I Am Here (UNEDITED)

Chapter 6

I looked across the space in front of the couch I was sitting on. I had brothers other than Artie. That was what shocked me the most out of today. Not our parents getting arrested, karma was bound to get them after all they put us through. Suspicious as I was of our new found family I wanted them to be different than mom and dad, this conversation about rules would tip us off to my brothers character. If the rules and punishments were anything like they were with mom and dad, we are going to get in a lot of trouble.

Del didn't trust them at all. She expected the worst and even though she hides most of went on at our old house things were bad. The wounds I had to clean for her were proof enough and the few times me and Artie got involved in punishments they were horrible. Delia said that parents weren't supposed to be like that, inventing ways to bring us maximum pain, they are supposed to give hugs and provide for us. Honestly it sounds like a fairytale she made up to keep us hoping. 

After Daniel's abrupt announcement the Delia was lying. Gracen had ignored it and said his piece.

"Time for the rules these aren't all the rules but the other ones fall under them so we decided to give you the simplified ones." Gracen looked toward Daniel to continue.

"Rule one - No fighting at least physically, as any normal family arguments are bound to happen.
Rule two - Listen and obey what your older
siblings as long as it doesn't hurt you or them.
Rule three - Go to bed on time 9 on weekdays and 10 on weekends.
Rule four - Do your chores those will be assigned later.
Rule five - Do your best in school, if you need help with homework ask one of us.
Rule six - Take care of your health, brush your teeth, take showers when your supposed to, etc.
Rule seven - And this is the most important always tell the truth." Daniel was staring pointedly at Del as he said the last one. 

"As Daniel said ealier, we know you are lying. We know that this is an entirely new situation for you three and rebellious acts are common especially since you Delia are coming into your teenage years. However lying and being disrespectful to us is not tolerated." Gracen's voice was calm and even.
"Admit that you are faking your muteness and apologize your punishment will be less severe if you do so, but if you decide to not admit it we will be forced to increase the punishment."
Daniel's voice was cold. Delia held my hand rubbing the back of my hand, I realized I had begun to shiver. His tone and face reminded me to much of mom before she went on one of her rages. 

Silence resounded, of course Delia didn't say anything, she couldn't. Rage was building in me I don't know why but my brothers who knew nothing about the people we had become were forcing their opinions on us and left us no room for discussion. Red began to cover my vision, I couldn't hear anything but the blood rushing behind my ears.

I don't how long passed but I began to hear voices again.
"Drew— please —little brother — need— focus — here." 

Drew was squeezing my hands tightly his eyes glazed over all his muscles tight and he was unresponsive. It was so scary, I thought we were fine. I thought I could handle whatever happened because I had always had to. When Drew began responding to our voices I was so relieved. Eventually I looked over at my older brothers. They looked so scared as if they were worried about Drew? They had never met me are the twins before before, but they cared?
"What was that?","Has this happened before?","Will he be ok?" and "Do you know what caused it?" these questions me. I blinked in confusion, but started to sign. Artie was in no condition to answer by himself, having his twin lose consciousness of the situation panicked him.
'I don't know what happened. This has never happened before Drew is usually the calm quiet one.' Artie woodenly translated for me, most of his focus on Drew I was worried about Drew too, but the damage my older brothers could cause for unanswered questions is not something I want to discover.
"We will continue to talk, but Drew should go ahead and head to bed he is no condition to continue this conversation."
'Hunter can you please carry him upstairs.'

Hunter took Drew upstairs to his room, I don't trust my older brothers, especially with my twins. But Hunter was the one I trusted the most at least not to hurt Drew and I was to weak to carry him and Daniel wasn't going to let me out of the room. Daniel stared at me accusingly. He probably thought I had coaxed Drew into doing it to get out of the conversation.

I meet my brothers for less than 24 hours and at least two of them already think I'm a hormonal lying teenager who uses her younger siblings to get out of trouble and fakes handicaps to get attention. At least they haven't beat the stuffing out of me — yet. Gina and Jake would have already had me... I would not allow my thoughts are not going to go there.

I tried to recall what we had been talking about. I wasn't mute, that was news to me. I had three choices: I could make an excuse by telling a lie, explain by telling the truth or say nothing at all. Since they probably wouldn't accept anything not spoken I guess it's number three.

Artie had curled himself into my side. I propped him up and gave him the signal to get out of here. To do the signal I cross my fingers and turn my wrist in a circle. I used this particular signal when I knew our parents were about to get violent. Since I was usually their target the twins had a high chance of escaping.

However to my surprise, Artie refused.
"You need me to talk Del, plus this is our new chance and me and Drew aren't going to let you take on everything on your own anymore." I froze I couldn't let Artie see violence not if I could prevent it. But I didn't know what to tell my older brothers that wouldn't anger them into doing something drastic and from the signals I was getting from their tone, facial expression and actions, they wouldn't believe the truth even if I told it. But lying would break one of my core principals I had managed to keep throughout my disaster of a life.