Run (#Wattys2016)

1

This chapter has been revised. To view the revised version, go to the table of contents and select Revision of Chapter 1.

They're telling me to run. Over and over again. But I don't know what they're telling me to run from. All I see is complete darkness. I can't move, what's happening to me? I've always known how to defend myself. I hear them again. Whispers of the same word, "Run!"

I wake up with a start, still rattled from the dream. Pondering the meaning of it, I hear the sound I've been waking up to every morning. My little two-year old sister crying to let me know that she's awake.

Sighing, I rolled out of my bed. I decided to stretch myself awake. My favorite part in the morning is smelling the Hawaiian breeze come through my window and tickling all my exposed skin. Maybe if I waited long enough she would go back to sleep. Those hopes were killed quickly as I heard her scream impossibly louder.

"I'm coming," I said quietly. Deciding not to let her wake the whole house, I started a silent jog down the hall. Getting there I saw her grabbing the bars of her crib. She wasn't screaming anymore, so that was good.

"Oh, Ally," I said reaching in to get her.

"Li-kea," she knew my name but couldn't pronounce it yet.

"No. Lekia," I told her, "Lekia." She remained quiet. It was worth a try, I thought. Ally wasn't heavy at all. Of course this was coming from a girl who could bench two-hundred fifty pounds. I carried her down the stairs and into the kitchen.

"What to do for breakfast," I said to no one in particular. Ally had heard me though.

"Frent toes!" she yelled happily. I laughed and put her in her chair.

"Okay, french toast it is," I told her. Maybe mom would like french toast this morning. As I gathered the ingrediets, I started to hum a random song from my childhood. I stopped almost immediately. Where had that come from? Shaking myself mentally, I started to cook the toast.

As soon as I was done with the toast, I heard two pairs of feet coming down the stairs. Out came my other younger sisters. Eliza, who was ten, and Trisha, who was seven.

Those two look like twins, and the whole world would think they were. They had inherited most of their looks from mom. Shoulder-length beach blonde hair, tan skin, and heart-shaped faces. The only difference between them was their height and their eyes. Eliza had a smokey gray while Trisha had an emerald green. Ally was going to look like them too, only she had deep brown eyes like chocolate.

I was the only Born child that looked like our long gone father who had walked out on us after Ally was born. With sky blue eyes that could stop you in your tracks. No wonder Mom fell for him-and maybe why she was always getting lost in mine. My long dark brown hair, usually in a braid, framed my high cheekbones and thin face. I had pale skin that instead of burning or tanning, produces freckles. If you asked a complete stranger if Trisha and I were sisters, they would say no.

"What's for breakfast?" asked Eliza as she stretched.

"Frent toes!" Ally yelled again.

"According to Ally," I said, "we're having frent toes."

"Where do you get those kind of toes?" asked Trisha innocently. Eliza and I took one look at Trisha and burst out laughing.

"French toast, dear!" I said between gasps. Trisha looked confused for a second, then the pink started creeping into her cheeks. Chuckling now, I grabbed the plates and gave them to Eliza. Then I grabbed the toast and syrup in one hand. Walking over to Trisha, I gave her a one armed hug, and we walked together to the table.

"Who wants to say prayers?" I asked. Immediately, Ally's hands shot up.

"You said them last night, Ally!" complained Trisha.

"Then you can do it now Trisha, it's your turn anyway," I said, putting the last of the food on the plates. We all sat down in our seats, then bowed our heads.

"Lord," Trisha's voice broke the silence, "thank you for Lekia being able to take care of us. And please let Mommy feel better soon, she's been sick for a really long time. Amen."

The funny thing is, once amen came out of her mouth, all three of them burst into conversation. Guess who they were trying to talk to.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" I almost yelled, "One at a time." Unfortunately, they all thought that they should be first. After ten seconds of trying to decipher everyone's words at once, I couldn't take it.

"Okay, oldest to youngest!" I actually yelled this time, mom was going to love that. Especially since she's probably been asleep. Everyone fell silent.

"I'll go first," I said in a normal voice, "What are you guys doing today?"

"Well," Eliza said between toast, "Trisha and I were planning on going for a walk."

"As long as you attempt to stay away from Aaron," I told them, pointing my fork. Aaron was my age, sixteen, who was way more than trouble.

"Your turn Eliza," I said turning to her. She chewed slowly, then the words came out.

"How old do you have to be to date?" she asked with dead seriousness. Personally, I think my reaction was right on the dot. I stopped chewing and slowly looked up. Since I know what it was like, having a crush, I gave it to her straight.

"At least sixteen to go on an actual date," I explained, "People say they're dating, but you you're not dating unless you can go on an actual date. Why?"

"My friend Alyssa said she was dating someone, but I didn't believe her." As she said this, relief flooded through me. That was a close one. I have to be like mom, but I don't want to be mom.

"My turn!" Trisha yelled, throwing her hands up. If she was going to ask where babies come from...

"Why does Aaron hate us so much?" she asked. The whole room probably dropped ten degrees.

"You know perfectly well why," I responded, not meeting her eyes. Eliza looked at Trisha like she was crazy.

"He doesn't like Lekia!" she said, bewildered, "But we manged to tick him off." Trisha looked down at her plate. Unfortunately, Aaron was a big part of our lives. It was all my fault, but I don't regret it. At school, I was the only one who could and would stand up to Aaron.

We ate in silence for the rest of the breakfast. At long last we were all done, and all the plates were put away.

"Why don't you guys go get ready for your walk," I told Eliza and Trisha, "I'll meet you before you leave." They looked ten times less glum as they nodded. As they headed upstairs, I grabbed the last two pieces of french toast and set a tray

"Do you wanna come see Mommy or go pick out your clothes?" I asked Ally while I was getting her out of her chair.

"Close," she replied after a second.

"Then go get them," I said exasperated after she didn't move. She turned around slowly and then started running towards the stairs. Sighing, I grabbed the breakfast tray and headed towards Mom's room.