Author's Note: If this chapter seems OOC, sorry. Also, I was listening to "Everybody's Fool" by Evanescence for some of the first part. Hope I didn't fail entirely here! ^^'

Disclaimer: I do not own "Unwind" by Neal Shusterman. Like I said, flames on Amazon would definitely be there for it if I did. However, I do own this fic, and the most likely craptacular OC's that will soon arrive in it. Happy reading!

Lev

"And that was when I realized, that life was more valuable than that. That God couldn't possibly want His children being sacrificed like that without a say in what happened to them. That there was a bigger purpose in these children's lives, and they had to be accomplished whole..."

Lev had heard this mini-sermon from Pastor Dan many times. The one where he spoke of his epiphany, the day when he realized he'd been wrong all this time. The man had felt partly responsible for Lev's earlier destruction, but in that moment, the one where he told him to run, he knew it was the best thing for him. Eventually, things were mended, and he was forgiven, etc., etc. And now the best thing that he and others could do was fight the injustice that was unwinding.

It was comforting to know he didn't have to go up and speak right now. Though it was another anti-unwinding conference he was at, it was in his own town, in Pastor Dan's own, new, church, and though some unfamiliar faces filled the seats in the laid-back, modern-looking atmosphere, it was good to know that he still had time before presenting himself. His segment of speaking would be in the afternoon. He could go home before coming back. He'd once liked the attention, ate it up, this chance to show the world how he felt, and to know so many people cared and listened to him, even for the reasons that they were, but now, he was growing a little tired of being in the public eye. It wasn't as though he had people stalking him everywhere and gasping at the cereal he ate for breakfast, but he had enough fame that everyone knew who he was.

Or, at least enough to think they did.

There were still little thoughts he entertained, that he didn't express to anyone, when the days got long and hard. Or when he saw the people who he was biologically descended from on the news, his feelings of anger and actions of retribution he was sometimes tempted to commit toward them.

"Lev, I don't like your parents much either. But you must learn to forgive them. It's only right, and it would help you immensely," Pastor Dan had once said. He said he couldn't force him to, nor did he want to, yet his words just couldn't register to him.

Help him. It seemed nothing could make him forgive them, even if it was right. He didn't feel like it would help him at all. Yet as darkly amusing as it was to see them on television, all desperate to get the media off their backs, apologizing, begging for his forgiveness, while his mother held a baby in her arms, he still didn't feel satisfied. The baby hadn't been theirs, he'd noticed, he saw that it wasn't, probably not adopted, most likely storked. Why did that child mean more than him to them? If they were so sorry, why didn't they tell him that in the first place, not fill him with lies and arrogance, why did they disown him when he finally took a stand?

No, he couldn't forgive them. But every now and then, Lev regretted his thoughts, because he knew some of his siblings still had to live with those parents. Maybe they'd never directly hurt them, but he was sure if they were brought up the same way he was, things wouldn't be so great. Yet he heard his younger, mostly unfamiliar, siblings interviewed, with their thoughts of their brother's situation—his parents were getting what they deserved. Now their ever-so-loving and obedient children wouldn't even listen to them.

Yet if the Calder house was filled with chaos, then surely there would be misery. He, of all people, would know.

He didn't want to imagine his new, younger siblings fighting, although he'd only met them a couple of times, with each other or with his parents, or hear the crying littlest ones of the house every night, everyone else groaning and struggling to keep up with them. He didn't mind imagining his parents ridden with genuine guilt, but then the afterthought of them being so caught up in it that his siblings suffered even more, that their "sacred" money depleting, slowly growing more and more unable to care for them…

His family hadn't meant much to him growing up, as he was held so far above them all the time; they sometimes seemed to hate him, except for Marcus, who had only had a strange sympathy for him. And now, their younger siblings were simply following what they thought was his lead.

Perhaps things weren't as they seemed; maybe his siblings were grateful for the attention being on them. Or maybe they had been for a time, like Lev. Maybe it was like he hated to imagine, his parents slowly losing their ability to be a parent.

He regretted all the times he neglected speaking with his older siblings, growing with them, because he was focused so much on himself and his "purpose". But now it was a little late to catch up with all of them. And now, if his parents ever got to ten kids again, if he heard any mention of considering "tithing" again...

"Hey, Lev… hello? Anyone in there?" said Marcus, waving his hand in front of his brother's eyes. He shook his head, a little, trying to snap out of his thoughts, surprised that he was the one distracted by something else during a church service. Marcus was usually the one he had to shake awake or get focused. He wasn't particularly enthusiastic about church, even with the "new-and-improved" Pastor Dan speaking.

"Pastor Dan's part is over. Time to go home," he said.

Home. He hardly lived in that house anymore, and yet it sounded so alluring right now. It seemed to be the only place where he could… calm down. He need not use any other phrase. That was considered offensive these days. And in his head, he didn't want to hear it.

Lev stepped out into the foyer with his brother, and they headed for the doors to exit.

"Be back by 4:30. You'll want to be here early to prep," Dan reminded him, to which he gave a small nod. He'd wait until 4:30 to prepare today. He wanted to rest. He'd been on the move for quite a while lately, and today was his true day of rest.

Marcus and Lev passed through the door, when a voice came from behind them.

"L-Lev? Lev Calder?"

Of course, someone would recognize him. He sighed deeply then turned around. The voice came from a girl, around 15, with long, messy black hair, and violet-tinted dark blue eyes, that looked oddly natural, wearing an old, worn, black dress, and black shoes, carrying a large purse that seemed to contain a minimal amount of things that would normally be found in a closet and bathroom.

It was clear to see the girl was homeless, that she was possibly running. No doubt of what her motives were.

"That would be me. How may I help you?" he replied, pasting on his helpful, caring face, speaking like this was a simple, typical thing. He wanted to go home, wanted to sleep until 4:30, dreamless.

"A… a few weeks ago, I was at a… a harvest camp," the girl said, her voice stumbling on the last two words. Even Lev flinched a little at their mention, though he'd been expecting it. The girl continued, speaking quickly, panicky, tone on the edge of tears.

"W-Well, this group of kids, like me, led by the Akron AWOL and his girlfriend and this blonde guy, protested there, and released us from the camp, and they told us where to go, but…"

Lev looked distracted at the mention of "Akron AWOL" and his girlfriend… Connor and Risa. They were still together, still alive. They were still active in this movement, big parts of it, yet still remained in hiding. He admired them so much for the parts they played against unwinding. They were more inspiring than him. They avoided the attention. And it had been so many years since he'd seen them. Ever since Happy Jack… He bit his lip, focusing on the girl again. "We were going through the city, and I… I lost them, and I've been searching for the place they told us about, and two days ago, I went to this house, and the lady helped me for a little bit, but… s-she… she reported me, and now I know the juvey-cops are after me, and I… I really need some place to go…"

She looked absolutely desperate. He pondered her situation for a moment, trying to think where the closest safe house was to the church. Lev had some knowledge of where they would be, but it didn't come to mind for him right now… After all, the safe houses were places that needed to remain private, even, or maybe especially to Levi Jedediah Calder, whom not the whole world trusted, and his memory didn't always give him such details when he wanted them.

"Come with us," he said, suddenly. Marcus stared at him, his eyes saying "What the heck are you thinking?!"

The girl stared at him with wide-eyed gratefulness. "T-Thank you," she said, like she was resisting the urge to hug him or something. He understood Marcus' gaze. This girl wasn't going to be very safe with someone like Lev, someone whose so-called fame was nearing the Akron AWOL's, even if his demographic was different. But it was better than being on the streets, was it not?

"Thank you so much…"

It was the least he could do. If he was really for the cause of unwinds everywhere, like he himself had been, he had to do whatever he could to help them, which included welcoming them into his home.

"You're welcome. I… never did get your name, by the way."

"Kimura. Kimura Leeson, I mean… Ward," she replied, correcting herself, not seeming to be very satisfied with the need of doing so.

"Nice to meet you, Kimura Leeson," Lev said, as they arrived at Marcus's vehicle. He opened the door for the girl, who smiled weakly, something he assumed wasn't so typical for her. She put down her bag on the floor, and buckled her seatbelt. The girl looked rather tired. Her needs were more than his. He had no idea where this was going, but he was sure it was going to shake things up a bit, as much as he just wanted to rest.