Adrift

5 | R E S T

I stepped carefully into the large shower and shut the door behind me. I stretched out one of my hands to test the warm water before I stepped underneath the water.

I leaned my head back and couldn't help but smile. I didn't have the luxury of having a shower back there. I used a sponge to wash my face and the usually wet my hair every couple of nights in the attic sink. Otherwise, I would shower at school in the change rooms if I got there early enough.

I had forgotten what it felt like to stand underneath the hot water and not feel rushed to leave it.

I ran my hands through my hair gently, tugging at the knots. I sighed and scanned the various bottles on the shelves. The shower shelves were full of various hair products and body products. It looked like heaps of people lived here. The thought made me slightly uneasy, but the feel of the warm, gentle water effectively washed all it all away.

After what felt like hours, I turned off the tap and stepped out into the bathroom, grabbing the towel that Logan had given me.

I wrapped it around my body and stepped in front of the mirror. I stared into my reflection. The bruises from my face had faded, but there were faint shadows lacing my neck.

I ran my fingers through my wet hair in an attempt to de-tangle the knots.

After drying, I dropped the towel and pulled on the clothes that had been left for me. The tracksuit pants were so large that I had to roll the ankles up four times and pull the drawstring tight around my waist. I rolled up the sleeves of the jumper before I hung the towel over one of the hooks and unlocked the bathroom door.

I stepped back in shock when I saw a man before me. I dodged as the younger man, Kai, stumbled forwards in shock.

I folded my arms in front of my chest and watched him wearily.

"I-er," Kai began, "I was just making sure you were okay."

"I'm fine," I responded quietly, "can you please take me to Logan?"

Kai stepped out of the doorway and motioned for me to follow, "yeah sure, of course."

I walked slowly behind him, peering curiously through the open doorways. The house looked lived in. It wasn't immaculate but it wasn't a dirty, poor place like the one I survived in. It looked and felt like ... a home.

Kai led me back into the main living area where I had woken up.

"That smells so good," Kai said loudly as we approached the kitchen.

"Keep your voice down," Mateo grumbled walking out of the kitchen to join us halfway across the living area, "he's still asleep."

"Oh, yeah," Kai said sheepishly, "I don't like the idea of them waking up. Lucky the others aren't home. I'm sure they'd have plenty to say and-"

"Do you ever stop talking?" Mateo spat.

I watched Kai shrug.

"Where is she?"

Kai stepped to the side to reveal my cowering form.

Mateo's eyes scanned my figure before looking back at Kai.

"He's in there," he motioned towards the kitchen before storming past us.

Kai seemed unbothered by his older brother's moodiness and continued onto the kitchen with me following meekly behind.

The smell of hot food cooking washed over me as we entered the expansive kitchen. I felt a pang of hunger in my stomach. I pressed one hand against it, willing the pain to disappear.