Five Years Without You (HIATUS)

Chapter Five

~Raelyn~

Dad and Autumn are arguing again. I'm supposed to be in my room, hugging my knees to my torso and trying not to think of the consequences Autumn might face like the rest of my siblings are probably doing. My newborn brother, Zavier, sobs when he hears yelling and my father's belt snapping against already raw skin, which is very often. I feel bad for him. I hide in my usual spot, in the small space under the stairs. I've been eavesdropping in this spot since I was three, and my rapidly growing eleven-year-old self can barely fit anymore.

"You can't do this to me anymore," Autumn's voice says.

Dad laughs his sneering laugh. "And you're gonna just leave your siblings?" he asks. "Roean, America, Renae, Jasyn and even tiny little Zavier?"

There's silence for a few moments. "I've had fifteen years of this. They've had less," Autumn replies. I frown. Autumn could be selfish at times.

On second thought: maybe she just shows her desperation more than the rest of us do.

"If you want to go out there by yourself and die, fine," Dad spits.

That stumps tough-minded Autumn. "Fine. I'll take the younger ones and leave. We'll either survive or die together."

Suddenly, dad spots me. Oh no. Usually I can hide behind the wall, but it's too late for that now.

"AMERICA?!" he roars.

I have no choice but to emerge from my hiding spot.

"America Raelyn Arelais-Davis, who do you think you are to eavesdrop on a conversation?" He demands.

"I-" I begin, but am unable to figure out what comes next.

Dad mimics me. "I- I- YOU WHAT, AMERICA? YOU USELESS THING OF A CHILD."

I know what comes next. Dad takes his belt out of the loops in his jeans.

The painful blow comes with a familiar snap.

-

I gasp and wake up, my vision fuzzy. I am looking at a bright white ceiling. As I become aware of the way my body feels, I become confused. My head burns, and there's a searing pain in my arm. How did this happen?

Where the hell am I? I think.

Then I remember the car crash.

Oh.

Right.

I sit up a bit and groan, cursing.

"She's awake!" a voice calls.

My vision clears, and I see Autumn at my side. She looks like she's been there for a while.

"Hi, Aut," I say, my voice weak.

"Hey, Rae. I thought I had lost you for a second."

Right. Of course I had scared Autumn half to death. "I- I'm sorry."

"It's okay, just, don't get yourself killed next time."

The door creaks open. "Is Raelyn awake?" a voice asks, and I recognize it as Renae's voice. Renae!

"Ren?" I mumble.

Renae walks over beside me. "Hi, Raelyn. Guys, come in. She's awake," Renae says.

I'm confused for a second until all my siblings come in. Jasyn, Zavier, and even Roean. I haven't seen him in a year and a half.

Roe peers down at me. "Damn, do you usually look this terrible?"

I laugh shakily. "Um, no," I say factually, even though I don't know how I look.