Can I Call This Home? (discontinued)

☊⊑⏃⌿⏁⟒⍀ 2

TW - Eating disorder

The person at my door was Alex, and he looked up at me and smiled when I opened the door. 

"Dad wants you downstairs" He said, and before I could respond he ran away, nearly falling down the stairs, more cards spilling from his pockets and landing on the floor behind him. 

Left alone in confusion, I notice one of his playing cards left right in front of me. I bent down and picked it up. It was quite a fancy card, an almost realistic drawing of a duck on the back. The card I had picked was 7 of spades, and had a beautiful drawing of a duck surrounded by the 7 spades. I wasn't sure what the card maker's obsession with ducks was, but the cards all looked very pretty. Meaning Alex would probably be upset if he lost these. So before I went down the stairs, I made sure to grab all the cards, stacking them into a mini pile in my hands. 

Once I was sure that I had collected all of the cards, I hurried down the stairs. I was probably late for dinner now, and if they were going to punish me for it, I doubt they would care much about the reason why I was late. 

But once I made it down the stairs, I noticed that there was almost nobody at the table. The dinner was still getting made, and most of the others were waiting around or helping with setting the table. 

"Ranboo! Come sit over here!" I heard someone yell and I turned to see Karl at the table, waving me over as he patted a seat next to him. Glad I wouldn't have to make the stressful decision of choosing my own seat (you never know if you sit down in the wrong seat until they get mad at you for it), I set down next to him, pushing the pile of cards across the table to Alex. 

"OH! I must have dropped these! Thanks Ranboo" Alex said, smiling. He took the cards from the table and shuffled through them quickly before stuffing them in his pockets. I wouldn't be surprised if those cards were dropped. 

"Triplets! Come get your food!" Phil suddenly yelled, which made Karl, George and Alex all rise from where they were, and run to the kitchen, pushing each other to get there first. 

Nick sat down in Karl's empty seat and must have noticed my confused face, because he explained. "Just like how Techno and Wil are twins, those three are triplets. Dad took all of them in because he couldn't bear to separate them."

"that makes sense" I mumbled, reaching under my shirt and pulling out my necklace, fidgeting with the charm as I watched the others wait for their turn. 

"Ranboo, Toms and Nick, come get your food!" Phil yelled and I stood up with Nick, walking towards the kitchen and passing by the triplets, who were all trying to knock each other's plates of pizza to the floor. 

I ended up getting there in front of Nick and Tommy by accident, but Phil didn't mind and just handed me a plate of homemade pizza, telling me to go sit next to Alex for now. I followed his orders after thanking him and went back to the table, sitting down next to Alex, where he was now competing with George over who could eat their pizza the fastest. I wasn't sure why they competing over something stupid like that, but maybe it was something siblings did. I wouldn't know. 

After Tommy and Nick got their food, everyone slowly was called to the kitchen, and next thing I knew, the table was filled with all 9 children, Phil and me. It was very loud, and there were fights and laughs from all around the table. I was glad about that. It kept everyone's attention away from my uneaten food. 

I wasn't sure if I was allowed to eat. Even if I had been given a plate, nobody had said that I could eat. I had made that mistake once. Not in foster care. Before. I never want to make that mistake again. 

Instead, I fidget with my necklace charm, watching the chaos around me. They all seemed so happy, so free. I thought I was free. And I was for a while. But I had let my guard down for just a second and next thing I knew I was in foster care. I can't let my guard down again. I couldn't lose my freedom again. 

And to get my freedom back, I just needed to get through dinner. Then I could go to my-- the room they are letting me stay in and stay there until midnight. Then I could crawl out the window, leave the room and run. I just needed to run. 

Dinner seemed to end when Phil stood up and others followed, throwing their remaining food out and stacking their dishes by the sink. Following suit, I threw the piece of pizza out and added my dish to the top of the pile. Now I just had to go upstairs, lock the room door and--

My thoughts were interrupted by a loud bang and I whirled around, my eyes immediately noticing the little girl sitting on a chair. She wasn't there a minute ago, was she? And isn't that where Fundy was--

My heart dropped in my chest and my hand flew to my pocket as everyone's eyes turned to me. 

I should have known. They were too nice, they weren't rude like the others. I should have known. They work for them. Fuck I let my guard down again. I didn't notice the strange ways they acted because something in me thought I could trust them. I'm a fucking idiots. 

Techno started to walk towards me, holding his arms out like I was a scared animal. But I couldn't get closer. They would grab me and run more tests. I can't trust them. 

I grabbed the pocket knife I always kept with me, opening it up and pointing the weapon at him like I had practised when I lived on the streets. He seemed surprised by the knife and stepped back, away from me. 

I started to run to the stairs, but with a zip, Tommy was there, blocking the stairs. 

Fuck fuck fuck FUCK! I can't do this again! I can't go back there!

My eyes looked around the room quickly, from face to face. Everyone was focused on me, and my knife except Wil, who was holding the new Fundy, quietly scolding him. 

There was nothing I could do to escape. Every exit was blocked, and they all looked ready to grab me if needed. 

I could feel a sudden warmth in my chest, but I pushed it down. I couldn't do that. I would only have two minutes until they came back into focus, and I wasn't sure what it would do to me. This many people? For all I know, I wouldn't even remember why I was running. 

"Ranboo," Phil suddenly spoke, and everyone's attention turned to him "Please put down the knife. Just let us explain"

"Explain what?" I asked, my voice wavering. But I lowered the knife, still ready to stab anyone who would get close. 

"All of this. Just calm down" A sudden wave of calm radiated through the room. Phil was using his power for this. 

"Fine. But I get to keep my knife and you all have to stay away" Raising my knife again when Tommy stepped closer. 

Phil sighed "Ok. Let's go into the living room then. I have a feeling this will take a while"