-Chapter 5-

"Can we come back?" I asked Jacob as we made our way back to our house. It's been a week since we left and two days since I even mentioned coming back. Turns out the house was pretty clean and my dad was nowhere to be found. Hopefully, he was rotting in a jail cell somewhere.

"If you really want to I'll bring you back for a little while. How's that sound?" He asked holding my hand.

"That sounds nice. But I really don't want to go back." I said a little sad I had to leave the fun behind. I believe that was the only time I felt truly wanted by anyone other than my brother.

"I know Lil, but we have too. I promise I won't let anything happen to you, you know that." He said reassuringly.

"Yeah I know but still I don't want him near me Jay." I continued to argue.

"Lil you'll be fine. Just don't worry. If things get too crazy just tell me and I promise to get you out, and we can go back to Mike's." He said as we waited to cross the street. "I promise we won't be there much longer. Just for a day or two as I wash our clothes and pack us some new ones. Then we can head back to Mike's." He finished as the road cleared.

"Okay." I said defeated. We continued to walk until we got to the woods. We cut through and went up the path. I took a deep breath as we got closer to the house, past our hideout, and up the trail. The house soon came into view and we walked around to the back. He unlocked the door and we walked in. I looked around and the place seemed clean, I wonder who cleaned up. We went up the steps and the living room was straight. 

"Is he here?" I whispered.

"No he's out somewhere." Jacob said as we reached the top of the steps.

"Good." I walked into my room and closed my door. I threw my bag in the corner and plopped down on my bed. I missed this place, well my room to be exact. I got comfortable in the bed when Jay came in.

"You all good?" He asked peeking his head in.

"Yeah I'm okay, just relaxing."

He walked in and lay down next to me.

"So tell me about you and Mike."

"There's nothing to tell. But the feelings mutual for us."

"That's good I guess. Like I said before I have nothing negative to say about him, he's one of my closest friends. I've known him for a while he's a very nice guy, and I think you two will be happy together. But I should tell you this; he's not who he seems to be. I promise it's nothing bad it's just," He paused for a second collecting the right words to describe Mike. "There's more to him than meets the eye. I'm sure one day he'll show you what I mean. But right now it's not my calling to do it." He finished.

"If you say so." I just laid there and looked at him. I really loved my brother for everything. Since day one he's been there for me when no one else was. "Thanks for being there for me Jay."

"No problem. You're my little sister I'm supposed to protect you no matter what."

"But what if one day you're not there to save me and something bad happens then what?" I asked hypothetically.

"Just remember I'm always a phone call away and you have Mike now. So there's always someone with you. So you don't have to worry about that." He smiled.

"But you won't be able to be with me everywhere I go." I counter.

"Yeah I know. But while I am here I'll always be there." he said as he kissed my forehead.

"Yeah I know." I smiled and snuggled next to him. He gave me my favorite teddy bear and laid in bed with me. Within minutes I was sound asleep. It was a long day and a nap was well needed.

My eyes fluttered open, and I saw Jacob sitting in front of me, looming over my face. "Hello there." I blinked.

He smiled. "Good morning." He straightened himself so I could sit up.

I stretched out my body and sat up. He was staring at me all intense-like. "What? Do I have some weird growth on my face?" I asked as I began touching my face frantically.

Jay laughed. "Nope. But I think you slept well because you kept mumbling stuff about Mike." He smirked slightly as I turned a bright shade of red.

"You're bluffing." He shook his head. Oh God . . . We sat in awkward silence for a little while. Pay Back Time. I smiled sweetly. "So how was your make-out session with Veronica?" He gaped at me. "You know. The one you were enjoying before I knocked on your door to tell you about Mike?" Continuous gaping. I arched an eyebrow. "Ooooh, was she so bad a kisser that you swiped it from your memory?"

I must have struck a nerve there because his gaping turned into a half scowl. "Don't you say that."

"So he admits to the crime!" I laughed as I threw my arms up.

He just shook his head. "Fine. Be that way." Then he walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him. He just walked out on me.

I sighed, trying to think of ways to apologize when the door swung open. I looked up, expecting Jay to be there. But it was my father. Drunk. His eyes went wide at the sight of me. But his expression of shock soon turned into pure and utter loathing.

"You rotten child!" He grabbed my arm. You could smell the Tobacco and Beer on his breath, so strong it made your eyes water. He thrust me into a wall, the one that was separated my room from Jay's.

He must have heard the thump because right after a few blows and a bloody nose received from the Drunk, he came charging in. He pushed my father away. "Don't touch my sister!" He demanded. Jay . . . no.

He tumbled over and fell on my nightstand, crushing it. His head shot up and he glared at my brother. "So you came home too?" He snarled, lunging himself at Jay, pinning him to the floor as multiple blows struck my brother.

"No!" I shrieked, trying to tug him off. "Stop it!" I demanded. He brought his hand back and smacked me across the face. I tumbled over, letting a cry of agony roar out.

"Lilly!" Jay yelled. "Run! Run!" Run to Mike's house; the words unspoken, but clearly understood. I shook my head unable to move a muscle. The sight before me terrified me.

"I'm not leaving you alone!" I screamed, trying to shove the Drunk off of my brother, getting a left hook to the face, giving me serious bruising.

"Don't be stupid! Just run!" He demanded. I felt the force of his words. Without bothering to open the window, I leaped through it. I stumbled through the woods, screaming for Mike. I tripped over a boulder and crashed into the river. I had to get out and get Mike. But this was the most forceful part. But it would carry me halfway there. I stayed put, coming up to catch my breath. The water was cold; numbing even. But I stayed put. Whatever would get me there faster I stuck with it.

When I finally got out, I was soaked and weighed down by the water. My legs ached, but I willed them to go on. They finally gave out right before I got to the door, making me fall against it. I curled up into a little ball and cried, hoping he heard the thud. I closed my eyes and heard the door open, a gasp, and someone yelling for Mike to get there.

I opened my eyes just in time to see Devin looking down over me. But his image was soon replaced with deep darkness and I instantly knew I had passed out.

* * * * * *

I woke up to shooting pain in my head and my body ached. My eyes fluttered open and my surroundings were unfamiliar. Where am I? I sat up slowly only to be pushed back down gently by the shoulders. I fell back against what seemed like a bed.

"You need to stay down. You're too weak to do anything." I heard a voice say. I looked next to me and saw Devin sitting there. His face showed worry and anger. It looked like he had been in a rough situation. His hair was wild and untamed, there were a few scratches above his left eye and there was a small bruise that began forming on his right forearm. I just laid there and tried to think about what happened in my previous events for me to end up back at Mike's house in serious, excruciating pain, but then I began to grow a massive headache. My head felt heavy and my brain felt like it was ready to explode and seep brain juice from my ears. 

A few seconds later I heard footsteps coming into the room. I looked towards the door and seen Mike standing there. He too had no shirt on. What is this shirtless day? He looked like he'd just run a mile. His chest swelled and deflated with every breath he took. His face looked angered more than anything, and his eyes weren't that pretty hazel brown anymore, it was more of a dark color, one I couldn't find the words to describe. It kind of scared me, I don't know if I want to be around him when he's like this.

"How are you feeling?" He asked as concern and anger filled his voice. Despite it all, I could sense a little bit of warmth in it.

"Like I got kicked in the head but a cow, stomped on by four teens and punched by a Kangaroo." I said closing my eyes against the sudden pain I felt in my body as I spoke. 

"Do you know what happened?" The way he spoke gave away his true feelings. He was heated with rage, ready to attack something or someone preferably.

"Not a lot, but just pieces." I said trying to get past the painful headache trying to remember.

"Well just tell me what you remember?" He said in a calmer voice.

I slowly sat up and rubbed my temples. "Well I and Jay were in my room sleeping. When I woke up we started talking and playing around a bit, but after that everything is blank. Well, I do remember running through the woods then passing out. That's about it." I said recapping everything I just said then it hit me. 

"Jacob!" I flung the covers off me and hopped out the bed quick. Unaware of how weak my legs were, I met the floor face first. I continued to fight my way to my feet as I went towards the door but Mike and Devin both picked me up as I tried to fight them off. Tears began running down my face as I couldn't contain my emotions anymore.

"What?" Mike laid me back on the bed and held me down. I stopped fighting long enough to look at him with fear and horror tear-filled eyes.

"It's Jacob. He's in trouble." I spoke.

"Lil calm down and tell me what happened?" Mike asked trying to stay calm.

I laid there and told him the whole situation with my dad and everything I remembered what happened, up until I passed out at his door. All the while I was telling him the story I could sense his whole demeanor changing. I looked at him and his eyes were turning black. I stood with quickness and this time not falling. 

I slowly backed away from him and left Devin sitting there trying to get him calm. I continued to back away but I couldn't keep my eyes off him something about the way he was reacting intrigued me. I tripped over something but then continued to move back until I was in a corner. I held my knees to my chest I watched him stand. It seemed like he became a whole different person right before my eyes.

"Stay here with her." He said in a deep but menacing tone. He walked over to the window and jumped through it. I watched bug-eyed as wings sprouted from his back and he flew away. I was speechless; I sat there gaping at the window & the blurry image that started to fade from my vision. 

I just looked back at Devin and he was just looking at me with a faceless expression. Nothing that was happening so far was making any kind of sense at all. He's not who he seems to be. There's more to him than meets the eye. Jacob's words from earlier spoke inside my head answering all my unanswered questions.

Mike was indeed something beyond this world. Or Maybe I just received one too many blows to the head, and as a result, I get hallucinations. That seems more logical.

*****
EDIT: 5/25/15

EDIT:12/14/19