One Of Them

Chapter 5

~Ashton~

I head up the stairs, avoiding the dead rats littering the path ahead of me.

"This is disgusting," Sabina breathes, her eyes wide in horror.

Why did she have to follow me? So she can agitate me.

"People live here, Princess," I snap. "This is considered a luxury for them."

With that, she clenches her jaw, not saying anything in response.

We reach the top floor and I push the cracked door open.

"Ash!" Kaylie crashes into me, her thin arms wrapping around my waist.

"Hey, little one." I smile as I run my fingers through her golden locks. "Look what I got for you."

She pulls away from me and plops herself down on the dust-encrusted floor. "What is it?"

I take off my backpack and place it before her. "Why don't you take a peek?"

Her eyes brighten as her small hands unzip the backpack and pour its contents onto the floor. "You got us food," she gasps.

I smile. "Enough to last you for the next two weeks."

She wraps her arm around my leg and gives it a soft squeeze. "Thank you."

The floorboards behind me creak. "Mom?" I ask, turning around.

Sabina looks back at me, shy and embarrassed. I forgot she was here and suddenly I regret showing her all of this.

Kaylie's baby blue eyes look frightened. "Who's she? Is she here to take me away?"

"No, no, no." I throw my hands out and shake them back and forth as in no. "This is Sabina. She's part of the IE," I assure her.

Kaylie relaxes, looking suddenly shy. "Is she your girlfriend?"

I choke, stealing a glance at Sabina whose eyes are glued to her shiny combat boots. "No," I state nonchalantly. "Now where's Mom?"

Kaylie points her index finger to the bedroom door. I give her a nod before walking over to the door and gently pushing it open. I then step inside.

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~Sabina~

I glance down at my combat boots uncomfortable. Why would he bring me here?

He didn't. You were meant to stay outside.

I should have done just that and not invaded his privacy. I'm a terrible person.

"So you're only Ash's friend?"

My attention is drawn to the little girl who's a spitting image of her older brother. Tanned skin with golden waves cascading down her back. The only difference is her eyes which are bright blue. "Well not yet. We only just met the other day." I go back to staring at my boots.

"Oh. I'm sure you'll be best buddies real soon. Ash is the best guy in the whole wide world. And I'm not just saying that cause he's my big brother."

I look at her again to see her grinning, her two front teeth missing. How am I supposed to respond?

"Uh, yeah. He seems it."

Her smile brightens. "You know he never brings anybody home. You must be special."

I shift from foot to foot. "Not really. There's a slight possibility that I followed him inside."

"But he brought you to the Ozox."