Page 49 of Drowned In Silence
“No. Just… Just take me home. I’m done. I want to leave. I don’t care if I get arrested for your fuck up. Either you take me home and leave me alone, or I–” I stop. What will I really do? What can I do? Kill myself to prove a point? I’ve always wished for death. Yet, I’ve always wished for someone to care for me more.
“Little Raven, look at me,” Elliot says, walking towards me and grabbing my chin. “This is why I haven’t told you yet. You asked me to fucking break you, but you’re alreadyfucking broken. How much can you take before death takes you? It doesn’t matter what Spencer said or did. It didn’t stop me from finding you, getting toyou.No matter what happens, nothing will take us from each other. Not him. Not the cops. Nothing. Do you hear me? Do you understand? I didn’t mean for you to hear me. I’m sorry you found out this way, but the other part of it… It’s fucking true. I love you more than I love anything. Shit, I love you more than I love myself or my family. I don’t care who you are. You’re mine. No matter what. Now, let me put you back together, Little Sister.”
Hide & Seek
Dynah - Flashback
“Little Sister! Where areyou?!” He yells through the empty house.
Our parents left us two days ago, and still haven’t come home. Well, they aren’t our parents, they are only kind of mine. Eli came to stay with us a few days ago and I’m so happy! I’ve never had a big brother before and I never want to go without him.
“I’ll find you! You can’t hide forever!”
I giggle into the empty cupboard of the downstairs bathroom. I can hear the floor creaking from the kitchen as he walks around stuff, trying to find me. As soon as he nears the bathroom and sees me peeking from behind the cupboard door, the front door opens and my Mom and our Dad walk in.
“No. I understand why he can’t stay here, but he’s my son. I just… I don’t know. I wanted to try to raise them together. Maybe use them to my advantage within the church,” Father says to the person on the phone.
“Dynah, let’s play pretend again okay? You just be quiet as a mousey in there, and I’ll deal with him. Okay?” Elliot asks from the other side of the cupboard door.
“Okay,” I agree. I don’t want to get punished again for being in the same room as Eli, so when he stands up to walk out the door, I can’t help but to grab his shirt hem. “I love you, Eli. Be careful.”
He squats back down, opens the door, and kisses my forehead before standing back up and walking out.
“There you are, you little shithead. What are you doing in there? Who told you that you could leave your fucking room?” Father yells.
“No one, Sir. I just… I had to pee,” Eli whispers.
I can hear the slap from in here and I bite my bottom lip to help me stay silent. If I get caught in here, then it’s game over. For both of us.
“Go get your things, you're leaving in a few minutes,” Father demands.
Without thinking, I bust open the cupboard and run out of the bathroom straight into my brother's arms.
“No! You can’t take him! I love him, Daddy! Please don’t make him leave! We will be good kids and listen and stay in our rooms! Don’t punish him for leaving!”
Our Father looks at me with an evil glint in his eye before raising his hand and slapping me across the face. Tears instantly well up in my eyes and pour onto my cheeks. Eli pushes me behind him, standing up to Father and hiding me.
“Don’t hurt her. I’ll go. I’ll go if you promise not to touch her again. Not until she has a chance to fight back. Not until I come back for her. Then, if you want to fight someone, you can fight me,” Eli says, standing up to him.
Father leans down and gets in Eli’s face, whispering loud enough that I can hear him. “I won’t touch her, but I will let anyone else in the world touch her tiny body. Just remember, Son, this wasyour fault. You just ruined her life, and I’ll make sure you never get a chance to save it. You’re going to another Godly household with another kid, and I will make sure you never see Dynah again. At least not until you’re both on my altar, praying for forgiveness. Now say goodbye,” he sneers.
I move to his side and look up at Eli right as a picture of us is taken.
I’m going to lose the only thing I’ve ever loved in life, and it’s all Father’s fault.
Home
Elliot
My phone rings fromthe bedroom and I race to grab it before it goes to voicemail. Dynah is still in the living room talking to Spencer, and is a lot calmer now. I know she is still pissed at me. Shit, I’m still pissed at myself.
Without looking to see who it is, I answer, “Hello?”
“Elliot sweetie. It’s Mom. I have good news.”
“Yeah?” I ask, running my fingers through my hair. I don’t want to talk to her right now. I’m so tired, this really better be good news. I’m still jaded at the fact that they kept such a big secret from me. But, I want to be back home in my own bed with Dynah next to me. I don’t care if she likes it or not, she’s not leaving my side again.
“You guys can come home, they are no longer looking for Dynah. Or you. I sent them in a complete 180, and they won’t be able to figure out up from down. So, it’s time to come home. All of you. Tell your brother, please,” Mom tells me.She’s obviously happy and misses us, but she has no idea how angry I am right now.