to her open mouth as she stares at whatever was outside our car. Now I was curious, as nimble as a leopard, I leaped out of my seat crawling onto the center console.

"Holy sh-" I started.

"Language, cass" My dad reminded gently. I didn't even spare him a glance, my eyes fixated on the dark, looming castle. More like a haunted lair I thought. I felt Toby behind me mere seconds before I was pushed towards my mom who was still sitting in the passenger seat. Flailing, I grabbed onto the handle to the glove box, releasing the contents inside. $2,500 in cash fell out, paperclipped onto a registration form of sorts.

"Cassie, what have I said about snooping? Both of you. In your seats. NOW!" My mom said as she snatched the paper out of my outstretched hand. I quickly rushed to sit properly in my seat muttering but I wasn't snooping when Toby spoke up. "Hey, did everyone see that place, it's so cool, electrical wires, on the 20 feet gate, oh my gosh my friends would loooooooveeeee this!!!"

"TOBY TRENT CLARK, YOU ARE NOT TELLING ANYONE ANYTHING!" my mom yelled as her perfect mayor perfect life facade dropped and shattered as she continued. "CASSANDRA CALISSA CLARK, OUT, NOW!" that being said my mom took a deep breath before flinging the door open, gripping the cash and form like a lifeline as she stepped out of the car slamming the door behind her.

"Cass - Cassbear, I love you no matter what alright, you're strong, amazing, you can get through this. I'll come get you as soon as I can promise." My dad said tears sliding down his cheeks.

"Thanks dad, I love you too." I said feeling tears of my own pooling beneath my eyes.

"Use the bracelet I gave you as a reminder of me alright." He said turning around in the drivers seat to give me a peck on the cheek.

"I know and I will dad." I said as I felt arms gripping onto me with the hold of an octopus. I glanced down to see Toby's little arms wrapped around me with his head buried into my midsection. Ruffling his hair I mustered up as much authority I could and said "Toby, listen to mom and dad, take care of yourself, dream big, remember I love you Tobe Truck. " His tears seeped into my shirt as he spoke " I ruff you, don go." My hug dealer graphic tee baseball shirt muffling his words. I gently pried his head away with one hand while I used the other to open the car door.

"Sorry, Tobe's, I have to go but you'll be fine. I'll be back and besides, it's mom's orders I can't disobey you know that." I said attempting a smirk just for him. I headed to where my mom stood waiting for my in front of the hood of the car.

"Sorry for yelling earlier, anything else you want to say to your dad and Toby?" Mom asked her voice slightly raspy from shouting earlier.

"No, I'm good." I responded my gaze permanently glued to the gravel beneath our feet.

"Okay just checking. Look so we're going to go inside and register you then we'll be on our way home." My mom said the slight tremor in her voice tearing at my heart.

"Gotcha." I said. I let a minute of tense silence pass between us before continuing as I looked up at her gauging her reaction. "I'll miss all of you mom. I want to be able to be there with you guy's. The riots that started... - I paused thinking of all the protesters we left behind in front of our house this morning and how they wanted a mayor who wasn't a mom, wanting her to back down. They wanted someone with a cure to the deadly sickness spreading quickly in Ontario - Mom if something happens...you will come and get me right?"

After a long silence my mom responded her gaze fixed on the fence to our right. "Cass if anything does happen I'm not bringing you back there. The rumours of what you did are terrible and bringing you back would cause more trouble. Especially for you.This is why we're bring you hear you know that."

"Alright enough chit chat. I suppose she's Cass and y'all are here to register for the program, ain't that right?" The burly security guard says striding towards us leaving his post at the gate with his gaze fixed on mom.

"Yes, we are. I'm Melissa Clark and this is my daughter Cassandra Clark." My mom said vaguely waving her hand in my general direction.

"Alright well let's get a move on shall we. I am to escort y'all to the registration office. I'm Jake if ya wanted to know. Follow close." He said his back already to us as he strode back towards the gate. I looked back at my dad and brother giving them a small wave before taking a deep breath and following my mom and Jake towards the looming castle-like structure.