I hope you guys like this next chapter. It might not be to good because I have a lot going on right now so I have been a little pre occupied. Read and review if you want.
Chapter ten:
The kids ran as fast as they could, weaving in and out of any bushes they came across, hoping they wouldn't get caught. The kids ran like this until they came to a liquor mart. Once near the liquor mart Jack realized that two kids running would look suspicious so he and Skyler began walking. Jack had no clue where he and Skyler were going to stay for the night, which scared him because bad things could happen to two little kids who appeared to be alone.
Soon, it began to get dark and Jack decided it was time they found somewhere to stay for the night. He came across an alleyway that had many different sized boxes. It was definitely a good place to stay for the night. There was an area way back in the alleyway that would allow the kids to stay hidden from prying eyes.
"Come on Skye lets go in here okay. It looks like it will be a good place to sleep tonight."
Skyler nodded her head in agreement and followed Jack. Once they got into the alleyway they began searching for a box that would be big enough for both of them to share. They searched and searched but they couldn't find a box that would fit both of them. They were about ready to give up on finding a good sized box when Skyler spotted one. She tugged at Jacks shirt sleeve and when he looked at her to see what was wrong she pointed to the box.
Jack made his way over to it and began looking at it trying to decide whether or not it would be good enough for both of them.
"You know Skye, I think this box will work." He then walked the box over to a corner and set it down facing the wall so when they were sleeping no one would see them. "It's gonna get really cold tonight Skye. It's already freezing and it's not even midnight. I don't know what were going to do for blankets."
Jack then began to think back to a time when he was seven or eight and his father had forced him to spend the night outside. It had been freezing cold that night too. All he was able to scrounge up was a cardboard box and newspapers. He had slept in the box and used the newspaper as a blanket and insulation. He was still cold that night but it would have been worse if he hadn't had the newspaper.
"We need Newspaper Skye and lots of it."
So began the kids search for newspaper in the alleyway. The search didn't take that long because evidently lots of people threw newspapers out. They were able to gather a whole pile of newspaper. Once the newspaper was gathered Jack began using it as insulation, placing it wherever the box had a hole. This task only took about five minutes to complete, and once it was finished Jack and Skyler were able to lie down.
"Skye you get in first, I want you to have most of the box. Because even though it is a big box it won't fit both of us completely. Don't worry though" Jack said seeing the concern in Skyler's face. "The box is close enough to the wall that it won't allow a lot of wind to get in and I can use the rest of the newspaper as a blanket."
Skyler shook her head and crawled into the box. Then Jack began laying the clothes he had brought with him on Skyler. This would allow her even more warmth.
After he had finished wrapping Skyler up in clothes and newspaper he laid down and wrapped newspapers around himself too. Slowly Skyler and him fell into a dreamless sleep, shivering occasionally from the cold.
While the kids were sleeping they didn't hear the laughter that was escaping from the mouths of three troublesome boys. These boys had nothing better to do with their time than go looking around town for homeless people to torment. The boys were cruel and vicious and without much parental supervision they could get away with almost anything. They always played it safe when in came to tormenting the homeless, always picking the people that were well hidden. As much as they liked their game of catch-the-homeless they didn't want to get into trouble for it.
So it's obvious that these three youngsters were looking for trouble when they happened to wonder into the alleyway that was concealing Jack and Skyler. At first glance the boys assumed that there was no one in the alleyway, but then one of the boys, the oldest and most "mature" one, noticed movement coming from the box that was hidden in the corner.
Slowly the boys made their way to the box expecting to find some old homeless man. One of the boys lightly tapped on the box and said "come out come out who ever you are". He than pounced on the box and shook it, trying to get the person to come out.
All three boys were surprised when they saw two children emerging from the box. Seeing two kids would probably cause a lot of people to feel compassion and leave them be or possibly offer them some help but all the appearance of the kids did was cause a spark of cruel interest to flood the boys faces.
"Well, well, well what do we got here." Said Christian, the oldest boy who had dark brown hair and beautiful green eyes.
"It looks like a bunch of orphans." Said Shane, the youngest and by far the ugliest.
"That or thieves, look at all these clothes." Said Seth, who had silky black hair and beautiful blue eyes but a humungous nose.
At this point both kids had backed themselves into a corner and neither knew how they were going to get out of this mess. They had a child's intuition and they could tell that these boys were trouble and weren't likely to let them leave harm free. So Jack began formulating a plan of escape in his head. Eventually he came up with a plan and he knew it was a long shot but they had to try. He gently nudged Skyler letting her know he had a plan.
Suddenly, without anyone knowing what was coming, Jack leapt from his spot in the corner and tackled Shane. "Run Skye!" Skyler, with fear bubbling to the surface, did as Jack instructed her to do.
The two other boys, who had been busy trying to get Jack off of Shane, noticed the little girl running and Christian immediately ran after her. There was no way these kids were getting away; they were going to be way too much fun. He grabbed the girl and roughly jerked her off of her feet and then slammed her onto the ground.
"Now" He said. "If you stay put I won't have to hurt you like that again. All my brothers and I want is to have some fun and you aren't going to rob us of that opportunity." At this point Christian was talking to both kids seeing as his brothers were finally able to get Jack under control.
"Let us go! We aren't going to be any fun." Jack mustered the courage to say.
"Oh but you are. See I see quite a lot of fun here. We got a punching bag in you little boy and we have this pretty little girl here. I would say quite a bit of entertainment."
"Don't touch my sister." Jack said with panic in his voice. What had he gotten Skye into this time? Was she going to suffer like she did all those times at home because he had felt it was a good plan to run away?
Skyler, went numb when Christian said what he said. She may only be six years old but she was smart for her age and she knew what he was insinuating. Once again she began to crawl into herself to make the pain, which was sure to come, disappear.
"What are you going to do if I do touch your sister?" Christian taunted and then for good measure decided it would be fun to punch a nine year old in the stomach.
"Christian." Seth said slowly. "come on their just little kids they can't do anything to defend themselves."
"I know that's why it's so much fun."
"I'm not touching either of them. We gave them a little fright now lets go. What your talking about doing is disgusting and stupid!"
"If you don't want to have fun then leave!" Christian said.
"Yeah leave." Said Shane.
Seth looked at the scene that was unfolding before him, thought about something and then said "Fine. I'll leave but when the cops come to our door don't expect me to lie for you."
"Oh the cops won't be coming!" Christian yelled to his brothers back and then he turned his attention back to the kids. "So where should we start with our little punching bag or with the pretty one?" Christian then pointed his right index finger at the kids and then stopped on Skyler. "I think the pretty one will be the most exciting, don't you Shane?"
Shane shook his head and smiled "Lots of fun."
Christian then grabbed for Skyler who, upon feeling someone grabbing her, let out a small moan.
"Don't you dare touch her!" Jack said with panic in his voice. "She's just a baby don't do anything to her!" Jack started tearing up, because as much as he wanted to save his sister, he knew that he was no match for Christian and Shane.
"Looky the wittle baby is crying." One of the brothers said.
"Hold the boy would you Shane? I can't have any fun with him running around."
Shane did as directed and held on tighter to Jack, who he had already been holding. Christian then pulled Skyler closer to him and began looking her up and down. A malicious smile crept across his face. "Where to begin?" he then pushed Skyler to the ground and pounced on her holding her small body down with his knees.
Skyler was trying her hardest to keep her mind from the events that were occurring in the alley way but she was having difficulty. She was somewhat numb to the things going on around her but it was nothing like when she lived with her parents. When she lived with her parents her soul went into another realm where pain didn't exist; but in the alleyway her soul was still present it was just floating silently above her body. Her soul felt everything her body was feeling and it was tearing her up inside.
Suddenly Skyler felt the pain subside and she realized that the boy who had been so excited about hurting her was running away. She then saw Jack rush to her side with tears streaming down his face. "Skye I am so sorry I never meant for this to happen I just wanted us to stay together. Please forgive me?"
Skyler just looked at her brother with a distant look and walked towards the box they had been using as a bed and laid down.
Jack gazed at his sister and tears slid down his eyes. What had he done to his baby sister? Then out of the corner of his eye Jack saw movement. He immediately turned around and stood in a defensive stance waiting for Christian or Shane to be back for more. Instead of seeing the two boys Jack saw a man in his mid-thirties coming towards him. Frantically he looked around for somewhere to hide but he realized it was a hopeless cause and stood stock still and waited for the man to approach.
When the man got closer Jack realized he was a police officer and fear seized his body, now him and Skyler were definitely going to be separated. They would be found by the women from CPS and taken away from one another.
"You okay there buddy?" The cop asked.
Jack stood in silence hoping his silence would cause the police officer to leave.
"I saw those boys in the alley and it got me suspicious. I guess I spooked them and from the looks of you it was probably a good thing."
The officer then walked towards the box making sure his eyes had seen correctly and looked down into the wide terrified eyes of a little girl.
"Okay." The officer said, directing his attention to Jack. Your sister, she is your sister isn't she?" He got a curt nod and continued. "looks a little spooked and I need you to tell me what happened and where you guys live."
The cop figured he knew who the kids were but he thought it would be easier to ask them first. However the silence he was receiving told him he wasn't going to get an answer. He then made the call to take the kids with him to the station.
"Kay buddy I'm going to need you to come with me. You and the little girl." He then grabbed for Jacks hand. However Jack had other plans and he roughly yanked his hand back and ran towards his sister.
"Leave us alone!" He screamed.
"I can't do that. You two have to come with me. There are quite a few people looking for you guys."
Jack knew he was trapped but he wasn't going to give up without a fight. He moved to pull Skyler from the ground, he was planning on running, but he noticed Skyler was shivering and he knew that Skyler had been through enough for one night. Slowly he let his muscles relax and he gently raised Skyler from the ground and made his way to the officer.
"Thanks" The officer said. "I'm Brian and I am glad you are willing to work with me. I am here to help you nothing more nothing less. So can I ask you what happened in the alley?"
Jack looked up into the officer's face and shook his head. "Nothing. Those boys were just fooling around."
The cop could tell from the look in the boy's eyes and the way the little girl was carrying herself that something had definitely happened. He didn't push it because he could tell, obviously, that both kids were sensitive to the mention of what happened in the alley.
"So here we are at my car. It should be nice and warm compared to what you two were sleeping in." The cop then opened the door and waited for both kids to enter and once they did he shut the door and walked to his door and got in.
"We should be there in 5-10 minutes. Then we can probably find you somewhere comfortable to rest." Upon looking into the backseat the cop realized that both kids had fallen into sleep. "Hope you sleep tight." He whispered.
As the officer predicted they arrived at the police station five minutes later. He really didn't want to wake the kids up but, of course, he had to. He gently shook them awake, let them adjust to their surroundings, and then led them into the station. He knew both kids were a little wary about the whole situation from the way they were reluctant to enter the station. He decided that the best thing to do would be to let the kids enter the station on their own. Slowly he started walking towards the station, giving the kids some space, and slowly the kids began to make their way towards him. Soon all three people made it safely into the police station.
"Sit here okay." Brian said pointing to a pair of chairs in the corner. "I will see what we can do about finding you somewhere to sleep although I am guessing these chairs are going to be the best we can do."
The kids did as directed and sat down. Brian then made his way to the front desk to make some calls.
"Skye, I don't know what were going to do. I don't know why only bad things happen to us. I'm sorry about everything I have ever let happen to you maybe if I were braver a lot of those things wouldn't have happened." Jack waited for some kind of response from his sister, some kind of movement that showed she was registering what he was saying, but he got nothing. "Skye, don't do this okay. Please talk to me or nod your head do something to let me know you are okay." Tears were beginning to pour down Jack's face again. Skyler had been through a lot but she never failed to respond to him. She would be distant but she would nod her head or something.
As much as Skyler wanted to respond to her brother she couldn't. She was to numb and her soul was battered. She wasn't okay and she didn't think she ever would be again. She couldn't comprehend why bad things always seemed to happen to her, why all she ever felt in life was pain and sadness.
"Skye I'm sorry and I'm going to make it up to you. No matter what I will protect you and nothing bad will ever happen again."
Skyler knew that Jack couldn't keep that promise but there was still a tiny part of her that wanted to believe. She also didn't want to tell Jack that because she knew that keeping her safe was the one thing that kept Jack staying strong.
"Okay kids I've gotten some things straightened out so now all we have to do is find somewhere to let you rest." Brian said. "I think chairs are the best I'm going to be able to do." He then walked over to two chairs that were opposite the chairs the kids were using and began pulling them towards the kids. "I think you two are short enough to be able to use these comfortably. It will be like a very uncomfortable bed." Once he was done getting the chairs situated he grabbed two blankets and handed them to the kids. "You guys try to get some sleep okay. I'll be over there at the front station so nothing is going to happen to you alright. Someone is going to come and get you as soon as possible but I think it will take them some time to get here so you will be able to get some rest." He then smiled at the kids and walked away.
The kids lay down as best they could and stared up at the ceiling. Things had to get better didn't they? It couldn't get any worse then it already was could it? Soon both kids fell out of the grasp of their thoughts and into the clutches of sleep.
"Skyler, Jack wake up." Came the soft voice of a woman.
Both kids woke from sleep and looked up into a pair of big brown eyes. Upon closer inspection both kids realized that it was the woman from the Matter's house. Realizing this both kids became frightened worried that she was going to separate them.
"Come on get up you two we have places to go."
The kids reluctantly did as told and got up. They then stood by the woman waiting for her to tell them what to do next.
"You two have had a lot of people worried about you. That was a pretty nasty stunt you two pulled. You're lucky you didn't get into any type of trouble. I am Maria by the way. "
Maria began walking and motioned both kids to follow. Soon they arrived at the front desk and there was a man waiting who was quietly talking to Brian. Upon the kids arrival both men stood quietly and waited for instructions.
Skyler, Jack, I want to introduce you to Mark." She pointed to the tall blond hair blue eyed man that was in his late twenties to early thirties.
"Hey kids. Nice to meet you." He extended his hand but didn't get a hand in return so he brought back down to his side.
"Mark is here to help me out. Jack your going to go with Mark and Skyler is going to come with me.
Jack looked at the woman in disbelief. They weren't going to separate Skyler and him not after everything they had been through. How would Skyler survive without him? More importantly how would he survive without Skyler? Without his sister there was no point to continue fighting this battle they were fighting. This couldn't happen, he wouldn't let it. He grabbed hold of Skyler's hand and began pulling her with him hoping they would get to a door but instead they ran into a wall.
"Come on Jack, this is best for the both of you. It's obvious that right now you are capable of being around your sister without hurting her. Hopefully in a month or so you two can get back together." Maria said
"But I didn't do anything to Skye. I could never ever hurt her, she has been hurt enough."
"Jack we have someone who says you were hurting her and that isn't acceptable."
"But I-please don't separate us please, we need each other to much." He was pleading at this point but he realized there was no point because Maria wasn't going to change her mind. "Johanna promised us we would stay together." Where was Johanna anyway? Mark then grabbed jack gently by the arm and pulled him away from Skyler.
"NO!! You can't take us away from each other. Please we didn't do anything."
Mark had to grab on to Jack a little bit harder but he lost his grasp. Jack made his way towards Skyler who was reluctantly being pulled away my Maria. Jack could see Mark trailing after him and he knew there was no way to stop this so he decided on a few last words to say to Skyler. "Skye remember I love you okay. Remember the song okay." Tears were streaming down his face at this point and then he began singing the song. "I see the moon and the moon-"
Skyler who had been quiet the whole time began singing to "sees me and the moon sees somebody I want to see. God bless the moon and god bless me and god bless the somebody I want to see."
"Remember that okay Skye. Every time you sing it I will hear you."
Skyler shook her head and then as she felt Maria pulling her arm she began to scream with tears falling down her cheeks. "Jackie please don't let them take me. Please Jackie I need you. I need someone to protect me please. Please don't leave me I don't want to be alone." She was begging and crying, and Jack hadn't seen tears falling down her cheeks in a long time, and it broke him up inside. There's nothing I can do.
"Skye I'm sorry but I can't do anything. I am so sorry." He was crying even harder now. Once again he had let his sister down. Mark held on to him and both of them watched Maria and Skyler get into a blue Honda and drive away.
"I am so sorry Skye, I am so sorry I let you down." He whispered one last time and let Mark lead him out to his own car. He didn't care anymore; nothing mattered, without his sister there was no point in going on.
After the Honda was completely gone from sight Mark gently put Jack into his car and shut the door. He couldn't quite comprehend why the kids had been separated. He had worked closely with Johanna and this was one of those cases that had gotten to her. When working in this field you weren't supposed to let the cases get to you but occasionally one popped up did just that and that's what the Kramer case had done for Johanna. She desperately wanted to keep the kids together because she felt that was the only way they would keep strong. They had been there for each other from the very beginning and if they were separated things might get even worse then they were. He knew that Johanna would have never let this happened but she wasn't there to stop it. He had heard that Jack had attacked his previous foster parent's son when he tried to stop Jack from messing with his sister but from the scene that had unfolded before his eyes that didn't look like that was a possibility. The kids seemed to love each other to much.
Mark looked into the back seat and saw Jack staring blankly at the back of his hand. "You okay back there buddy?" No response. "I am sorry about what happened back there. I know its hard being separated from your sister but hopefully things will turn out okay." Still no response. "This foster home you are going to is a decent one. The family is very nice. They have two small kids and an older son. I think you will really like it."
Jack looked up as though contemplating something and then said "I won't like anything without my sister."
"Come on buddy just give it a chance. I know nothing can make up for the loss of your sister but maybe this will help you." Jack went back to staring at his hand then looked up again. "Why did they take her away from me? I didn't do anything but love her."
Mark didn't know what to say so he decided silence was the best road to take. A few minutes later they arrived at Jacks new foster home. It was a nice brick red color with a nice wrap around porch. It was a two story home and there was a lot of kids toys out front.
This looks like it could be a nice place Jack thought. To bad Skye isn't here we might have been happy for once.
"Here we are buddy, this is a really great place they found you. I have worked with these people before, they are very caring and loving if you let them." Mark motioned Jack to get out of the car with a smile on his face. "Come on now lets go meet your new foster family."
Slowly they made their way to the door.
The car was moving slowly down the road and it put Skyler at ease. Although she felt dead inside the motion was slowly calming her down. The tears slowly began to subside and she stopped chanting "Don't leave me". The calm continued on for a good fifteen minutes and it stopped when Maria pulled up to a yellow two story house. It was a nice little house with a nice front porch that had brick meshed into it.
Skyler looked at it and couldn't help but shudder. What would happen to her now that Jack wasn't around? He had been there for her so many times. He might not have protected her per se but he had been there to comfort her after the pain. Things were going to be horrible without Jack. She knew deep down that instead of things getting better they were going to get much worse.
Maria got out of the car made her way over to Skyler's door, let her out and motioned her to follow. "Now this family is really nice and I am sure you will enjoy it. There are going to be a few other kids besides you, I think there might even be a few boys so they can take the place of your brother. They are looking forward to housing a girl seeing as they have never done that before. You will probably enjoy it immensely.
Slowly they made their way to the door.
I hope you guys enjoyed. I tried to end it with a cliffhanger.