"ALAINA, talk to me. You're being unreasonable," Luke said for the umpteenth time.

After we'd gotten into our hotel rooms, I plopped down on the bed in the room I had all to myself. I stared at the ceiling for what felt like centuries, unmoving, and certainly not answering Luke.

"Alaina," he repeated.

I replied with silence. I refused to meet his gaze like he expected me to.

"Alaina." He huffed, and I could clearly picture him angrily running a hand through his hair. Pictured, because I didn't check to be sure.

"Look, dad wants me to protect you. I want to protect you. I wasn't trying to embarrass you or ruin your chances of making friends or whatever. This is for our own safety, because I don't trust anyone anymore."

"Then why did you have to be the one who said it?" I snapped, finally breaking my promise to myself by looking at him. His eyes were red, and he looked so vulnerable I almost apologized for my small outburst. But I didn't have control of my tongue as I continued.

"You're acting like my father, while Dad was right there. If he wanted to protect me from Michael, he should've said something." I yelled.

"I said Dad wants me to protect you. Not that broken mess of a person that still isn't coping with the death of his wife," Luke almost shouted, then he gasped at what he had just said.

Something inside me twisted, turned, and broke. I could feel my heart shattering all over again at the mention of mom. The memories of my terror and endless crying all came crashing back in a wave of daggers and nails.

"Stop," I sobbed, unable to control the tears that formed and blurred my vision. "Stop, stop, stop."

"I'm sorry," he cried. "I didn't-I was just-"

I couldn't hear him anymore after that. I curled up into a ball and sobbed until I was dried up and empty inside.

Luke sat against the door quietly while I cried, patiently waiting for me to stop. That made me cry harder, because he wouldn't leave me alone. He still wanted to talk to me.

I beat him to it, through my final tears. "Michael just wanted to show me around. That's all. He didn't-he didn't-" I hiccupped.

Luke didn't wait for me to finish my sentence. "I can take you. I don't mind."

"You don't even know this place, and I trust him. I don't care if you like it or not - I'm old enough to make my own decisions."

Since Luke didn't object that time, and he didn't look like he had it in himself to fight me more, I decided that I would go find Michael and ask him to take me touring. I needed space from Luke; hopefully some time with Michael would help me forget what just went down.

A knock thrummed against the door. Luke got up and opened it, only to reveal our father with an overwhelmed expression.

"I found out that there's a prison a little ways from here," Dad started without a greeting. "One of the criminals escaped."

My blood-stilled. Luke's face paled.

Luke asked the question I couldn't force out of me. "What was he in for?"

Dad stared at his feet as he answered. "Murder. The guy was in for murder. We need to be safe in case he somehow makes it here. I've been paranoid since..." he trailed off. "So I have some locks and bolts and-you know-you get the point. So tonight when we go to bed, make sure both rooms are secured. Especially Alaina's room."

We weren't completely safe anymore. I shivered, but was internally grateful for Dad's idea to stay somewhere for the night. I wouldn't like to be on the roads while an escaped murderer was roaming free.

"Okay." I said. "I'm going to go find Michael."

Luke's head snapped in my direction. "No-"

"Luke." Dad rubbed his temples. "Stop trying to control your sister. Let her do what she wants for today."

I slipped through the door while Luke began to protest. I didn't want to stick around for more arguing.

Michael was easy to find. He was sitting at the front desk, next to his mom, having a quiet conversation that I only heard the last few words of.

He faced my gaze with his own, his eyes lighting up.

"Hey," I forced my best smile. "I'll take you up on that offer to tour."