June's POV

I curled up in the duvet, trembling, chills running down my spine. It was a cold night, but I couldn't find the strength to get out of bed and close the window.

"Jesus June, it's freezing in here," Trey muttered, striding to the window and shutting it. "June? Are you awake?"

"Mmm." Trey swiped the curtains open, letting the sunlight shine through, and I groaned, showing my head deep into the pillow. "What the hell, Trey. Get out."

"It's half past noon, time for you to get up."

"You're annoying."

"I'm supposed to be," he said, chuckling. He clapped his hands together, urging me to get up. "Come on, Sky made lunch for everyone."

I shook my head, slowly getting out of bed. I felt like a zombie. "I don't feel well," I mumbled before turning and throwing up into the garbage can next to my nightstand. Trey rushed forward and started rubbing my back, pulling my hair away from my face. I threw up again, eventually dry heaving.

"You need to eat," Trey murmured, stepping back as I straightened. "You need to eat with your medications. Skyler made chicken soup, they're your favourite."

"No, Trey-"

"Do you want another lecture from Sky and Carson?" He asked and I narrowed my eyes. "Because that's what's gonna happen if you don't come down and sit your ass at the table. And I don't know about you, but I'm sick of hearing them scold you like a five year old."

"Okay, okay, I'm coming," I snapped, even though my little brother spoke the truth. "Jesus, you don't have to be such a little cunt."

He smirked. "It gets you moving, though, doesn't it?"

I went to punch his shoulder, but he jumped backwards, laughing. I couldn't help but smile. Out of all my siblings, Trey and I were the closest - well, besides Carson and I. I guess I should say we got along the best.

After mom disappeared and Jed was killed, I had to tell my father about my heroin addiction- well, my relapse. My father pulled the strings to get me into an expensive rehab but before I could go, shit hit the fan with my family again when our dad was shot and went into a coma. While the rest of my siblings went into protective custody, Trey and I went to stay with our grandfather where I had round the clock medical treatment from the feds.

"Hurry up, before it gets cold," Trey said, ushering me along the hallway. "I like my soup hot, y'know."

"I hate people rushing me when I want to sleep but we don't always get what we want."

We trudged down the stairs and entered the kitchen where Matthew and Skyler were sitting with our grandfather, Ivan. We had been told when Trey and I first arrived to call him Ivan because anything else made him sound old - which he clearly was with the white beard and moustache. Whatever floats his boat, I guess.

"Ah, sleeping beauty finally awakens," Matthew said, smirking. I flipped him off which made him laugh. I sat down next to him at the island, watching Skyler prepare a bowl of soup for me.

"How are you feeling Junebug?" Skyler asked, setting the

"June feels shitty," Trey said and I elbowed him.

"June can talk for herself, thanks," I said, glancing at Skyler as he placed a bowl of steaming hot soup in front of me. "He's right though, I feel like shit."

"Eat, maybe it'll help your stomach. Do you have your meds?"

"Yes, mother." I reached int my sweater pouch and took out my antidepressant. My sister and I didn't get a fair shake in life. She struggled with anxiety, and I struggled with depression and addiction. I took the cover off the daily tube of medication and popped them in my mouth, snagging Matthew's water to wash them down.

"Hey," he grumbled, "that's mine."

I finished it all, smirking as I licked my lips. "Oops?"

+++

Two hours later, for unknown reasons other than my deteriorating mood, I cried in the bathroom, unable to take my eyes off the ugly reflection of myself in the gigantic mirror above the bathroom sink.

I had to get out of the house. These walls were suffocating me. I hurried out of my bedroom and down the stairs, praying I didn't run into my brothers or sister. I made it to the garden without running into anyone, thank God. The skies were storm loud grey. It was going to storm.

I moseyed on over to the swinging bench and sat down, blinking away the tears and touched my stomach.

I felt so empty since the miscarriage.

It broke me.

The reason I relapsed.

"Hey, June, look at me." I didn't even realize my brother had come outside, let along crouch in front of me. "June, what's wrong?"

"I'm hopeless, Carson," I cried, scratching my arms, deeply embedded in my horrible thoughts. My twin took both my hands and held them in his. "I can't beat this."

"You will never be hopeless, Junebug," my brother murmured, shaking his head. He licked his bottom lip, tilting his head. "Come on, let's go inside, it's going to rain soon. Did you have lunch?"

I shook my head. "I can't eat, I'll just throw it back up."

"You need to eat, June."

"No."

"June. It's not up for discussion. Come on, there's leftover soup."

"No."

"June, don't make me carry you over my shoulder."
I knew he was serious, despite the small playfulness in his tone. I huffed and nudged the blankets away.

"Where's Tarryn and Haisley?" I asked, yawning. Carson held my hand as we walked down the hallway, swinging our arms. He used to do it when we were kids too, sometimes to comfort me, sometimes to piss me off.

"Tarryn went into town with Rose. Haisley is ... I don't know, in the barn I think or something." I rolled my eyes.

"You let her go? I thought you two were gonna full out brawl about it and now you're letting her go?"

He glanced down at me, frowning. "I wish everyone would stop treating me like the bad guy. She'll be fine," he mumbled, though I noticed the flash of regret in his gaze. I squeezed his hand.

"Hey, you're not the bad guy, you have nothing to worry about. She's with Rose."

"Yeah ... Rose somehow convinced Sam that it'd be safe. I trust Sam, so ... hopefully nothing happens."
I hoped nothing happened either. Carson would blame himself if it did and he didn't deserve it. I jostled his arm with my other hand, leaning against his shoulder as we walked inside through the library doors.

"Don't worry, they'll be okay."

He hummed. "Have you talked to dad yet?"

I grunted.

"I'll take that as a no. He just wants to talk, June."

"I talked to him ... just not what you're talking about. We didn't separate on good terms, Carson."

"He's over that, he just wants to talk to you. I promise."

"Okay, I'll call him after lunch."

My twin smiled at me. "Good. I love you June."

"I love you too, Carson."

+++

I sat in the living room with Skyler, who sat next to me, eyes trained on the television. I didn't know what was on, my mind elsewhere. I picked at a scab on my arm, from where I scratched it too hard. It was a habit, scratching. I did it when the cravings were too much, and right now, they were too much.

"Stop, Junebug." Skyler warned, reaching out to squeeze my arm. I stopped, for a minute, before the urge to scratch became insistent again. Skyler caught my hands in his, lowering them to my lap. "Stop, June. Where's the fidget toy Ryan brought you?"

"Because a stupid fucking fidget toy is gonna solve all my problems," I snapped, standing up, throwing his hands away from me. "I'm going to have a nap."

"June. I'm sorry -"

I sighed. "It's fine, Sky."

"Okay," he mumbled, "have a good nap.

"I'll try." I walked towards the hallway, feeling empty. I hated feeling empty and hollow, it was the worst feeling. I sauntered up the steps but didn't make it all the way before Josiah came barreling down.

"June, where's Tarryn?" Josiah asked, and I rolled my eyes.

"Hello to you too."

"There's something I need to show her, to show everyone," he said, panic rising in his expression. "Is she back yet?"

"No. Not yet. They'll be back soon - why, what's so important you almost ran me down like roadkill?" I asked, curious, and noticed the photos in his hand.

"It's Haisley. He lied."

"What are you talking about? What did he lie about?"

Josiah fanned out the photographs and I glanced down, my stomach dropping as I looked at the photographs. Most of them were of Wayne and Haisley, one of them stood out. They were both at a lake, mountains behind them. Smiling together with their arms around one another's shoulder.

I realized his panic, these photos were recent.

"I'm sure there an explanation." There has to be. "Where's he now?"

"That's the thing - I have no idea."

I heard loud footsteps and glanced around the rail to see Carson sprinting down the hall. His face held nothing but sheer terror. "Tarryn's been taken."

I gasped, my breath hitching. Josiah fell back against the wall and pushed the photos out towards Carson. "He lied to us and I bet he's the one who helped that fucker take her."

+++

Hello everyone 🤗
Hope you all liked this chapter.
Sorry for the cliffhanger? 😬
Much love and thanks for reading
- Charlie 🧡