Chapter 3 Mêlée House
I got to Bree's quicker than I thought was possible. She lived in a two story house that also had an attic and basement. When you first walked in their house, you walked into the hallway. The first door to your left led to the ballroom. It also held the circular staircase. In the center of it was another set of French doors that led to the balcony which over looked the garden and part of the forest. The ballroom had a fire place, and a couple of sofa's, ornate chairs, and a piano. In the hallway, the door to the left was a sitting room they converted to a family room. The second door to the left led to a small library with another fireplace. The third door to the left led to a bathroom. At the end of the hall was the dining room. Inside it was a huge table that was only used during the holidays or when their was company over. There was another fireplace, and a door to the left that led to a hidden set of stairs, which were behind a picture, and the kitchen. I have never been inside it yet.
Up the hidden stairs led to another small library it also had a fireplace. The door led to another hallway that branched off to the bedrooms. There were five total with their own bathrooms. One was converted into a painting, and music room. The first one was Nancy's, Bree and Chris's mom. The next was Nathan's, their older brother who was overseas studying. The next was Bree's. It was deep green and lined with books her and Tara shared. The bed was huge as were all their beds. I only stayed in that room once. Tara's was across the hall. Her room was purple. I only saw it empty. The last room was Chris's. It was Dark red. I have never been in the sixth room. I guess it led to the attic. All bed rooms had a balcony. I knew there were
I stayed in Chris's room because the color calmed me. His balcony was the only that could see the forest. And was closest to the circular stairs. He stayed in Nathan's room. He took most of his clothes and CD's out.
"Fear!!!" screamed Bree as I got out of the car. "We were so worried! I'm glad you got everything! Can you believe the government; this late at night too. Chris has moved and has 'womanified' his room. He is in denial about him and Clair. You believe her? Good thing she lives in Del Rio. Tara's finished in the kitchen. Oh, mom said to water her plants, don't let me forget," she babbled as we got a load out of my car. And kept it up till the car was empty. "Tara is resting. She used her vision till she saw you come up the driveway. Then she said 'she's here,' and started to go to sleep. You know her. Your dad said we will have to take my car tomorrow too. You know more trunk room than Chris's. Speaking of cars, pull yours around to the basement. Oh. Right you've never been to the basement." She took my keys and left in my car.
I shook my head to clear her jabber. I loved the girl to death, but she usually calmed down after a few minutes. I went in the house up to 'my' room. I took the long way through the dinning room to make sure everything was secure. Bree would lock the rest of the house was secure. As I passed Chris's room, I saw his door was open. His back was turned and was talking on the phone.
"Yeah, she's here," he said over the line. "She's making the house secure. You know how she is. I'll tell her to call you in the morning…… Good night to you too." He turned to see me standing there. "That was your dad. He was worried when you did not call earlier. You can call him back in your room." I only nodded.
"Good night," I said before walking away. A few steps later I heard him close the door. I dialed the number I knew by heart. "Dad. This is your daughter," I said in my slower voicemail tone. "I'm at Bree's, and wanted to say goodnight. Call her house in the morning. Bye. Love you." I hung up, took a long hot bath, and slept till the sun was shinning through the window.
There was a knock at my door before Tara entered. She was dressed in her usual black. Her red hair was in pig-tails.
"Fear," she called gently, "you better move over unless you want me on top of you. I rolled to the left as she came jumping on my bed, giggling as we bounced.
"Crap. Is that my wake-up call?" I asked.
She stuck her tongue at me. "You know you missed me," she said before hugging me. "Your dad called. He said they ad to get us more things before meeting us. Chris is going to eat your breakfast unless you get down stairs immediately." I rolled out of the bed.
"How do I look?" I asked her before opening the door.
"Um. I think you should brush your hair and teeth first. And maybe some of my clothes. I'll bring you some." She said making a face, "You'll have to find your own underwear, cause that's gross."
"Fine bring me something," I said crossing to my bathroom. I dressed in a black tee and my jeans. The skirt brought to me was inappropriate.
Chris was still sitting at the table when I came down. "Good now we can eat," he said grabbing the bacon.
"Boy you'd better put that back if you want to eat with us," Bree said as she sat down. "You know guests first."
"She's not a guest," he said putting down the bacon.
"Then what is she?" asked Tara taking her place.
"She's. . . Fear. You know," Bree rolled her eyes.
"Start Fear," Tara commanded. And I did. After the meal we sat around the phone waiting for anything to happen.
Tara and Bree bored went to wash the dishes, but would not let me help. So Chris sat on one end of the couch I on the other. I pulled a deck of cards I always carry on me and started shuffling them.
"What are we playing," he asked.
"Rummy?" I asked.
"Kay," he said. After a couple of hands we soon grew bored. "How about deuces wild?"
"Never played," I said. He smiled.
"Its really easy," he said.
"Yeah, sure it is," I said. "By the way your smiling I bet its real easy."
"Its just a type of poker. Come on. Tara cheats, and Bree is too easy," he begged. "We won't wager anything." Of coarse I let him teach me and we played till the phone rang.
"Dad?" I asked.
"Fear, we have all your things come to the Jeff county end and they'll let you claim it all. This is the only side that's allowing anything," he said.
"Kay," was all I had time to say.
"Your cousin, Kyle is on this end so they won't search it. He'll watch over you, but cant get you over the boarder. He don't know why they have blocked the city, but know its not good," he explained. "He also said you should not talk to him any more than necessary."
"Okay."
"Look, we'll wait on the other side with your things till you get here. Remind Bree to bring her car."
"I will. Bye. Love you," I said.
"Love you too," he said and hung up.
I looked around the room. Bree and Tara were back. They were looking concerned. "Lets go," was all I said to them. I waited on the steps while they got the cars. Chris was driving mine and Tara rode with Bree.
When we got to the county line we were stopped by cousin Kyle. "Sorry guys this is not a way out," he said.
"I know sir," I said as he came over to my window his face lighting with recognition. "I'm here to pick up my things from my father."
"Fear, I'm have to go and get it. How much is it?" he asked.
"I don't know. He told me two car loads," I said. "Do you need me to sign something?"
"I'm supposed to, but these guys will vouch for me." He pointed behind him. "That's Flinn. He'll be here when I'm not. Give him your cell. He'll call you if anything he knows about is going to happen."
"There's your dad," Chris said.
"I'll be back in a few," Kyle said. He ran over to a truck and took off. I watched as the soldiers helped unload my dad's truck and Lois's car. When Kyle came back, we were told not to get out of the car. They loaded the trunks first then went to the back seats. When they finished, Kyle brought Flinn to my window.
"This is my cousin, Fear," he said laughing. "I told you I would introduce you to Fear herself." They started cracking up. I only rolled my eyes. From what I could tell about Flinn, he was alright to be in the military. We exchanged numbers and were told to leave because their boss would be coming soon.
On the drive back, Chris started laughing. "What?" I asked.
"I'm glad I'm not the only one who uses corny lines," he answered. I rolled my eyes again.
The phone started to ring. Kyle already. "Hello," I answered.
"They are going to impose a curfew at dusk anyone out will be brought in for questioning," he whispered, then hung up.
"Thanks for the warning," I said as I closed my phone.
"What did he say?" Chris asked.
"Curfew at dusk. Do we have anything important outside?" I asked.
"No. We park the cars in the basement. We're going to cover the windows on the bottom floor today." Well that was good. When we arrived back, we started unloading the cars. Then we started separating everything. Thank God I fount the underwear before they did. I carried them upstairs and came back down for my books. Tara carried most of my clothes upstairs while I helped Chris separate everything else. Seems dad did a little shopping. I had two Rugers and two riffles along with enough ammo to supply the army. He must have thought we were going to have to fight something. I looked over at Chris who eyed the weapons suspiciously.
"Yes," I said before he could ask any questions. "I can shoot, reload, unload, clean, take apart and put back together these weapons. There should be at least two more pistols for Bree and Tara." He picked up two gun cases and nodded toward another gun case containing two more riffles. "Good," was all I said.
We eventually fount my phone charger, and pillows. He looked at them funny. "I like my pillows." He picked up the bull by the tail. I grabbed it and went upstairs carrying another bag of clothes. I looked at where the bed was supposed to be, there was a mountain of clothes in its place. Tara brought up some hangers and left me to do my chore while they went through everything left downstairs. When I thought I had finally finished with the clothes, Tara brought more to me. I started looking through them. Most of them were brand new. No wonder I thought I didn't have that much, I really didn't. After organizing the room for the third time I was finally finished. I went back downstairs to face the twins.
"Tara's cooking supper. There is a curfew in place. And your father wants you to teach us how to shoot tomorrow at first light," Bree said. "And Chris is afraid of you."
"Am not," he quickly defended himself. "I just think she should hide the weapons in her room tonight. I mean we fount a surplus."
"I will," I put in before they were arguing again. "Its no problem but if anything happens to us surely one of us will see it."
"You would think that, but we didn't see the blockade," said Chris. Bree punched his arm which hurt her more than him. I rolled my eyes at them before heading to the weapons and carrying some to my room. They grabbed the cases and followed. I sat on my bed opened one of the cases and took out a pistol. I fount a loaded mag. shoved it in the gun and placed it in the night stand. The twins stood glaring at each other. I pushed past them to beat Tara calling it was ready.