Chapter Three - Trapdoor

The brothers followed the group at a distance into the woods at the perimeter of the town. Darien and Jackson were being very careful to make as little sound as possible so as not to alert the group of their presence.

The two parties walked for quite a while until they reached a small clearing. The injured one looked around them, making sure the coast was clear. Darien and Jackson scrambled to hide behind a large fir tree, and stayed there for a moment.

When they finally looked from behind the tree, the whole group was gone.

"What?! Where did they go? It's an empty clearing! There's nothing here!" Jackson exclaimed loudly.

Darien furrowed his brow and started walking to where the group was last scene. Before he got to the clearing, the injured man and his human crutch jumped from behind trees and ambushed them. They held knives against the brothers' necks.

"Who are you and how did you find us?" The injured man asked.

"We saw you in the convenience store. We aren't trying to hurt you, we were just curious. Please take the knife from my brother's neck!" Darien said quickly.

The two men dropped their knives and let the brothers go.

"What are your names?" The injured man asked.

"I'm Darien, and this is my brother Jackson. You?"

The injured man shifted his weight back onto his friend. "I'm Liam, and this is my friend Luke."

Luke scowled at Darien. "Why did you follow us?"

"We're homeless, and my brother heard one of your friends talk about a shelter, and he was hoping it was somewhere we could stay for the night," Darien replied, doling out the charm.

"I didn't mean any harm, I'm just tired of the smell from the dumpsters we've been sleeping behind," Jackson explained.

Luke's expression softened, only slightly. He looked at Liam. "We've been out here for too long, man. We need to get inside."

"Why don't you two come with us," Liam offered.

Luke stared at Liam. "What?!"

"They're homeless, Luke. Who are they gonna tell about our existence?"

Luke sighed, and began helping Liam toward the clearing. "I guess you're coming with us then."

Darien and Jackson exchanged hesitant glances, then proceeded to follow the two men.

As they neared the clearing, Darien noticed a patch of branches. Luke kneeled down, clearing off the branches, revealing a door. Opening the hatch, he helped Liam down first, then begrudgingly helped Darien and Jackson. Darien looked around. He was in an entirely furnished living space underground. Jackson's eyes lit up.

The dark-haired girl, Macy, saw the group and walked over.

"Macy, this is Darien, and his brother Jackson. They followed us here from town," Liam explained.

"Why did you bring them down here?" she asked.

"They're homeless, and need a place to stay for the night. We have plenty of room to share," he replied with smile. Macy looked to Luke, who was scowling in the corner, arms crossed.

Grabbing a cane by the entrance, Liam walked over to the kitchen area. "Would you guys like anything to drink?"

Darien shook his head.

"Water would be great," Jackson replied.

Liam grabbed a glass from a cabinet, filled it with water and handed it to Jackson. Luke walked over, pulling Liam close.

"Can we talk for a sec? Privately?" he whispered.

Liam sighed, then looked at the newcomers. "If you would excuse us for a moment," he said, leading Luke and Macy into the next room, closing the door.

"What are you thinking by allowing a couple of homeless guys to stay with us? What if they start talking?" Luke asked.

"Luke, it's not that big of a deal. It's just one night. What's the worst that can happen?" Macy said, trying to cool him down.

"Am I the only one who remembers that this is a hiding place? We're trying not to be caught! That's not gonna happen if we keep letting strangers just walk on in. I mean, Liam, you can barely walk on your own! What happens if they get violent? We can't handle another brawl because you're the strongest one here besides me. Bailey and Jacob are spent. Plus, there's something shady about the older one."

"What do you mean?" Macy asked.

"I don't know. Something seems off. He has a darkness to him that I can't just ignore."

Bailey and Jacob walked into the room.

"What's going on?" Jacob asked.

"We heard our names," Bailey added.

"Liam and Macy want to let two random strangers stay with us," Luke spat.

"What? Is that true?" Bailey looked at Liam.

"Luke is being dramatic. Two boys, about our age, followed us from the store. They told us they're homeless, and I can't just turn them out. It's the middle of October. It's starting to get colder out. I can't just leave them in the cold. There worse off than we are," Liam explained.

Luke crossed his arms "Let's put it to a vote then. Everyone who's for two strangers staying with us, raise your hand."

Much to his dismay, everyone raised their hands. Luke rolled his eyes and stormed out of the room. When he walked past Darien, he scowled.

"You're damn lucky," he spat as he closed the door to his room.

Darien looked to the group emerging from where Luke left. "What happened?"

Liam sat down on the worn couch in the main living space. "You guys are staying with us."

Jackson's face lit up with a smile, but his brother's did not.

"What?" Darien asked. "We don't need your charity. We've been fine on our own for a lot longer than we've known you, and we'll be fine from here on out."

"Darien, it's starting to get cold out. Remember how sick I got last year?" Jackson pleaded.

His brother sighed. He knew Jackson was right. He didn't want to risk his little brother's life again. He was all Darien had.

"How long have you been on the streets?" Macy asked.

"Eight years," Darien replied grimly.

Liam's eyes widened. "Eight years?! Don't you have family or something?"

Jackson shifted uncomfortably. Darien's eyes narrowed.

"It's complicated," he replied curtly.

"Well we've got all night!" responded Luke, who had silently emerged from his hiding place and was leaning unnoticed against the wall.

"Luke, stop it," Macy pleaded.

"The way I see it," he proceeded, walking further into the room, "we're welcoming these strangers into our house, so I think we're entitled to at least some kind of explanation as to why they're in need of our assistance in the first place."

Liam walked over to Luke and looked him dead in the eyes. "They don't need to explain anything, Luke. Don't be too quick to forget who built this shelter."

"No, he's right," Darien interjected, stepping between the two. "You are being very kind and generous, and you deserve to know."

Liam shook his head. "Darien, you don't have to talk about anything you don't want to."

Darien chewed on his lip and looked down. "I'll explain, but I want to know about why you're here too."

Luke laughed and threw his hands in the air. "Like you're in any place to be making demands!"

At this point, Macy stood up and touched Luke's arm. "Luke, please."

His posture softened significantly, and he let out a sigh. "I'm sorry. I just am not accustomed to trusting easily."

Darien gave a half smile. "Me neither."

Liam walked into the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea, while Darien extended his hand as a peace offering to Luke.

"So what's your story?" Luke asked, returning the handshake.

"Well," Darien started, "we've been on the streets for eight years."

"Wait, wait, wait for me!" Liam exclaimed, hurrying back to the couch.

Luke chuckled and gestured to the couch. "You can sit if ya want, Darien."

Darien proceeded to grab a chair from the kitchen table and sit on that. "This is more comfortable for me, thank you though."

Luke sat beside Macy on the couch.

"Okay you can start now," Liam prompted.

"Our father was abusive, and when I was fifteen, and Jackson was nine, we ran away. We've been on the streets since then," Darien shrugged. "We've bounced from homeless camps and shelters for eight years."

"Why didn't you ever get a job and rent an apartment?" Liam asked.

Jackson spoke up. "Darien can't get a job --"

"Because I don't have a driver's license and have no way to get one," Darien quickly added, scratching his neck.

Luke's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.

"So, why are you here?" Darien inquired, biting his lip.

Liam adjusted his position. "It's quite a long story, actually. The five of us met at a school that rehabilitates orphans, Deenwood Hall."

"Isn't that just an orphanage?" Jackson asked.

"Kind of, but this school was more like a technical college. They teach trades and information that's useful for the transition from student to adult," Liam explained.

"So you're all orphans?" Jackson continued.

"Macy, Jacob, Bailey, and I are. Liam is not," Luke replied.

"I was a teacher," Liam explained.

Darien furrowed his brow. "So what does that have to do with you all hiding out here? It's pretty obvious you're trying to go unnoticed. I mean, you're underground, and threatened us at knifepoint when we followed you."

"The administration is up to something. During my first week teaching, I had a dream about the Dean dabbling in dark magic. I started to dig a little deeper and along the way I met these four. I guess we dug a little too deep. The administration started monitoring all of our moves. The Dean's daughter seemed to always lurk around us."

"But why would someone dabbling in the dark arts run a school to help people?" Darien asked.

"From what we've found, the Dean was a part of this 'secret society' of sorts," Liam stated.

Darien laughed. "A secret society? Like the Illuminati? You can't be serious."

"A secret society, yes, but not like the Illuminati. This group was called Benefactors of the Faith. They're a national society that does good deeds. They fund hospitals, build houses, and dedicate hours of volunteering to various good causes," Luke explained.

"I'm still not seeing what this has to do with the Dean being 'evil'. It doesn't seem like he would be in a secret society like that but also practice dark magic on the side," Darien continued to ask.

"All of our parents were Benefactors," Macy added quietly.

"And not just the four of us," Luke added. "Apparently every student at Deenwood. We think the Dean killed all of them."

"Our parents were driving home from a benefit dinner when an oncoming vehicle hit them. Jacob and I were waiting up for them. They never arrived," Macy said shakily. Luke wrapped his arms around her in a hug as she wiped tears from her eyes.

"Oh, wow. I'm sorry. I didn't realize this was sensitive information," Darien apologized.

"But why?" Jackson asked bluntly. "Why would he kill all of them?"

"That's what we have yet to figure out. We were in too much danger at the school, so we came here. My grandfather and I built this place when I was a kid. He was very afraid of nuclear warfare, but I'm thankful. We'd have nowhere if he hadn't been. I'm shocked no one from the school has found us yet. There was quite the conflict when we left, hence my foot," Liam gestured to the leg he had resting on the coffee table. "Dean's daughter dropped a cinder block on it. I don't think it's broken, though. I can still put some pressure on it. Hurts like a bitch, though."

"There's no way you didn't break at least a few toes. They're so swollen," Luke shook his head at his friend. "You're too stubborn."

Jackson yawned at about this time, which triggered a chain of yawns.

"I guess we need to get started on dinner, seeing as all of us are worn out from the long day," Liam laughed while yawning.

"Where are we sleeping?" Jackson asked.

Macy got up and pulled Luke to the kitchen with her to work on dinner.

"There's a room down the hall. There's a bed, and a cushion on the floor. There are also plenty of blankets and pillows," Liam explained. "Bailey can show you." 

Bailey smiled and gestured to Darien and his brother. "Follow me."

The group walked down the dimly lit hall to the last room on the right. It was small. Wooden paneling gave it a certain warmth but was an odd juxtaposition against the cold concrete floor. A futon sat against the right wall, draped with a red flannel blanket. On the floor near the door was a faded blue sleeping mat. There was a closet in the corner, bursting with pillows.

Darien set his backpack down by the mat and turned to Jackson. "You can have the bed. You know I sleep better on the floor."

Jackson gave a lopsided grin and hopped onto the bed. He looked around, taking in the room, and that this was reality, not just another dream.

"So how old are you guys?" Bailey asked curiously, looking at Darien with her chestnut eyes. Darien blushed lightly and looked away.

"I'm seventeen," Jackson replied. "He's twenty-three. How old are you?"

"I'm nineteen. I was held back in sixth grade so I technically should be out of high school. Well, I guess now I am, seeing as we're not at Deenwood anymore," she laughed while putting her long blonde hair into a messy bun. Darien watched her, entranced by her fluid motions.

"I've not been to school since I was nine."

"Do you know how to read? And write?" Bailey asked with raised eyebrows.

"He said nine, not five," Darien laughed.

"I don't know at what age people learn things. I barely know what I learned last year," Bailey chuckled. "I'm gonna give you guys some time to get settled. Dinner's in about an hour."

She closed the door and walked back to the main room with the others. Darien and Jackson looked at each other.

"I can't believe this is real life. I haven't slept in a real bed since that winery in Hoodsport last fall," Jackson said, laying back on the bed, letting the comfort take over his body.

Darien gave a half smile. "It is nice to be around people our age. I'm not sure how long we'll stay here, but I'll push for as long as possible."

Jackson sat up quickly. "Darien."

"Yes?"

"I bet they have showers. With warm running water."

Darien rolled his eyes. "They definitely do. There's no way Bailey's hair is that long and luscious without shampoo and conditioner."

Jackson waggled his eyebrows at his brother.

"What?" Darien asked, sounding almost offended.

"You think she's cute. I can tell. You got all red when she asked how old you were."

"And? What's the point? You know we can't have relationships like that. It's safer to just keep to ourselves. They cannot know about what really happened. Okay?" he said as he looked sternly at his brother.

"What if they're different from other people? What if we can trust them?" Jackson asked hopefully.

"They're not, and we can't. The one thing everyone on this planet has in common is that they can't be trusted. No one," he said.

Jackson took off his coat and set it on the bed next to him. He got up and walked toward the door. "I'm gonna ask about the showers."

Darien sighed and sat on his floor mat. He looked at his backpack. It called to him. Begged him to do it, just one more time. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes. He knew he couldn't. Not right now, at least. He took off his coat and laid on his back, looking up at the ceiling.

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