Dawn

Chapter 2

        I woke at up at around noon to the smell of eggs and bacon, the sound of our old, and extremely creaky, portable mini-stove cooling down, and Kate’s arms wrapped around me. Kate was just beginning to wake up too.

        “Good morning Kate.” I said quietly.

        “Good morning.” she mumbled, trying to blink the sleep out of her eyes. Then she paused. “Do I smell food?” she asked.

        “Yep! I made breakfast!” We both turned to look at Violet.

        “How?” asked Kate.

        “Well first I went and grabbed the e--” Violet started.

        “How did you get out of the barrier I set up? Did it go out as I slept? Were we in danger? Did I put us at risk?” Kate rambled worriedly.

        “Kate, you’re fine. Your shield never went down.” Violet said.

        “Then how did you get out? This shield was meant to not let anyone in or out.” Kate gaped at Violet.

        Violet gave a crooked grin and said, “Like this!” Then her eyes turned pitch black while body was coated in a dark shadowy layer and she walked  out of the shield. The parts of the shield her body touched turned black, dissolved, and reformed when she was fully out. Then she did the same thing to get back in. When she was back inside the shield the layer of shadows fell off her and she grinned wider.

        “I didnt know you were progressing so quickly! You’ve been working hard since I’ve been gone haven’t you?” Kate jumped up and hugged Violet, “I’m so proud of you!”

        I was smiling too, until I remembered what was upstairs. The subject we were all avoiding. My parents. “What are we gonna do…?” I said to no one in particular. “We can't stay here. Whoever killed our parents will most likely come back to finish the job.” I glanced over at Kate. She looked worn out. “You can't keep this shield up forever. No matter how much you wish it was true. Even I can see the strain you're going through. Let it down.”

        Violet’s eyes showed a glimmer of fear, “One more day? Please, Alex? She’s strong enough to handle at least that.”

        “I really don't think we should…” I said. Both Kate and Violet looked crestfallen. “…but I guess one more day won't be too much of a problem. We should at least pack though. But only one day, otherwise we will keep making excuses. We leave tomorrow at… umm… noon. At the very latest.” I sighed. What a leader I was. We were risking Kate’s life if she kept up the shield, but if she let it go we needed to be prepared to fight for our lives in a moments notice.

        “Kate. Drop the shield. I don't need you hurt. And we need to be prepared. You need your energy.” I said. The gray shield came down and Kate sighed in relief. “I don't need you hurt Kate.” I said again.Then I smelled the bacon once more.

        “Lets eat, before it gets cold.” I said. Violet handed out the plates of food she had cooked for each of us. We all sat down and started eating. We talked about anything and everything to keep away the silence, because the silence forced us to remember where we were. And what was above us.

        When we were finished I stood. “We need to go upstairs and pack. Kate, my dad left your stuff in th--”

        “I know. In the guest room on the right’s dresser. I still lived here. I was just restrained to the guest bedroom and the forest on the property. That way you would never see me. Your dad called me when I was sitting in your restaurant. I was the customer with the bright green hair and gray hoodie. I went there about once a week when you began working there.” Kate smiled, obviously proud of her accomplishment.