Soul Mate by Leah Huffine, Emily Neu (mind reading books .txt) 📕

“His name was Luka and he gave me some weird numbers.”

“Numbers? Really? What for?"

“Exactly.” I said throwing my bag in my locker. “I have no idea what they mean.”

“Are they a phone number?”

“No, it’s only two really long numbers.”

“Well, maybe it’s some kind of code.”

“With only two numbers?” I asked slamming my locker shut.

“I don’t know, maybe. Anyway, I have to get to class. Talk to you later?”

“Sure.” I said as she walked away.

During my free period, I went to the library to try to find a book that might have to do with the numbers. The problem was I had no idea what I was looking for. It could be a distance, some kind of code, anything.

After school and softball, I walked over to the Research Center to ask Google. It was practically empty. I climbed the glass stairs to the I-Port room, turned the corner and there Google was. It was a Port screen with arms and wheels, so it could be moved.

“Google,” I began. “What are these numbers: 55.7517 and 37.6178?”

Google’s screen blinked before it responded. “Coordinates. 55.7517 degrees North and 37.6178 degrees East.”

Coordinates?! The numbers weren’t meaningless! I could barely contain my excitement. “Google, where do they lead?”

“Moscow, Russia.” It stated in its robotic voice.

“Moscow.” I breathed. That was thousands of miles away. How would I even get there? “Thank you.” I said before leaving.

“Mom!” I yelled running up the porch to my faded home. “Mom!” I cried again, dashing into the house.

“What is it Thalia? What’s wrong?” She asked running to meet me.

“Luka lives in Russia! The numbers were coordinates!”

“Oh my! All the way in Russia?” She scratched her neck nervously. “Thalia, I don’t think we have the money to send you there.” Her eyes wandered the room.

“What?!” My face fell. My family isn’t the wealthiest, ever since my dad died. My mom worked hard to keep what we have, but I figured because it was my soul mate, there was something she could do. “Can’t you do something?”

“I’m sorry Thalia, I-”

“No, it’s fine Mom.” I looked away, hot tears leaking out the corner of my eyes. “I understand.” I turned and ran upstairs as fast as I could.

I sat quietly in my room, flipping through the channels on my television. There was absolutely nothing on, so I decided to write to my dad.

Dad,

I meet my soul mate, but he lives in Russia. We don’t have enough money for a way there. I wish you were here. You would come up with a way to send me.

The TV sounded in the background, “Russia has now locked on the U.S with a new nuclear weapon. There is no need to panic. The U.S is fully prepared to counter the attack. Will the Russians even fire? No one knows. In the meantime, it would be a good idea to build a bomb shelter, stack up on food rations, and stay inside. Prepare for the worst.”

What? Russia was going to attack the U.S? Just then my mom walked into the room and sat on the edge of the bed. I grabbed the remote and turned off the TV.

“Thalia, sweet heart, I know this is really important to you-”

“Important? Mom this is my soul mate we’re talking about. Luka is meant for me and I have to way to reach or contact him!” I threw myself back onto my bed.

“I know, which is why I have come up with a way for you meet him.”

“What?!” I sat up so fast I almost knocked her off the bed. “Why didn’t you say something!”

She laughed. “I tried, but you were too busy yelling at me.”

“Sorry.” I mumbled.

“I came up with enough money to send you to London on a supply boat. I know it’s not much, but it’s a start. Once you get to London, you would have to figure out a way to Moscow. This ship leaves tomorrow at eight. If you want to go we’d have to leave now to get to New York by three in the morning.”

“Of course I want to go!”

“Now, you know I’m not going to be able to go with you. You will be doing this all on your own.”

“Yes Mom.”

“Ok,” She paused and took a deep breath. “You’d better get packing.”

I dragged my suit case down the creaky old stairs. My mother and sister were waiting for me at the bottom.

“You ready?” My mom asked.

I took a deep breath. “Yeah I think so.”

She handed me an old red back pack. “Take this. It has money and food in it. Do you have your Port-phone?”

“Yeah, I’ve got it.” I said.

All of the sudden Zoey flung her arms around me and began to cry. “Don’t go!” She wailed.

“I have to.” I said rubbing her head. “I have to find Luka. You’re going to be ok. I’ll be back before you know it!”

“Why can’t he just come here?”

“He can’t sweetie. I know, I wish there was another way, but there isn’t.” I hugged her tight and bent down to her level. “Zoey, I need you to look after Mom. Don’t worry, I’m not like Dad, I’m coming home.” I kissed her on the forehead and gently pushed her away from me.

“I’m ready.” I said looking up at Mom. She nodded and opened the front door for me. The sun was just sinking below the horizon casting an orange glow over the town. My mom took my bags and threw them into the back of the car.

“Bye Zoey!” I yelled as we began to back out of the drive way. “I promise to call!” She smiled as best as she could and waved us goodbye.

Once we arrived at the New York ports, we slept in the car until the honk of a nearby ship woke us both.

“Good morning dear.” She said as I wiped my eyes.

“What time is it?” I yawned.

“Why, it’s eight o’clock.”

“Sweet.” I said, then realization slapped in the face.

“Eight o’clock!” We said in union. The ship roared again as we stumbled out of the car to get my bags.

“Hurry!” I said in panic. She threw me my backpack and grabbed my suit case. “Come on Mom!” We rocketed down the harbor to the ship. The ropes were being untied. “Wait!” I screamed. “Wait!” I jumped on the ramp, just as the ship began to pull away.

“Bye Thalia! I love you!” My mom shouted from the dock.

“I love you too.”

“Be safe and smart! Make good choices! Call us every night!”

“Will do!” I waved. This was going to be a long trip.

We never got any lunch, we worked instead. Then at dinner we ate more mush and worked until about eleven at night. It was exhausting.

The first night, I tried to call my mom, only to find that my phone had gone missing. I searched high and low for it, but never found it. It must have fallen out of my pocket when I was running toward the ship.What was worse was that I was seasick all the time. If I wasn’t eating or working, I was puking.

One night, I was trying to sleep when the alarm sounded. Red lights flashed while sirens blared. I ran up to the deck to see we were facing a major storm. Giant waves crashed over the side of the boat, lightning flashed, and the wind was so strong, it almost tipped the boat over. Within seconds, I was drenched. I’d never been so scared in my life.

Once the storm passed, we were miles of course, so it took us even longer to get to London. We finally arrived about a week and a half later.

London was tiny and crowded. The streets could barely contain all the people. I found a park bench to sit on and realized what little money I had, I couldn’t use because they were from the U.S. I’m never going to get to Russia I thought.

That night I found a nice alleyway to sleep in. I set up next to a dumpster, making a barrier with my suitcase and a bed with the jackets I packed. Then, of course, it began to rain. I pulled the blanket I stole from the ship over my head and tried to sleep. I cuddled the picture of my family I had packed, close to my chest. I was homesick, but there was no going back now. I just hoped Luka was worth it.

“Hey that’s mine! Give it back! Hey!”

“Shut up!”

I woke up slowly, wondering where I was. I heard people fighting, then it all came back to me. I peered out from behind the dumpster and saw three men beating up a teenager and taking his things. He looked to be about my age with crazy dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. He was a bit on the heavier side and was talking in a thick British accent. As I watched one of the bigger men punched him hard in the stomach. He collapsed coughing. I had to do something.

“Hey!” I shouted. “Leave him alone!”

The three men turned to look at me and snickered. “Oh yeah? What if we don’t? What are you going to do about it.”

“I’ll call the police!” I said.

“Oh yeah? You’re a little girl sleeping in an alley. How do you have a phone?”

“The only reason I’m sleeping in an alley is because I don’t have any pounds. I only have American money. Besides, I couldn’t find a hotel. You want to test me? I’ll just call them right now.” I walked over to my suitcase. I heard running behind me and I turned around just in time to get punched in the face. I fell hard on my butt.

“You little shit. I’m going to beat you so hard!” 

I rolled away just as he tried to kick me in my stomach. I jumped to my feet and ran toward the dumpster. I grabbed what looked to be an old lead pipe and started swinging. I felt the pipe crash into the man’s side and he fell to the floor, gasping for breath. The other two ran at me from opposite sides, so I did the smart thing and ducked. The two slammed into each other and knocked each other out.

I stood up, shaking. I threw the pipe down, grabbed the boy’s money, and gathered my stuff. I ran to where he was standing with his mouth gaping open.

“You couldn’t have helped?” I demanded handing him his things.

“That. Was. Awesome!” He began