“Time is the longest distance between places.”
            - William Tennessee

Emma

The television stopped airing interesting programs ever since the Souls took over. Every show that’s on now is pretty much the same as the radio broadcast. Lovey dovey everything’s perfect. Burns may be able to stand it, but I can’t watch that kind of thing. Who wants to know how many people Leaves in the Sun helped cross over to the other side of the street? Or how many times Water Upside Down said hello to random strangers today? And the movies they make all have the same plot. Two Souls find each other again on a planet after several life spans of being separated. That’s not the kind of thing I want to watch.
To kill time, I take a sheet of paper and a pen I found in the drawers of the nightstand.
I think back on what Burns has told me about Fire World. I wonder what these Fire Tasters look like. I remember him telling me a thing or two.
Flames and flowers that could walk. And he could breath fire. I imagine lava and volcanoes. Lots of smoke and the color red.
My hand starts sketching automatically.
Burns is scurrying around the room, occasionally glancing at the television in the corner. A documentary is on, about the settling of Earth. I try to ignore it, but my eyes keep darting towards the images. A warm voice is providing the comments. All rainbows and ponies and how things are so much better now.
It’s maddening. I feel like the whole world is constantly rubbing it in my face.
I blink when suddenly the monitor turns black. Burns gives me a sheepish smile. He doesn’t comment, but I know he turned off the TV for me.
I give a curt nod and focus on my drawing, but look up when the bed caves in.
Burns is sitting next to me, examining my drawing over my shoulder.
“Fire tasters?” he asks.
“Are they any good?” I ask in return.
Burns reaches for the pen. “May I?”
I nod and he makes a few changes, making the creatures walk on four legs rather than on two and with flat beaks. “I’m not very good,” he apologizes, “and the memories are fading, but it was something like this.”
I stare at Burns’ face. It’s hard to imagine him looking like this.
“What is it?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Nothing. I was just thinking about what it must have been like. Why you went to that particular planet.”
Burns sighs and sits back against the headboard. “The planet was dying.” There’s a sad look in his eyes. “The lava fields were filed with ashes and the Fire Tasters had nowhere to go. So we used the Vultures’ technology and the knowledge of the Spiders to rebuild the planet.” He smiles. “You should have seen it Emma. It is such a beautiful place.” There’s a dreamy look in his eyes.
“Why did you leave?” I ask curiously. He seems to have a soft spot for that planet. If he loved it so much, why didn’t he stay there?
Burns shrugs. “It was time to move on. I wanted to explore more of the universe. I had seen ice and fire and I wanted something in between. I like it here. This is a good place.”
“Yeah,” I whisper, “it is.”
“Hey,” Burns says, “when we arrive at Scales’ house, I’ll get you a new sketchbook, okay? I should have given you one sooner, but I’ll make it up to you.”
It is a nice gesture that is strangely touching. But I can’t let it get to me. I can’t change my mind. Not now. I have to leave tomorrow before we reach Tucson.
“I’m tired,” I say.
Burns nods at me. “Alright I’ll let you sleep then. You take the bed. I can sleep on the couch.” He takes the spare blanket from the closet and moves over to the couch. It doesn’t look very comfortable, but there’s no way I’ll offer to share with him. Being confined in a car is close enough a proximity or me. Not that he would try anything.
I listen as he settles himself for the night and wait until I hear his regular breath. Should I escape now or wait until tomorrow when I can steer him somewhere off road? But I realize I have no idea how heavy a sleeper he is. 
I sigh. It seems like I don’t have any other option than to wait. If he wakes up before I reach the door, he’ll never trust me again. I bury my head under the pillow and I know this will be another night without sleep.

***

Burns doesn’t comment when he sees the circles under my eyes the next morning. He probably thinks I’m  just nervous about meeting Scales. Little does he know that I have no intention of going to Tucson.
He takes my bag and puts it in the trunk. “Ready?”
I nod and climb in the passenger’s seat. My stomach is fluttering like a million butterflies are trying to get out at the same time. What if he suspects something?
The carried is silent and I’m glad he doesn’t turn on that stupid radio again. If I hear that cheery voice one more time I’ll rip the device out of the dashboard.
It takes a minute to register that Burns is unusually quiet. Sure, we’ve had silences before, but he seems distracted by something. I won’t ask about it. The more distracted he is, the better chance I have of making my escape. I just have to wait for the right moment.
The climate is getting warmer and sunnier the farther we drive and I crack open the window to let in a breeze.
As we pass a river, I spot a group if teenagers who are having a barbeque or something of the like. It’s warm enough to swim in the stream and their laughter reaches us even here on the highway.
It reminds me of the pool parties we used to have during summer.
A smile finds its way to my lips. I didn’t even like pool parties that much. Ashley was the one that always dragged me with her, though I have to admit, once I was there I was always enjoying myself.

“Remind me again why I’m here?” I sigh as Ashley drags me with her through the house.
Jeremy Caldwell, who is in our year, invited almost the entire school to his pool party. Ashley practically forced me to go, reminding me of the crush I had when we were still in Junior High, even though I’ve told her a thousand times over how long ago that was and that I’m completely over it now. Plus, I’m feeling completely self-conscious in a bikini.
Ashley equally sighs and smirks teasingly. “No matter how over your crush you are, you still want to admire his abs, don’t you?”
“Shut up!” I hiss, already feeling the heat rush to my cheeks.
Ashley laughs softly, but before I can glare at her my eyes find someone else. “Oh God, spare me. Blake is here.” I attempt to hide behind Ashley, but she gracefully moves out of the way.
“Of course he is here,” she smirks, “he and Jeremy are friends.”
“He’s friends with everyone,” I growl while I redirect the glare meant for Ashley towards Blake.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing. Why do you let him get to you that easily?”
“You don’t get it. He enjoys getting under my skin. He makes it his mission in life to annoy me. It’s bad enough that I see him every day at school and that he’s at every stupid party my parents force me to go to. Do I have to run into him here as well?”
Ashley rolls here eyes. “No offense Em, but you’re real easy to tease. And he’s a nice guy. You’re overreacting.”
I grit my teeth, because I know she’s right. And it’s not like I dislike him. That makes it only that much more annoying.
I’m not sure if he felt my gaze, but his eyes find mine and he smirks like he knows something that I don’t.  I turn red again and stomp away, this time me being the one to drag Ashley. “Jerk,” I mutter.
Ashley’s knowing smile only makes it worse.
“Hey,” Jeremy greets us when he spots us, “glad you could make it.”
“Thanks for the invitation,” Ashley says for the both of us. My mind is still swearing at Blake. I’m sure anything I’ll say right now will come out as a growl.
“Sure, no problem,” Jeremy smiles, “have fun.” And he’s gone, moving on to the next guests that are arriving.
“Just try to have fun,” Ashley tells me.
I sigh, which she takes as consent.
“I’m gonna get us some drinks, okay?” she says and walks over to the refreshment table.
She should not have left me alone, because in a matter of seconds, Blake is at my side. “Care to tell me what that glare was for?”
“What do you want Blake?” I sigh.
“I’m just talking to you, squirky. No need to get all hostile.”
I glare when he calls me squirky again and try to walk away, but he grabs my wrist. “Come on Emma. Don’t be like that.” The teasing tone has vanished from his voice and he sighs. 
I turn and look at him. “Why do you always do that?” I demand, “why do you always go out of your way to get under my skin?”
He shrugs. “Cause you wouldn’t spare me a second thought if I didn’t.”
I stare. Then I blink. Then I get annoyed. No matter how serious his voice, it’s probably another way to let me make a fool of myself.
I pull free from his grip and shake my head before walking the other direction.
Bad mistake.
It doesn’t take long before I find myself cornered between the pool and Cynthia Meers and her friend Rachel. For reasons unknown to me, Cynthia hates my guts. I’m pretty sure I never took her favorite toy in kindergarten, so I don’t know why she thinks I’m the enemy. It’s not like she as anything to be jealous about either. She’s pretty and popular and her parents bought her a red convertible for her birthday. So I’m pretty sure that’s not it either.
Whatever the reason, I’m not really in the mood for her antics. “Could you move please?” I ask, forcing out the ’please’.
She tilts her head and puts a finger against her chin, something that annoys me more than Blake ever could, before turning back to me. “I could,” she said, “but I won’t.”
I roll my eyes. Seriously?
“Okaaay,” I say slowly and try to walk around her, but she blocks my path. “Okay,” I say annoyed, “what exactly is your problem?”
“You are,” she says.
I decide to play along for now or I’ll never get rid of her. “And why is that?”
Cynthia’s mouth curves in a sneer. “You think you’re too good for the rest of us, with your rich mommy and daddy. Well, you may have money, that doesn’t mean you’re better. You don’t see Blake going around like he’s all that. And what makes you think he would ever want someone like you?”
Wait, this is about Blake? “You’re welcome to him,” I tell her and try to walk around her again.
This time she does more than simply block my path. She trips me and I fall straight into the pool.
Ignoring the laughter from Cynthia and her friend, I climb out of the water and walk away.
Blake falls in step with me and hands me a towel. “You okay?” he asks.
“Leave me alone!”I snap at him and leave him standing there.
I pick up my own towel and wrap it around me, ignoring the commotion behind me until I hear a shriek  followed by a splash.
When I turn, I see a furious Cynthia being helped out of the pool by Blake, who has a hard time containing his laughter.
Ashley is walking up to me with an innocent smile.
“What did you do?” I ask.
She shrugs at me. “She seemed to be in heat, so I thought I’d cool her off.”
I glance back at Cynthia who is slapping away Blake’s hand after which she stomps off. Rachel hurries after her.
I grin at Ashley. “Thanks.”
She answers my grin  with one of her own. “See? I told you pool parties were fun.”

***

“Do you want to join them?”
I turn my head and find Burns smiling at me. “Huh?” I ask.
He points at the teenagers by the river. I hadn’t even noticed he pulled over. One arm is leaning on the steering wheel and his body is half turned towards me.
“N-no,” I manage to get out.
“You sure? It looks like they’re having fun. And you we smiling when you were watching them.”
I shake my head. “I was thinking about something else. And I don’t think I’m ready for that kind of thing. Meeting your friend is adventurous enough for now. Okay?”
“Sure,” he says and restarts the car.
I take one last glance at the river and then move my eyes towards the woody area behind it. I bite my lip as I come to a decision. Who knows when I’ll get another chance like this? As soon as we reach a more populated area, all my chances will be gone. I can’t wait for another motel. At this rate we’ll arrive in Tucson before nightfall.
The only problem is that I won’t be able to bring anything with me. I’ll have to raid at the first opportunity I get. Let’s hope that living with Burns didn’t dull my skills. The next Soul I’ll run into won’t hesitate to turn me in.
“Hey Burns,” I say, “could you pull over for a second? I really need to pee.” It doesn’t look like there’s any restaurant in the near vicinity so I should be fine. “It’ll only take a minute. Please? I know that probably counts as pollution to your kind, but I really need to go now.”
“He laughs. “it’s not pollution, so you’re safe.”
‘I will be,’  I think to myself.
I nod gratefully and hurry into the trees. 
I have no idea where I’m supposed to go, but I know I have to leave now, while I’m still me. I don’t know why he doesn’t realize theat.

As soon as I’m out of his sight, I pick up my pace. I need to be fast before he gets suspicious.
I slop through an undeep part of the river. I might be able to get to the other side if I’m careful.
I glance to the right where I know the other Souls to be, but they are too far away to hear me.
I was wrong.
I’m only half way through the river when I hear a voice behind me.
“What are you doing there? Come back, it’s dangerous.”
When I glance over my shoulder, I realize the voice does not belong to one of the teenager down the stream. This is an older Souls. Male. And he’s carrying a weapon.
‘Seeker.’
The first thought that crosses my mind is that Burns betrayed me, but there is no way he could have known. Was it merely chance then?
I turn back to the other side, moving faster this time. The Seeker seems to realize now that something’s not right. He shouts again, this time with more urgency.
“Stop!”
I don’t know if he pulled a gun on me, but I’m not going to turn and find out. My heart is pounding in my chest as I splash through the river.
Is this what the others felt when they were taken? Did they know what would happen to them if the Seekers would catch them?
I remember the raid at school. Why was I the only one to get out? Or did others find a way to escape? I’ve never seen anyone again. I’ve been on the run ever since.
I can hear the Seeker behind me now, splashing through the river as well. “Wait!”
I trip at the same moment the gun goes off and I can hear the bullet whiz over my shoulder, grazing against a tree.
Unfortunately that doesn’t do me any good. I land head first in the river and inhale a big gulf of water.
I work myself to my knees and cough it up.
“Just wait,” the Seeker says, close now, “I just want to help you.”
Sure, that’s why you almost put a bullet through my body.
I trip again on the slippery rocks. This time I scrape my knee. Why? Why didn’t I just stay with Burns? “I don’t want to disappear.”
Something hard hits my head.

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Sorry for the wait. Emma's not being very smart..... >.>
What do you think, the song on the side creepy enough for this chapter? :P