“Let’s scope this place out first, then we can make something to eat.”
Nodding, I follow her as we use the flashlights to explore. We head upstairs first and find a few bedrooms. “Thank god,” I say when I see beds in the rooms. “I did not want to sleep on the floor.”
“This place isn’t as bad as it looks from the outside,” she comments, sitting on the edge of the bed. It creeks under her weight as she lies back. “It’s like whoever lived here just left and never came back.”
The more we look around, the more it seems like that is exactly what happened. Other than the boarded-up windows, this place looks like someone could have been living here when we showed up. Minus the inch of dust coating everything and the empty cupboards, of course.
Unfortunately, it’s wintertime, and as much as I would love a fire to stay warm, I’d rather have one to be able to cook with. ButSilva said not to light the wood stove in the kitchen in case the smoke draws attention.
So, cold soup it is. Thankfully, there was a can opener in one of the drawers.
Sitting at the table, with our flashlights pointed to the ceiling to give us some light, we eat in silence.
I’m not sure what to say, and Silva doesn’t look like she wants to talk.
I don’t blame her. After the day we had, the last thing I want to do is talk about it too.
She did manage to get some good things. Along with the soup, she got us some bananas, apples, ramen, and a couple of bottles of water. It will do for now.
We have enough money from Silva’s last paycheck, the one she managed to cash yesterday, to live off the grid for a little while.
It’s not the money we’re worried about, it’s being seen. Still, even if we add in what little bit I’ve managed to keep stashed away from our foster brothers, it’s not enough to live on for long.
Eventually, we’re going to have to leave again and find a place to settle in and start over.
We’re not in trouble with the law, so they couldn't care less about us. It’s Silva’s fear that they are going to find us—Brad and Luke.
Our Alpha foster brothers. The two monsters who have made our lives hell. Silva and I didn’t know exactly how bad the other had it until a few days ago.
It’s the reason why we’re here now. We needed to get out, to get far away from them so they couldn’t hurt us again.
After we’re done eating, we drag our bags up to the master bedroom and shake the dust off the bed sheets. It smells musty as we slip under the covers, making sure to keep all our clothes on and hoodies up, but it’s better than nothing.
“Silva,” I whisper in the pitch dark.
“Hmm?” she murmurs.
“I’m sorry.” Tears sting the back of my eyes as the past forty-eight hours come rushing back.
“What do you have to be sorry about, Lex?” She shifts closer until our foreheads touch. I close my eyes, a tear slipping free.
“Just that this is our life.”
She sighs heavily. “It’s not your fault. If anything, it’s mine.”
“No. It’s not,” I insist. I know she blames herself, but she shouldn’t. She’s just as much a victim as I am. We were both dealt a shitty hand. We lost our parents, and were put with a family we thought would take care of us. Then another. Then another. We were not the issue, they were.
We’ve been bouncing around foster homes for the past three years now. Before that, we lived a pretty okay life. Nothing special. We lived in a middle-class home, took a vacation once a year with our parents, and always knew that we were loved. Until everything changed.
“I should have protected us better,” she whispers, and it makes my heart hurt.
“It’s not your job.”
“I’m your sister,” she grinds out. “Itismy job.”
“We’re the same age, Silva. It’s just as much my job to protect you as it is yours to protect me. Plus, it was their job to protect us, too. They failed.”
“I should have done something sooner,” her voice breaks. “If I did, then he wouldn’t have been able to put his hands on you.”
