The Battle of Survival

[12]

It's late at night. When I check my phone, the time is 3 am. I don't hear anything at all. There is just ... Silence. They are all asleep. My phone suddenly buzzes. I stare at it as it's on the bedstand right next to my bed. I want to check it but what if someone comes and sees me using it. It buzzes again and I sit up at the bed so I can check it out. Axel.

Hey. I know that you mustn't use
your phone and I'm sorry if I get you
in trouble. How are you, Alexis?

Hey. Yeah. I kind of risk it by
using my phone right now but it's
fine. I'll take the risk. I don't
care about what will happen right now.
I'm okay, I guess. I'll get used
soon enough. I have to.

True. Are they good with you or
you don't like something?

I haven't met them that well yet
so I can't tell for sure but they all
seem fine. After all your father had
said that most of the time I'll be at
your house so I don't think that there
is any problem with that.

Well that's nice then. At least they
are good with you. I had my thoughts
about them adopting you.

Why? Aren't they good?

They are fine but you are not used
on their ways of punishing their kid
after it messes up.

What are their ways?

Either you will get beaten up or
they are able to lock you in your
room for the whole weekend
without food or water.

Excuse me?

I know right.

Then I'm definitely fucked. It's
not like I don't get in troubles.
Especially at school and especially
with John.

Then you better stay away from
him, Alexis.

I know that I should but he always has
something to say so he can piss me off. It's
not like I want to get in trouble and get
detention out of nowhere.

Yeah. I know. He can really get
on your nerves if he wants to.

Well he better stay away from me. If
I'm hurt by your father then I don't
want to imagine how Antonio's parents
are with their punishments.

Since you survived my father
then you can definitely survive
my uncle and aunt. At least they
respect your boundaries no matter
what. My father never respects
you and never will.

Well that's good. They understand
human logic then.

Ha that's true. They are nice. I
promise. Just don't mess up with
them. Okay? Take it as a friendly
warning. They are really nice as
long as you don't go against them.

That's why they were asking me if
I was ever going against my parents
when they were alive. Now it makes
sense.

They asked you that?

Yeah.

What else did they ask you?