[hr][color=pink][sup][h1]
[center][img]https://thumbs.gfycat.com/BarrenWiltedAnnashummingbird-size_restricted.gif[/img][/center]
[b][center][color=96D2B7]UNITED STATES OF AMERICA[/color][/center][/b]
[/h1][/sup][/color][indent][sub][COLOR=6DC09B][I]Summer 1955[/I][/COLOR][/sub][/indent][indent][sup][right][COLOR=6DC09B][b]Upgrades[/b][/color][/right][/sup][/indent][hr][indent][indent][sub][COLOR=6DC09B]Frontier Service Station, Welch (WV)[/color][/sub][/indent][/indent][indent][indent][indent][color=BFE4D3][i]"Schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein,
Schäfchen ruhn und Vögelein,
Garten und Wiese verstummt,
auch nicht ein Bienchen mehr summt..."[/i]

Emerson cherished his mother singing "Schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf’ ein" even when her voice was not quite captivating. When he asked about it out of the blue, she told him that it was a prominent lullaby used throughout the German Empire during the Great War gifted by her dying grandmother, who encouraged her to flee to America as their home country was beginning to unravel. Even after Emerson got older, his mother still hummed the lullaby while preoccupied with chores around the house. It also bought her solace during the months of uncertainty in the wake of the failed coup in the nation's capital.

And now, the lullaby was etched into Emerson's oblivion. 

[i]"...Luna mit silbernem Schein
gucket zum Fenster herein,
schlafe bei silbernem Schein,
schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein,
schlaf ein, schlaf ein!"[/i]

Gradually waking up from his unanticipated slumber, Emerson noticed his hands were bound against a metal pole of a large shelf. His attempts of breaking free only hurt with the rope rubbing against his skin. It wasn't that complicated to believe that the "kind" cashier did this to him. And considering that he came on to her too strong with the question, Emerson didn't hold any grudge against the cashier for protecting her brother—which seemed significant enough to harm someone. Suddenly, he heard the storefront door opening followed by an argument between two people. One of the voices was clearly the cashier's as the other was entirely unfamiliar to Emerson.

And then, in front of Emerson, the door slowly opened to reveal a much younger man still in his work uniform. It was clear the fellow worked for the nearby mining company since coal dust coated his uniform from head to toe.[/color][/indent][/indent][/indent]
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