Sorry for the long hiatus. I have strep. It sucks. 

Chapter 57 – UNSTEADY (Ansel Conrad POV) Pt. 3

The house truly did come with just about everything I think as I make my way down to the cellars. I'm out of sight for the first part of Devin's loud rant, "This is not right. I warned you about Taylor-" when I step out of the shadows she spots me, her performance enhancing. "And instead of getting better treatment you – he-" Devin sneers at Antone, "he's locked me up here." Her face dirtied with clear dried tear tracks.

"Antone?" I ignore Devin.

Sighing, I just stuff my hands in my pockets. "Why on earth did you not leave Devin out on the side of the road somewhere?" I might not have it in me to do such a thing now, but I was working on it.

As though she hadn't spoke or was even in the room with us Antone turned to me. "I thought that maybe there was something worth saving her for – she is a young lady who was raised by-"

"Don't you dare talk about my parents!" Devin screeched, kicking the metal bars.

"Two parents – rest their souls – that were out of their depths," Antone finishes. Nodding, I do agree with him.

It had been on my mind for the last few days. How afraid of Taylor had Shannon and Javier Senior been? For as close as Shannon claimed to be to Lenah?

There were but three explanations and after deep thought, I was going to assume that could be thrown in the hat. Yet instead of only one being the most reasonable I would guess it was all three.

First, fear. Second, shame. And third, they did not want to be labeled the family with the one that killed her sister. That would follow them everywhere, Devin and Javier included.

"I'm right here! You cannot keep me locked up like this! When I get free-"

"Do you want to know what your life is going to look like when you get out Devin?" I spit, facing her now. "We will let you out and then I drop you on the doorsteps of some police station," her eyes go blank and lips turn downward.

Laughing humorlessly I shake my head at her. "Taylor not only murdered your parents and siblings but according to the police files that Angela was able to look into... they found your prints on the knives. Your shoe prints in their blood, and as if that wasn't enough... the police are also under the impression that you murdered Taylor herself." Brows pushed together the blank expression shifts to confusion.

"I – but – I – I-" Devin whips her head from side to side, "I – it – I would never do that!" she cries out weakly.

Again, even when I do not want to feel sorry for Devin, I do. Antone was right, she was a confused girl, abandoning her could be the last blow that made her spiral completely.

She was already irrational and spoilt.

Running her hands over her loose hair Devin rocks in place, "This – you guys – this cannot be happening. No – you're – you've turned Javier against me," she groans out a pained cry.

"If you weren't turning him against me, poisoning him, he'd want to see me, give you hell to see me," she jabs her thumb against her chest.

Antone takes a step forward, "Child," he shakes his head, "Javier is not your parent. He is a young man dealing with the same news that you are, you cannot be selfish and believe that Javier has to put aside the same turmoil you are wallowing in to help you. Why would you want to be that type of sister to him?"

Sniffling, she wipes at her face, glaring daggers at Antone.

"He's my older brother, he's always taken care of Taylor and I," I frown. Leaning my head back, I roll my eyes so hard my head actually aches for a moment.

How on Earth was she missing what she and Antone were discussing?

When I look back at her, switching my stance, I see on her floor is the meal that was brought to her hours before. Everything untouched.

Fried, I start laughing until I cry.

"Are you starving yourself?" I choke out.

My deep belly laughs anger Devin, "If you won't let me out I'm not eating," she says lifting her chin, crossing her arms against her chest.

She was like a tiny hamster that thought she was a ferocious lion.

"One less person Ansel will have to worry about feeding long term," Antone says to Devin, nodding thoughtfully to himself. "You use these next four weeks to think over your predicament Devin. You decide if you want to remain here, or if maybe you want us to drop you off at the nearest police station where they will extradite you back to Bend to stand trial for the murder of your family members. That is if Taylor doesn't find some way to kill you first so she figures out where we are..."

Sighing, I think Antone is finished but he doesn't make a move.

"Do you want to know how I know you're a selfish person Devin?" he asks after some time.

"Your brother just lost the same people as you. Brennan isn't with you and Talia isn't with him. You are the last one he has and instead of thinking of accepting punishment so you can be free to mourn with him out there," he points at the open door.

"You are starving yourself, crying and moaning about us turning him against you. Instead of thinking about someone other than yourself and saying you are going to make it out of here with some earned respect... you're throwing tantrums."

Antone always one to speak his mind does so, not giving Devin a chance at responding as he blew right through any backtalk she could give him.

"You are acting as though we owe you, Devin. That Ansel here has to keep you in the den, that he has to look out for you, feed and clothe you."

Antone shakes his head giving her a humorless chuckle, "He has to do none of that. When we let you out of here he can throw you out on your own in the real world... and ask yourself, Devin, if you barely have a worth for this Den what do you think you can offer anyone else out there?"

"You have subpar hacking skills that without aid will land you in some type of prison because like I said, they are subpar." Brutally tearing into the girl Antone doesn't hold back at all. "You cannot follow instructions – how do you think you'll be able to hold a job if you can even get one?"

"I am even giving you too much hope because the police have put out an arrest warrant for you, and seeing as Taylor has made it look as though you took her across state lines it's not even a state warrant. She's made this a federal case... so you can forget about getting a job and keep one, you need to go on the run, get out."

Pacing, Antone ignores Devin's sniffling.

"You can always run..." he nods, "but again, you have no money and Taylor has killed your parents... so there is no one but Javier but he has nothing either." Was Antone trying to get her to eat or encourage her to stop all together?

"Brennan," Devin says crossing her arms against her chest, holding them there as a shield. "He loves me, Ansel made him break up with me, you kept him away from me-"

"My grandson loved who he thought you were," Antone cuts Devin off. "You've shown him who you really are and... Devin. You see Samson..."

"Brennan had you, Samson had Faith. She left and you know what Samson did? He left with her. He knocked Brennan unconscious, then ran off with his girl. Samson defied Ansel, Kalenah, all of us. He chose Faith and he ran."

"Brennan knows where you are, what measures I've taken to rein you in and has had ample opportunity to run off with you. Now... sleep on that, child." Antone finishes moving towards where I stand near the door. When he walks out, I take a good long look at Devin, the rage building, and the defiance still there.

"I'm going to leave this door open... let you see that we aren't keeping anyone from you. They've chosen to leave you here Devin," I say before climbing the stairs and heading back to the gym where I asked everyone to meet me.

~ 0 ~

"I think homes should be the first thing we start working on," Willy Francis – den member – says once I've shown them all the video footage of what happened to Nick and those that chose to follow him.

Letting everyone know where we were starting was next.

A few members nod, but many just keep their ears open, taking in the conversation without showing which view they agreed with.

"Everyone here has a place to sleep at night Willy," explain, "however, when it comes to food, should this event foreseen happen tomorrow, I doubt we'd have enough food to last us three months."

Many nod, seeing where I was going with this.

"Right now, there are four usable greenhouses already set up, we just need to decide what to grow. Liam is traveling three towns over to pick up a shipment of chickens and his son Chris is going elsewhere for cows."

"We've spent the last two days fixing the interior here, but now we have to prepare location for the animals purchased-"

"Okay that's all true, but my wife and our four children practically share one room, I'm going to be working the farm and that's hard labor. You said that the first two homes built will go to Liam and his family and your sister Macy," ah, there it is, I think.

"You're showing her favoritism. You have us all in this house, I'm sure there are apartments we can rent while still helping here." I nod.

"You can, but that will be on your dime – not mine. I'm putting my money here," I wave my hands around. "I'm buying clothes for everyone here. Food for everyone here. Tools, all equipment and supplies needed for those here."

With permission from Macy and Liam's wife, I level Willy with a hard stare. "You and your four children share a room with a built in sliding door separating you from your kids. Macy and Kenneth have the same setup as you but with six children – one more on the way I was recently informed. So in a few months that will be seven children in that same one room setup," I shake my head.

"As for Liam and Tammy, they are in the same position as Macy, in some months they will be welcoming a child-"

"But I'm doing hard labor, as is my wife. Liam will be teaching when he's not. I think and I'm sure many can agree that those working harder than others should be our first priority."

Is it possible that Devin's soul had somehow merged with Willy here? I think smirking at my private joke.

"Liam's job will be just as important. He's going to be teaching my twins and many other children here. Before he was driving trucks, he was a teacher that came to an end because of the Elders. So now... he has the hard job of making sure my kid knows how to read and do basic math. That's just as important as what you and I will be doing, if not more. We're digging dirt, not teaching it to read."

His wife – Robin – the red head next to him shakes her head, palming her forehead at the same time. Without looking up, she lifts her free hand to yank him back to his seat.

I expected this type of response, after all, we were all like sardines here, especially after the growth of the den as we traveled and finally made it to North Carolina.

"This will only work if we work together. Everyone is pulling his or her weight in some way. Even those thirteen to eighteen that have to attend school will be helping," I say to the crowd.

"My intention is to make ourselves as self–sufficient as possible. You're worrying over all the wrong things Willy," I scoff. "What will it matter if we build you a house right off the bat, but you have no running water? We have no running water?"

"Have you considered the bigger picture here?" I ask not just the man eyeing me but the whole den. "If the air is going to be poisonous... if we cannot step outdoors without a body suit, what about clean water?" Everything inside my mind was on fire. Each time I felt something had been laid to rest, a new hole sprung right up.

I didn't have to worry about building a home where everyone could fit for the time being. Plus.

I did have to worry about animals and shelter for them. Minus.

Everyone fit in the house. Plus.

There were as many as nine people to one room, though bunks did help. Minus.

In one of the green houses we found Snowdonia Hawkweed the yellow plant that Naomi said would keep the Elders out of our heads should we be found. Plus.

We were tiptoeing a very fine line. While we were thrilled to have so many plants, Naomi and I agreed that we shouldn't share the benefits of the plants with anyone. Instead, everything cooked and our water supply would be laced with Snowdonia Hawkweed. Minus. Maybe? We were protecting everyone but again without their permission and that did not sit right with me.

"I'm not one to question your decisions," Xavier says softly, his wife and children at his side. "However a few months back we did hear of the attacks in North Carolina – even one of the packs going missing – uhm – Silverwood – or uhm – Whitemoon – the two that merged with Ty – no – uh – Jackson – no – Jace – uh – the Romano's?"

Oh, did I forget that we were only ninety minutes – with traffic – from the location of a pack that went missing? Every single one of them? The Romano's?

That had to count as two strikes against us.

"We are a few miles from that area. We do need to be careful, but we have no reason to believe that we are in any danger right now-" I stop abruptly.

Of course, we were in danger, maybe not from what drove the Romano's from North Carolina, but from Nick and what he could possibly tell the Elders about all of us. Our location was a mystery to him but there were new methods to find us. 

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