Will
Okay, I know it sounds mean, but this girl looks absolutely insane.
Batshit crazy, as my little brother Xav would say.
She spins around and looks at me when I speak. Her eyes are huge and her pupils are dilated, practically taking up all of the green. Her face is as white as paper, practically translucent, and her body is terrifyingly thin. She's tall and willowy, about 5.9 or 10. But every bone in her body seems to be jutting out at odd and painful angles. I know she wasn't starved – or at least, I'm guessing – but she is obviously, severely malnourished. So while my whole family glares at her, I motion her into the kitchen.
"C'mon, you're probably hungry." Really, I'm just thankful she's awake so my family will stop worrying about me. Since we got back last night everybody has been telling me how it wasn't my fault, how I had to do it, to save the girl.
So, now that said girl is standing in front of me, I better make sure she's not going to die as well.
She freezes. I sigh and then walk over to her. Before I even think about the mental strain I might be putting her under, or how scared she might be, I take her hand and lead her away from the hall and into the large kitchen. My family stares at me as if I'm Judas, but I barely spare them a glance as I pull a seat out for her and sit her down.
She bows her head, her hair falling like a curtain around her, as if it protects her from the evils of the savant world. But, somehow, I know she's watching me.
It's unnerving.
I break out into an easy smile, folding my arms across my chest.
"I'm Will Benedict. Fourth oldest boy and, of course, the best looking." I hear an indignant snort from Xav behind me. He breezes in, with Crystal in tow, and they both hop up on to the counter, staring down at us.
"So... Emerald, right?" Xav asks.
She doesn't reply.
He nods for some reason. "Yes, yes... I totally agree. Anyway, so back to the main subject, what was that mental institute like?" He raises an eyebrow.
Crystal glares at him. "Xavier!" She hisses. He looks toher.
"Was that insensitive?"
Crystal just rolls her eyes. "Sorry, Emerald, but Xav's a tool, so, y'know, get used to it." Crystal shrugs.
I can't see, but I swear, I know that she's narrowing her eyes. "Why do I need to get used to it?"
Jesus, she could form glaciers with that voice.
And then my Dad appears.
"You have to stay here, Emerald. We're here to help you anyway. To keep you safe."
"From what?"
"The people who took you, obviously." Zed swaggers in and rolls his eyes. Sky punches him in the arm.
I can imagine that Emerald is glaring at my baby brother.
I roll my eyes at all of them and look down at Emerald.
"You hungry?"
She nods.
"You eat meat?"
She nods.
"You allergic to anything?"
"Apart from idiots like your brothers," She nods at Zed and Xav. "No."
I grin at her. "I'll make you the best and biggest breakfast you've had in a long time."
And since I'm the only one close enough to hear, I hear her whisper:
"That wouldn't be hard."
And I realise, I killed a man so that this girl wouldn't die.
I need to make sure they don't get hold of her again.