The Gift of Resilience - Re-Vamped

by KNeu21

(RV2)S to 'TGoMisfortune'-Set during NM:RE-VAMPED VERSION! After waking up from a vision to find herself not only back to where she started, Leandra learns how to begin rebuilding the relationships she couldn't live without, and struggling to recall the details. While trying to avoid becoming the monster she fears she is destined to become. COMPLETE!

8. Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

"Slow down!"

I almost tumbled several times trying to catch up to her. She finally stopped at the bottom of the hill, letting me catch up.

"Do you know how much trouble I'm going to be in?" I mumbled to her. Looking around myself in the dark, it bothered me deeply to be out in the open like this at night.

"Don't be so paranoid." She said, "I sneak out all the time. My daddy never knows."

"Your family is a little different than mine." I admitted, glancing back up the hill, "And it's freezing out here. I want to go back." My breath was visible in slight puffs in the air, so I knew it was way too cold for me to want to be out here. I appreciated being warm, and I definitely wasn't warm.

"They won't even notice." She said, taking my hand, "Quit being a scaredy-cat, and come on."

She tugged me forward, and we started running. I knew by then where we were going, but that didn't ease my nervousness any. I knew they already knew we were gone, and this was the third strike. We'd made no noise in leaving, however. They couldn't follow us immediately without an excuse, though. I hoped they would. Before we left the area, and they couldn't easily find us by human standards.

What the hell was I doing?

"We shouldn't be out here, Alyssa." I muttered, "Come on. Let's go back."

The park was even darker, and I almost didn't go, but with my hand in hers, she wasn't taking refusal as an answer. She just ran right through it like she didn't care at all. I squeaked, keeping up the best I could.

We stopped running once we reached the other side of the park, jumping out onto the sidewalk to catch our breath.

"And I'm not a scaredy-cat, okay?" I grumbled, "I'm fucking cold, and I'm fucking tired, and I really don't want to be fucking-"

"Shh." She hissed, and I fell quiet. I didn't know what I was having to stay quiet for, but I followed her anyway. She started forward, and I just went along with it. I whined, but she paid no attention to that.

"I don't feel so good." I muttered.

"It's all that candy you ate." She replied simply. This wasn't bothering her a bit.

"And it's creepy.." I added, "I don't like it out here."

It was true. This area was practically deserted this time of night. The street lights too bright, illuminating the empty sidewalk in an orange and eerie way. It was harsh on my eyes. Making our way up the sidewalk in just pajamas and shoes, it didn't offer any protection from the cold, either. Early November wasn't the best time to be wandering around town at night without a jacket.

I briefly wondered if we were being followed, but if we hadn't been caught yet, probably not. Maybe they thought we were in the kitchen? Raiding the fridge or something.

"Quit whining." She sighed, "We'll be fine."

"How do you know?" I asked, looking around us, "What if.. I don't know, some dog is running loose?"

"You're freaking yourself out." She muttered, and I narrowed my eyes.

"Fine." I grumbled, "But if we get chased by a dog, I'm tripping you." She laughed, but she didn't know how serious I was.

We passed the store Mikah worked at, continuing on. A single car drove passed us going the opposite direction, and I didn't bother worrying because it kept right on going. Not even bothering to slow.

"You've really never done this before?" Alyssa asked me, and I looked over.

"Never." I replied, "You do this all the time?"

"Yeah." She nodded, "Sometimes. When I can't sleep, I just go for a walk."

"You're never scared?"

"Why should I have to be scared?" She asked, "I've never gotten into trouble before."

"Emmett told me that people like to steal kids." I muttered.

She snorted, "That's just what they say to make kids stay inside at night. That doesn't really happen. It's all made up."

"That's what I thought too." I admitted, and we both laughed.

"So.." She hesitated, and I knew she had a lot on her mind, "Is your room bugged or something?"

"Huh?"

"You were pretty paranoid back there."

"Oh." I mumbled, "No, I just.. I like to be careful. The walls are pretty thin. I didn't want Alice overhearing."

"Oh." She nodded a little, "But anyway. What I was going to say, was that most of the time, dad doesn't have to hit us."

"So your mom is the biggest problem?" I asked and she nodded.

"More than you know." She sighed, "You don't know how many times I've wished she just never came back when she's gone for days, but she always does. Emily still cares about her, but that's just because she's five."

"She's the one that leaves the marks." I observed and she nodded again.

"Yup." She sighed heavily, "Dad's yells are enough to make us move, but sometimes, he just can't help it." I narrowed my eyes, "The last time he hit me or even Alex, was like January. He spanked Emily a few weeks ago, but that's nothing."

"Hand spanking?" I asked.

"It was nothing." She shook her head, "Nothing like what mom does to the rest of us, and Emily deserved it."

"What'd she do?"

"She and Sammy made a game out of throwing rocks at cars driving by." She answered, and I winced.

"Yeah." I agreed with her, "That's spank worthy."

"Sammy got a good whooping for that." She laughed a little, "But Emily got one too, just so she knew it was wrong." She took a breath, "Anyway, no. Dad isn't the one we really have to worry about. He tries more for us than my stupid mom has any day." I nodded a little, sighing. She spoke again, "What was it like for you? Before?"

I caught on, "Before I lived with my family?"

"Yeah."

"Bad." I sighed, "And I don't ever want to go back to that."

"What would he do?" She asked, "I'm just trying to know you better."

"Well.." I mumbled, "You know how you feel when you know you've done something really wrong, knowing you were really going to get it, and you were just waiting for your mom or dad to get home to find out?" She nodded, wincing, "That. Like ten times worse and all the time. Every single day, all day long."

"Ouch."

"I didn't have an older brother to make sure I ate." I continued, "I didn't have anybody to stand up for me or see if I was okay. I was alone."

"What about your mom?" She asked, looking over.

"She drank a lot." I replied, and she nodded, "But instead of beating me too, she passed out every day. Every single day, all day long. It was just me and him, and let me just say that that was definitely not as fun as it sounds."

"How did you get away?" She asked, honestly curious. I was partially glad she took that as enough answer.

"I was finally noticed." I answered easily, "Long story short, Alice wouldn't let me keep denying it. No matter how much I wanted to, I couldn't anymore. So I called Carlisle, and admitted that I needed help. As afraid as I was, that was the only way to save my own life."

"Wow." She murmured, "And they took you in too?"

"Yeah." I nodded, "Believe me, it hasn't been easy for them, but I'm trying." I couldn't help noticing the irony. Telling her I was trying, yet here I was. Escaped in the middle of the night for God only knows what reason.

"I've heard things." Alyssa spoke again, "About foster homes. About the things that can happen to kids there, like getting beaten, locked away or starved all the time. I know they can't all be that bad, but.. I don't want to take that chance. My mom does most of the beating, but my dad does enough for them to find it wrong. I don't want to go anywhere, Leandra."

"I didn't want to take the chance either." I replied, "But then I thought about it. Places like that couldn't be any worse than where I came from, so I had nothing to lose. I get it. I really do. You don't want to risk Alex or Emily like that, but really.." I trailed off.

I was going to ask her how much worse it could get for her or the other two, but I knew full well how much worse it could get. If any of them were to be placed in the wrong hands, so much could go wrong. I understood her fear perfectly.

"Yeah." She sighed, knowing I understood.

"It's tough." I mumbled, and she nodded.

We fell quiet for a minute or two, while I thought of another question.

"If you're not worried about your dad so much," I muttered, "Why are you so worried about Emily?"

"Mom can come home at any time." She answered, her eyes straight forward, "There's no way to tell when she comes back, and every time she does, she causes problems. She and Mikah don't really get along. They never really have, but I know if she does anything to Emily while he's home, he's going to go nuts. He always says we're more his kids than our parent's kids, and we agree with him."

"But he was only six when you were born." I couldn't imagine that.

"For as long as I can remember, it's always been him there for us." She added, "He'd find a way when there wasn't one. When there was no food, he fed us. No money for clothes, he earned it. He made sure we got to school when we were too young to walk by ourselves, and still got to school on time himself."

She sighed, "Really, I don't know how Emily survived during the day before we got home from school. I just remember her always crying. She cried a lot, but I think that's because mom always ignored her, and daddy wasn't around." She laughed a little, "I got real good at changing diapers."

"That had to be hard for you guys." I murmured.

"Especially Mikah."

"He was just a kid." I agreed.

"Getting me and Alex far enough to start helping with Emily wasn't easy. I wasn't even a year old yet before Alex was born." I blinked. I knew he wasn't that far behind her age wise, but when she put it that way, it was surprising, "I'd just turned five when Emily was born. Alex was four, and Mikah was eleven."

Not much older than I was now. I wouldn't know the first thing about taking care of a baby. Much less raising them, and keeping them alive for so long without some sort of help. I was stunned.

"In all that time," She went on, "I hardly remember mom doing things a mom should do. She was either always gone, or mad at us. Dad was gone a lot, but he was working. Jon wasn't much help when we were little. Neither was Sammy. It's always been Mikah."

He went way beyond being the best brother in the world.

"Wow." Was all I could say. She may not have had to go through some of the experiences as I did, but her life was equally as hard. Just in a whole different way.

"Come on." She mumbled, "We need to hurry." I just realized how slow we'd been walking. With that, we started to jog.

We got to the corner of her street before we even saw another car. One I didn't recognize. It slowed up the street, stopping long enough for me to get nervous. I paused by the stop sign, watching it and waiting for it to keep going, but Alyssa continued on. She didn't even seem to notice it.

I shook my head, and followed her. Two kids walking like this probably wasn't something seen every day. Glancing back, the car was still sitting there. Still running, and for the weirdest reason, it fascinated me.

I kept quiet until we reached her house, and she went up the steps.

"Alyssa, wait." I murmured, and she looked back at me, "This isn't a good idea."

"Just give me five minutes." She sighed, "I'll be right back."

I wasn't about to let her go in there alone, and I sure didn't want to stand out here to freeze my butt off, so I groaned and followed her. She turned the knob, and pushed open the front door. The door was unlocked, which I found to be kind of stupid, but then again, I hadn't met her dad yet.

"We should just go back." I whispered to her as she closed the door lightly behind us. It was dark and quiet in the house now, and I really didn't know what to expect.

"Would you just relax?" She whispered back. Leading me to the right and toward the stairs. Before we could even step up onto the bottom step, we froze, our breathing audibly hitching in a startled gasp.

The light in the upstairs hallway flipped on and we stood there, obviously caught. Me partially behind Alyssa, but still clearly visible to the man already half-way down the stairs, holding a bat casually in his hand. Another boy, almost as big as the man closer to us, stood at the top of the stairs. I instantly assumed the boy at the top of the stairs was Jonathan, her oldest brother.

Both Jonathan and her dad were shirtless, obviously just woken up, and both were anything but scrawny.

One wrong move from either of them, I'd run. I didn't want to do that, so I kept my hand tight on the handrail attached to the wall.

Alyssa beside me looked down, but I kept my eyes on him. He was a pretty big guy, but I wouldn't let that be my first impression of him. His black hair made him seem darker of a person, but again, I wouldn't let that be my first impression either. He was intimidating, the way he held himself.

Flat out, I didn't like him. I wanted compare this guy to Jack, but though there were some physical similarities, there was almost no comparison. They looked nothing alike.

This had to be her father.

"Alyssa?" He sighed, irritated. The firm tone of his voice tried to send ice through my blood, but I fought it. His voice was deep, almost gravelly, and I couldn't help cringing internally as I tried to imagine what his voice sounded like when he shouted. He was a big guy, and we were both small.

"Hi, daddy." She greeted with a sheepish smile. I looked over at her, and I knew she wasn't as afraid of him as I was. I tried to calm down, but that was easier said than done. Especially with the look in his narrowed eyes, and the bat in his hand.

"I could have killed you." He said, "What are you doing back? Aren't you supposed to be gone for the night?"

"Uh.." She mumbled, clearly not having thought of this.

"She wanted to get her pillow." I spoke up, "Mine are uncomfortable for her, and she couldn't sleep." His eyes found me, and I took half a step to the side, further behind Alyssa and shrinking down a little, "I thought it'd be okay."

"You brought her here?" He asked me sharply, "Through town, this late at night?"

"Uh.." It was my turn to lose my ability to speak. Looking up at Alyssa, she glanced back down at me.

"Dad?" I almost sighed loudly in relief as I heard Mikah's voice from further up the stairs, "What's going on?"

"Go back to bed." Was his response, his eyes not leaving me.

"It was my idea, dad." Alyssa said, "It wasn't her fault." I was almost in tears. I was that afraid.

So much for sneaking out all the time, I thought bitterly. He studied us for a moment, and as tempted as I was to turn and run anyway, I couldn't just abandon her like that.

"Well?" Her dad barked, and we both flinched a little, "What are you waiting for? Go get it." At first, she didn't move. Neither did I. With a loud sigh, Mikah started down the stairs. Passed their father, until he stopped in front of us.

"What are you doing here?" He asked us in a firm whisper, "Why aren't you back there in bed?" Almost shirtless himself, wearing a thin tank top, he definitely wasn't as lean as I thought before. He might not have been as big as their dad or oldest brother, but he was by no means thin. He was strong enough, it looked like, to be able to offer some sort of protection if he had to.

"I had to come back." She murmured quietly in reply, and he sighed heavily again. Running his hand through his hair, he glanced back up at their father now leaning against the railing. Lighting a cigarette.

"Come on." Mikah said, "Both of you." I glanced back up at Alyssa, following her closely, half a step behind her on our way up the stairs behind Mikah. Thankfully, we were left alone as we passed her father, but I didn't like being cramped in the tiny space with him. Even for the tiny amount of time it took to move passed him. I could feel him watching us. Closely.

Passed Jonathan at the top of the stairs, I heard his chuckle. Through the first door on the right, and straight into a tiny, tiny cramped bedroom, but that could have just been the three beds in it. Mikah closed the door behind us, flipping on a lamp sitting on the dresser behind the door.

I slowly stepped further in, looking around. Two twin sized beds pressed together on the left against the wall, and a full sized bed across the small space on the right, blocking the closet with no door. One lamp on the tall dresser behind the bedroom door, which was how we could see now. There was no space between the foot of the full sized bed, and the dresser.

"Wow." I muttered, looking around. There was a path from the door, to the left and to the twin beds pressed together or straight forward to the full sized bed against the closet, but not much more room other than that.

"The boys have more room in their room, but they'd have less if all four were in there." Alyssa explained, trying to explain the size of the room. Probably embarrassed. This room was only slightly bigger than my closet.

"You share a room with your brother?" I asked, and she nodded. I knew this before, as she'd told me, but it was still hard to believe. Seeing it for the first time. Mikah stood off to the side, his arms crossed over his chest.

"It doesn't bother us." She explained it away, "We kinda like having him in here, and he doesn't care." She looked at him, offering another sheepish smile, "Do you?" He didn't reply, giving her a stern look. He wasn't happy.

I couldn't imagine having to share my bedroom with anyone. That was my spot. I could, if I really had to, but that was different. Especially a space as tiny as this. You'd have to really have a whole lot of patience to pull this off.

Mikah finally moved, reaching out and whipping a t-shirt off the foot of his bed.

"I thought I told you to stay there." Mikah finally spoke, and he was irritated, something I hadn't heard from him before. I bit my lip, deciding to stay out of his scolding of his sister.

"I'm sorry." Alyssa mumbled, watching as he pulled on the shirt he'd grabbed, "I thought I could come in, and get back out without waking anybody."

She moved across the room, over to where the double twin beds sat. Just a tiny lump under the layered blankets, was Emily's sleeping form.

"First mistake." Mikah said, "You know dad doesn't go to bed until sometime after midnight. You know that. You didn't even wait for him to fall asleep." He was really unhappy, "No. Actually, your first mistake was coming back here in the middle of the night at all."

I stayed silent, choosing to turn slowly, and look around. Focusing on the thin scratches of the old, beat up dresser.

"And you." I flinched a little at his voice directed at me, "You let her?"

"She didn't give me much choice-"

"Did she force you?" He asked incredulously.

"I-I didn't want her running all the way here by herself." I snapped lightly, "You're welcome."

"Don't either of you know how dangerous it is? Running through town this time of night?" He asked, "Alyssa, you know Emily is safe. What's the matter with you?"

I looked to her, now sitting with a very sleepy Emily on the twin bed against the wall, who was quite annoyed at being woken up, given the whine she was giving. Looking over her arms, which were completely bruise free, Alyssa sighed.

I began to understand. She watched over Alex and Emily the way Mikah watched over all of them. When she was little, she learned from him. She'd started to take after him, but there was more to it than that.

She might have watched over them, but watching over them gave her a sense of responsibility that she hid her homesickness behind. Watching them was her life, and everything she took seriously. That was the sense I was getting when we came back here before.

She was devoted to them. These kids were closer than I thought before. All each other had. With two nearly worthless parents, the kids had no choice but to stick together like this. Alyssa would probably risk her safety at any time to get back to them.

I suddenly wanted to cry, and I very nearly did. That kind of closeness was something I'd wanted my entire life. Being an only child myself, I never imagined that kind of bond was possible. Whenever I'd imagine what it'd be like to have a sibling, I always considered it to have been a burden. Something else to worry about, but I never imagined before how much it would have given me too.

I also suddenly didn't feel as mad at her anymore. She admitted herself she never had many friends, so it was safe to assume that she was as inexperienced at spending the night away from home as I was at having someone spend the night with me.

"I know, I know." Alyssa finally mumbled, replying to Mikah and letting Emily lay back down.

"So." Mikah's tone had eased as he looked at me again, "Your first time meeting Grant, our wonderful father."

I gave a quiet, nervous laugh. Choosing to watch the floor instead.

"I know the feeling." Mikah replied bitterly, as if that had been a description. It was silent now for a few minutes as Alyssa watched Emily probably falling back to sleep. I looked over, watching Mikah pull jeans on over his pajama pants.

"Well." I jumped forward as the door opened behind me, "Looks like it's another rousing game of, 'Guess how pissed dad is'." Jonathan stepped into the room, forcing me to move back even more to land closer to Mikah's side. The door hit the dresser with a 'thump', rattling the lamp.

Behind him, Sammy and Alex peeked in around the doorway. I offered a small, nervous smile at Alex, who returned it. His hair was a mess, but that was to be expected.

"First one who guesses it right gets a cookie." Jonathan added with a grin at us, but that grin was too smug to be friendly.

"Very?" Alyssa guessed nervously, and Jon chuckled.

"Get out, Jon." Mikah grumbled, "I'm handling it."

"Oh, Mikah." Jon chuckled, shaking his head, "Defender of the weak. Keeper of the preschoolers. Isn't that precious?" He was being quite condescending. Reaching forward and messing Mikah's hair, "If you'd handled her before, we wouldn't be in this little pickle. Would we, little brother?"

"You're just making it worse." Mikah replied, "Knock it off." He slapped Jon's hand away from him.

"I'm just saying." Jon replied, laughing, "You don't handle things very well."

"Leave him alone." I muttered, gaining Jon's amused attention.

"Aw," Jon grinned, "Isn't she cute? What do you think, Sammy?"

"She's a little young for me." Sammy replied, frowning a little. Immediately, I blushed. Glaring at him.

"She's probably a fast learner." Jon pointed out, and Sammy shrugged, "Cute enough, right? And feisty, it seems. Soon as you get rid of Jessie or whatever her damn name is, I say give this one a look."

"I don't know." Sammy sighed, "I don't like the clingy ones. She looks like a clingy one."

"Stop it." Alyssa spoke up, very irritated by the sound of her tone. Both ignored her, however.

"Take it from me. You'd be trading up." Jon told him as if that would entice him. Nervously, I glanced over at Alyssa, but she was glaring at both of her brothers.

"Yeah, why not?" Sammy shrugged, not hating the idea as he looked me over, "I'll give her a swing." I'd have loved to take a swing at him, but he was too far away, and I wasn't about to move any closer with Jon standing there.

"Get the hell out." Mikah snapped, taking a step his direction. With a laugh, Sammy took off. Darting away from the door. I looked up at him, grateful as I took the now open spot behind him. I wasn't sure if he'd created that open spot intentionally, but I was grateful for it anyway.

"A little touchy?" Jon asked, also chuckling, "Don't you want your little bro to have the best? She sure looks fresher than some of the other little sluts he goes after." Boy, would he be in for it if Emmett heard him say those things about me.

"Fuck off." I barked at him, and he scoffed in surprise, laughing heavily at that.

"Definitely feisty." Jon concluded, nodding, "Precious little kitten, but five minutes with Sammy, he'd tame her. Settle her ass right down, yes sir." I glared harder, and Mikah was about to say something, but he never got the chance.

"What the fuck is taking so long?" Grant was back, standing in the doorway now as Alex scrambled out of the way now, "Goddammit, Aly. You know I work in the morning. Either stay here, or get out. I can't be dealing with this shit." I looked down at the same time she did, "Everyone else, get your asses back to bed. Now."

Turning with another pointed look at me, Jon threw a grin Mikah's direction and left the room. Mikah tensed enough for me to notice, but didn't say anything.

Grabbing her pillow, Alyssa moved for the door. I followed close behind her, Mikah only paused long enough to grab two sweaters from the closet before following me. Turning the light off as he went.

"Wake me up again, I'll knock you both into next week." Grant was pissed.

I wasn't sure if I was the one he included in that statement, or if he'd meant Mikah, so I moved a little faster. Grant turned off the light upstairs before we'd even made it down the stairs, dropping all three of us into pitch darkness, which made me stop dead in my tracks.

"Keep moving." Mikah muttered, urging me forward, "Keep moving. Come on." His light hand on my shoulder kept me from stopping again.

Alyssa and I only paused long enough by the front door to fight our way into the sweaters before leaving. She didn't seem to mind letting me borrow one.

"That went well." I grumbled, "Maybe next time, you'll listen to me." I wasn't as mad at her anymore, but I still wasn't happy.

"You sound like Mikah." She grumbled back as we stepped outside.

My eyes had yet to adjust from being in the lit room, so it seemed extra dark out here. I stuck close to Mikah's side on the way up the street, quite a bit more nervous than I had been the first time he'd walked me back to the park.

"Don't listen to them." Mikah told me, and I knew who he was referring to. I didn't bother replying. Jon's words did bug me, but I had more pressing issues to worry about right then.

We made it to the street corner, and to my further nervousness, the car was still sitting there. Still running, not having moved a bit. Seeing my distraction, Alyssa and Mikah both paused next to me, looking back at it also.

"They stopped there when we got here." I mumbled, and he gave the car another look before steering us both forward. Walking us away from it.

"Keep going." He told us, "Just ignore it. I'm sure it's nothing. Just stay close." We nodded. For once, Alyssa seemed nervous as we glanced at each other. Probably picking up on my nervousness beside her. The fact that the car had waited really made me think about what Emmett was telling me.

Of course, I tried to tell myself, it could have just been someone that lived at that house. It was probably nothing, like Mikah said, but if it was nothing, why was my throat tight?

Alyssa started forward first, and I followed her. Mikah staying close behind us. We hadn't even reached the main street yet when the bright headlights behind us, illuminating the street ahead of us told us the car had turned around and was heading slowly this way. My eyes widened, and I looked to Alyssa beside me.

I was pretty uneased by that, as was Alyssa, considering the way she grabbed my sleeve. Mikah took my shoulder in his left hand, stopping me along with Alyssa. All three of us watching as the car pulled over on our side of the street, and stopped.

I didn't mind stopping. I wouldn't want to go anywhere near that car. Not with it stopped like that, even to get passed it. I'd actually have preferred to turn around and go back the other direction. It was darker on this part of the street, so that made this entire situation even more creepy.

We waited, but nobody got out.

"Stay here." Mikah told us gently, "Don't move."

Alyssa whimpered as he stepped around us. Standing practically stuck together at the shoulder in the middle of the sidewalk, we watched Mikah approach the car. The window rolled down, and his muted voice spoke to the driver. I could barely hear the sound of the driver's voice, as they were too far away, but then again, I wasn't listening for that.

My heart pounded too quickly as I kept my fearful focus on Mikah's expression. That would tell me whether or not I had to stay this nervous. I knew Alyssa was watching for the same thing, so neither of us spoke. Her hand on my sleeve gave away her slight fear, as it trembled. She could have been cold, but I doubted that.

It wasn't until Mikah laughed and spoke again that we both sighed heavily. Having held our breath until this point. I still wouldn't be eased until he was back over here with us. I'd known something was off about coming out here, but Mikah didn't seem worried anymore.

A few more words were exchanged before he started back our way, and the car hesitated for a second or two longer before it drove off.

"He was just concerned." He told us, "Come on." That eased me quite a bit, but found my knees trembling as we kept going. I hadn't been that scared in awhile.

From there, we made it to the main street.

At that point, I started wondering how this was going to end tonight. How much trouble were we going to be in? Alyssa and I walked ahead of Mikah, and I could feel his gaze on us the entire way back. Clutching the pillow she'd apparently gone to retrieve, she couldn't just leave without it. Not without Grant, her father, watching us leave.

As I figured, the lights in the house were on when we got there, and I whined, slowing down.

"Come on, escapee." Mikah lightly took my arm, tugging me along. They were going to have to install a gate back here soon, I thought. Mikah lifted each of us over the wall, before climbing over himself.

Up to the porch, I took a breath before opening the door, and immediately, three pairs of eyes were on me. Esme, Carlisle, and Rosalie. All looking our way, and I hesitated in the doorway. My hand still on the doorknob.

"Uh.." That word was becoming increasingly common tonight. I tried to take a step back, but Mikah's hand on my arm kept me right where I was.

"Come inside, and sit down. Both of you." Carlisle wasn't happy. I winced, glancing to Alyssa beside me. I sighed, and led both her, and Mikah inside.

"Rosalie, please go call Emmett." Esme murmured, "Let them know they've been found."

With a firm look at me, she did as Esme asked. Walking from the kitchen, and really for the first time, I was borderline afraid. Carlisle waited, watching as Mikah closed the door quietly behind himself.

As Alyssa and I took our seats, side by side at the kitchen table, Mikah introduced himself to both Esme and Carlisle, and I watched. Seeing them together caught my attention. It distracted me from the situation momentarily, until all three of them looked at us again.

I had to admit. It did feel nice to be warming up again. I shivered a little in the warmth of the room, sighing.

"What on earth has gotten into you?" Carlisle finally asked, and I looked down, shrugging a little, "You were doing so well."

"I still am." I mumbled, shrugging a little.

"That's not what your behavior is telling me." Carlisle replied, "Leandra, we need to know where you are at all times. We can't do that if you don't stick to what you tell us, or run off at every single opportunity."

"Not every single opportunity." I corrected, and Alyssa looked over at me, "I could have run off before, but I didn't."

"This isn't a joke." Carlisle pointed out quietly, shaking his head a little.

"Where is she?" I heard Emmett ask as he came in the front door, and he was mad. He was back a little too soon for human standards, but neither Alyssa or Mikah seemed to find that odd. I looked to Alyssa, and she returned my gaze.

I don't know why. Maybe it was because he sounded upset? Maybe because I didn't want to hear his side of the scolding? I don't know why I did it, but I bolted up and scrambled for the back door.

Before I could even make it around the table, Carlisle caught me. Lifting me off my feet into his arms.

"It was my idea." Alyssa finally spoke up, "She was just following me so I didn't find trouble." Emmett strode into the room, and I hid my face. I didn't want to see how mad he was, even if I did deserve it.

"But you found it anyway." Mikah spoke to Alyssa now, "Both families are up in the middle of the night, because you couldn't stay your ass in bed. Now Leandra's in trouble, and you're in trouble. What were you thinking?"

"I'm sorry." She said, "I just wanted to check on Emily."

"Don't you trust me?" Mikah asked, "I think I know how to take care of you guys after all this time. I meant it when I told you she'd be fine, and you saw that for yourself."

"I know!"

"Then why?" Mikah's tone quieted, seeing she was getting upset. He sighed, sitting down beside her, taking my vacated seat, "Aly, you know I'd never lie to you. I take care of you because I care about you."

"I had to see her for myself." She muttered, "I've never been gone that long before."

Mikah sighed again, "I know it doesn't seem like a big deal to you, but wandering around in the middle of the night is a very unsafe thing to do. Anybody can see you out there, and just grab you right off the street, and we'd never know what happened to you. Is that what you want?"

There was that mention again. I looked up, watching as Mikah hugged her into his side, his arm securely around her shoulders.

"No." She sniffled.

"What would have happened had that car not been friendly?" Mikah asked her, "It would have been a two-for-one. What then?"

"What car?" Emmett asked.

"Someone had spotted them and stopped." Mikah explained, "I spoke to them on our way back. It was just a concerned older guy, but it scared the crap out of both of them." So he had noticed. I didn't dare look over at Emmett yet.

Unless it was a very used lie, it had to be something real, since Mikah was warning Alyssa of it now. I still couldn't understand it, though. It didn't make any sense to me.

"I thought you were making it up." I mumbled, finally looking to Emmett.

"You didn't believe me?" He asked, surprised, and I shook my head.

"That's why I went wandering the first time." I admitted, "I wanted to see. Nobody bothered me."

"Wait." Emmett's tone seemed firmer now, "You went wandering around, hoping to see if I was right about what I told you?"

"Uh.." I wouldn't have exactly put it that way, but..

"Are you crazy?" He demanded, "Shorty, why would I lie to you about something like that?"

"Because it can't be true." I countered sharply, "It doesn't make any sense."

"What is it about kidnapping that doesn't make sense?" He asked, "Some people would kill to find a kid like you, or like Alyssa wandering alone at night." He paused, "Or really anytime somebody's not paying one hundred percent attention to you, and believe me, that's one experience you want to avoid at every single cost. All it takes is a split second, shorty. One tiny moment where someone has their back turned. They don't always make friends first. Sometimes, they just take, and we don't want to lose you."

I didn't appreciate his tone, and I looked down.

"Listen to me, shorty." He stressed, "Someone sees you, they like what they see, they take you." He had to hear how nervous that made me, my heart speeding up, "That's how fast it can happen. All we're asking is, at very least, for you to tell us where you're going, and when you'll be back. That's it. I'll take you for walks myself, if that's what you want, and you know I'd never let anything happen to you."

"For someone so worried about Jack, you sure aren't very careful." Jasper wasn't happy with me either. I didn't like the mention. Especially now, in front of Mikah and Alyssa, "You know he fits into that category as well, don't you? And we'd never know, because you were foolish to run off on your own." I whimpered, hugging tighter to Carlisle's neck.

Emmett waited, watching me.

"I walk around all the time, and nothing's happened." Alyssa spoke up, and I looked to her, "I leave the house all the time at night. That's the best time to walk around."

"Since when?" Mikah asked, this obviously news to him.

"Since I was like eight." She replied confidently.

"Well that's gonna stop now, isn't it?" Mikah asked, and Alyssa rolled her eyes.

"They only tell kids that to make them go to bed at night." She countered, but even I heard the hint of doubt in her voice now, "It's not actually like that."

"It has to be made up." I said, looking to her, "Or at least not that bad."

"Yeah." She agreed, but that was the wrong answer.

"You know what? It's movie time." Emmett muttered, taking me from Carlisle's arms, "Let's go watch a movie." I frowned, not appreciating being plucked away like that, but I didn't dare complain.

"Emmett." Esme obviously didn't like the sound of that.

"I know what I'm doing." Emmett replied, "Don't worry."

"What movie?" Mikah asked, standing with Alyssa. Emmett replied with a name, and Mikah nodded, "I see what you're doing. May be a little steep, but it might just be enough to work on these dummies." He patted Alyssa's head, and followed Emmett and I into the living room.

"Do you want to stay, or would you rather go?" Emmett asked Mikah, "I can take it from here."

"I'd rather stay." He said, "I want to be sure she learns her lesson." Emmett didn't seem to mind that either.

I was seated between Alyssa and Emmett on the couch. Mikah and Emmett on either end of the couch, Alyssa and I in the middle between them. She remained skeptical, but I grew nervous as the movie started.

Emmett sighed, looking to me as I watched. Probably making sure I was paying attention, which I was.

"Stupid." Alyssa barked at the TV, intending it for the girl in the movie five minutes into it, and Mikah looked to her.

"I thought you said it was made up?" He asked, "How is she stupid? She probably didn't believe her brother, either."

"Everybody knows not to just climb into someone's car like that." She replied.

"Why not?" Mikah asked again, "I thought it was all made up?"

That shut her up for a minute.

"See?" She eventually pointed out, "She's fine. They let her go." She really wanted to be right about this, but I'd developed doubts.

"Just keep watching." Mikah muttered, shaking his head.

Despite supposedly being two years older than the girl in the movie, I was just a little bigger than she was. I was still behind where I should be growth wise, and despite the obvious differences, I could see why Emmett thought about me when he watched it before.

Not letting that comparison scare me, I continued watching. Neither of us said anything more after that, though, both getting increasingly nervous. I didn't like the things I was seeing, but Alyssa seemed more confused than anything each time I glanced over at her. I had to hide my face at one point, but that was short-lived. A close call, but she was fine.

As it turned out, I couldn't make it more than thirty minutes into the movie.

The moment I realized what was just about to happen to the girl, I jumped up with a cry, and I ran from the room in a stab of panic. Nearly tripping over Mikah on my way by, and listening to Emmett insisting Mikah pause it behind me as he stood up.

"Leandra?" Alyssa called, confused.

I couldn't understand why Emmett would make me sit and watch that, and the last one I wanted comfort from was him, so the first one I found, I clung to. Which happened to be Carlisle. Jasper was almost as close, but I probably would have avoided him.

Carlisle sighed, lifting me as Emmett entered the room behind me. I found a decent hold around his neck, and I wasn't letting go.

"I'm sorry." I sobbed, "I'm sorry."

"I knew that would be too much." Carlisle murmured, looking to Emmett.

"Too much, or just enough?" Emmett asked, "Listen to her."

"I'm never leaving the house again." I cried into his shoulder, shaking my head, "Not ever. Never. I don't want that."

"That was the opposite of helpful." Carlisle reminded him, "We wanted her more carefully independent. Not petrified of leaving the house."

"I had to show her." Emmett replied, "She wasn't getting it before. She'll calm down, and you'll see. They'll be more careful. That's what we want, isn't it?"

"Leandra?" Alyssa's still confused voice didn't even help me calm down, "It's okay, you know. It's okay. It was just a movie."

"It was just a movie, you're right." Mikah told her, "But that stuff really does happen."

"I don't get it." She said, "Why is she so scared? What was that?"

"That's happened to her." Mikah stated. It wasn't a question. He understood now, given his tone. I felt Carlisle nod, and Mikah suddenly got very quiet. Alyssa had obviously never been through anything like that, because she didn't get it. She wasn't crying like I was, and she didn't understand.

"That's such a horrible movie." Esme pointed out, "Wasn't there a more child friendly way to show them?"

"Not as effective as this one was." Emmett replied, "She'll be alright."

"What?" Alyssa was getting irritated, "What made her cry like that?"

"Don't worry about it." Mikah told her, "Just trust me, okay?"

"It's bad, isn't it?" She asked, and Mikah sighed.

"You guys can keep watching if you want." Emmett offered, "But I don't think shorty is going to join you."

Esme spoke up again, "No. It's too much. That's enough."

"I don't want to keep watching anyway." Alyssa muttered, "Not if it makes her cry."

I couldn't stop shaking.

It took me several minutes to calm down, but my breathing stayed panicked for quite a bit longer. Now and then left over sobs would escape, or another round of trembles would roll through me.

I was very aware of everyone else still in the room, but it was silent.

I didn't blame her for not wanting to watch any more of the movie. I wouldn't want her to anyway, because I understood now. All my curiosity had been cured. I was no longer doubtful or confused about why people would steal kids. I wasn't going to be stupid anymore. I knew what that was like, and whatever happened after that wouldn't be good.

I was much calmer by the time we were put to bed. Embarrassed now by how I acted. She'd look over at me, but I wouldn't offer an explanation. I didn't want to tell her. The nightlight was somewhat effective in helping me see, but it was hard to read the expression in her eyes.

I did feel comforted, though. By being back in my own room. Safe under the blanket, warm and protected. I wondered how it had to feel for her. She wasn't nearly as scared as I had been, though.

"Leandra?" She murmured.

"Hmm?" I replied, looking over at her in the dim light of the room.

"Who is Jack?" She asked, and briefly, my blood ran cold. A typical reaction any time I heard his name when I wasn't expecting it. She'd heard him mentioned before.

"My stepdad." I answered, and she looked over at me, "The same person I told you about earlier. Why?"

"Just wondering." She replied quietly, looking back up at the ceiling, "They said he could be out there too?"

"He never went to jail." I explained quietly, "He got away before they could catch him." She winced. It fell quiet for a minute.

She sighed, "I like your family."

"Me too." I replied, "Except when they make me watch stuff like that."

"What happened?" She asked, and I fell quiet, not wanting to admit a word of it, "Why won't anyone tell me what was going on in the movie?"

"Because they want you to stay confused about it." I muttered, "I don't blame them. I wish I could be as confused as you are." I couldn't help starting to cry again. I tried to stay quiet, but she'd noticed. She seemed more worried about me than anything, though. Not irritated or frustrated.

"It's okay." She offered, "It was just a movie. It was fake." She had a point there, but the memories that 'just a' movie brought forward weren't fake. Wasn't I tortured enough by those memories? Why did Emmett have to add to them?

"He could have just told me." I cried quietly, "He didn't have to show me that."

"Don't be mad at him." Alyssa stuck up for him quietly, "He probably didn't know you'd cry so much. Mikah made me watch it too, so it's okay."

"But it's not." I argued, shaking my head, "It's not okay. I don't get it. Why would anyone do that?" She probably thought I still meant showing us the movie, so she didn't reply. Falling quiet while I struggled to calm down.

"It worked though, didn't it?" She asked, and I couldn't deny that she was right.

"Lesson learned." I whimpered.

"Me too." She muttered, "But you gotta admit. He's a good brother. If he wants you to learn your lesson that much, he's a good one." I took a deep breath, it trembling a little with emotion.

"I should steal him." She laughed, and I knew she was joking, but I didn't like that idea. It was possible.

Sure, she was more of a handful, but she was cuter than I was. She could handle people better than I could, but I was learning. I was still learning. She was less damaged than I was, and she was way more fun. Who wouldn't trade me for someone like her?

She must have fallen asleep waiting for a response from me, but she never got one. I didn't know what to say. I did what I could to cry silently, which was eventually what made me fall asleep.

I fell asleep, not even really being able to tell she was there. My bed was so big, there was so much space between us. It was closer to two in the morning before we fell asleep, so it was very late. However, with how many times I woke up, it made the night seem a lot longer to me.

Somehow, during the rest of the night, I never woke her up when I woke up. Managing to keep my cries quiet enough to let her sleep while I laid as still as I could, or carefully climbing out of bed to hide in the bathroom. She was just out cold, probably finally exhausted.

She was still asleep when I crawled out of bed in the morning. Too anxious to sleep anymore. I needed some water, or something to calm me down. My thoughts weren't just on the movie the night before. I felt an edginess that made my stomach tumble. I needed to spend some time with someone who understood how I felt.

My feet made no sound through the living room, spotting Mikah asleep on the couch. Confused in my sleepiness, I stood there for a second just watching him. He'd still been here when we went to bed last night, so it wasn't a complete surprise, but my tired mind couldn't make sense of the sight of him laying there.

I found Esme in the kitchen already, and crossed the room to her. She gave me a sad smile, seeing my run down, tired and nervous expression, hugging me.

"No more sleep overs for awhile." I sniffled, not surprised when my tears started up again. Slow ones, tired ones. I was deeply upset, and I knew exactly why. That movie had reminded me of things I didn't want to be reminded of, and for once, my dreams reflected that.

"Oh, honey." She murmured, sitting me across her lap and wrapping her arms more securely around me. I started to calm down, easily now that I was sitting with her. I wasn't embarrassed anymore by letting her hold me. I wouldn't let myself be. I just wanted reassurance, which she was only too happy to provide.

"I remembered more about that vision." I mumbled quietly, and she gave a nervous glance into the living room, "He's out cold."

"We still need to be careful, honey." She told me, "Revisit the subject later?" I nodded a little. I understood her wanting to be careful.

"I'm surprised he stayed." I mumbled, "Why?"

"He wanted to be here in case Alyssa needed him." She explained and I smiled a little.

"He's such a great brother." I mumbled, and suddenly I remembered. I recalled all that they faced at home, and if he could sleep here and actually rest for a few hours, I didn't mind in the least.

I sighed, leaning against Esme.

"Are you hungry?" She asked me quietly.

"No." I murmured, smiling a little as I looked over, "But I think they will be. There's a lot of people at their house."

She smiled, taking the hint. Two more humans to feed. Her favorite thing in the world. I stood up and allowed her to stand, taking the seat she vacated.

After only a few minutes, Esme handed me a cup of tea, which I appreciated deeply. I could never turn it down when she offered, because she made it so well. It warmed me up and eased my tumbling stomach. However, halfway through her making breakfast, I was falling asleep right there at the table.

My arm folded under my head, I laid over the table. Just like I had the other morning while trying to shake off the pill I'd taken. I couldn't help it. Having gotten close to absolutely no sleep the last few nights, especially the night before, I was so tired.

I wasn't surprised when I was lifted slowly, but the temperature of their skin was all wrong. I noticed that immediately, and that did bother me. My eyes snapped open.

"Put me down." I whined, looking up at Mikah holding me, "I don't want to punch you in the face."

"Usually I'm better at that." He laughed a little, "I just thought you'd be more comfortable in your bed."

"I'm fine." I yawned, "I'll sleep later."

"Good morning." And Alyssa was awake, skipping into the room. Witnessing Mikah still holding me, she laughed a little, "Are you trying to kidnap her?"

I looked up at him, pausing before giving a quick struggle.

"I'll bite you." I warned when he just held me tighter.

"Relax." He chuckled, "I just don't want to drop you. Hold still for a second." I did as he said, he let me down, back into my seat. I gave him the dirtiest look I could manage, and he laughed, "I take it you didn't sleep very well."

I just shrugged as Alyssa slid into the seat beside me.

"He wouldn't kidnap you." Alyssa assured me, "He's nice."

Over the course of the morning, the kitchen became more occupied. Alice and Jasper first, and Alice definitely wasn't pleased with us. Not only her expression announcing that, but her tone as she spoke to me.

"If you ever pull that again-"

"I won't." I mumbled, "So save it." Giving me a look at my attitude, she chose not to continue.

"I won't, either." Alyssa said beside me, "I don't know what made her cry like that, but I don't want it."

"Believe me," Jasper murmured, "You don't. It's far safer being careful at all times, and listening to your parents, or your brothers when they tell you to stay where they can see you." She looked down but nodded.

"And no more night escapes." Mikah told her, lightly pushing her, "If I had known, I'd have locked the bedroom door. I might start doing that anyway."

"What if I have to go?" She asked, smiling a little.

"Then you'll just have to wake me up, won't you?" Mikah asked, "It's not like you have any aversion to doing that, apparently."

Alyssa looked down again.

"Sorry about that."

"I know." He sighed, "I know."

Carlisle came in, followed by Emmett, which left Rosalie as the only one out of the room. I gave Emmett a glare as I stood up. I rounded the table to Carlisle, hugging onto his side.

"Don't go to work today." I requested quietly, and he looked down at me. He was quiet for a moment, sighing quietly.

"I'll see what I can do." He assured me, and I nodded a little. Even if he couldn't stay, that he would try was enough.

I even managed to eat a little bit, and I felt a little better.

"No wonder you hate school lunches so much." Alyssa commented, "I would too if I ate stuff this good every day."

"Right?" I laughed a little, nodding, "I told you she's the best cook in the world." Esme was pleased by the compliment, given her smile.

Since Mikah was already here, and he had to go start getting ready for work, he told Alyssa that he'd be the one to take her home. As much as I knew she had to dread that, she also looked forward to it. Seeing her sister, and being around to watch her, I knew she'd feel better. Back in her element. I had no doubts she needed to unwind as much as I did.

I couldn't help being a little relieved too, as horrible as that made me. I wanted time to breathe. I didn't like making my family mad at me.

Who knew having somebody else come over could be so exhausting? I also hadn't been expecting the busy night the night before. I felt mixed up. As much as I regretted leaving the house the night before, I also got to know Alyssa better. I understood her better, and as hard as her life had been, I could see easily how it made her who she was. It gave me a whole new perspective on what it meant to have a hard life. I was grateful for that.

While we were upstairs getting Alyssa's stuff, I went through the shirts hanging in my closet, just grabbing ones left and right and tossing them in a box. Ones that looked like they'd fit her.

Alice didn't even seem to mind, surprisingly. She went through the box, folding each shirt carefully while Mikah chatted with Emmett and Jasper a little bit.

"You're not mad?" I had to ask her, kneeling in the seat beside where she stood folding.

"Not at all." Alice laughed, "At least they'll get some use." That was my reasoning. I had to laugh a little.

"And hey." I looked to Alyssa, "If any of those are too small for you, just give them to Emily or something. They'll probably be pretty big on her, but it's better than nothing."

"She'd love that." Alyssa replied.

"I usually try to get her a size or two larger than she needs," Alice told her, "So I think you'll be okay." As a test, she held a shirt up to her, and smiled.

"There's a few in there that fit me right." I added, peering into the box, "So those might go to Emily anyway." There had to have been twenty shirts in there, so I wasn't worried about it.

Once they were gone, Mikah carrying the box for her, I fell back into my chair with a heavy sigh. Leaning forward and thumping my forehead against the table.

"Well, that was certainly interesting." Jasper commented as soon as they'd left, "Same time next week?"

"No." I almost shouted, lifting my head quickly, and he actually laughed, "No. No, that's okay." I sighed heavily, laying my head back down, "I'm so tired, I could sleep for a week."

"Sleep all you need to, honey." Esme assured me, "I can tell how tired you are."

"There is one thing we need to discuss, however." Jasper spoke up, and my heart sank a little, "About what Alyssa said last night." What had he overheard? He hadn't been home for the earlier discussions of the night, but the others could easily have filled him in.

"Uh.." I had to stop using that word that wasn't a word.

"We'd never trade you." He told me, and I sighed a little, "Never. I know how much that bothered you." As long as he didn't bring up anything else we talked about, I'd rather have to deal with this subject.

"She's more fun than I am." I mumbled, shrugging a little.

"If that's your reasoning, then let's get a dog." Emmett said, and I looked up, "It can have your room, shorty, and you can sleep outside." Before anyone could even react to what he said, I was laughing.

"Really?" Alice demanded, "You had to go there?"

I couldn't help laughing, though. I knew he was joking, and that made all the difference. Alice was still upset, however.

"You don't tell her something like that." Alice was pretty mad at him, "Never. Are you kidding me?"

I was still laughing, though, and he grinned at me.

"Can it be a poodle?" I asked, "Or maybe a German Shepherd. I can train it to eat people." Alice rounded, giving me a look.

"Don't encourage him." She told me.

"That's not a bad idea." Emmett replied.

"That's probably not a very good idea." Alice countered, but he ignored that as my laughter faded. Rounding the table to kneel beside where I sat.

"Forgive me?" He asked, and I sighed, looking down.

"I don't know yet." I muttered, "You could have just told me."

"You wouldn't have believed me." He replied, "If you didn't believe me the first time, you really wouldn't have believed that. That movie you saw was actually based on something that happened. It happens all the time."

"I don't like thinking about that." I admitted, "Not ever."

"I know." He sighed, "But it doesn't have to be that way. As long as you're careful."

"How is telling you where I'm going to be going to help stop that from happening?" I asked, "It's still sunny here all the time." I knew by his expression that I had a point.

Alice, across the kitchen, suddenly turned.

"Carlisle?" She requested him to follow her, which got my attention. Confused, I sat there, watching after them for a second.

"Just be careful." Emmett continued, probably trying to distract me, "That's all you have to do. Don't wander off alone, and if you are on your own, don't be on your own." I frowned, "Stick around a lot of people, shorty, so when you make a fuss, someone's bound to notice."

"Oh." That made more sense.

"Makes you less of a target that way." I nodded a little, "Nobody's just going to go for a kid surrounded by people. Not with that many eyes."

"Okay." I took a breath, "But no more movies like that."

"No problem." He replied easily, "I didn't even want to show you that one. I don't like freaking you out like that, shorty, but I had to get through to you somehow."

My attention was taken briefly by Jasper eventually following Carlisle and Alice, but Emmett spoke again.

"You know I care about you, right shorty?" He asked, and I nodded a little, "I wasn't trying to be mean."

"You're mean sometimes." I accused, and he laughed.

"Not on purpose." He replied, "I just pick on you."

"I guess I'd rather be stuck with you than Sammy or Jon."

"Who?"

"Alyssa's other brothers." I explained, "I met them yesterday, and I kind of wish I didn't. They're.. I don't even know."

"Do I have to go kick some butt?" He asked, and I smiled a little.

"Only if you want to." I replied, "And only if I can watch." He grinned, and I smiled a little in return.

"Maybe I should make an impression anyway." He murmured, "Just so they know who they're dealing with."

"Of course." I replied, "It's only right to give them fair warning before you have to kick their ass." He chuckled. I had to admit that I missed this too.

"Are you anticipating an ass kicking sometime soon?" He asked, and I hesitated.

"You never know." I answered, "It's always smart to plan for one, just in case."

"Just in case." He agreed, laughing again. I knew he was just trying to distract me, and surprisingly, I didn't mind that at all, but he noticed, "What's wrong?"

"I kind of wanted to go to sleep." I muttered, "But they're talking about me, so I'm a little stuck."

"Well, I think they can put their talking about you on pause for thirty seconds." He replied, standing up. Taking the hint, I stood up too. I didn't miss Esme's smile as I followed Emmett from the kitchen.

"Heads up." Emmett called, probably to give them time to finish whatever they were saying before we had to pass them in the upstairs hallway. They obviously wanted no chance of me overhearing, as they'd moved so far to talk. Even Rosalie had joined them, which was pretty surprising to me.

"Get some rest, Leandra." Alice told me as Emmett escorted me passed them.

"No promises." I replied, and she smiled a little.

I wasn't sure why Emmett thought he needed to escort me, but I wasn't exactly bothered by it.

"What are they talking about?" I asked him the second we were in my room.

"The next hunting trip." He answered easily.

"Oh." I replied, accepting that. As odd as it sounded, I'd completely lost track of their hunting habits recently. That also explained why Rosalie was part of it. I laughed a little, sitting on my bed, "One's probably needed after yesterday, huh?"

"It couldn't hurt." He replied.

"Sorry for torturing everyone."

"Well, for most of the night, it was worth it." He shrugged, "So it's no biggie. If whatever happened last night doesn't happen again, you could even try that whole sleepover thing again if you wanted to. But you both have to stay here."

"Just not for awhile." I sighed, flopping back.

"Not for awhile." He agreed, chuckling again, "And no scary movies."

"No." I replied, "None of those."

The moment he left, my eyes closed. I was more tired than I thought, because I fell straight to sleep. Maybe a few minutes awake, kicking my feet under the blanket and fighting sleep as long as I could, but that didn't last very long.

I woke to a nightmare not very long later, and I knew the rest of this weekend was going to be torture. I expected no different. It's just how I was. Oddly enough, it was a memory I'd dreamed of. Before last night, that hadn't happened in so long, so it was no wonder I was so worked up.

I hated how real my dreams were. I hated it so much. I woke up, hating everything for a few minutes. Hating whatever remnants of the dream that stuck around. It ached and it burned me. Smells sharper, tastes bitter in my mouth. His laugh, echoing in my head, my eyes and cheeks wet with tears.

It made no difference what mood I fell asleep in. It made no difference what I had on my mind when I was falling asleep. It made no difference what I thought of, or how I felt. I could be in the best mood possible, but I'd wake up in the worst mood possible.

I could be doing so well, and suddenly, I'm three steps back. That's how it worked.

Frustrated, I hit my head on my pillow. Once, twice, three times. Each harder than the last, covering my face with my hands. I was getting fed up, quickly, and I didn't know how to stop myself from taking those three steps back. I knew how to try, though.

I could feel it. I knew what to look for now, and I felt it. The slipping. A bad day was coming soon, and I wasn't looking forward to it. I was scared.

I found Carlisle, Alice, and Esme in the kitchen when I ventured downstairs. I crossed the room, their eyes on me. They could see how shaken I was, no doubt knowing exactly why.

"I want to stay home from school on Monday." I mumbled, "Can I?" I requested that for the other kids' safety more than mine. I didn't know how far downhill I was going to go or when I was going to go there, but I didn't want to risk hurting anyone.

"Of course you can." Carlisle's easy agreement only relieved me at first. Then I thought about it. He didn't ask why, he didn't try to change my mind. He just agreed, like he knew. Like he could tell. That was way too easy.

"Were you going to keep me home anyway?" I asked, curious.

"We thought you might be having a hard time." Carlisle replied, and I nodded. It wasn't that hard for them to tell. I was actually quite grateful, and it made sense. I definitely wasn't about to offer an argument where there wasn't one.

"You'll be spending the day with me on Monday." Esme offered as I sat down beside her at the table, "Would that be alright?" I nodded a little, "I want to show you the house I'm going to renovate. I think you'll love it." That did sound like fun. Much more relaxing than having to face a ton of people I could potentially hurt.

I took a breath, sighing. It was so hard to unwind from those dreams.

"Did you see something?" Alice asked, no doubt wondering about my mood, and I shook my head.

"I just.." I paused, "I think a bad day is coming."

"That's another thing." Alice said, so blatantly changing the subject, I had to force myself to keep up, "What's going on with your visions?"

"I still can't see ahead." I answered, "Not now. Just what happened before. I think maybe I have to get through remembering the one I had before I can do that, but it's going so slow." She nodded.

"It'll pick up, I'm sure, as you get older." She said, and I shook my head again.

"It's not about getting older. It's more like.." I paused, "I can't see what's supposed to happen until it's.. Right there. Until it's either right about to happen, or already happened, I don't know it's happened before. Well, you know what I mean." She smiled a little, nodding, "It bugs. A lot. Like Bella's party. I could have said something, because that had happened before, but I didn't even know it. Things are so different now, I couldn't tell you anything about what's coming up."

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Well, remember? Last time I was left behind." I said, "And believe me, I know how much that hurt. I remember how I turned out the way I did before, but that's changed now."

"Have you been able to remember anything else regarding the moments closer to when you woke up?" Carlisle asked, and I sighed.

"Aro." I mumbled, tensing. I frowned, leaning forward and resting my chin on my folded arms on the tabletop, "I still hate him."

"Do you remember why?"

"He was there." I sighed, "I know he was there. It's so hard to remember. Um.." I paused this time for a minute, maybe longer, until I slowly sat up, "I remember why it's so hard to remember that time. It should be easy, right? Because it was the most recent." They waited, "I had been turned. That's why it's so hard to see much of anything."

"You were turned?" Esme asked, shocked.

"I was hurt. Really bad." I told her, "I don't remember how it happened, but I know there wasn't much choice. It was close too."

"You said you were seventeen when you woke up?" Carlisle asked, and I nodded.

"So it's not like I was too young." I replied, "Like you worried about last time." He frowned and I smiled a little, "I asked about it. In the vision, before you left, I asked you to turn me. I can still remember everything Rosalie told me, so I won't ask now." I paused, "And there's a reason. Besides that I'm too young, and I think Aro has something to do with that."

Accepting that, he looked down briefly. Probably thinking of another question. While I waited, I couldn't help the yawn that escaped.

"What was going on with Jack in the vision?" Carlisle asked, and I looked down. My heart speeding up as I remembered.

"Months ago, I think I told you that he was caught." Carlisle nodded, recalling, "He was arrested, and there was a trial. I had to be there." I kept my eyes down, "He tried to kill me, and he almost did, but I lived."

"How was that possible?"

"Coincidence." I replied, "Wrong place, wrong time." I paused, "I don't like remembering that."

"And Ken?" Carlisle asked, and I looked up.

"I don't think he was there." I murmured, shaking my head, "No, I hadn't met him yet."

"You're sure?" He asked.

I hesitated, "Why?"

Why were they asking about him suddenly? I was far more worried about Jack than Ken at the moment, and they should be too.

Until I thought about it.

I should be just as worried about Ken. He'd said himself that he'd taught Jack everything he knew. He'd said himself that it was he that made it possible for Jack to get away with everything he got away with. Ken was just as much of a threat to me as Jack was in this case. I'd done something really stupid by telling on Jack. Ken would want to get me back for that just as much as Jack would.

If Jack was determined to find me, and if he was acting alone at any time, without my mom around, Alice could see him. I'd known Ken was with them for awhile now, so I wasn't exactly surprised they were asking me about him, but it seemed different now.

"Wait." I said, sitting straighter, "Alice?" No doubt they knew I was putting it together. Something was off. Something wasn't making sense, and I was starting to figure it out.

All the warnings about going places alone. About running off by myself. How much they've insisted, and pressed the issue. How adamant they were about it. Desperate enough measures to make me watch something Emmett normally wouldn't make me watch.

With one thought, everything suddenly made sense. So quickly, my head spun a little.

Have I just been lucky?

Maybe it was my own thoughts and the dreams I couldn't remember, or maybe it was what Jasper had told me the night before about Jack, but I wasn't confused anymore.

With an almost physical click and a painful drop of my heart, I understood now. I knew what all these warnings were about. The spoken ones, and the unspoken ones. I knew what all the worry was about. The things I'd been so confused about before.

Ken. Jack. They were here. They were all here, in town, waiting for me.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I demanded, fear making me stand up, and she sighed as she stood as well. Immediately rounding the table to my side. Blocking me from leaving right away.

"To avoid this." She said, "We didn't want you to panic." She'd just confirmed it.

"I thought I was losing my mind!" I was pissed, "Panic? I think I'm allowed to panic! I think this is the perfect time to let me panic!"

She tried again, "Leandra-"

"I think if I wanted to panic, I should be able to panic." I went on, "Not you dropping little hints in places I'd never see, making me panic over you not wanting me to panic, but knowing there's reason to panic without even knowing why I'm freaking panicking!" I stomped my foot and a desperate sob breaking the last two words

"Leandra," Alice tried again, "Breathe. Calm down."

"He knows where I live?" I asked fearfully, "He knows right where I am? Oh, God. Now what?" Stupidly, I started to cry, "If he knows, Jack knows, and I.. No." I shook my head.

"He's known for awhile now." Alice pointed out, trying to calm me down, "They both have. You're still fine."

"For now!" Another sob tore from me, and I turned. I wanted to pace, but I was too afraid to move off the spot.

The thought of him anywhere near me sent a tension straight through me that I couldn't fight. I knew what that meant. I hadn't seen Ken since I ran that day, what felt like so long ago, and I never thought I'd have to. I'd been so preoccupied by the fact that Jack was still out there somewhere, I'd completely forgotten to worry about Ken.

Turning me back around, Alice hugged me. I wanted to be mad, so I struggled and hit her a few times, but I couldn't keep that up if I wanted to.

"My dreams." I sobbed, finally returning her hug, "The things I can't remember.. I've been trying to tell myself, Alice. Something's going to happen."

"She's never sleeping again." Emmett entered the room with a sigh, probably having heard me start to cry.

"W-What do I do?" I cried, looking to Alice, "What can I do?"

"Just stay smart." She said, "Don't run off, and stay where we can see you."

"If it's daylight out, you can't do a damn thing." I reminded her, sobbing.

"Remember what I said." Emmett spoke up, "Earlier? You keep saying yourself that Jack's not stupid. He's not going to-"

"He's not like other people!" I cried. I wanted to keep talking, but I honestly couldn't. Crying too hard now.

"Then stay inside during the day when you can." Alice said, "Stay with us. I promise nothing will happen while you're with us." I couldn't let go of her.

"You'll be alright, shorty." Emmett assured me.

"He's not like other people." I repeated desperately, "He doesn't do anything without a reason. If he's here, he knows he's got a chance. How did he even find me so soon?"

"I'll keep watch." Alice told me, "Don't worry about that. We kept you home last week as well, because I managed to see."

"Halloween?" I asked, and she hesitantly nodded.

"Now, there are still times I can't see, because, well.. They're all together, but sometimes, they act alone-"

My voice rose higher in pitch, "Act? Are you kidding me? Alice!" My panic only increased.

"Bad choice of words." She admitted, "Breathe." She hugged me tighter, "They won't come near the house, because they know that's stupid."

"T-Then..?"

"That's why you're staying home from school Monday." She admitted, "They were going to try."

"H-He can't, right?" I asked, looking to Carlisle, "He can't. Neither of them can."

"They have ways." Alice replied quietly, honestly, "And given the chance, those ways would work. I just haven't seen those ways."

"I told you he was smart!" I told her, "Why doesn't anyone ever believe me? Can't you just have him caught before he gets there?"

"No." She sighed, "Deciding to keep you home will change how it turns out. We're keeping you as far away from them as we can, okay? You won't be anywhere near them."

"Until my mom blocks the way for you." I reminded her sharply, "Then he could be right outside, and you wouldn't even know it." She stayed quiet, looking down. I was right.

"Wrong." Emmett spoke up, "We'd know it. Any scent we don't recognize is automatically investigated."

I breathed another round of sobs. She had to feel how scared I was by my trembles. Worse than the night before. I couldn't stand it. The thought of Jack knowing right where I was terrified me.

"I've been trying to warn myself." I sobbed, "This is why I hate whatever stupid gift I have. It's stupid! It doesn't do any goddamn good!"

"Easy." Alice's tone was firm, but quiet at the same time, "I know you're scared, and you have every right to be, but I promise we'll keep you safe."

That was all I could stay through. I stepped back and turned, leaving the room. Up the stairs and straight into my room.

I double-checked the doors and windows, making sure they were locked, before literally diving back into bed. Scrambling under the covers and hiding in a tiny ball, completely hidden.

Knowing this now really put the last couple of weeks into perspective for me.

"Leandra?" Esme had followed me.

"I'm never coming out!" I cried, "Why would you hide this from me? I needed to know!"

"Because we wanted you to live your life. Not feel like you had to hide like this." She reasoned, sitting on the side of my bed, "Come on out, honey."

"No." I sobbed flatly, "I'm never coming out again." My sobs took on a more desperate tone, shaking hard along with me, "I don't wanna die, Esme. I don't wanna die. Please.."

"Please calm down, sweetheart." She murmured, "Everything is going to be fine."

"How can it be fine?" I choked, "It'll never be fine. Now I know why I'm so scared all the time. Now I know why I hated school so much. I thought I was losing my mind. Why didn't anyone tell me?"

"Honey." I felt her hand rest over me above the blanket, and in response, I flattened a little more as much as I could. She sighed, "It's going to be fine. They won't get to you here. I promise. You won't be left unguarded for a second."

I cried the entire time she spoke, curled into the smallest ball I could manage to fold myself into. I could feel the bed bounce a little with each heartbroken sob I gave. I couldn't calm down.

"I know how worried you are. I know, but I'm sure lack of sleep has a lot to do with that."

"No, Jack has everything to do with that." I mumbled, curling tightly in my ball, "I can't see him again. I can't. I can't."

"I know." She sighed, "But please-"

"You don't know."

"Please." She murmured, "Try to rest."

"I don't want to die." I whimpered again, and her hand stayed rested over the blanket on me, "You don't know what they're like, Esme. You don't know.. Y-You don't know what they'll do to me."

"We will protect you, honey." She told me, "They're not going to reach you. Not here. Not while I'm here."

I decided to stop talking then. My sobs the only response she got.

"I still think it'd be the best day ever when they decide to try." Emmett's voice in the doorway took my attention, "I can't wait."

"Emmett." Esme scolded lightly.

"What?" He asked, "One of these days, they're going to get pissed because we're always one step ahead, and they're going to make a wrong move. When that happens, they're done for."

A/N: I feel bad for her. :(
THANK YOU to those that left me your thoughts last chapter! THANK YOU! :D Amazing. Simply awesome. :D
I know a lot of people were hoping for a change in the story so far, but I sort of liked the way the storyline. It just needed a butt-load of editing and changing, and I haven't come up with a way to change it for the better, but we'll see.
Nine may take a couple days, as I have to go over it again, but I won't take too long with it. I promise. :)
Until Nine, my friends!