I want to help so they don't mess anything up, but I can't move from my spot. There's nothing being done in Alexs room, but he says his floorboards squeak so I can't leave. I hear them talking, but I don't make a sound and not a thought crosses my mind to run to them when I have the chance to be free. Alex...something about him makes me trust him. No ones been killed since I've been here. So if I stay, no one will die.

His Mom is the one who's doing the bathrooms, while Alex and his Dad are the ones doing everything else. I listen to her hum to songs in her iPod while I stay cooped up in Alex's closet. He locked his door so they don't come in. I want the renovations to be over so I can leave and eat, but I can't leave unless I want Alex to be outed and his parents to hate him. They're so sweet like him, and I don't want his parents to hate him.

They come in everyday for almost the whole two weeks from five am to ten pm. The floorboards are finished first, they went with floorboards instead of carpet. Then the bathrooms, and the kitchen and everything else on the list. They don't come in on Christmas or New Years so I spend them crying in Tyler's room. Alex left presents under my bed. A new pair of black lace underwear and bra with thigh high socks that match and a few books from my room that he most likely stole form under my bed. It's where I kept all my books.

"Well Alex. I think this place is coming along nicely. This will be a good first home for you," his Dad says as they walk close to Alexs room. "But me and your Mother haven't seen your room."

"It's like my one at home," Alex says.

"Well we'll let you be." He hums and I listen to his parents leave. The door creaks open and so does his closet door. Alex smiles at me and helps me stand.

"Welcome home." He smiles and I pull my hands from him.

"This isn't my home."

"You've been here since October, and it's December," he chuckles.

"You're hiding me here." I poke his chest, Alex falling back onto his desk chair. "This will never be my home." I glare into Alex as he stands up, towering over me. He grips onto my wrists, his eyes like ice spike stabbing into me as his whole demeanor changes from innocent to murder. His nails dig into my veins.

"You're mine now Mae. You do what I say or else," he grips harder.

"Y-You're hurting me," I whimper out as he loosens his grip, then tightening it quickly making me wince.

"Good." He lets go of one wrist and drags me to Tyler's room, pushing me in and slamming the door and locking it.

§•§•§

I'm a prisoner now, I guess. He only lets me out to eat, otherwise I'm in Tyler's room starving. River messages me. I only read them and he says he's going to come and drop things off for me, but I can't grab them, and Alex hasn't been back in weeks and I can barely leave my bed.

The window opens and I shakily move my head to it, watching as River crawls through with a basket handle in his mouth. He spots me and I shakily smile at him as he puts the basket on the floor, closes the window and runs to me and holds me in his arms. "W-What happened to you?"

"I-I made him mad." My voice is so small I don't think he heard me. He quickly pulls up the basket and sits me up, pulling out containers of food and bottles of water. He opens a bottle and holds it to my lips. I drink the whole bottle in one sitting. He opens the container of strawberries and he gently holds my jaw and places some of a strawberry in my mouth, helping me chew.

"Okay swallow." I somehow do. He feeds me a few more then feeds me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich triangle. I shakily sit up and he softly smiles at me. "How do you feel?"

"B-Better." My voice is more there. I collapse into his chest and he holds me hesitantly.

"I thought he loved you." River holds me close, helping me eat and drink more. I feel it fill my stomach.

"H-He does, but I made him mad."

"Please let me take you away from all this." River cradles me in his arms, pulling me close and kissing my forehead.

"N-No. H-He'll kill you." River sighs, holding me close as I listen to the silence of the snow. "How's everyone at school?"

"The school volunteers search parties every weekend for you. Alex leads my group and he's probably the most determined person to find you. Jai makes an inspirational speech every other day and it's getting everyone so annoyed." I laugh so lightly its soundless. "Your Mom tried to kill herself last weekend. I stay with her just to keep her sane. I stay in your room." I bite down on my thin lip, curling my head into his chest.

"Have you discovered anything about me?"

"You read a lot from the books under your bed," he chuckles, moving the hair out of my face, kissing my temple. We stay in silence for what felt like hours. River lets go of me and lies me down on the bed, kissing me after packing up his basket. "I'll be back as soon as possible, okay?" I shakily nod as he kisses me again and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. "I love you."

"I love you too." I softly smile at him as he kisses me one last time before grabbing his basket and climbing back through the window, closing it before crawling down the drain pipe. I stare at the picture of me and Tyler on the nightstand, sighing and staring at my brittle hands. Alex has to come back and feed me at some point. He couldn't have forgotten about me.

I soon fall asleep, daylight touching my skin. It's so warm, I feel like I'm floating in comfort. I open my eyes, being surrounded by white while my body feels light. My eyes land on a figure that comes into view, holding my hands and smiling at me. "Come on Mae," Tyler smiles. "It's time you come with us." He turns, Jessie, Lindsay and everyone else who is dead standing and smiling, all dressed in white. I look at Tyler, pulling my hand away as he looks at me. "Mae?"

"Mae!" My eyes shoot open as I gap for air. "Fuck, Mae!"I look up at Alex as he takes deep breathes, leaning back on the covers as I lie still. I can't move. "You died! You literally were dead and cold and lifeless! I almost fucking lost you!" He stands up, pulling the covers off my body and running me downstairs and sitting me on the couch. There's still snow outside. He comes back with food and water. I eat and drink and he looks at me. "I am so sorry I left you here like this. I-I was only going to do it for a few days but then I just got really busy and I didn't have time to come and unlock the door."

"It would take two minutes to come inside and unlock a door."

"I've had to talk for everyone's who I've killed and for your Mom because she won't talk about you to anyone. And I've had tests and so much to do–and this is an hour drive up here." I look at my lap. He holds my hands and he tilts my head up to his gaze. "It's a long weekend so I'll be here for five days to make you healthy and better and I'm so sorry!" He quickly wraps his arms around me.

"When was the last time you were here?"

"January first."

"What day is it?"

"January eighteenth."

I lick my cracked lips with the little saliva I have. "I should have been dead days ago."