Chapter 3

A small stream of light hit my closed eyelids causing me to wake. I didn't open though refusing to get up just yet. Instead, I stayed under the blanket and remained unmoving. I didn't know if I was alone in the room or not at first, but a few moments later my question was answered when I heard either Derek or Simon pouring a cup of coffee. I listened as two mugs were placed on the table and as a chair squeaked as a sign that someone was sitting down. I was about to let myself be known and get my own cup of brew, but before I had the chance an interesting remark made me freeze.

"I think I figured it out!" Simon declared.

"Shh! Chloe's sleeping," Derek said in a hushed tone. I smiled, if he only knew. "Now what the hell are you talking about?"

"I know why you saved Chloe," Simon proclaimed. At this my ears perked up. "I think you like her." His tone was mocking and I could visualize how his eyebrows would wiggle at this remark.

"I think you're mental, Simon. That's the only way I can explain your ridiculous statement," he replied.

"Hey, at least I came up with a solution! And besides, unlike you I have actually been in a relationship before. Therefore, I think I am more qualified in the field of romance then you,"

"Being that they are my emotions, I think your qualifications are frivolous,"

"Your social skills are almost nonexistent, yet you can talk to her without an issue. The way you look at her isn't the way someone looks at another person they have no attraction too,"

"Your imagination is running wild. I did a good deed, but that does not mean that I have more than platonic feelings for her,"

"You're so dense sometimes! If the woman of your dreams feel right into your lap you wouldn't even notice. Since I'm your brother I'm adequate enough to at least know that," Simon replied. I froze for a second at the last statement however. I never would have guessed that they were brothers. I made a note to myself to ask one of them about that later.

"Simon, I'm done having this conversation with you," he said. The irritation was distinct in his tone.

"Fine, be that way," Simon replied. I envisioned him to be pouting at his choice of words. "But since you insist that you only have platonic feelings for her, does that mean you wouldn't mind if I made a move one her?" I blushed into my arm at his comment.

"Knock yourself out," Derek concluded. For some strange reason my heart sunk at his words, and after a few minutes of silence I decided that the conversation was over. I softly shifted in the bed making it seem like I was just waking up. I then sat up and stretched out a yawn. Of course it was all an act to make sure that they suspect that I was listening to them moments before. I dropped my eyes so they were only half open and sluggishly got out of bed and over to the coffee. I poured myself a cup and sat in between Simon and Derek. I lazily took a sip of brew and noticed Simon was looking at me with a smug smile and Derek was boring holes into Simon's soul.

"So, what's going to happen today?" I asked after clearing my throat. Derek turned to look at me and his gaze instantly softened.

"Simon and I have to leave to check out this week's schedule. Once we figure out our jobs, we obviously will have to go to our stations. Depending on what we are assigned to do will determine the amount of free time we get this week. Meanwhile, you lay low. I don't know what you can do to preoccupy your time, but as long as you stay in here you should be fine," he answered. I nodded and looked down at into the hot blackness steaming in the cup below me.

I sat on the bed reading one of the books that was in the room. I found a stack of about twenty under Derek's bed this morning when I was dusting the floors. I figured that I was allowed to read them since it would allow me to stay hidden. The book started out boring, not being a book I would read if I were at home, but soon it started getting interesting. It was a mystery and had a lot of difficult science terms in it, but now that I was in the fifth chapter I was starting to understand some of them better. I was in a really intense part of the chapter when the front door creaked. I jumped and the book stumbled to the floor. That's when I noticed it was Simon coming into the house.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," Simon said falling back onto his bed.

"It's okay," I bit my bottom and walked over to Simon. I sat next to him and he raised an eyebrow at me. "Simon, are you and Derek brothers?"

"Why?" he asked cautiously.

"I heard you talking to him this morning, and I was curious," I said slightly embarrassed. If I looked close enough I could even swear that I saw a tint of red dusting Simon's cheeks.

"Oh. Umm, yah, he was adopted when he was six. He doesn't remember much of his life before then, but our dad tells me that his mom was trouble. His dad left when he found out his mom was pregnant. Tori and I were five, so it just always felt like he was our actual brother anyways," Simon paused seeing my confused look. "Tori and I are twins." I nodded in understanding.

"So how did you and Derek end up here?" I asked.

"Our town was intruded by the Nazis. They needed numbers and we didn't have a choice. Either both of us join the movement, or our entire family would be killed. It was a no brainer. We didn't really understand that we would be killing mass numbers of people at the time," I cringed not wanting to know how many people they have killed.

"How old are you?"

"I'm seventeen, Derek's eighteen."

"How are you here if you're technically a minor?"

"They needed the numbers, Chloe."

"Okay," I nodded. "but who was that guy here yesterday? He seemed to like Derek." At the mention of yesterday my lip became sore.

"Davidoff," Simon practically spat the name. "He's the head honcho here. Whatever he says goes. I have no idea why he likes Derek so much, he honestly gets special treatment, but I don't really care. It keeps him off our back and hidden a little more than the others." I looked down at my hands thinking to myself. All I kept seeing was the man throwing me onto Simon's bed over and over again. A shudder ran through me and I closed my eyes. The second I did, the memories flashed to the stitches I was given; dark emeralds eyes that would look into my tear filled eyes to check on my emotional state. I noticed that my breathing was becoming ragged as the memory of Derek's bare chest as I was tied up to the bottom of his bed.

A hand was placed on my lower back and my eyes shot open. That's when I noticed Simon looking at me skeptically. "Umm, I just remembered that I umm, didn't shower today," I said lamely. Without looking back I went into the bathroom and turned on the water. I slowly stepped in and let the warm water wash away my thoughts. I didn't really wash too well, considering that I did actually shower today, and just stood under the water. I don't know how long I was standing there, but the next thing I knew there was a knock on the door.

"Chloe?" it was Derek. I cursed, my knees for turning to jelly for no reason at all. I must have not answered in enough time because Derek spoke again. "Chloe, if you don't answer in the next minute I'm going to come in there," he sounded worried. Why would he be worried? The thought of him coming in here made me shudder and the suddenly cooling water cleared my fuzzy mind.

"I'm almost done, Derek. What do you want?"

"I was just checking if you were okay. Simon said you went in there a half an hour ago," was I really in here that long? The cold water told me yes.

"Umm, I was really dirty?" I prayed he would accept that answer. "I'll be out in a minute." I instantly turned off the water. I quickly dresses and opened the door. To my astonishment, Derek was still standing by the door and instead of causally walking out of the bathroom and into the bedroom; I walked right into his chest. My breath caught as I realized that he didn't have a shirt on and his muscles were bare and easily seen.

"Sorry, I was going to shower after you," Derek said grabbing my wrists. He held them lightly as he stepped back away from me. I noticed that he didn't drop them even after he knew I was stable. Suddenly, like a ton of bricks, my legs became jelly again. My body never acted like this, I thought.

"Oh, umm, sorry I kind of used up all of the hot water," I said sheepishly. Derek shrugged as he hesitantly released me and walked into the bathroom. My feet padded against the cold floor as I made my way over to my bed. Grabbing the crude comb off the little night stand I began combing my hair. I sighed at the long strands that I held in my hand. My dirty blonde hair lacked luster and the tinge of red that normally reflected the light was almost completely absent. I knew it was due to lack of nutrition and it saddened me knowing that my most treasured part of myself was so damaged.

I felt the bed shift next to me and glanced up at Simon. He was casually leaning on his elbows. "Didn't get too lonely all alone today, did you?" he asked.

"No, I cleaned a little and found some books," I replied.

"Luckily Derek's a bit of nerd. It would get boring around here pretty fast without all of his books,"

"You read too?"

"Oh God no," he replied with mock horror on his face. "I like to draw instead."

"That's cool are you any good?" I asked. His face lit up as he sprung off the bed and over to his side of the room. After pulling out a sketch pad he made his way back over to me. I place the comb back on the night stand while sitting Indian style.

"Take a look for yourself," he said. He handed over the book with a smile. I placed it on my lap and started looking through the pages. All of the drawing were out of charcoal and consisted of various subjects. Some were landscapes and others were of objects, but all of them were beautiful.

"You don't draw people?" I asked.

"I haven't come across anyone to do lately. Derek isn't exactly the best model," I laughed slightly at his comment. His hand brushed my check to push back a piece of fallen hair. "I could always draw you though. I think you'd make a beautiful model." I blushed and turned my face away from him shyly.

The door to the bathroom opened causing both Simon and I to look up. My mouth went dry as Derek stepped into the room. A towel was slung over his shoulders bringing attention up to his dripping hair. Drops of water fell from his head and rolled down his stomach emphasizing his chiseled abs and disappearing below waist band of his pants that hung dangerously low on his hips. My heart began to race and my palms got clammy. At this point there was no denying the facts. I was definitely attracted to Derek.

4