Life as I Knew It
Chapter 5
Damon's feet hit the stone pavement as he carried a sleeping Stefan in his arms. He was growing wary with each passing movement and there seemed to be no end in sight until finally by some grace of God, the lights of the train station caught his view as he collapsed beside it finally allowing himself to catch his breath.
A man who sat on a nearby bench waiting for his own train stared at them puzzled as he shrugged it off not bothering to ask them what was wrong as he went back to the newspaper who had held his attention beforehand.
After he decided that they were finally safe, Damon grabbed Stefan's hand and took him to the conductor trying to remember everything his mother told him to do so he wouldn't mess this up.
"Hello." He quivered as the conductor looked down at him and his brother with concern. Had he messed up already?
"May I help you?" the man asked slightly curious.
"Lilian Salvatore sent us here. She's our mom and she told me that if anything happened to her to come talk to you and you can help us."
"You're Lily's boys. Where is she? What happened?"
"She- Didn't make it." Damon struggled to get out as he looked at Stefan who was falling asleep in his arms.
"I see. Stay right here while I get the ride your mother arranged for you."
Damon looked at him questioningly as the man walked out of the booth and out of his sight as Damon sat down placing Stefan's head in his lap, His brother had long since fallen asleep and Damon wished he had his brother's innocence and ignorance in all this to also sleep thought the night, but as far as the foreseeable future, he would not sleep for weeks. Not until he had found a safe place for them. Not until he found out what had happened to his mother.
When the conductor came back, Damon lifted his eyebrows in curiosity as he stared at the man and the four children with him. Why would the conductor bring them? Was this the person that his mother wanted him to trust? And if it was then why didn't he?
"Boys, this is Julian. He was a friend of your mothers and he has agreed to take you two in while the police figure things out here." The conductor replied seeing the curiosity in Damon's gaze. If this man knew his mother than how come, he never had seen him before?
"Pleasure to meet you boys." Julian replied getting down on his knees and extending his hand to Damon for him to shake.
"Who are you and how do you know my mom?"
"In all due time Damon, fort now come with me, we must make our train before it leaves without us."
Nodding Damon and Stefan followed Julian as they went to his compartment and saw something shocking. Kids. Just like him. Just like Stefan. What were they doing here?
"Who are they?" Damon asked gesturing towards the other kids that were now looking at Damon and Stefan.
"These are all the other children that me and your mother have helped escaped from their abusive households. Their names are Valerie, Mary-Louise, Nora, Bo, and Oscar."
"Nice to meet you." Damon answered taking a seat and putting Stefan beside him so he could get some real sleep.
"If you're tired you can get some sleep." Julian said taking a spot by one of the boys.
"I don't think I can sleep after the night I've had."
"Understandable. If you need anything just let me know."
Nodding, Damon looked around wondering what the hell his life had in store for him now. He just hoped in the end his mother's sacrifice was worth it.