Ash-

I grumbled, half awake, as I shuffled over to the window. "What?"

She was there, on the roof, sobbing. She'd climbed up our trellis, which was covered in roses.

I pulled her into my room. She was red eyed and angry. She had that notebook with her.

She hugged me.

She hugged me.

I stumbled back. She was wearing a short sleeved shirt... This was bad. Rare. She only wore sweaters and long sleeved shirts...

There were scars. Cuts. Fresh ones, old ones, they went up to her shoulders, I was sure.

I rocked her back and forth as she sobbed. I held her in my arms as she told me with her broken voice that he escaped and was coming after her.

I asked how, how did she know he was coming after her.

And she said he swore on her mother's life that he'd get her back for telling.

Telling on her dad...

She quietly cried into my arms as I rocked her back and forth. I was wide awake now. I wouldn't let anything happen to her. I couldn't.

I realized exactly how much clothing she was wearing, in that moment. Yes, that is terrible. Yes, I know I shouldn't be thinking of that. It isn't right, I know.

But she was wearing tiny shorts and a short sleeved shirt.

And she is beautiful, was beautiful...

And in that moment I decided I loved her. I decided I'd save her and her family. Her mom.

I knew I wasn't worth anything. I wasn't worth saving. She had to live. She had to live.

And I would do anything so she could.

I held her so close that night. Protecting her from the monsters. We crawled out of my window when she stopped crying and watched the sunrise together. It was so beautiful. We got a perfect view, you know.

I held her close. We walked home after the sun was almost up. It was around seven when she made it back inside her house. No one noticed. I went to bed and slept for an hour. Mom had to go to court today for the last time. Dad wasn't gonna win the custody battle, and potentially could go to jail. I was elated. He would, I thought. He has to go to jail. He will.

And I sat in the living room and waited for everyone to wake up. Iris was already awake, toting Snoopy around tiredly. I told her she could go back to sleep, and she did happily, right in my lap. She was cold, so I covered her with my shirt, which I took off for her benefit.

It was already warm.

Mason woke up with Calliope. Gus woke up shortly after. It was about nine now, and Iris was half awake. We were watching Sonic the Hedgehog, as we did when we could.

Ryan walked into the room, rubbing his eyes. "Morning," he grumbled softly. I picked up Iris and handed her over to Callie.

"Hold on to her for a second, I need to go find my phone." "Alright," she responded. She held baby Iris and played This Little Piggy.

I went and got my phone. I had seventeen texts from her, from Jackie.

Each was more panicked than the last.

The last one was all caps, panicked.

HE FOUND US. HE KNOWS WHERE WE ARE.

My eyes widened. I needed to help her.

"RYAN! WATCH EVERYONE. I NEED TO GO FOR A SECOND."

"What? Why?!" He asked as I ran out the door.

"I'll explain later!" I yelled back as I ran down the street.