Shine Extra Large

Midnight Sneakout

The night sky looks beautiful. There is beauty in darkness, not the cliche moon, but the dark clouds seem somehow really calming. I was staring at the sky from my hospital window. Wasn't particularly thinking anything, maybe somehow my mind was at peace. Never in my life, I would have imagined my life taking twist after twist like this. I chuckled. I guess this is what you call learning from your mistakes. I gazed down to my wrist, where I had cut myself. It has been a whole day since I was bought here. Mom and Evelyn are staying here with me by turns. Honestly, it feels good to have a family as support. Even though my mom, sister, and Levi are here... I wish to see him. I love him maybe I still do. Something deep inside me wishes that he would come and see me once. I smiled to myself. It was time to sleep. The nurse informed me to have proper rest if I want to get discharged soon. I slowly slumped down in the bed and stared at the sky again. As I closed my eyes, I felt someone walk in my wing. Mom was sleeping on the small bedding made for her. She is a heavy sleeper. It could be anyone. My heart was thumping. I was about to press the help button beside my bed, but then someone held my hand. "It's me Eleanor", a very familiar voice. I looked at him carefully. I was mad, yet felt good to see him. I slowly whispered, "what are you doing here Zachary?".He moved back a little. He was scared that I'll do something as he was a Kingstone. " umm, would you mind going for a small walk?" He asked. I looked at him confused. "Why?" I asked. He didn't reply. He just stood there, not even trying to look at me in the eye and guilt written all over his face. I sighed and nodded. Zachary helped me get up and ha e a little midnight sneak out with him. The moment we left the wing, I was regretting it. Why am I listening to them again? I stopped in my tracks, Zach looked back " you coming?", I took a deep breath and nodded, trying to convince myself that it's gonna be fine. We escapee the hospital staff at the front desk, and reach the beautiful backyard of the hospital. It was all silent. Only the sound of crickets was audible. The cold breeze blew, making me feel somewhat at ease. I looked at Zachary, he looked uncomfortable. I walked closer to him, "Zachary" I called him. He looked towards me but averted his gaze after a second. He sat down on the grass, motioning the space beside him. I sat down, then he broke the silence. "Did you think, trying to harm yourself, will make everything easy?" He asked. "Look who is talking, the reason was-" he cut me off "Yes I know, my brother and his methods". I nodded, but then he continued "Maybe if you did listen to what he was trying to say this wouldn't have happened," he said.4I raised my eyebrow at him, "See Zachary, if you are here to defend your brother, then -"Well yes I am defending my brother, do you even know why he did that, do you even know where he is? Do you know what happened to him after Grayson delivered the news to us yesterday?" He raised his voice a little, I frowned at him, "You dad-"

"THAT MAN IS NOT OUR FATHER!"

I snapped my gaze at Zachary who looked angry, yet very vulnerable at the moment. 

"what are you even saying-"

"Yes Eleanor, we are not his kids, we are his adopted kids, " he said, looking straight into my eyes. I was at a loss for words. Mr. Kingstone took a lot of pride in all his kids, he always praised them and gave them the best, anyone could ever ask for. 

*Zachary's Pov

Eleanor looked stunned at my confession. I chuckled at her reaction. It was a very obvious reaction she gave. It is hard to believe that we are not his kids. 

"Even if you are adopted, yet he loves all of you... doesn't he?" she asked softly. I smiled at her innocence. I can guarantee that this world doesn't deserve an angel like her. She is just too kind and humble.

"You shouldn't always believe what you see Eleanor, not my dad's "love" for his kids or what my brother had done, there is always more to things that your eyes show you."

After what I said, Eleanor looked at me with her beautiful eyes, which were holding back tears. "This is what the problem is, I just don't know anything, literally nothing about people around me. Mom confessed to me and now there is more to everything. I just don't understand that have I been way too ignorant, or people are just good at hiding things from me!?" she said that in a whole breath. I slowly placed my hands over hers and gave it a light pat.  I think after everything she had been through and everything going on, she deserves to know everything. 

"Well, to be honest, I don't remember a lot... but I remember archer as we were orphan kids, i was barely 5 years old at that time, so my memory is very fuzzy. He was a new kid, tall, and had some deep scars on his hands as if he had punched something hard. he didn't eat a lot and always stayed by himself. He had the same hair like mine, kinda similar looks as well. We all were once playing in the backyard of the orphanage when I was pushed hard by someone, and I fell on my face hard, scared my knees, and bruised my face. Archer sat far on the swing, he was staring. The kids started teasing me, then before I could do anything, an almost teen girl butted in and scolded the other kids for pushing me. Isabelle." I smiled at that memory. I looked beside me to see Eleanor smiling while listening to me attentively. 

"I still haven't come across Archer, until suddenly a man with black suit and tie had come to visit our orphanage. He passed out some papers, more like test papers. We all were given a good education, but this test was different. It had questions related to personal life, intelligence, current affairs, and situation-based questions. I didn't take it seriously, so I ended up being failed at it, but only two students passed the test. Archer and Isabelle and hence were selected to be adopted by that man. He looked at them with soo much pride while taking them with him, but suddenly Archer stopped and looked back and pointed his finger back at me, the man averted his gaze towards me too. and then he said 'I want this boy to come with us too, he is weak', I was offended, but I really wanted a family too. The man looked at me in a bored expression, but then Archer wouldn't leave without me. He didn't know me, never bothered talking to me once, but still wanted me to be a part of the family. I smiled and waited for the suited man's response, he called someone and talked to him for about a few minutes, then waved his hand to join them, I jumped with joy and followed along.  I was never wanted there but became part of them and hence got the last name Kingstone."

"We were trained to be the best, looks, education, skills... almost everything. Then after a year of training, we met Daniel Kingstone. Our dad. I was excited to meet dad, but after we met the first thing he said was 'Archer you bought him, so his mistakes are all on you'. I broke down. He constantly threatened Archer with how he would destroy me if he didn't follow his orders. When Archer met you, he was determined at first to get what Dad has asked for, but you changed him, Eleanor, you helped him gain the courage to revolt against his toxic personality built by our dad. Daniel Kingstone ruined that boy who was humble. Even now when he realized how much he had fallen for you, he promised himself to give back everything he took away from you, he only did it, so that he can save me. I am sorry Eleanor, but I promise you we had it planned to give everything back the moment Dad made Archer the President of Kingstone. It's just you came to know everything and his whole plan got ruined. I know keeping you in dark was wrong, but you have to understand that we are not the only ones suffering or getting miserable treatment, we just tend to never know what battles other person is fighting on the inside." 

I never asked Archer to choose me over someone who helps him become a better person. I was about to apologize again, but I saw her crying. We always tend to make this girl tear up. I pulled her closer and hugged her, while she cried her eyes out. I hope telling her everything was the right thing to do. 

Too much backstory?.... life is not easy I guess.