Chapter Twenty Five

Caden

I felt sick when I woke up and I could still taste the Dr Pepper Uncle Charlie's friend had given me. It tasted odd, not like normal and I sat up looking round for my Uncle but seeing only Charity on the bed beside me. I didn't recognize the bed covers or the room. It even smelled funny and the light coming through the window was strange, glaring. I got up and my legs felt wobbly but I made my way to the window to peer out gasping in shock as I didn't recognize my surroundings, all I knew was that we were no longer in Forks. There was snow on the ground covering everything and it was still falling. I could see figures moving around but they were all bundled up to keep from the cold, their breath clouding in front of them. At first I felt panic but then I thought of Charity, I had to stay calm for her sake so I went back to the bed and sat on the edge to think. Somehow we had been taken from Uncle Charlie's to this snow covered place, but why? And where was Uncle Charlie? Where were my mom and dad? Did they even know we had been taken? I couldn't remember how long we had been at my Uncle's house but it was daylight here so it must be at least a day if not longer. So, mom and dad would be coming for us, they would find out we had gone but would they be able to find us? Of course they would….. and my dad would kill anyone who hurt us.

Charity moaned then tried to sit up before puking on the bed covers. I helped her to sit up throwing the dirty cover on the floor as she looked around then started to cry,

"Mommy?"

"She's not here Charity but don't worry, I'll look after you."

I cuddled her smoothing her hair like I'd seen her mom do when she was upset and she stopped crying after a while.

"Cad, I'm hungry and thirsty and I need to go."

Her lip began to tremble but I wiped away the tears from her cheeks and smiled,

"Don't worry I'll get someone to show us where the bathroom is."

She nodded, her bottom lip still quivering and I ran to the door trying the handle. It turned and I called her over grasping her hand in mine.

Just outside our door were two strangers who jumped up to stare at us and I didn't like the look of the girl. She felt angry and I knew she didn't like us very much.

"We need to use the bathroom and Charity is hungry and thirsty."

"I want my mommy."

The girl rolled her eyes and grabbed Charity's arm making her cry again,

"Stop sniveling girl. I'll take you to the bathroom now come on."

Charity cried out for me and the boy stopped her,

"Let them go together, she's scared. I'll tell Rachel they're awake and she'll get them something to eat. Bring them back when they're done then you'd better tell Sam."

I'd heard the name Sam before but I couldn't remember when but though the girl was a stranger I thought I remembered seeing the boy with her before, in Forks.

I stayed with Charity while she used the bathroom and washed her hands then she turned to me, tears still in her eyes,

"I want mommy and daddy Cad, I'm frightened."

I knew she was, I could feel her fear washing over me, but if we were going to find out what was going on and maybe escape from here I had to keep her calm.

"I think these are friends of Uncle Charlie from the reservation, like Billy. Maybe Uncle Charlie had to go out and his friends offered to look after us until mom comes for us. There's no need to be scared Charity, no one is going to hurt you."

She took my hand in her smaller one and squeezed it,

"Promise Cad?"

I smiled and nodded encouragingly,

"I promise Chatty."

She giggled at my use of my nickname for her and then turned to the door,

"Is it dinner time yet? I'm really hungry."

The girl waited outside and took us back to the front of the cabin, past our bedroom and into a small room with a table set for two. A bowl was steaming and we could smell something that made my mouth water. Another woman came in and smiled at us.

"Come, sit down and eat, you must be very hungry."

Charity shied away as the woman offered to help her get onto the chair so I did it instead then sat next to her as the woman served up a pasta dish with mushrooms and lots of cheese on top then handed us a bowl with hot bread rolls. Charity looked at the fork in front of her then turned to me,

"I need my fork Cad."

"Would you like a spoon instead little one?"

Charity looked at the woman and I thought she might start crying again but she nodded and the woman went out for a moment returning with a small spoon which she handed to Charity who remembered her manners saying thank you.

As we ate the woman told us her name was Rachel and that we would be staying with her for a few days until they were ready to move us on.

"But I don't want to stay here. I want to go home to mommy and daddy."

Rachel smiled at Charity,

"Who are your mommy and daddy little one?"

I interrupted, annoyed at the question and the way Rachel kept calling Charity little one.

"Her name is Charity and her mommy and daddy are Rosalie and Emmett."

"Really? Are you sure? And what about you?"

"I'm Caden Whitlock and someone took us from my Uncle's house. We want to go home and if you don't let us then my dad will come looking for us and you'll be in big trouble then."

She smiled again which made me more angry and I moved uneasily in my chair,

"Don't worry Caden, we know you are different but we will care for you too. No one will hurt you here and soon we will be taking you somewhere safe, away from the...those who have taken you from your true parents."

I ate thinking about what she said. Rachel knew what my dad really was, Charity's parents too, and they were taking us away from them.

"Why? We want to go back and you shouldn't be taking us anywhere."

"Listen Caden, Charity doesn't belong with the kind of crea...people she was living with, she's an ordinary little girl and belongs with an ordinary family. As for you? Well I think you will settle into a normal life once away from bad influences."

She wasn't going to listen to me, no one here would, so I had to find a way to escape or at least get a message to my dad.

"Are we prisoners here?"

She looked shocked although Charity didn't understand what I was saying, she was busy eating.

"Prisoners? No, of course not."

"Then I want to talk to my parents."

"If only that were possible but your mother is tied up with some very dangerous people and as for your father, well, you'll be better off as far from that animal as possible."

Now I was really mad,

"My dad is not an animal and I want to go home, now."

I was almost shouting and saw the water moving in my glass, a sign I was angry so I took a few deep breaths and pushed my plate away, the food hardly touched.

"Aren't you hungry?"

I shook my head, I didn't want to upset Charity who had been hungry and needed to eat and drink.

Rachel smiled,

"Very well, perhaps later then. I'm sure you would like a bath and then perhaps you would like to get some sleep."

When Charity finished eating Rachel took us back to the bathroom and ran a bath for Charity who was much calmer now and allowed Rachel to help her undress and get into the tub, handing her a sponge in the shape of a seal which she loved. Then Rachel turned to me,

"Would you like some help too?"

I shook my head again,

"I can manage on my own."

She smiled,

"I'm sure you can but I'll be just outside the door if you need any help."

I was more worried she might take my clothes away, I would be stuck here then, so I made do with a wash, keeping an eye on my cousin as I did so. She started yawning and I couldn't get her out of the tub so reluctantly I called to Rachel for help.

She came in with a nightie for Charity and pajamas for me frowning when she saw me still fully dressed.

"You can't sleep in those dirty clothes Caden. Here put these on."

I looked at her outstretched hand but didn't take the clothes she held out,

"So you can take my clothes away?"

"Of course not, why would you think such a thing. I'll wash your clothes and you'll find fresh ones in your room for morning. Come and see if you don't believe me."

I didn't so I followed her annoyed she was carrying an almost sleeping Charity wrapped in a big fluffy towel. Sure enough there were clothes folded neatly on a chair ready for us so I took the pajamas and went back into the bathroom to change, locking the door behind me. I would pretend to go to sleep then sneak out and see if I could find out what was really going on.