I stay awake for what was left of the night. The night passed slowly. It was quite, except for Brian's meaningless muttering. Realizing it was going to be a long night without anything to distract me from my impending thoughts, I decide to check on Nour. Softly creeping up the stairs, I make my way to the room, slipping inside soundlessly. I look over as Nour tosses and turns, she had never been one to stay still, always moving, even when she's sleeping. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I lean forward, taking her little hands in my own. I have always considered her as my lifeline. Without her, I wouldn't have had any reason to fight back. To escape. I'd probably still be there, maybe even dead. Actually, knowing him, I'd still be alive. He had always liked to play with his food before eating. Had always enjoyed watching the pain form on their faces, and know that he had caused it. He was is a heartless psychopath.
I lay there thinking about Nour's words. She was right, none of the team tried to hurt us. That didn't mean I would let myself get too comfortable. We would be out before they even woke up in a few hours time. I would've left already had it not been so dark.
Crossing the length of the room quickly, I walk through the hallway, reaching the far end. In the bathroom, I take off the sweater Brian had given me, and unwrap the bloody bandages, inspecting the damage done. Compared to the past, it was pretty tame. The scars still littered my body, some small, some bigger, but they were all there. A mass of white and red lines intertwining, covering every piece of skin. I try not to think about how they came to be there. How they'll always mark my body. Someone had re-stitched the wound, but some blood had seeped through. Taking a clean piece, I wrap it around my torso tightly, hoping it wouldn't stain red this time. Threading my fingers through my hair, I soften it, before tying it. Making sure my lens were still on, I open the door. My phone rings as I open the door, quickly answering, I hear nothing. Yet another silent call. I didn't want to assume the worst, but this seemed like the type of threat I was used to. And the only person who'd do that was him. Pulling out the memory card, I snap it in half, before stepping on it. I open the bathroom window, throwing the crushed remains outside. Satisfied, I quickly close the window, knowing there was truly no way they could trace the remains anymore. I also knew that he would find another way to. He always does.
Walking back downstairs, I settle back into the armchair, keeping my eyes on Brian's heaving chest while thinking about all the people I've met the past day. Dom was obviously the leader, the one that kept the team together. He always had the last word and everyone respected him, at least that much was apparent. Letty was exactly the type of girl I would've been friends with, had I had the chance. Mia was kind, and had taken an instant liking to Nour, just as Nour had liked her. Vince hadn't spoken much, he had just sat with his beer, staring at the back of my head, like he was trying to figure something out. Jesse was like the little kid in a family, he was just as energetic and excited as Nour, talking a mile an hour and never stopping to take a breath. If I was being honest, it was kind of endearing. Leon had went to sleep as soon as I came in, so I wasn't sure what to make of him. Brian, so far, was the one I had talked to the most. He wasn't pushy and didn't ask any questions I wouldn't answer. The only thing that threw me off was the fact that he was a cop. His interest in cars was apparent, if not entirely obvious.
Dom had mentioned he raced, which meant he had to be good with cars. And Brian had said Dom owned a garage. If I had to guess, I'd say Brian and Vince raced too. Maybe the whole team did. I sit for another hour before noticing that dawn was close to breaking. I start my way upstairs quietly. I wouldn't have pegged them for early risers, but I wanted to make sure nobody would see us. Waking Nour quickly, I whisper.
"Come on, we have to leave." That was only met by a whiny expression.
"I don't want to. Can't we stay this time Tessy." She answers, a hazy expression still on her face.
"We can't. You know that." This was annoying. Nour knew full well why we had to leave.
"I know." She sighs. "I just like it here." My anger deflated as I heard those words. She was just a kid after all.
"I know you do. But we have to leave. Now." I add, hoping to drive my point home.
Looking at me with wide blue eyes, "We're really gonna leave, aren't we?"
Bending down, I push back her hair and say, "Yeah, we have to." Taking her hands in my own, I pull her after me as I stand up. Pushing past the door, we walk downstairs in complete silence, a look of despair itched on Nour's face. Walking down the stairs, I make slow progress to the backdoor through the kitchen, not wanting to alert anyone. Reaching the door, I stretch my hands to turn the knob, only to stop at the sound of a creak behind me. Whirling around quickly, I spot Brian.
"Uncle Brian!" Nour was obviously way happier than I was.
"Hey." He replies back before you turning to face me. "I thought you'd try to sneak out. Turns out I was right."
"I wasn't trying. We are gonna leave."
"Now? It's barely morning. You shouldn't move much unless you want to restitch that wound."
"That doesn't matter, we're leaving now. Come on, Nour." Grasping Nour's hand, I turn the door's knob, and step out into the morning. Without turning around, I say, "Don't try to follow us."
Letting go of my hands, Nour threw herself in the blonde's waiting arms. "Bye, uncle Bri."
"Bye. I'll see you soon."
"We have to leave now, Nour. We don't have time."
"We never have time." She answered, anger evident in her words. Storming ahead of me, I keep my eyes on her. As I walk towards her, Brian's words stop me.
"You know, if you want, I can help."
"I don't need anyone's help." I answered after a moment. I've come this far alone, I can walk on alone.
"Maybe you don't. But keep this just in case." He shrugged, slipping a piece of paper in my hands. Putting it in the pocket of my jeans, I start walking towards my sister. I watch, hurt, as she pulls her hands away from mine. Knowing she's still mad, I walk alongside her, before flagging down a taxi. Scanning the driver's face for any sign of recognition, I find none. I give him an address close to our apartment, and settle as he drives. I look at my sister, as she turns the other way huffing, hands folded over her chest. She was giving me the silent treatment for a mistake that wasn't my own.
Leaving her to simmer in anger, I decided to talk to her later, at home. The taxi stopped, and I paid the driver. Walking the rest of the way, we reach the apartment. The minute we go inside, my sister makes a beeline to her room, slamming the door after her. By this point, I was more than just annoyed, I was bordering on pissed.
Flopping on the couch, I think about Brian's offer. Pulling out the paper he had given me, I read what's written. It was a hastily scribbled phone number, with his name written above it. Sighing, I fold the paper before going to my room. As I enter, my eyes fall on the once white walls. They weren't white anymore, instead splashed by color. Words and drawings filling up the space that was empty. Pulling open a drawer, I put the folded paper under my paint.
I stop for a moment, hearing the bed springs creak in Nour's room. Taking a breath, I walk to her room, before knocking softly on the closed door. Hearing no answer, I knock again. And again. My knocks turn to forceful raps as my patience wears thin. Obviously she wasn't going to answer. I open the door to find her laying on the bed.
"Are you going to stay mad at me?" I'm met by silence. "Fine, two can play this game."
I sit on the floor, my eyes meeting hers, my lips unmoving. Five minutes later she finally speaks.
"Are you going to keep staring all night?"
"That depends. Are you going to keep acting like a brat?" I answer, working hard to keep my anger in check.
"I'm not acting like a brat. You're the one who…" She trails off, not completing her sentence.
"Who what? Who's acting like a kid throwing a tantrum? Who's ignoring you? Who's slamming doors? Was that me?"
"No." She sighs. "You're the one who made us leave. I didn't even get to say bye to Mia."
"You're right. But why did we leave?"
"We can't stay too long in one place."
"Oh, so you remember." I snap. "That means we left because we had to, not because I wanted to."
"We didn't have to." She bit back.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Brian said he could help."
I stiffen before answering, "I don't need help."
"That's what you always say. That's why we left."
"No. We left because that's what we had to do."
She looks at me for a moment before rolling the other way, her back turned to me.
"Have it your way." I say, before leaving the room. I didn't want to stay any longer. There was no way I could get Nour to see what I meant. Not when she was acting this way.
After a long shower, I munch on chocolate, waiting for Nour to finally come out, I hear a shuffling noise from within her room. Looking expectantly, I see her as she emerges from the room, tear tracks evident on her face. She looks at me for a moment before sitting beside me. I say nothing, and continue eating the chocolate.
"Can I have some?"
"Sure." I break off a piece. "Here."
A whisper. "Thanks."
I nod back, still not talking. I count down the minute it's going to take her to start.
"I'm sorry."
"I know."
"I meant everything I said." I knew that already, she wasn't apologizing for what she said, but the way she acted.
"I know. I meant everything I said too."
We sat in silence a moment longer.
"Are you mad?"
"No." I sigh. "Not anymore."
"Are we going to leave?"
"No." I've already thought about this, he didn't know where we lived, we could stay. "You're changing schools though."
"Thank god." She says, letting out a relieved breath.
"You really like it here." I state.
"I love it here. I don't mind changing schools if it means we can stay."
"We'll go look for a school tomorrow."
She squealed, still happy about us not leaving, then hugged me. I laughed as she danced away to the kitchen, shouting back at me,
"I'm getting some chocolate. Do you want anything?"
"No, I'm going to sleep."
"Okay. I'll save you some chocolate." She shouted back.
"And, Nour?"
"Yeah." She answers, sticking her head out.
"Don't think we're done with this. We'll talk later."
"I know that."
As I lay in bed, I think about all I have to do when I wake up, probably sometime in the evening. I was going to have to look for a new job and find another school. I had to pick my motorcycle too. Thinking about it, I will have to paint it some other color, or at least make it look different. The people he had sent after us had seen how it looked. Getting my lens holder from the drawer, I keep the lens inside. Closing my eyes, I slip into sleep, hearing Nour's singing voice echoing through the house.
I finally found a network connection. Honestly, I feel like the chapter didn't need the way I was planning to end it. I kind of lost the flow. I'd love to hear what you guys think. Any and all ideas are welcome.