Living, Breathing Nighmare

Chapter 12 Back to Tyler's

As soon as Ruby can get away she goes to the room they're sleeping in. Scott grabbed one of her notebooks for her. She lays on her stomach, drawing, trying to clear her mind.

"Ruby," Scott says from the doorway.

She turns and looks at him. "Scott," she says back, not knowing what he wants.

"Can we talk?"

"About what?" she asks as he sits next to her.

"Why don't you fight back more?"The question catches her off guard. 

"W-what?"

"Why don't you stand up for yourself against Tyler?"

She sets down her pen and sighs. "You know your brother, so you can push him to his limits without going over. I haven't talked to him since I was eight. Don't forget he's twice my size and was able to kidnap us. He says that he doesn't want us dead, but I don't trust someone who shot out a teacher and then shoved his gun down my throat."

Scott nods, "That's why I don't stand up to your brother. He terrifies me and can do whatever the hell he wants and there's nothing I can do to stop him."

"Yeah, I guess that makes sense." Scott says, "He's my brother and I've lived with him for most of my life."

Ruby nods. "I don't even get why he took me. Like I said I haven't talked to him, in years. I don't think I've seen him in just as many."

"I don't know why either. I would like to." Scotts says, laying down so he's level with Ruby.

"Do you think we're ever going to get out of here?" she asks looking at him.

"I-I don't know. It's winter now, so I doubt we'd be able to get out until spring." 

Ruby nods. "If we go back to Tyler's, we would freeze before making it anywhere where we could find people."

"Yeah," Scott agrees. "The further into winter we get, the colder that it's going to get."

"We're further north than home."

Scott nods. "For now we're stuck."

~#~ 

 A week later they're back at Tyler's house. The moment they got back their shoes were taken away and the trackers put back on. Both Ruby and Scott wake up feeling sick. Ruby gets up and pukes in the bathroom. Scott is able to keep it down and stays in bed. Tyler eventually goes to find them. They usually find their way upstairs by ten. He knows that they know he requires them to eat breakfast. 

 He checks on Scott first and finds him in bed. "You need to get up," Tyler tells him. 

 "I don't feel good. If I get up, I might throw up." Tyler walks over and puts his hand on his forehead and sighs. "Stay here for now."Scott nods and then turns so he faces the wall.

Tyler leaves and goes to Ruby's room and notices that she's not in bed. "Ruby?" he calls. He notices the bathroom light and goes in there to find her. She's leaning on the toilet seat covered in sweat. His eyes widen and he rushes over to her. "Ruby."

"Hmmm..." she hums opening her eyes." Are you okay? Did you throw up?"

"Yeah," she mumbles, her eyes starting to close again. 

"No, no, let's get you back to bed before you go back to sleep." He helps her up. "You'll feel better later," he tells her, trying to keep her attention so she'll stay awake. "It's weird that both you and Scott are sick at the same time."

"He's sick too?" she asks.

"Yes, but he hasn't thrown up yet."

She gets into bed and her eyes close almost as soon as her head hits the pillow. Tyler sighs as he walks upstairs. He doesn't have to do much if they're stuck in bed all day.

A smile appears on his face. He pulls out his phone and calls Andrew, telling him to come over after work. In the meantime, he pulls out what he needs to make soup.

~#~ 

 Later that night both are feeling better. Scott is sitting up playing a game, and Ruby reading a book. Andrew showed up after he got off work and is drinking with Tyler. "Weird that they both go sick at the same time." 

 "You think it's because they got so cold." 

"That was over a week ago, but I don't know what else it could be." 

 "Me either, unless you brought it in here and it just hit them hard and you lucked out." 

 Tyler nods. "That's a possibility a likely one too." 

 "I assume today was an easy day." 

 "Yeah, they haven't wanted to do much today, and Ruby threw up, so I don't want to push her." "What about Scott?" 

 "I checked and he was a bit warm. I was going to make him get up, but because Ruby was actually sick I let them both be." Andrew nods. 

"What are you going to do with them when you go back to work?" 

 "Lock them in their rooms until I can trust them. I can't let them out of their rooms, that wouldn't end well." 

 "I'll see if I can come over now and then. Letting them roam won't end well, but neither will keeping them locked up all day every day." 

 "True. I was going to ask you anyway because I need to visit my parents. I made up excuses about why I couldn't go home right away after they disappeared, but I need to, or they'll come here." 

 "Yeah, I can do that. Your parents don't need to come here." 

 "Great, I'll leave in about three days and come back before I head back to work after Christmas."

 "I'll make sure that they're fed every day, but it might only be one meal." 

 "That'll be fine. Maybe Ruby will actually eat if she's only offered one meal." 

 "Any ideas why she won't eat?" 

 "Nerves is my best guess. I can't think of any other reason." 

 "She mentioned something about stress to me." 

 "She's stressed? I guess that does make the most sense. A mix of stress and nerves." 

 "That would make anyone not hungry." 

 "Yeah. When did she mention that to you?" 

 "Last week when you took Scott to check on the house. I told her she couldn't get up until she ate and asked her about it." Tyler nods. 

"She's a pretty good kid. Doesn't cause me too much trouble." 

 "What about Scott causes you trouble?" 

 "He's not afraid to push me. Ruby doesn't want any trouble at all." 

 "Makes sense though, he's your brother." 

 "That he is."