Daniel, Gracen and Hunter all remained seated. Daniel went to head upstairs, but Gracen pulled him to sit back down.
"Daniel we need to hold off for awhile. Arthur has a good point we don't know them. Even if he is lying we haven't started off well anyways." Gracen mediated.
"Hunter you said she was scared?" Daniel quesioned facing his younger brother.
Hunter nodded, "Delia would constantly move to shield the twins when you guys yelled or moved closer to her, her eyes will hold tears and trembles."
Daniel's eyes glazed over slightly.
"Maybe something happened, what if they aren't lying?" Gracen said his voice taken on a concerned tone. Gracen may have meet the twins for the first time and seen Delia for the first time in nine years, but he still wanted to get to know them, to be a family.
Shaking his head Daniel cleared his head, "What about the doctor tests if something was really wrong wouldn't it have popped up in one of the evaluations? It is more logical that our younger siblings are lying."
"Not necessarily, it's pretty normal for parents to answer questions for their kids if the kid didn't talk they would chalked it up to shyness or fear." Gracen said absentmindedly, his eyebrows furrowing.
"It doesn't matter, they still have been disrespectful we can't just let it pass. But it is late. I am tired: why don't leave the rest of the discussion for tomorrow?" Daniel said already standing up. Both brothers nodded even though it was only nine and not that late.
The next morning, Gracen walked towards Delia's room. Gently he knocked before walking in. The room was undisturbed. Panicking he began to check the closet
and drawers—there was nothing in them quickly he ran to check Arthur's room. The room was empty as well. Finally he opened Drew's spiraled across the bed were the twins. And turning away from the window stood Delia. Subconsciously Delia took a step backward, but quickly stepped forward to cover Gracen's path to where the twins slept peacefully. She stared at him silently her gaze analyzing the probability of certain attacks on what she knew about her second oldest brother.
"Delia, you are not supposed to be out of your room. Even if we are wrong about you being mute you should still respect and obey us." His tone was cold, but the gaze on her ruffled hair
and reddened eyes as well as her short figure were soft. Delia nodded. Her staring silently urging the large male to get out. Hesitantly Gracen backed out of the room. Before closing the door he informed Delia that breakfast would be in an hour, and that he would see them then. Delia nodded, her gaze not moving.
Once the door had closed and the footsteps had faded down the hallway. She began to wake up her brothers, because of their precarious position at home she had a special way of waking them up. She would start by running her fingers through their hair then she gently shake their shoulders when they start walking up she would grab their hand and sign the letters "good morning". The whole process took less than five minutes. Delia decided that they should take showers, rule six said it was allowed. The showers were kept cold of course. While Arthur as the youngest began his shower her and Drew signed about what happened after Drew had been taken upstairs. After they all took the showers and changed Arthur filled them in on what had happened.
Delia immediately began to scold him, 'We know nothing about them Artie! They could have killed you! How many times have I warned you about not blurting out stuff? This situation is to unstable for us to mess around.'
Arthur hung his head. He knew she was right. Always the peacemaker Drew reminded them that they needed to head downstairs. Fixing Arthur with a warning stare Delia began to head towards the dining room. The breakfast of waffles and bacon was silent. Daniel felt his heart start to soften, seeing the twins obvious delight as they ate the syrup-soaked waffle on their plates. But as his gaze moved to Delia it hardened again. Delia's expression was blank as she mechanically ate her meal.
After everyone finished Daniel opened his mouth about to something, but a maid walked announcing the arrival of someone. It was a police officer. Daniel strode to greet the officer. The officer had sympathetic smile as she asked if he was Delia, Arthur and Drew's guardian. When he nodded she explained her purpose of coming.
"Signs of child neglect and abuse have been discovered and I am her to get the kids' testimony."
Daniel eyes widened as he began to realize the implications of the statement.
A few minutes later found all of the Knill kids and the police officer in the living room. Officer Kim explained that the comfort of the kids had been considered and it had been agreed that the interrogation would be in their home. And the questions began.
*The next parts will go into detail about some of the abuse the kids went through. Viewer discretion is advised. This interview won't end this chapter*
"Some of the questions you may not be comfortable answering, but it is important that you try your best."
All three of the kids nodded.
"When parents punished you did they strike you?"
"Yes." The twins said at the same time.
"What did they use?"
"Sometimes glass bottles, their aim is usually pretty bad, but after the glass hits the wall the glass would still scratch us some." Artie said
Gasps sounded from their older brothers, but Drew continued from where his twin left off.
"But they had a weapon they used they called it a belt, but it was a riding crop that they glued pieces of glass to it."
"Did they use the belt often on you?"
Artie gulped but still answered, "Once or twice on me and Drew, but they used it almost daily on Del."
"You guys are doing great. What about you Delia anything to add?"
Delia made some signs.
"Delia said that she wants paper and pen and me and Drew to leave the room."
"Why do you want them to leave Delia?"
"She kept me and Drew away from our mom and stepdad. We don't know about 1/4 of the stuff they did to her and she doesn't want us too." Artie said his voice breaking. Delia nodded. She had stuff she needed to tell the police, she didn't want her parents to get away with anything even if that meant seeing looks of disgust and opening old wounds.
"Del said you can call us back later but she wants this part to be private. She would prefer if our older brothers left too. But if needed Daniel as her guardian can stay."
Daniel looked shock that she allowed him to stay. However Delia just thought her guardian would probably have to be present for this she didn't trust Daniel— not yet.
YOU ARE READING
I Am Here (UNEDITED)
General Fiction*Completed, but unedited* Delia, a 13-year-old girl lives with her abusive parents and her eight-year-old twin brothers. She shields them from the cruelties of their parents as much as she can. The twins try to provide her with support but they are...
