Come Home

Connor

The night went by smoothly, though it was crowded after the Bears had settled in. Sleep was the last thing on my mind though as everything that had gone wrong weighed on me. Roxee was gone, Hannah's mother was dead, the house wasn't safe, the woods weren't safe. We were under attack and whoever was responsible was good at staying hidden.

The sky shifted into a light blue as the sun steadily rose. Someone across the room began to stir. Not quite awake, but beginning to rise.

"Roxee? Are you okay?" I waited a few desperate moments. "Roxee, please answer." A few moments pass as I realize she's not going to. My shoulders slump as I release the breath I was subconsciously holding.

"Connor. Are you okay?" the man across the room asks, keeping his voice low.

I hadn't noticed Hannah's father earlier.

"Yeah, I will be."

He nods his head while slowly looking down.

"How are you doing since Sheila-"

"I'm fine. I-I will be," his voice cracks and he drops his head into his hands crying. "I don't know what I'm going to do without her."

I quickly get up from my chair and step over people to get to him.

"This world won't be the same without her. I'm sorry you and Hannah have to deal with this."

"I'll always be here for my little girl, but it's an unimaginable pain to lose your love forever." He sniffled and began wiping the tears from his face. "I'm sorry to add more burdens to you. You already were the one to discover her. You don't need my grief on your shoulders."

"It's better than keeping it to yourself. This house is a community."

"I know," he sighed.

"Connor? Are you guys up?" Declan's voice rang through my head.

"No, just Hannah's dad and myself. Is your room up?"

"Yes. We're about to go downstairs and start breakfast. Frederick wants the rooms to stay together as a unit until everyone can gather in the hall again."

"Okay, I'll let you guys know when we're going to head down," I reply before turning my attention back to the man with a tear stained face.

"Everything alright?"

"Yes, the other rooms are up and heading downstairs. We will join them once everyone is ready," I reply.

Over the next half hour, the room started to buzz as people began to rise. The sun had completely risen by the time the last few woke up and we began to make our way downstairs to join the others for breakfast.

When everyone had grabbed some food and joined the others at the table, the first thing I noticed was several people, Bears included, glowering at Declan.

"Did something else happen?" I dare to ask while looking around at the disturbed individuals.

"Declan decided that once he was awake, everyone else needed to be too," Hannah grumbled.

"Yes," the bear joined. "On behalf of myself and my family, we are requesting another room for tonight."

"That won't be a problem," Frederick conceded. "We can place Declan with other early-risers as well."

"We'll definitely stay with him," Declan and Fredrick's mother volunteered. "You bunch need more rest than we do," she said, gesturing towards those in Fredrick's group.

After breakfast was finished and cleaned up, everyone made their way to the main hallway where Fredrick was preparing to address the household. While looking around, I notice Hannah and Chloe talking with Declan and make my way over to them.