The Whispering Siren

Chapter Three

Nero's POV

Time, what a concept. I inhale slowly as time stands still. I exhale as I look over at my little brother, I am trying to teach him to drive. As I grip the steering wheel, I look over at my almost 12-year-old brother. 16 years old, I don't feel 16. When I first turned 16, I was so excited to be able to drive and now it just feels like I don't know the schedule. I was 4 when my brother was born. Back then life was simple and easy. Now, it's like the whole world is staring at me. Watching me, waiting for me to fail. Back to the task at hand, I get out of the car and over to the passenger side where my brother is now looking at me.

"Dante, come on you are going into the driver's seat." I notion to him to scoot over. "Let's go."

"Why do I have to do this?" Dante asked me. "I'm hungry."

"I have a feeling mom is going to kick me out soon." I sigh. "I won't be to teach you if this is true."

"Oh." He says scooting over. I noticed the teary look in his eyes.

"Ok, now with driving Dante." I see him fiddling with the steering wheel. "It's ok to be nervous bud, now hold the wheel like this."

I show him the hand placements. He places his hands at 10 & 2, good job buddy. Would mom kick me out? Where would I go if she did? I'm lucky I've been working most of my life and can afford things. Well, I've paid for bills mostly, and food. Mom hasn't had a job since before she got pregnant with Dante. I see him start fidgeting some more.

"You drive like an old man." His sudden voice startled me. Did he just call me an old man?

I look at him with narrow eyebrows. I do not drive like an old man I drive precautious.

"Hey, I don't drive like an old man." I scoff. "I drive the way I do cause other people's driving is scary."

He then turned and at looked me very seriously, the most serious I've ever seen him.

"Do you think if we got our own car, we leave here if mom kicks you out?" He says his eyes darkening and becoming teary. "I don't want you to go."

At that moment I couldn't breathe. I hadn't thought about him coming with me. Would I be able to even take care of him, yet alone myself? I can barely exhale. Dante... I would love to be able to have you come with me but at this point, I can barely take care of myself, I try to work it out in my mind.

"Your silence speaks." He sighs, lowering his head. "It's ok I get it."

"Dante, wait no it's not like that." I put my hand on his shoulder. "I would love to be able to get us away from here, but where would we even go? It's not a safe world out there."

I hate that he is so grown. Being able to understand the hurt and pain. I wish I could take it all away even if it would cause me more pain. I wish he was still that little kid that asked me to color with him or to help him tie his shoe. There's no going back to that so if I can help teach him or prepare him for the world more then I will. Dante looks taken back for a moment. I continue the silence as he looks as if he is truly considering the places we could go. He's a smart kid. Someday I will get him, and we will get away from here. I pat him on the shoulder.

"Ok bud, we should get inside before mom gets mad." I start taking off my seatbelt.

He stops me for a moment.