When The Night Falls Book 2 of When Good Things End trilogy

CHAPTER 9

"Then we'll come back later tonight and pick her up. Thank you so much for letting her stay, I hope well at least get to meet if we ever move." I stared at my moms smile, trying to signal to her just how much I didn't want to be left alone by squeezing her hand and holding on even tighter.
"Well be back like always," my dad said bending down and ruffling my hair. "Your a big girl now, you'll be fine."
Ein smiled brightly as he bounced over from the kitchen with a cookie in hand. "Come on you baby we can go to the nursery later today if you want," he offered.
"You can't go today," Hellen, his mom warned. "You already know that Ein."
"It would make Anna feel better." He lazily leaned his head on mine and pouted.
I hate the way his hand snaked around my waist as he gave me a quick hug. No one noticed my frown as I was forced to let go of my moms hand and wave her off.
"My goodness Ein, your older than Anna why don't you start acting like it." Him mom laughed as he took my hand in his and giggled.
Ein practically dragged me to his room the second the front door closed. His mom only waving us off quickly so that she could go pack up her things. They think I don't know about their plans.
"This is so dumb!" Ein tired to lower his voice as he finally let his anger out. "Theres no reason to leave you with your stupid parents. My mom's practically adopted you already! Those dumb kids at the orphanage aren't even blinking an eye at you and I'm left to deal with your mess."
"I'm sorry." I bit my tongue, mad that I was stuck with him for the rest of the day again. I sat down on the small pillow he gave me and leaned on the corner walls of the room.
He doesn't like it when I touch his bed.
"You better be grateful."
"I am." I pulled my knees up and waited.
He didn't look happy about my answer, "then don't look so freaking dull when you say that!"
I tried not to flinch as he threw one of his books at me. The hard cover bruising my fingers as I tried to block it from hitting my face.
"I'm really grateful." I stated. Trying to emphasize my words.
I should be.
I just really miss my old friends right now.
I shook my head, remembering what Erin's been trying to get me to realize.
There bad people. They don't care about me. So I should stop caring about them.
"You should have just stayed here. Your plants should be the ones leaving, they don't care about you either. They keep telling my mom how much they hate you. I just don't get why they keep pretending to care about you when your around."
I bit my lip. Trying not to listen to him as he ranted on. He's probably right about everyone. But I at least like the way mama smiles at me. I don't want to believe him.
His turmoil of shouts didn't fall deaf to my ears even as an hour past buy with my hands over my ears.
I quickly wiped my face as I realized all the loud noise stopped.
"Get up," he ordered.
My heart sank as ice cold chills ran up my feet as he impatiently yanked me upright. "We're leaving."
"We're are we going this time?" I almost cried as he pulled his bedroom window open.
"I'm hungry. I want to get something from the Orphanage."
"But your mom-"
"Don't talk about my mom. She's not like yours, she at least loves me so shut up." He forced me out the window. My knees scraping along the ground as I fell onto the dry and crusty ground.
I looked up, waiting for Ein to come as the window shut closed. "Ein?" I asked, trying to listen for whatever was going on inside. His voice was muffled as I heard him answer his mom and leave the room.
I sat down against the wall and waited as the sun dried up what weeds grew on the ground.
I scratched at my hands, the sun burning burning down on me. The window only opened an hour later and Crete quickly jumped out.
"Let's go," he stated. Already making his way around the house without looking back.
I tried to follow him. Hoping that he would let me get some water once we make it to the Orphanage. I feel like a puppy, running around after him every time he calls.
I miss Crete and Alice.
My forehead burned as Ein snorted. "What did I say about thinking about them?"
"You said not to." I rubbed the spot were he flicked me, it hurts. He didn't have to hit me so hard.
"Then stop it already. You keep over reacting. Don't annoy me this time and be useful for once."
I silently went along with what he said. Knowing he was right. How can he be wrong if no one else is telling me otherwise?
Dad and mom keep telling me to stay with him and be friends with him. They keep leaving me with him when they go scavenging. They know so its ok.
I smiled, glad to have at least him care about me.
"You already know the rules." He stated once we made it pat the forest and onto the orphanages main path.
I nodded as I skipped along. "Don't go talking with anyone else and be quieter." I did a good job last time, he even let me visit Lorelei at the nursing floor. That was fun, she's been starting to play a lot more instead of sleeping all day.
Ein seemed to catch on to what I was thinking but didn't seem to happy about it. "Your a freak with kids."
"But you said they are the good kids?" I questioned as I opened the orphanages heavy front doors.
He smirked. "I didn't say anything mean you idiot, it's a compliment."
I piped down as he seamlessly walked over and joined the conversation of a group of boys his age. Fighting slightly I sat down on one of the chairs in the hall and waited. I'll get to see Lorelei in a few hours!
I pealed yesterdays sunburn slowly, trying to get the time to pass by quicker. Ein left at some point but he's probably somewhere nearby.
My legs feel numb. I hopped off the chair, playfully walking around even though it was a little bit painful to.
"Anna?"
Ignore her.
"Hey guys its her," Alice called over the others before they disappeared into the halls.
I tried not to look at them but I couldn't help giving Alice a thin lipped smile. I wonder if she missed me at all?
"The hell's you've been?" Crete joked as he pulled Ells along with him. Travis and Dowin gave me a short wave but I could hear them try and stop the others from coming closer to me.
"She doesn't want to be here leave her alone already," Travis whispered glumly.
"Come on were going to go play at that creak you found," Alice grinned as she tried to take my hand. I flinched away before she could see just how ugly my hands had gotten. I should have stopped picking at them before they started bleeding.
"I can't," I whispered wanting to go along with them. But they didn't even come to look for me last week. Ein said real friends would have at least been worried for me.
"Oh come on. There's nothing stopping us, classes ended already and we have a few hours until dinner," Ells pulled Alice away from me. "She doesn't like you anymore."
"I do."
I still do.
I bit my tongue the second I looked up. Ein was leaning against one of the pillars in the hall, listening to the conversation pretending to mind his own business.
I have to stay with him when we go back home. I still have to wait for mom to come take me away. I shouldn't make him angry.
My eyes teared up as I looked at Alice. "I do hate you."
What I want to scream is help. I don't want to leave this place. I just want to stay here.
I want to be an orphan like them.
"Are you serious right now? Ann what's gotten into you?" Crete stood in front of Alice as if protecting her from me. Alice didn't even look my way as Crete continued.
"I hate you all."
I hate how they don't even realize what I have to keep going through.
"I don't ever want to see you again," I yelled. "I'm done talking with you idiots."
Crete looked stunned. His gray eyes looking to the others, trying to make sense of what I said.
I shook my head.
I'm lying.
Please.
They have to realize that.
They have to, if their my real friends they should know.
"Fine. Go die in some ditch, I'm not going to care anymore." Crete turned and walked off.
Come on.
Alice?
"She's just joking, guys she can't be serious. Let's go already, she'll be back tomorrow," Ells jeered worriedly as the others turned away.
"Alice?" I asked.
"What Crete said. I should have just listened when Ells kept reminding us that your not one of us." Alice wiped away her tears. "I hate you too Anna. Congratulations."
She made her way after Crete and Dowin. The only one that looked back at me before leaving was Travis. Whatever he mouthed seemed lost to me.
'Come back soon.'
There's nothing for me to come back to.
I bit my lip, annoyed that Ein was right. They wouldn't care. They are so blind to how I'm feeling. They don't care.
"They shouldn't bother you anymore after that," Ein laughed. "Your so mean. Good job, looks like well be visiting the nursery today."
"They suck," I bit my lips as I wiped away my tears.
Ein rolled his eyes. "Stop crying like a wimp or I'm leave you too."
He let me take his hand as we walked through the halls. "I'm thirsty," I whispered.
I had dinner in the kitchen while Ein ate with his friends at the tables. All he said was to hurry up and get over crying so we can make it to the infirmary and make it home without any problems.
Soggy onions were all folded into my napkin so I threw them in the trash and washed my dish.
Ein didn't come for me.
I waited another hour after the dinning room emptied and the lights were turned off.
My footsteps seemed to seep into the carpet leaving no sound as I made my wait to the infirmary. He might be playing with Lorelei without me already.
I slipped into the warm room full of cribs. Making my way to the one with my old stuffed toy. The little baby girl was sleeping already and Ein was no were to be seen.
"It's ok baby. But I can't sleep with you today." I smiled as I let her small chubby fingers curl around mine as I watched her peaceful expression.
I want to go home.
I miss moms hugs.
The front door opened with a slight creek. The chilling cold breeze made the dark seem all the more scary.
"Mama?"
I tripped along the dark path as I called out. I don't want to be alone right now. I'm scared. I want to go home.
"Mom?"
A dark figure stood along side the trees as I was about to make my way into the empty neighborhood. Slowly I walked over, my hands shaking as my vision blurred with the tears streaming down my face.
"I want to go home," I cried. Reaching out.
"Anna! Run!" My dads voice only carried through my haze a second to late before I realized who I was standing next to.
Strong hands wrapped around me seconds before the bear let out a skin curling scream.
"Ma!" I cried, hugging her even as something hot started trickling down her body. She pulled me into her arms and ran. Stumbling badly as she yelled out in pain and dropping me hard against the ground.
"Hide away," she warned before I felt dad's arm shielding me from the bear. My legs couldn't seem to run fast enough as terror racked through and shots rang out.
I ran into the broken down house closest to me and hid. My heart seizing up as I waited for my parents to follow me. Screams echoed through the broken windows before the last ringing of bullets made its way through the night.
I found their bodies next to the bears that same night. I didn't feel much until later when I watched as the last of my neighbors left at first dawn.
Ein waved and that was the last time I saw of him.