Broken

Chapter: Four

-1844 words

"Mommy, open the door." I whine and knock on it again.

"R-Ryder Mommy's busy right now." She says and I here her searching around for something.

"B-but mommy Ryan's feeling really bad again, is it the tummy ache?"

I ask softly and the door opens, showing mommy.

"Come on, let's go check on him." She tries to wipe her face and I giggle. "Mommy you look like a clown, why is your eyes black?"

She smiles but I know it's fake cause her brown eyes doesn't twinkle like they usually do.

"Mommy is you okay?" She picks me up and nuzzles my face with her's. "Of course I am, now let's go make Ryan feel better." She mumbles and walk into his bedroom.

I wiggle and she sets me down quickly. Running over to my brother, I brush his sweaty hair away from his pale face.

"Ryan. . .you okay, I brought mommy." I say and he smiles at me. "Yes, because I'm protecting you. . .you're my little brother." He mumbles softly.

"Protect me from what. . .the boogeyman?" I ask while cuddling into his side. He coughs and throws up into the trash can next to his bed, making me scrunch my nose.

"N-no. . .from being a big boy like me." I pout and glance at mommy who's crying.

"We are twinses so that means we both big boys." He just giggles and wraps me into his arms.

"Sure. . .we're both big boys, because we're seven now. But I'm a big boy because daddy–" mommy clears her throat and I peek at her.

"You are both my big strong men. . .Ryan mommy and Ryder are going to go fix you some soup." She grabs me and pulls me out of his room.

"I don't want to leave him mommy—let's go back." I whine and she turns to me. "Do you want him to feel better?" She asks quietly and I nod.

"Yes because him always sick now, and we can't play together with Macy anymore." I grumble and she nods with tears in her eyes.

"Good we can help him feel better, we're going to play a game. . .it's called cops and robbers." She hands me her cellphone and rushes us towards the front door.

"I want you to run over to Mrs. Patricia's house when you hear two bangs okay. Tell her to call the cops and stay over their until they come."

She mumbles and I smile happily.

"Am I a cop? What is Ryan and you? Is daddy going to play too, we wait until he gets home from work?" I ask, and she smiles sadly.

"Daddy can also be a h-hero, but we are going to play now. You can be the cop. . .the hero. We're the robbers. . .I love you Ryder." She wipes away a tear and kisses my forehead.

"I love you and Ryan, when I get back if Ryan feels better, can we go to the park?" She nods and pushes me out the door, but not before whispering sorry to me.

"No! Mom please don't! I'll be a robber—I'll be the robber don't do it please!" I scream and thrash as someone holds me down.

"Ryder. . .stop! Calm down you're okay—its okay." Macy yells and tightens her hold around my arms.

"No t-touch Macy p-please don't touch!" I shout while trying to get away from her.

She cries silently, and let's me go, watching me as I back myself into the corner of the big bed.