As quietly as possible, I rushed back down the stairs to Cassandra’s cage. My excitement turned out to be premature, however, when I discovered there were only two keys on the key ring.
Two keys, three cages… please let one of these be the key for Naomi’s cage…
“You found them?” Cass asked, her voice breathy. I nodded, biting down on my own chapped lip in worry.
“Yeah, but there’s only two of them.”
Cassandra’s eyes flashed. “I think she keeps one on her neck,” she whispered. “That’s why she’s always wearing that black cord.”
My hands began to shake, but Cassandra continued.
“If the keys are for you and Naomi, you need to leave me and take her to get help. Don’t try to get the other key. It’s too risky,” Cassandra said urgently.
I narrowed my eyes on her. She was only thirteen, but she always seemed like more of a grownup to me than our mom.
“I’m not leaving you,” I said firmly, shoving one of the keys into the lock that kept her door shut. It slid right in. I turned it and itclicked,and the lock popped open.
We both stared at the open lock in shock for a moment before Cass reached forward with trembling fingers to let herself out.
“I can’t believe it worked…” I whispered, and she snatched the keyring from me and rushed to Naomi’s cage next.
With bated breath, I watched as she rammed the keys into the lock on Naomi’s cage.
Neither of them worked. The other key was for mine.
“Shit!”Cass whisper-yelled, tossing the keys away in frustration. I crept up behind her, unable to look away from the shallow rise and fall of our baby sister’s chest.
“What are we going to do?” I asked, keeping my voice quieter than a mouse.
Cass turned to look at me, her brown eyes burning with a fire that I had only seen a few times before. She only ever looked like that when Mom punished me or refused to let her take care of Naomi.
“You’re going to run and get help. I’m going to get Naomi’s key.”
(Age 10)
As I followed Cass up the stairs, my heart was beating so hard in my chest that I worried my mother would hear it.
Cass peeked through the crack in the door, holding her hand back to stop me from continuing forward as she did her best to assess whether or not my mother was close by. After a beat, she turned to me, putting her hands on my bony shoulders.
She had dirt smudged on her face and was wearing a filthy purple T-shirt with a stupid unicorn on it, but she still somehow looked fearless and brave.
“I’m going to go first. If she catches us, I’ll distract her. You run for the door and scream as loud as you can once you’re outthere. Look for other people. The first person you see, get their attention, okay?”
Nibbling on the dry skin of my lip, I frowned.
I didn’t like that plan. Cassandra could seriously get hurt by the time I was able to come back with help.
“You come with me,” I argued, meeting her gaze. She gave me what I was sure she thought was a reassuring smile.
“I will if I can, but if she catches us, it’s more important that one of us makes it outside. You’re the fastest; it makes more sense if you run.”
How did she know I was the fastest? We have never had a chance to run around and play. Her legs were longer than mine.
“I don’t know…”
“Cal, we don’t have time for this. We need to get Naomi out of here.” Her eyes were burning again, and I knew there was no arguing with her. Finally, I gave her a firm nod.
“Okay,” I agreed, and the corner of her lip quirked up.
