Sitting in the car, slurping our drinks, I couldn't help but feel empty inside.
I hadn't done what I was supposed to. The day had been ruined because of one little action setting a whole shockwave into motion.
We barely got out of the carpark alive. Barley had to sprint to the car and throw himself in so that anyone else couldn't get through him to us.
Avery and Adrian were gone. That only left me and Lumi for the others to focus on.
Luckily, all had been averted, but at what cost?
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We couldn't risk something like that happening again. It was too damn exhausting to be running from people like that and checking every shadow on the chance it'd be someone else wanting to harass us.
A simple 'no' didn't stop them. They were monsters out here, circling for a best of the best.
The drive-through was safe. Cold drinks were soothing. Having just the three of us bundled in the darkening car in the parking lot was relaxing.
Just us and peace.
We even got an extra drink for Lydia to try and bribe her from still wanting to go to the arcade later. It'd kill her spirits after waiting all day in anticipation and coming home to find us still missing. The little girl wouldn't quite understand the weight of the situation we were trying to avoid. She could go with her parents and brother another day, but it just wouldn't be the same without doing it as a family.
I hadn't got her the toy she wanted, or given her the best day out after school. I was letting her down and making her lose faith in me.
Still, today proved that going out anywhere public would only result in a collosal shit-show. Lydia would just be dragged into it all.
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"So...." Barley began, looking between us "some day, huh?"
He swirled his drink, grinning through the duck biscuits he crunched on.
Lumi huffed at him, agreeing.
I cradled my drink and Lydia's in my lap that were wedged into a cardboard holder.
"Let's not do that again" I chuckled.
They both nodded, giggling.
"Still got to find a keychain for Lydie" Barley commented "I'm kind of scared of having to go home to that cute, sad little face."
Lumi snorted, rolling her eyes at Barley.
"You're such a softie."
"How could you say no to that sweet thing?"
"Very easily" Lumi smirked "n-o."
"Oh!" Barley gasped, falling backwards while clutching his chest, making the car shake "right in the heart! You are too cruel! To your own sister!"
"You're so dramatic" she dismissed him, shaking her head and smiling at me briefly before turning back to him "don't you dare spill that drink in the back!"
I laughed, pushing Barley's tail out of the way when it swung near my face.
"Brothers" Lumi muttered to me, raising her voice now when Barley pulled between us again "I'll tell mum and dad to take you back if you don't quit it."
"Ah, shit" he pouted, grinning and sucking on his straw noisily "they lost my receipt. Guess you're stick with me forever and ever...."
Flopping back with a giggle, he grinned when I snorted at him.
"If you drop it, I'm dropping you!" Lumi warned as she eyed his slopping drink.
"Oh yeah?" he smirked, straightening a little "try it, Halloumi. I'll drop you like...."
He paused to think, frowning.
"Like a dirty tomato slice" I added cheekily.
Lumi grumbled, smirking through her annoyance. Barley didn't get the suggestion, peering at the both of us.
It was just me and Lumi smiling at each other, until the drag of Barley's straw cut through the moment.
"So....you guys going to....kiss....or.....?"
"With you here?!" Lumi snarled.
She yanked herself over her chair to slap at Barley who laughed through his yelps. He kicked back at her, trying to avoid her vicious hands.
"Just drop him off back home" I laughed at the two "then we can enjoy the night without him."
"Oh, I see what you are doing" Barley shoved Lumi back into her seat by the side of her face so he could lean forth and point a finger at me as he kept her there "not while I'm here, Mister."
"He's just saying you are annoying!" Lumi pushed against his hand, grunting at him through narrowed eyes "you always ruin the time I have with other people."
"Ruin? Or make it better?" he retorted.
Lumi looked to me and we both scoffed.
"Ruin" we both agreed with smiles.
"I see how it is" he scowled at me, turning it on Lumi "well then, dump me back home so you can do whatever. Just saying, a car isn't very sanitary or comfortable to have sex in."
"Barley!" Lumi growled, blushing furiously.
"What? It's true! Shit's cramped in here!"
"We aren't going to have sex in the car" I added, turning to look at him smugly buckling himself in now "what the fuck?"
He just slurped on his drink, knowing his job of humiliating his sister and embarrassing her out of trying anything was done.
Lumi huffed, buckling in too. I did the same, facing the front again.
"I'm telling mum what you said" she scowled through the mirror at Barley.
"And what will she do?" he laughed back "she'll agree with me."
With an annoyed grumble, Lumi began to drive us through the parking lot.
"You are so embarrassing!" she almost whined.
"It's my job to be embarrassing" Barley replied simply "I'm your brother."
"Yeah, well...." she muttered, not finishing her sentence. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, grumbling as she reached for her drink to swallow down bitterly.
I smiled at her, deciding to stay quiet by drinking. With Lumi yanking us onto the road snaking around the lot, she huffed at having to stop for someone else at a roundabout.
"Are you going to ask her out?" Barley spoke up again.
"Will you quit it?!" Lumi snarled at him.
I turned my head as much as I could, unable to see him fully.
"Maybe" I smiled.
Lumi simmered, glancing to me. She sat at the cleared roundabout for a little too long before curving us around it to head to a set of changing lights at the end.
"Would you say yes?" Barley pried.
"Would it matter to you?" Lumi shot back.
I heard Barley shuffle in his seat as he straightened.
"Actually, it would" his voice grew serious.
Lumi glanced to me, worried. I smirked, knowing Barley was just being a fool again to scare her out of dating.
"You may be my friend, Chalk" Barley began as Lumi moved us forth "but if you hurt Lumi in any way, you'll have to deal with me; and I don't hold back."
"Barley" I chuckled now "I'm not going to hurt her. You're getting all serious over nothing."
"It's not nothing to me."
I saw his hand grip the side of my seat, up near the headrest. His curled, capped claws pricked the material, showing me how sharp and large they were beneath the guards.
"Barley" Lumi muttered, seeing his claws between us "stop."
"Lumi dated a guy called Jamie. He was good at first; being nice to everyone, but he was always taking shots and paying it off as jokes. He just kept going and going until he crossed the line over and over again."
"He was good, to begin with" Lumi grimaced.
"No, the dude was an absolute cunt, Lumi" Barley's voice snapped back "you were just too in love to see it."
Forcing a smile, I tried to remain optimistic. Barley retracted his claws from the seat so he could lean back, his tail slapping the floor of the car.
Was he saying that Lumi couldn't see that I was horrible as well? Like the guy she dated?
"Why did you two break up?" I spoke up to her.
Lumi glanced and grimaced, clearly uncomfortable.
"He broke up with her on her birthday after they had sex" Barley answered for me.
"Bar...."
"It was obvious what you guys were doing in your bedroom" he replied bluntly "I'm not stupid. Jamie was leaking her nudes to his friends behind her back."
Lumi let out a choked gasp, whimpering.
"Lumi...." I whispered.
My heart broke for her. She thought she could give her heart her boyfriend and he betrayed that trust and secrecy so viciously.
"How did you find out?" I asked Barley.
I heard his scoff. His voice had a growl on it as he began to speak again.
"He sent me one too, bragging and saying some nasty shit about her."
"Can we... not talk about this here?" Lumi breathed, indicating so she could steer the car to the side of the road and pull the handbrake up "it happened a long time ago. I don't want to talk about it with Nisha."
"I don't want it happening to you again" Barley dropped his voice to reassure her.
"It won't" she whined, burying her head in her hands "it was so embarrassing....."
I heard her sniffle and let out a sob. Barley promptly unbuckled his belt so he could squeeze between our seats and reach over to grab her hands, pulling them down.
"Lumi, I'm looking out for you" he stroked he backs of her hands with his thumbs "hey, I may give you shit, but I'm here for you, ok?"
She nodded, still sobbing.
He released her to turn to me.
"Look, Chalky, I know you are good guy from the time we spent together, but it's been a long time since then. Things change."
"Not like that" I frowned back, looking around him to Lumi "never."
His eyes snapped onto mine. They were cold, just like they had been when his life was guarding the drugs we were both chained near.
He used his size into obscure the view to the driver's seat as he solely faced me. Even with only the torso of his body leaning in, he unnerved me.
My hands squeezed the sides of the cardboard holder I held.
"I got hit with unlawful stalking and grievous bodily harm, without intent" he huffed at the words as if he didn't believe them "I went to court and had my jaw locked as they told me how horrible I was for trying to defend my sister. I got told that I only acted that way because of my nature to guard something, like we did together. I got off easy that time with home detention. If I even catch a hint that you hurt Lumi, or Lydie, the same way that he did, I will make it a damn homicide, I swear to God."
I couldn't fake-smile my way out of this, even to comfort myself or Lumi. My back pressed into the armrest of the door behind me as Barley stared daggers into my soul, even hissing as he breathed.
He sounded like Tawn, right before he attacked me and pinned me to the floor in a strangle-hold for telling people Elgress was a snake.
"I swear on my life" I vowed, swallowing my fear down "I'm not going to do that to her."
He looked me over, searching for Ill-intent, as if he could just see it on me. Skeptical, he peeled himself back to hover between our seats so he could return to comforting Lumi.
He really did have the same possessive focus he had when his duty was to protect the bags of drugs. Years later, that same unwavering focus had been channelled into his sisters. They were his new drug, and he wasn't giving them up for anything.
If I wanted to win Lumi's heart, I had to gain Barley's trust.
"I'll drive" Barley decided when he saw Lumi wasn't in a stable emotional state to keep driving.
Lumi just nodded, unclipping and getting out to meet Barley outside where he pulled her into a tight hug, rubbing her back.
He muttered to her as he did, checking on her. His claws lifted her face to his and he said something to make her snort, wiping her steaming face and nodding.
He spoke to her before she pulled open the back door to slide inside.
Barley bent over at the driver's side, shooing me away.
"I need somewhere to put my tail" he insisted, gesturing with impatience.
Was he just getting me in the back so I could be near Lumi, or did he really just want more room for himself?
Did he even trust me to be back there?
"Haven't got all night, Nish" he chuckled, slapping his tail across to almost tip the drinks I slapped my hand over, before I pulled myself out the door and hurried for the back.
"You ok back there, Halloumi?" Barley called, strapping himself in.
She nodded, making a noise to let him know.
"And you, Nisha?"
I blinked back, looking for the joking tone as my belt clipped in.
"You just threatened to murder me" I pointed out.
"Yeah, well, can't be family without a little banter" Barley shrugged, lightening up.
Banter. Right....
And just like that, his dark demeanour was gone; replaced once again with the cheery one that was always a little too casual.
I knew how he truly felt now. This was all a deceptive front while he figured out who was a threat and who wasn't with friendly jabs and jokes. If they needed it or not, Barley was the one who kept the family safe.
That cold confrontation would be my only warning when it came to Lumi.
"Is he always this murderous?" I leant across and whispered to Lumi.
She chuckled, wiping and nodding.
"Y-you should h-hear him o-on his games" she mumbled, smiling.
"Those bastards deserve it" Barley spoke up, indicating and pulling us back onto the road "you can't just come and kill a man while he's taking a piss."
"You c-can" Lumi coughed back "m-making your m-man da-dance doesn't c-count a-as im-immunity."
Barley smiled, switching his drink in the holder next to him with Lumi's so that hers was now in the one closest to her.
"It's called 'the Scriggle Squiggle, thank you very much" he retorted, making her snort.
"You pay m-money for some-something so stupid?"
"Didn't you do the same thing at Paragon?" he jabbed playfully, grinning.
"Hey!"
Chuckling, he took another long drag from his drink.
Lumi smirked at me, wiping her face.
"I'm grateful you spent your money on this stupid thing" I whispered to her, smiling.
She returned it, taking a deep breath to steady herself.
"I'm sorry."
"About what? Crying?" I scoffed, leaning forward to grab her drink for her and hand it over "it's embarrassing, I get that. You don't have to worry about that happening again. Besides...." I paused, lowering my voice "....all the times I was dancing around chains and leather was pretty embarrassing too. I was this close to a ball-slip."
I squeezed my fingers together to have Lumi snort, almost choking on her drink.
"Oh my gosh!" she laughed.
"A few centimetres and you'd never love bananas again" I added, seeing her cover her mouth to try and stop the sharp laugh that came out, startling Barley.
"You're horrible!" she whispered around her clamped hands, wiped her watering eyes.
Sipping my drink now, I just giggled with her.
At least she had a smile on her face now. Distracting her from that darkness was working. She didn't need to have that hanging over her head when we were trying to have a good time together.
I saw Barley smiling too. He continued to drive us through the sunset back towards home.
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"We're back!" Barley bellowed when we got up to the front door.
"Welcome back!" Meena's voice came "how was today?"
We all grumbled, snorting.
"Honestly, a real fu...."
Lydia stomped down the hall to pout at Barley, folding her arms.
"You went without me."
"We didn't even go to the arcade" Lumi smiled weakly back "it was too late when we got out, and we knew how much you wanted to go. We can go tomorrow, how about that?"
"We got you a drink" I offered the dripping plastic cup to her.
She huffed, turning her head and stomping her foot.
"Lydie..." Barley sighed, bending down to her level "hey, it was a really rough day. They had all these bad guys trying to run at us at the shopping center...."
She peeked back at him, curious.
"They were ninjas" he breathed "and everyone was all wacha! Kaboo! Yooorrr!"
He chopped the air, making her laugh before she poured again.
"I'm still angry at youse all" she tried to screw her face up.
"You" Lumi corrected her "you all."
She just got a huff from her sister and another turn of her back. Her flat tail moved up and down in frustration.
"Well, I guess I'll have this extra drink then...." Barley started.
"Hey! That's mine!" Lydia spun around to come to me and rip it out of the tray "no fair."
He grinned to me, shrugging that his truck had worked.
"Will you let us pass now?" Lumi sighed.
Lydia thought, humming.
She shook her head.
"You don't have the password" she grinned.
Planting herself down, Barley rushed forth to scoop Lydia up, grabbing her drink and spinning her around.
"Oh! I've got her!" he laughed, letting us rush past "oh no! She's coming after you!"
He charged down the hall as we pulled up next to the kitchen where Faris and Meena were.
Zooming around the room, he made plane noises while pretending to try and drink the drink again.
"Coming in for landing! Skiddia crashes down! Rrrr! She's out of fuel!"
He let her down gently, passing her the drink so she could slurp out of it.
"Right before dinner?" Faris noted with an edge in his voice.
Barley glanced to us, approaching the bench.
"I had to keep her happy somehow" he grinned back as he leant there "since we couldn't go to the..."
He noticed her staring, gesturing for her to go to the couch where the TV was on a gameshow.
"A-r-c-a-d-e" he whispered.
Meena ana Falik smiled, nodding.
"We were ambushed" Lumi took a seat now, sighing "people were everywhere!"
Falik looked at me as I climbed up beside Lumi. Barley gestured for Lydia to keep watching tv when he saw her eavesdropping.
"Well, these things are bound to happen when you are famous."
"Oh, no" I laughed back "it's not me. Avery and Adrian were there. They caused it."
"Those two got up on one of those picnic benches and made a whole speech today to get everyone to leave them alone. Kinda worked" Barley smirked, shrugging.
"A....speech?" Meena smiled, collecting the vegetables Faris cut "what kind of speech?"
I glanced to Lumi, seeing Barley's blank face staring at us both.
I didn't want to alarm them with our talks of Bruce wanting to kill us, especially when we didn't have proof circulating yet.
"It was some face-paint warrior kind of stuff" I chuckled "real inspirational."
Barley and Lumi snorted.
"Right...." she shook her head at me.
"Well, whatever it was for them to leave you alone so you could make it for dinner" Faris smiled, turning to us all "I was getting worried. Next time, ring or text us if you are staying out late, please. Lydia walked home alone today because you weren't there to pick her up from the bus stop."
"Sorry Dad" Lumi dropped her eyes.
"Sorry Dad" Barley circled his nail on the bench, pausing so he could start taking the caps off.
"Sorry" I added, seeing him smile before returning to kiss Meena and keep helping with preparation.
"I used the big button!" she grinned from the couch "and I crossed with all the other people too at the green man. I was super safe!"
"Look at you go!" Barley left the bench to praise her "someone is a big girl."
"Still..." Faris dropped his voice to us "she shouldn't have to cross a busy street like that alone. We didn't even know she did it until she was back home."
"I'll make sure it doesn't happen again" Lumi mumbled back, glancing to her sister while unclipping the bubbles on her spurs.
"Lydia will be with me" Barely spoke up as she climbed onto his lap "tomorrow, I'll pick her up."
"You better!" her little face looked up at him "it was a long way!"
"Without someone to give you a ride?" Barley gasped "your noble steed let you down."
He neighed, shaking his head. The noise had her laughing before we all found amusement in his antics.
"If we had known, we would have walked her" Meena spoke now "it's dangerous for a girl as young as her to walk the city alone. Please let us know next time."
"We will" Lumi mumbled back, regretful "sorry."
"It's my fault" I piped up "I didn't know it was going to get so out of hand."
"None of you could have known" Meena oiled up the chopped vegetables "usually when we go out as a family, Lumi doesn't get much hassle."
Lumi blushed. It was clear most people were only interested in the fame of the Stars. Lumi was pushed to the side shamefully.
"We'll call you when dinner is ready" Meena tilted her head towards the couch "no need to sit here, all sad."
"We can play games!" Barley lit up, looking down to Lydia "want to see me make an amazing headshot?"
"Ah!" Meena peered around the side of the kitchen wall to scowl at him "nothing violent around your sister!"
"I'm joking, Mum" Barley smirked, lifting from the couch and having Lydia shadow him "you want the pony game?"
"Ponies!" Lydia cheered "with the jam and sprinkles!"
"And I'll take the rest of your drink too" her mother held out a hand "you can finish it after dinner."
Lydia moaned, pouting. She didn't try to refuse her, shuffling dramatically over to the kitchen while sipping it so she could reluctantly pass it up.
"All of them" she eyed mine too.
I smiled down at the tray, handing it over. Barley and Lumi had already finished theirs before coming home, probably in anticipation this would happen.
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We followed Barley down the hall and into his room. Barley quickly flipped the blanket up so he could smooth it down and lift Lydia onto the edge. He got her to close the door behind us so he could rip off the plastic still around his tail and dump it beside his bed.
"Pony game" Barley sang "pony game..."
"You seem pretty invested in it" I noted, laughing at him starting up his console.
"Oh, it's good" he smirked "it's not just cute ponies and cupcakes."
Barley scrolled over to the icon for the game. On it was a smiling pink pony with a gummy bear in its mouth. The background had lollipops dripping in jam.
"Pony!" Lydia squealed, taking the controller excitedly.
Barley sat beside her, moving back a little. He hung his tail off the side of the bed so Lumi had more leg space at the head with me.
The icons for the developers played, rolling into the main screen where a green pony came trotting onto the screen. It paused to lick it, whinnying softly.
I snorted, unable to see someone as tough as Barley so hyped for such a stupid game.
Others trotted in the background near the rolling green hills decorated in cupcakes. A river of jelly and sprinkles rolled through it where a gummy bear was being washed down, waving it's arms.
"So good" I muttered to him, smirking.
"Just wait" he held up a finger and tabbed across to the latest save to start it for Lydia.
The pony on the screen was washed in a thick layer of red jam. The screen spiralled into a red silhouette of a decapitated bear. Down in the loading bar, a pony was chasing a limping bear.
Lumi leant forward a little, giggling in disbelief.
"Yeah?" Barley grinned, proud of himself "huh? Huh?"
"Is mum going to be ok with this?" she worried, looking to the closed door.
"Mum thinks it's just sprinkles and trotting" he waved a hand to dismiss her "Lydie likes it and it's not too violent."
"Too.... violent?" I snorted now.
"Just watch" he turned back around as the game started.
The screen was filled with over-saturated colours. Lydia controlled a yellow pony that had a mane of clouds and jellybeans stuck to its swishing tail.
Cheerful music filled the screen. It bounced and squished delightfully when the pony ran towards a group of gummy bears dancing in a circle.
"Get them!" Barley cheered.
Lydia mashed the buttons, making the pony slam it's head into the back of one. The pony's teeth chewed into where it's spine should have been, spilling copious amounts of jam everywhere. The bear laughed, sunshine and rainbows floating into the air around it.
The pony threw down the bear to stomp on it, popping off its head and kicking it aside.
"Jam!" Lydia cheered.
"Holy shit" Lumi breathed.
"It's just jam" Barley turned to her "and lollies. It's good."
"It's so...." I tried to find the word as Lydia raced after the fleeing bears.
"Non-violent?" he suggested with a knowing smile, dropping it when he looked to Lumi "you better not tell mum or dad, otherwise I'll be stuck here with a really boring baby game. Gummy Scares is fun to watch. The 'Pony game'."
I couldn't believe it when the pony chomped on the leg of a bear on a swing. The other one pushing it ran off in fright. The one Lydia has grabbed was hanging onto the chalky lolly board for dear life.
"Pull, Lyd!" Barley egged her on.
She mashed the prompts flashing up in bright colours. The bear began to tear, having tendrils of sour strings join both halves of the body that spilled more jam.
"Is this why she's always wanting those whenever we go to the lolly shop?" Lumi scoffed, still stunned.
"Don't know what your talking about" he played innocent, pointing to the pile now at the pony's hooves "don't forget to eat it for health!"
The pony slurped it down, rearing up to celebrate. There was a beating green candy heart wedged amongst the mess of bright sprinkles, chocolate, and pink jellybeans.
"Isn't it great?" Barley grinned "she's really good at it."
We just smiled back, wildly fascinated in the deceptive game.
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We sat there, smirking and giggling as Lydia ran around her colourful lands trying to hunt down all the gummy bears for brutal kills. Barley pointed out what to do, keeping an eye on the door and an ear for any approaching footsteps.
"Dinner!" Meena called.
"Here" Barley grabbed the controller to go to a menu and toggle on a feature "mum's coming."
Lydia whined when he handed it back. I heard footsteps coming down the hall, turning back to the game.
All the landscape has been cleared of red jam and lolly innards to be replaced with cakes and jellybeans. Sparkles floated behind the pony when Lydia ran over to more dancing bears.
Meena knocked on the door, opening it.
"Are you guys ready?" Meena smiled.
Lydia couldn't kill the bears. Instead, they popped into confetti and balloons. There were cheers and laughter as jars of jam fell out instead.
Meena grinned, glad that Barley hadn't gone against her wishes, that she knew of.
"This game is boring" Lydia complained, grumbling.
"Well, it's what is best. Come on Little Miss, dinner time."
Lydia slid from the bed, abandoning her fake version of the murder-fest she had been laughing and squealing over before.
Barley smiled to his mother as he followed, turning to promptly gesture to his eyes then to ours.
Lumi mouthed a swear at him, brightening as we all gathered at the couch where loaded plates were set on the small table.
It was piled with roasted pumpkin, potato, cauliflower, and carrots. Cuts of meat laid beside the vegetables that were doused in gravy.
Barley took the floor. I sat opposite him so his parents and his sisters could take the couch.
"We should really invest in a proper table if we are having guests over" Faris chuckled down at us with his plate in his lap.
"With chairs that can hold my weight" Barley added.
"We wouldn't want to bust another one under your big butt" Lumi jeered, laughing.
"Or your big ego" Barley retorted, smirking back.
"Kids" Meena smiled, withholding laughter "watch the TV. No fighting."
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We all ate cheerfully as we watched the presenter on TV reveal letters on a large board. Calling out their guesses as they ate, I joined in to try and win the game.
This was fun, pretending we were on the game and racking up points as a family. They laughed and groaned at the wrong answers, offering theirs to the deaf players continuing on with fake smiles and over- hyped enthusiasm.
I wonder if they had the same strict rules we did back at Paragon?
Cutting into a piece of pumpkin, I felt my phone rumble. Ignoring it, I went to eat as it kept ringing.
"Are you going to get that?" Lumi frowned at me.
"It's probably nothing" I shrugged, placing the now quiet phone on the table beside me.
I barely got the pumpkin into my mouth when it started again, flashing and vibrating loudly on the glass.
Picking it up, I saw it was Tawn.
"Hello?" I answered unsurely.
"About time!" his voice snarled back to me "what were you doing that was so important you couldn't pick up the first time?"
His voice was huffing out through grunts as he heaved himself at something. I heard solid whacking thunder into my ear.
I turned from the others, whispering.
"What on earth are you doing?"
"Breaking into.... this bastards.... car for... my things....he fucking....stole" he huffed again, the whacking sounding out between every second word before he growled "glass is harder to break than it looks."
"Go through the back window" I suggested, shaking my head.
Why was I helping him? Why did I even suggest that without thinking?
The breaking of glass resonated through the phone. I quickly got up with a forced smile and scurried down the hall for the front door where I could talk in peace.
"What the hell are you doing?!" I hissed "why did you call me for this?"
"Well, sorry if I want to save your stupid arse" Tawn snapped back as he rummaged through something, gasping "I found it, fucking prick."
Save me? From what?
"What are you talking about?"
"I've got a sheet here that Bruce was handing out to everyone. It's got a list of names and addresses of our handlers. It's got...." he paused, tutting down the phone "Lumi for you. She live at CitySpark Hotel, number 15, on 58 Main Street?"
How was I going to check that without alarming them?
"I know it's number 15..." I frowned back while listening to the sound of plastic rustling and Tawn grunting as he tightened something "I'll check the app."
Pulling up the maps, I checked my location and confirmed it was indeed the name of this hotel my marker was planted over.
"Holy shit" I breathed, raising the phone back to my ear "does that mean he's sending everyone here?"
"Not just to you" he scoffed "everyone. Even got that Simi woman here who plays your shadow, but she's only got a P.O box to go off. Avery has Adrian and Alowyn, even though the bird has no address either, and I've got Luke, Levi, Loreen and Elgress."
"Fuck" I breathed, stunned that Bruce had gone to all this trouble just to try and drag us back there.
"Yeah, and..." Tawn scoffed as something turned "he's got all the names and addresses of everyone in our dressers on the back. Fucking prick is thorough. He's offering money for anyone who gets us back there."
"Money?" I frowned, checking the hall "how much?"
Tawn laughed, the paper rustling near the phone as he rummaged through what sounded like plastic.
"What? Are you interested in getting it for yourself?" he jeered back.
I bit my lip, huffing at his coldness.
"I'm just curious."
"That'll get you killed one day" he pointed out, muttering to himself "five grand for each one."
"Fuck me!"
I lowered my voice when Lumi leant over to frown at me. Giving her a little smile, I turned my back to them.
"Yeah, so, pack your shit and get out of there. It's coming to her place" Tawn sighed "did you already clean out your room?"
"What I could..."
"Ah, well the rest is here" his voice soured "Elgress and Vinnie went looting the places for themselves. I've got all sorts of feathers and junk here. They even stole your stupid hammock. It's in the back seat."
"My....bed?"
"Don't worry, she flogged my stuff too" he replied as he grunted again "I'm using the hammock though. Might as well, since it's just dumped here."
"Wait...." I laughed out as I tried to understand it all "you are stealing my bed now?"
"Just to use as scraps" he huffed, grunting again "fits like a charm."
Fits? Was he wearing it? What the hell was going on?
"Also, I need you to give me the bird's number so I can give him a heads up too" Tawn spoke just as a car door slammed shut and I heard shoes crunch over rocks "I don't have it."
It was my turn to scoff at him.
"You worked with him for years and you never got his number?"
"Did you, smart arse?" he hissed back.
"I got it when we reached the shops" I replied smugly, brightening "I can give you that."
Thank fuck i had. If Lumi hadn't made us exchange details before he ran off, I wouldn't have a way to contact him when we most desperately needed to.
And all the time we had been together, I had never asked for it or made an effort to connect to him. I was as slack as Tawn.
"I don't care how you got it, give it to me" Tawn snapped.
"A please would be nice" I mumbled back before pulling his angered voice from my ear so I could search for it and send an image of his contact across.
"Get out while you can" Tawn warned before the sound of another car door opening and cheerful chatter started up "bye."
He ended the call. Staring down at my phone, I frantically tried to process what has just happened.
It lit up. Seeing the message from Tawn, I opened it to find a picture of the paper as it rested across his seated lap. A few seconds later, the back of the same paper with the rest of the names and addresses appeared.
Saving both on my phone, I felt my heart clench when I saw just how many people were going to be affected by our decision to leave.
The others wouldn't be able to get up here, right? They had to have a key card just to get in the doors and work the elevator.
But if just one lived in the same building....
Ok. I needed to get out of here. Once they saw I was gone, they wouldn't harass Lumi or her family. Barley wouldn't have more strikes against his name as he protected them.
Marching back down the hall, I stood at the end of it, forcing a smile.
"What's up?" Lumi noticed my uneasiness as I scooped up my plate to shovel food into my mouth "what's going on?"
"I've got to leave" I swallowed my mouthful, scraping in another "I'd love to stay and have more of this great food, but I can't."
"Why do you mean?" Barley frowned now.
"Who was that?" Lumi demanded now, placing her plate where mine had been "what did they say?"
"You'll choke eating so fast" Meena worried.
"Tawn" I just choked out, eating more "people are coming after us."
"Ok, so.....what?" Barley looked for an explanation "they don't know where you are. They didn't catch you leaving."
"Bruce handed out all your addresses, including this one."
Everyone's face fell. Lydia glanced to her parents, unsure of what that meant exactly.
"I've got to go" I swallowed, hiccupping before I rushed to the kitchen to snatch my drink out of the fridge and subdue them, leaning over the counter "I need to grab my bag from the car."
Lumi lifted herself up, dusting herself off.
"I'll drive you" she began to move with determination.
"No" I pointed a finger at her to stop her "I can't have you dragged in all this. I'm just going to go down to the trams and go from there."
Barley stood now, moving past his parents so he could grimace at me. They joined him. Lydia clutched to Faris' leg, looking up at him.
"Where are you going to go?" Barley's eyes mournfully peered to me.
I smiled, swirling my drink.
"Before I met you, there was someone who was like a father to me. I want to find them again."
"But what if you can't find this person?" Lumi fretted, her eyes growing tearful again "do you even have their number?"
I wasn't going to correct her or elaborate. The less she knew, the better. She couldn't come chasing after me when I was wild and living somewhere days away.
The further, the better. The Great Dane roamed. He wouldn't be here anymore. Even if it took years to find him or his son, Masha, I could live my life the way I was supposed to until then.
Maybe I'd even join the generations of family Masha would have lived through by now? There would still be a piece of that Dane left out there somewhere.
"I'll figure it out."
Lumi whined. Barley dropped his eyes. His parents held her concern for my wellbeing. Lydia began to sniffle.
"Does this mean we can't go to the games with you tomorrow?" she whimpered.
Chuckling and leaving the rest of my drink, I moved from the kitchen to comfort her, only to have Barley rush me; crushing me into a bone-breaking hug.
"Can't...breathe" I tapped his arm when I felt my ribs being constricted.
"Man, you are the worst" he sniffled when he retracted a little to let me gasp "we only just found each other again after all this time."
"You did so well without me all the years after we separated the first time" I reminded him.
"It sucked" he mumbled "we're supposed to be cocaine brothers for life."
That silly old promise made when we were young and felt so hopeless. I chuckled at it, patting his back.
"We are still brothers, Barley."
"Prick" he shot as tears fell onto my head "only for two days."
"Wouldn't want you to get sick of me now, would I?" I joked "besides, now you don't need to worry about me and Lumi."
He chuckled, releasing me. Looking up, i saw the tears streaming down his cheeks he tried to wipe away.
I patted his side as I walked past him to Lydia, bending down to her level.
"You can have the rest of my drink, but only after you finish your dinner" I grinned.
She giggled, nodding. Opening my arms, I felt her crush against me, starting to cry.
"Will you be gone forever?" she mumbled into me.
"Oh, only like this" I rubbed her back, pulling my face away to see her whimpering one "I'll be out there, running around and making sure everyone is good, like you. Someone needs to teach those naughty animals how to behave."
She giggled as a little smile returned.
"Like how to cross the road?"
"Especially" I nodded "if you ever see a really big white monkey waiting at the road, that'll be me. We'll cross it together when I come back, ok?"
She nodded, grabbing into my hand.
"Will it be soon?"
I forced a smile so my shaking lip didn't let out a sob.
"It'll be a long time, Lydia" I hugged her, feeling her cry again "hey, but that's ok. Some things take a while; we just have to be patient."
I release her, only for her to run off down the hall and into her room. Watching her, I approached Lumi who was struggling to keep herself composed.
"Come here" I held my arms out for her.
She ran into them, sobbing against my neck. My tears blinded me as I held her tightly.
"Y-you we-were sup-posed to g-go for a dr-drive with m-me" she accused, weakly hitting a fist into my back "we would have l-looked over t-the c-city to-gether."
"That does sound nice" I whispered, smiling at how we would have been alone as we peered over the glittering landscape, just enjoying it in silence "it's been a while since I've seen the sky like that."
She sobbed, crushing me.
"I d-don't want y-you to le-leave" she whimpered, refusing to lift her head "you were su-supposed to a-sk me out."
I moved, lifting her head up gently. Wiping her eyes with my thumbs, I felt a sob escape my lips.
"I can't do that now. I'm really sorry."
She nodded, her face scrunching as she cried. She pulled her arms from me to she could cry into the backs of her wiping hands.
"Lumi..."
She shook her head at me, still sobbing.
"I'll message you for as long as I can" I vowed "and call and video. I want you to see it too. I can't do it alone."
Barley coughed, smirking through tears when I faced him.
"Him too" I added with a giggle.
Lumi snorted, smiling. She tried to roll her eyes at him, just staring at mine pitifully.
"I've got to go" I reminded her.
She squeezed tighter for a moment, resting her head on my chest. Breathing in, she found the courage to release her arms from me, hugging herself instead.
I moved to her parents to be met with Meena's warm arms. Faris held me too, giving me a handshake and a pat on the back after we broke apart.
"I'm going to miss you" Meena grew tearful.
"Hey, don't cry over me" I chuckled at her "it'll be fine."
"Just, stay safe out there" she fretted, running a hand on my arm "you never know who you can trust nowadays."
"Lots of crazies out there" Faris added with a little smile.
I nodded and wiped my eyes, agreeing. I wouldn't have imagined that one of those crazies would be the reason I was able to have this heads-up on escaping yet again.
"I'll unlock the car for you" Lumi offered, just as Lydia came running out of her room towards us.
"I'll do it" Barley interjected "if they are after Paragon people, you should stay inside."
"It'll be safe here" Faris agreed, turning to Barley "come right back, son."
He nodded, waiting as Lydia tugged on my shirt to get my attention.
"Take this with you" she held up her hands that clutched a soft toy.
It was the altered and frayed one from her bag that was made to look like Barley.
"I can't take this..."
"It'll keep you safe" she insisted, grabbing my hand and forcing it into my palm that turned it over "it keeps me safe."
Glancing up to Barley. I saw his soft gaze at his sister and his trembling lip. He wiped his tears again.
"She's too cute" he sniffled.
"No take-backs" Lydia folded her arms so I couldn't return it to her.
Clipping it to my phone, I showed her the toy dangling there now. She giggled, giving it a bat.
"Thank you, Lydia."
She became bashful, hiding behind Meena.
"Come on" Barley tilted his head, making sure his good eye wasn't still blinded by tears "you should get going if you want to catch anything out at this time."
I nodded, heading to his side.
7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bALWqCgVM
Everyone gathered at the front door when we pulled on our shoes and grabbed the card and keys.
Lumi pulled me into another hug, quickly kissing my cheek when Barley opened the door.
"Keep in touch" she blushed back to me.
"Y-Yeah..." I found myself trying to find words as my heart flipped on my chest "yes, I sure will."
Bidding goodbyes before any of them could beg for us to stay again, I quickly followed Barley, glancing back at the door everyone gathered at to wave to us.
"She seems to like you quite a bit" Barley commented, tapping the card and pressing the button to have the elevator whir.
Peering at her, I waved back and felt my skin burning.
"And you like her...." he noted, shooing them all away when the elevator door began to open.
"I'm just disappointed we didn't have more time" I sighed and bid them all a final farewell before stepping inside with Barley.
He scanned the tab on the side of the wall and punched the button for the basement impatiently.
"If you found us a few years ago, I would have jumped at the opportunity to join you out there."
The door closed and I raised a brow at Barley.
"Really?"
He shrugged, grinning.
"Everyone and everything was out to get me" he scoffed "and it took way too long to see that it wasn't. I would have dropped everything just to disappear to where it was..... simple."
Eyeing him, he smirked to me.
"What's stopping you?" I asked.
"Believe it or not, I love my family" he chuckled, getting a laugh from me "even with their dumb pool rules and tail guards that look like massive condoms, I love those idiots more than anything. When Jamie...." he paused for a moment "when he sent me that stuff and I was stuck at home for all that time, I realized that they were going to be there for me. It kind of opened my eyes to how nice it was to have a mum and dad there for me."
"And sisters" I added, smiling.
He shook his head and chuckled, agreeing.
"Halloumi is a pain in my arse, but I love her" he spoke "and little Squiddy. I couldn't escape her hands, even if I wanted to."
"Squiddy?" I snorted.
"Liddy is Squiddy" he shrugged again, laughing "hangs on like one, especially around the snout."
"Kinda cute" I smiled.
"She gives me serious baby fever some days" he admitted "but others, I just wish I couldn't hear her. She keeps me balanced, in a weird way."
He laughed again. I joined him as the door opened to the car lot and Barley led the way, scanning the area.
"So, are you ever going to have kids?" he asked.
Our feet slapping and his tail scraping across the concrete were the only sounds between us.
"You know" I shrugged "when I find the right one."
"Lumi seems set on you" Barley nudged me, grinning.
"Yeah, but Lumi is also more human" I smirked back "it wouldn't work between us when I'm out there."
His excitement dulled and he groaned.
"Way to kill the dream of being actual family" he mumbled.
"What about you?" I piped up now "any lady lizards in your life?"
"Lady lizards!" he laughed sharply, slapping my back "oh, no! People are too scared of me to date me! Nobody wants a guy who has one eye and looks like a rake gouged out the other."
I snorted with him, stopping by the car so Barley could unlock it for me.
"One day, man" I smiled from within the car as I gathered my bag and made sure none of my belongings had tipped out, handing him his stolen decanter of flaked alcohol "some people like the tall and rugged type."
"You're just saying that..." he pushed my grin aside.
"Well, wherever they are, they'll come to you eventually" I straightened up and closed the door "I know it."
Barley grinned, pushing my shoulder. He grew embarrassed, trying not to let me see.
"Give me your number" I pulled out my phone "we can keep in contact and you can let me know when you find that special someone."
"You too" he snorted "if there is anyone out there...."
He glanced to me, his face falling a little.
What if there wasn't? I would roam out there, alone forever.
"I'm sure there will be" I shrugged, forcing optimism.
"For sure" Barley added quickly.
He rattled off his number and I added his contact, showing it to him to make sure it was correct.
"I guess this is it" his face grew glum again.
"I guess so..."
He gestured for me to follow him to the garage door where he punched in the code to start rolling it upwards.
Looking down at the bag, I noticed the torn up contracts were still inside.The shredded paper litter over my clothing I had folded down the bottom.
The evidence would be lost with me. It had to remain with Lumi so she could compile it into something damning again.
Pulling out a shirt, I piled my phone and charger into it. Stuffing all the cash I scooped up as I checked the creaking door, I tied off the hem and sleeves into a bundle I crushed to myself.
I fished out a hoodie to throw on. Being light grey, it wasn't the best disguise, but it would keep me warm out in the cold night.
The shirt and my items were shoved into the pocket at the front. It bulged like a pouch.
"Give Lumi the bag. Hide the evidence somewhere safe until whoever that shows up is gone again" I held it out to Barley.
He placed his decanter in, peering at the rest of my belongings inside.
"That's all your taking?"
"I won't even need this soon enough" I replied with a small smile.
Barley nodded, lowering the bag so he could hug me again.
"Stay safe out there" he murmered over my shoulder.
"Always" I grinned, patting his "don't do anything illegal while I'm gone."
He chuckled, nodding.
"I'll try my best" he joked.
We parted and I saw him hold the bag close as I picked my way up the slanted driveway, waving back to him.
My heart ached and my eyes gleamed with fresh tears at having to leave him and his family behind after believing I'd be safe with them and away from everything.
Clambering onto the sidewalk and straightening up, I pulled up my hood to cover my face and obscure my recognisable hair. Curving to the right, I followed the path that I knew would lead me to the crossing where I could walk past the bus stop Barley usually took Lydia for school. If I kept following this main road and the lines gouged into it, I'd eventually find the tram station I wanted.
Quickening my pace, I continued onwards while keeping my head low to avoid the glare of the city bustling to life around me; the people who once looked on me with awe and admiration now completely unaware of the lone Star trying to desperately escape their clutches.
ns 15.158.61.11da2
