Naia's POV
Gabby was right. Monopoly did take a long time. We took a break for dinner but after we ate, we got right back into the game. I loved Monopoly and wished that the Samuals had one. We would have had so much fun.
"I think we should pack it up now," Gabby said, looking at the clock.
I let out a sigh of relief, "Whew, I was almost bankrupt."
"I had five dollars left." Matt said, collecting all of the cards. "I would have gone bankrupt first."
"You know what I just remembered?" Gabby asked us.
I shook my head, "No, I don't know what you just remembered."
"This Saturday's Halloween. What do you want to go as?" Gabby asked me.
I shrugged, "We didn't ever do that stuff. I mean, the Samuals would hand out candy." I remembered how one Halloween, the Samuals were only fostering Ellie and I at that time, we stole candy from the bowl at the front door.
"Are you sure about this Ellie?" I asked skeptically. Ellie rolled her eyes.
"Don't be such a baby Naia." She said.
I pretended to be offended, "Me? A baby?"
"Shhhhh." Ellie said and grabbed my hand. The Samuals were watching T.V. and all we had to do was sneak past them, grab some candy and then run back upstairs to our room. Then of course, since I liked to think things through, we'd somehow have to hide the wrappers.
Ellie and I made sure that the movie the Samuals were watching was actually on and the T.V. wasn't showing commercials when we made a break for it to enhance our chances of not being caught. We ducked behind any furniture when possible and when we finally got to the bowl, tried our very best to quietly grab some candy.
"Go, go, go." Ellie whispered at me and I ran for the stairs. I didn't stop until I made it to our room. Ellie ran in close after me. We collapsed on the couch, out of breath from being so scared.
"We did it!" I squealed happily and we dumped the candy we stole in the center of the bed.
Ellie looked at the pile carefully, "What do we eat first?"
"Is anyone in there?" Matt joked, waving his hand in front of my eyes.
I jumped back into present time, "Huh? Sorry, what did you say?"
"What do you want to dress up as?" Gabby asked me.
I shrugged, "I'm not sure if I really want to go trick or treating."
"What? Why?" Gabby asked surprised.
"You little thieves!" Mrs. Samual screamed at Ellie and I when she found one of the wrappers.
"We just wanted to have some candy, it's not like you would have given us any if we asked nicely!" Ellie shouted back. She was often the one that talked back to the Samuals.
Mr. Samual took the belt and whipped it at Ellie who cowered. I hated seeing my friend in pain so I screamed.
"Stop! You're hurting her!"
I threw myself on Ellie, feeling the belt come down. Mrs. Samual grabbed my arm, her nails digging into my skin.
"Get off you stupid girl!" She said, trying to pull me off Naia.
I kicked and trashed, trying to get the lady off of me. "No, no, stop!" Mr. Samual stopped with the belt but then grabbed me by arm and heaved me onto my feet. He took the belt and then started whipping me with it.
"Don't touch my wife. This is how you repay us? After all that we've done for you?" He shouted at me, the belt stinging my skin.
"Naia..."
I wiped the tears from my cheeks. I hadn't realized I was starting to cry. "I'm sorry." I mumbled as the tears started to turn into sobs.
"Naia, you don't have to go trick or treating." Matt said.
Gabby took me into her arms as I started to sob. I felt my body heave with each cry that came out of my mouth.
"I'm sorry." I repeated in Gabby's arm. I was crying so hard, it was getting hard to breath.
Matt smoothed back my long, brown hair and planted a kiss on my forehead, "You're okay here. You're safe now."
"Shhhh, it's okay." Gabby said to me softly, "Just breath, it's okay."
Eventually, I calmed down. Who knew crying made you so tired because I felt my eyes start to droop as I snuggled against Gabby. Matt turned the T.V. on and I fell asleep.