Chapter 3 Part 2 - Revised

   Skye must have been lost in thought for some time; she didn’t even remember that she was driving or that Leigh was singing along to the radio. Her eyes touched the rear-view as she stole a glance into the backseat again. All she wanted to do was pull the car over, take the box in her hands and open it.

   She shook off as much of it as she could and resigned herself to waiting until she got home so she didn’t look like and obsessive freak guarding the box like Gollum and Precious. Just as she stifled a giggle at the thought Leigh’s cell phone ringtone shouted out Sunday Morning by Maroon 5. She picked the phone up out of her lap, turned to Skye and said, “Its Anna…” and she answered the call.

    Leigh listened and said, “Hang on, I’ll put you on speaker.” She tapped the speaker button and Skye could hear the music from Anna’s car come funneling through. “Can we stop for lunch?” she yelled unaware of the fact that she could speak normally and they would hear her just fine, “I’m starving!” Leigh put her hand to her stomach and nodded in agreement.

   “Sure.” Skye replied… “And don’t say you want a Beach Salad because we won’t find one out here!” Anna seemed to ponder this for a moment and said, “I wasn’t even thinking about salad until you said that.” Skye could imaging the depressive look on her face. After debating their choices and realizing that they didn't really have any, they saw a Farmer’s Market off the side of the road and decided to stop there once they saw the large BBQ grill with small plumes of smoke escaping from it.

   The smell of hot dogs pulled them in so they pulled over and parked on the side of the road. When they stepped out of the vehicles their stomachs were all screaming to be fed. There were fruits and vegetables lined up on tables, some had homemade Maple Syrup other had pies and cakes. Anna and Leigh decided they were going to the hot dogs and stood beside the BBQ waiting for them to be ready while Skye strolled along the grounds looking at the cakes. She felt someone tug the back of her shirt but when she turned around nothing was there.

   She continued around the cake table when she spotted a triple layer Devils Food cake... her favourite then again she felt a tug on the back of her shirt and again when she turned around, nothing was there. She dizziness started to move in and that was something she wouldn't normally worry over, figuring it was from a lack of food because all she had for breakfast was coffee but she felt like this wasn’t the way she normally felt with the hunger spins. There was a wooden crate beside the cake table and she moved carefully over to it as her vision wavered and sat down. Closing her eyes she focused on the sounds around her and her breathing.

When she looked up she saw Gertie’s face in front of her startling her.

   “Jesus!” Skye exclaimed, “Where did you come from?”  Gertie smiled a toothy grin. “I was close by.” she said “came round to see what the market had today and saw you sitting here.” Skye wanted to ask how she got there so fast. There was only one road and she didn’t see anyone else on it besides herself and Anna. “There are plenty of back roads” Gertie said. It’s like she read Skye’s mind.

   The dizziness started to pass just as Anna and Leigh approached her. Leigh looked worried as she got closer to her. Anna was more interested in Gertie who was standing over Skye in almost a nurturing and protective manner.  Anna moved forward and put herself in between Gertie and Skye almost hip checking the old woman out of the way. “Hey…what happened?” she asked and the sense of urgency in her voice was over shadowed by the suspicion she held against the Gertie.

     “I’m ok,” Skye said as she lifted her head from her hands they were clammy and she sweat dripped down her back. “I felt dizzy for a second; I just need something to eat.” Leigh stepped forward and put her hot doge in Skye's clammy hands. “Here,” she said “take my hot dog and I’ll grab another one, along with a bottle of water.” Like that she was gone...off on a mission.

     “Thanks.” Skye replied too late after Leigh left. She looked down at the hot dog  and wondered what else was going to happen today. Gertie walked to the other side of Skye's pale body and stood tall beside her like she belonged there. All of Anna’s red flags went up. “Skye…” she stepped in front of her, “I think it’s time we got you home.” Skye nodded in complete agreement but knew she couldn’t drive in the state she was in. Gertie just stood there and smiled as she watched Anna lead Skye away.

     “Soon…” Gertie whispered to herself, “No one will lead her, she will lead them.”