Chapter 6

I rushedoff to work the next afternoon, noting how nervous my mom was. She kept pacing and looking out the living room window.

We had an old busted Honda, and we’d loaded it down last night with most of our bags. I’d made it a point to hurry back as soon as I could so we could leave.

I pushed open the door to Twisty Cone and went straight to the back, where I grabbed my check.

“Anson, we need the waffle cones restocked,” James shouted to my retreating back as I made to leave.

“James, man, I have a family situation going on. I can’t do it. Sorry.”

“You’re supposed to work today. Are you not going to?”

“Sorry. Family thing.” I rushed out and took off down the sidewalk, my check buried in my pocket. I’d been gone less than an hour, so I was hopeful we’d be able to get out well before night fell.

When I rounded the corner to our apartment, a swell of fear came over me. Something didn’t feel right. I couldn’t explain it, just that I felt it. I rushed across the street and up to our apartment, only to find the door ajar.

“What the fuck?” I whispered, pushing the door open the rest of the way and stepping inside.

I was greeted by a horrifying sight.

Blood.

Everywhere.

Carpet. Curtains. Furniture tipped over.

I stepped further into the apartment.

“M-Mom? Trent? Tia?” I called out, my voice shaking.

When no one answered, I moved deeper into the mess.

I saw her feet sticking out from behind the couch, blood covering her legs.

“Mom.” I fell to my knees beside her, noting the ugly, deep wounds on her body and the way her breathing was strained.

Her face had been beaten so badly that she had a hard time opening her eyes.

“Mom?” I cried out, taking her bloody hand in mine, tears rolling down my cheeks, “Mom!”

“A-Angel,” she rasped.

I kissed her bloody knuckles. “Mom.”

“G-get y-your brother and s-sister.”

I nodded.

“B-bedroom.”

“OK. I’m going to call for help.”

She shook her head slightly. “No. Go. D-don’t look back.”

“Mom. . .?”

“I’m n-not going-going to make it, Angel. I love you so much. I’m so proud of you. T-take care. . . take care of them. P-promise?”

I nodded, sobbing softly. “I promise. I love you. I love you so much.”

“My angel,” she murmured, her body stilling. I sobbed louder, noting her chest still moving, but only just.

Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.

It took everything I had to release her hand before getting to my feet and going to the bedroom she shared with Tia.

The scene did not get better.

Tia’s tiny body lay sprawled on the bed, her clothes torn and blood covering every surface.

I rushed to her side and tried to pull her broken body toward me, knowing the horrors her young body had been put through.

“Tia. Tia!” I shouted, clinging to her. “Tia. Wake up. Please. Wake up!”

I shook her broken body, but she remained silent.My baby sister. . .

Sobbing, I placed her back on the bed and kissed her forehead fiercely, my tears mixing with her blood.

“I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry, Tia,” I wept, clinging to her. It took me a moment to gather myself before I was able to step away from her, now covered in both her and our mother’s blood.

Fearing what awaited me in my room, I went forward.

Trent lay on the floor, his eyes wide, his chest moving in and out.

“Trent.” I fell to my knees beside him and grasped his hand. “Trent.”

“Anson,” he rasped.

“Hey. Hey, come on. We-we have to go.”

“I-I can’t,” he said thickly. “I’m stabbed.”

I looked to where he gestured and saw the wounds on his torso, arms, and legs. Whoever had done this had been an absolute monster.

Letting out a snarl, I lifted him into my arms and went to the front door. I didn’t stop as I pounded down the stairs, my dying little brother in my arms. When I got to the car, I put him in the front seat, the tears streaming down my face.

I didn’t know what the hell to do because I hadn’t gotten any information from my mom. All I knew was that I couldn’t lose Trent too.

The car roared to life, and I sped toward the hospital, really fucking hoping my little brother lived.

I couldn’t do this shit alone. This world. This life. I needed my family, and he was all I had left.

“Stay with me,” I whispered. “Trent. Come on. Stay awake.”

“I feel weird,” he said softly.

“I know. It’s OK. We’re almost there. Just stay awake. Please. Stay awake. Don’t leave me, OK? Please, Trent. Stay.”

He let out a soft breath. “I-I’ll try.”

It was all I could ask for as I sent up whispered prayers and continued barreling down the city streets.