| Major Name Change: Rhea will now be Rose|

"Rose," I called, running to catch up with her in the hallway. "When is your next trip into town?"

She spun around, smiling. "I'm the morning. Can I get you something while I'm out?"

"No ... but you could help me convince my brothers, and your brother, to let me come along." I knew it would be a long shot, and expected her to shut the dies down right away, but to my surprise, her eyes flashed with excitement.

"I can try ... but guarantees though."

"I understand but I have faith that you can spring me from this ... this prison," I said, closing my eyes, shaking my head. "I'm going insane being cooped up in here."

Rose smiled sympathetically. "I know ... I'll go talk to them right now."

Later that evening, Carson and I were into another argument. Sam had apparently told my brothers that I wanted to go out with Rose.

I gripped into the counter, digging my nails into my palms as I faced my oldest brother. "Let me go out for a few hours. I'll be safe."

"No, absolutely not." Carson shook his head, standing kitchen island and placing his plate in the sink. "You are not leaving the property."

"Please, Carson. I'm tired of being cooped up. You can even come too," I said, trying my best to negotiate. For a second, he looked like might give in, but his expression hardened.

"No and I am not discussing this any further," he said, narrowing his eyes at me. I clenched my fists, angry that he wouldn't budge. Why does he have to be so damn overprotective?

"Are you two arguing again?" Matthew appeared beside me, yawning, as he headed for the fridge. "At least let me get a snack first."

"Please, Carson." I tried again, unrelenting. "It'll only be for an hour, two at the most."

"No. Do not ask me again Tarryn."

I huffed and spun on my heel, leaving the kitchen. "Overprotective jerk," I muttered, heading to the library.

"Hey, I heard that!" My oldest brother called.

"Good," I said and just as I reached the library m, I heard Rose and Sam arguing inside. To say I didn't eavesdrop would be a lie. I stood outside the glass doors, listening.

"You know it's not safe, Rose," Sam spoke. "I don't even know why you would ask, it's not a good idea. In fact, it's reckless and irresponsible."

"They've been all cooped up here for almost a week, Sam. Without any outside contact. Without any electronics. Come on, don't you think it would be best to let her come before she does something stupid?"

Sam didn't say anything for a long time. "Well, I see your point, but it's still too dangerous. Letting you do out go to get supplies is dangerous enough, Rose. What if her face gets caught on camera? What if -"

"Stop, Sam. I get it, okay? It's dangerous and risky but I've spent time with Tarryn. She's gonna spiral soon if something doesn't change."

"Eavesdropping?"

I jumped, letting out a slew of curses, and spun around to come face to face with Trey. He smirked, crossing his arms.

I shrugged. "Nothing better to do around here," I said, not even going to deny it. My brother chuckled, shaking his head.

"Carson and Ivan are having words. I am guessing your the center of their argument. What's up?"

"I want to go to the store with Rhea but no one will allow it."

Trey rolled his eyes. "You know how risky that is, Tarryn."

I pulled at my hair, throwing back my head in exasperation. "Everyone keeps saying that, but I don't -care. I am tired of sitting around and doing nothing while mom is out there, likely with a psychopath. I can't do anything about it, and it's driving me insane, Trey."

He stepped forward, reaching out to wrap his arms around me but I dodged him. "I think I'm gonna go to my room, I'm exhausted. That therapy session really took a lot out of me."

"Okay. I'll come check on you in a little bit, okay?"

I nodded, hoping he'd forget. I wanted to be alone. I felt alone. I trudged up the stairs, traveling down the hall.

I kept thinking about my mom. I wondered if she was okay, if she's hurt, if my father had her. I wondered if Wayne would hurt her, beat her.

I couldn't do anything to help her, I was stuck in this house without any sort of hope. No hope to good ending. I have grown so tired lately. I begin to rock back and forth on the floor, a pain in my chest arising. It was sharp and hit straight through my heart like a thousand arrows.

I couldn't help the tears that clouded my vision. I started to hyperventilate, no air reaching my lungs. When I think about my mom being hurt, the endless possibilities open up for me, spilling out like intestines after a knife taken to the gut. Anxiety rises in me like steam.

I can't stop it.

Trey appeared at the door, taking in the sight of me and swearing. He strode forward, crouching next to me. He gripped my chin in his fingers, forcing me to look at him.

"Bub, it's okay," he said, wrapping his arms around me, pulling me close to his chest. He held me as I convulse and shiver, his voice like an anchor. "Breath, in and ... out. Good, again. In and ... out."

"I think I'm dying," I muttered, not able to catch my breath, the pains in my chest bad, really, really bad.
"I'm dying, I can feel it." I felt it in my bones.

"What's going on?" Haisley stood over us, his eyes wide with panic. "Is she actually dying?"

"No, she's having a panic attack," Trey said, holding me tighter. It helped a little bit, but I couldn't regulate my breathing.

"What do I do? She's in pain."

"Haisley, calm down," Trey murmured, using a soft voice to try and calm my panicking twin down, "she's having a panic attack. Can you grab a throw blanket from the bed?"

My twin did what he was told, grabbing the blue checkered blanket from the bed. Trey took it and wrapped it around me tight, like a cocoon, like a swaddle.

"Breath, bubba," Trey ordered, rubbing circles on my back and I tried to do it. I reached up and put my hand over my heart. Breathe in, breathe deep, I felt my rib cage move from underneath. "Breath, that's it ... Haisley, can you get her medication? It's a small white oval pill."

I watched as Haisley quickly went to my nightstand where my daily container of meds were and came back with an Ativan, handing it to Trey. Haisley knelt down I front of me, as Trey slipped the pill in my mouth and I held it under my tongue, letting it dissolve.

I kept on breathing like my therapist had shown me, how Trey was coaxing me, and eventually calmed down enough to say thank you to my brothers. "Anytime, bubba," Trey murmured, kissing the top of my head. "Come on, let's get you up and in bed."

+++

Rose and I linked our arms together as we strode to the Range Rover. I felt alive, free, unable to hide my grin. "Thank you so much, you have no idea what this means to me."

"What are friends for, right?" She said, glancing over her shoulder. I copied her, seeing two agents following us. Maxim and Gretchen, our chaperones for the afternoon. They'd be driving us to the grocery store.

Somehow Sam managed to convince both the special agents in charge and Carson to let me come on a shopping trip. How Rose managed to convince her brother was beyond me. Nonetheless, I was thankful.

I am just happy to be outside, getting a change of scenery. Rose and I got into the backseats of the Rover and buckled our seatbelts. I glanced at her, taking in her appearance. She wore light blue skinny jeans that hugged her thighs and a red flowered blouse, along with a tan purse. Her green eyes were wild and alluring at the same time, pulling me in. There was something familiar about them -

"Do I have something on my face?" She asked, touching her face.

I smiled, shaking my head. "No, sorry, I just ... think you look beautiful." I immediately felt like an idiot, even though what I said was true. A blush crept up on Rose's cheeks and I knew I had her.

We spent the thirty minute drive into town gossiping and talking about my family, mostly my brothers. "Five older brothers must be tough," she said, chucking. "I've always wanted a sister."

When we reached the grocery store, I wasn't allowed to  go in without making some minor adjustments to my appearance. That meant sunglasses, hood up, and no looking at the cameras. Maxim and Gretchen were both in plain clothing. It felt so incredibly weird to be in public again.

"How did you convince Sam to bring me with you?"

"Oh, I'm very persuasive when I want to be," she said, making me chuckle. I ran my fingers along with cans of soup as Rose added some corn to the cart. She walked slowly.

Bang.

Bang.

I whipped my head in the direction the shots came from and my stomach dropped at what I witnessed behind me. Gretchen dropped to the floor, dead. Blood spilled onto the white tile under her.

More gunshots echoed out from somewhere else in the store as screams of fear and shear panic floated through the air.

I ducked down, Rose taking my hand. "Come on, we need to go," she said, tugging me towards the employees only door, to the warehouse in back. "Stay low."

We burst through the doors and into the warehouse, Rose dragging me behind a stack of crates. She took out her phone, putting it to her ear. "Yeah, she's dead. We'll meet you outside."

What? I stared at Rose, no idea who or what she was talking about. I assumed it was Maxim, the agent outside. "Rose-"

Rose stood up, grabbing my forearm and hauling me out of hiding. "Let's go, Tarryn." Her hold was rough, pulling me to the exit. We went through and sunlight blinded me.

"What are we doing? We need to -"

"Tarryn," a man said and I shielded my eyes to see a man standing in front of us, my heart stopping when I recognized him. He had a grin plastered over his face. "Come on, you're not going give your father a hug?"

I stepped back, sucking in a breath, but Rose held me in place.

I realized then, she was in on this.

"Rose-"

"Come on, we'll have plenty of time to catch up later," Wayne said, smiling. "Rose, put her in the back."

Rose produced a gun from her purse, jabbing it into my backside. "Move Tarryn or I will not hesitate to send a message to the others to hurt Haisley."

+++

Uh, yeah that happened.
Anyone expect that?
Thank you for reading.
Lots of care - Charlie 🧡