Always

03| chapter two: moving in

CHAPTER TWO

ALEXIS

Imagine this. A week ago, you were waiting for your eighteenth birthday. You got into a car crash. The worst person in your life so far died. You found another eight siblings. You were kidnapped, not adopted.

Needless to say, it wasn't going well.

"Must you keep asking me these questions?" I asked Lucas. "Who cares if you think chocolate is better than black currant?"

He was one of my favourites of the 'siblings' Carina and I had just met. They were all quite different, but this guy was friendly, and joked. Two of the best characteristics ever, if you asked me. One of the girls – I think it was Layla – perked up behind us. "Everyone cares, sis. It's a very important decision to make."

I felt a bit weird when she called me sis. Everything was happening so fast, and I wasn't really ready to allow these people into my life, and my personal space. It just felt a little fake, and unrealistic. And I still wasn't sure if I even wanted this to happen.

I rolled my eyes at her. "Sure, sure."

Slurping up a bit of soup, I crossed my legs comfortably. All my life, I had only ever had one member of my family, Carina. Although I probably had the opportunity to, I had never searched for my real family. I didn't want to.

"Are you okay?" Carina asked, arriving just as the other two left.

I sighed, patting the space beside me for her to sit. "Not really."

She gave me a silent look, tilting her head to the side. I knew she was asking for me to open up. To let her help. I didn't do more than just admit I was nervous. Which was understandable, really.

"It'll be okay, Alex. Just wait, and you'll see." She patted my head affectionately.

I smiled weakly in response. Getting up off of the bed, I stretched, and gave a small yawn. My muscles felt cramped and tired, unsurprisingly.

"Is our stuff at the house?" Carina asked, turning to Genevieve.

"Sweetheart, yes, I told you we had dealt with everything."

Carina sent a very obvious distasteful look to her, but the other didn't seem to care. I turned away from them, walking outside the door. The others were standing there, mid conversation.

"I still can't believe you're real." One of the boys jokes.

I cracked a smile, helping him with the bags. "I can't believe any of this is real..."

"Ace."

I nodded in response. No way to say anything to that. We should have been able to know each-other's names, personalities, and hates. But that was taken away from us. From me.

Exhaling deeply, I walked down the stairs of our local hospital, and outside to the waiting cars. Genevieve and Carina were already standing there, waiting.

"Shall we?" Ace asked.

I glanced at him. "We shall."

Looking out the car window, my lips turned upwards. The flora was thriving here, with old Oak trees, patches of lavender, daisies, and tulips. It looked familiar. I had never been there, but it did. It was like I was bound to the place.

"We used to come here all the time when you were younger," Ace stated. "I know it's probably familiar. You loved chasing butterflies, though you couldn't even walk. Dad used to carry you on his shoulders, and help you catch them."

I didn't smile. "He sounds great."

Ace's smile faltered, and dropped. "He was."

A few minutes later, the car came to a stop. I stepped outside, breathing in the fresh air. Grabbing the things that I had with me, I observed the old Victorian mansion.

'Remember, θησαυρός, shoulders straight, eyes wide, ears open. Clear your head. Don't let the person intimidate you. Find their weakness, use it against them.' 

'But why must I learn this, μπαμπάς?'

'Because one day, they'll come for you. They'll come for you, and I won't be there.'

'Who's they?'

I never did get my answer. Whenever I asked him about them, he used to roll his shoulders back and forth, smiling, and say 'One day, I will sit you down, and tell you. But only when you are ready.'

That day never came. He died first. The trail of crimson that led to his body, his heart ripped out, the bullets pierced through the skin, everything was ingrained in my mind. And there was no evidence of who did it. I closed my eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and counted to three. Focusing on what was in front of me, not what I left behind.  

I walked through the doorway, and stepped into the mansion.

"It's beautiful," I breathed.

Ace replied, though it wasn't expected nor necessary. "Isn't it? Grandfather built it specially for Grandmother."  

"He must have loved her a lot." I smiled. There was no doubt about it.  

"That he did. C'mon, I'll give you guys a tour."

A/N

Lil snippet into Alex's Past!! The pieces will come together ❤️ I hope you enjoyed this chapter!