The Hidden Child (#WATTYS2015)

Chapter 5

Shivers run up my spine, and other feel myself go deeper under the covers. 

 "Hello, darling." His voice sounds satisfied. I peek through the covers and his eyes glint maliciously, hunger in them. He slowly makes his way towards me, advancing on me like a cat preying on a mouse. It's like I can't breathe as he gets closer. Soon his face is inches from mine, a wicked grin creeps on his face. His lips brush make me for a quick second before I hear a smash.

 Sam screams in agony and footsteps pound up the stairs. I open my eyes. Nathan is hovering over Sam and his eyes are filled with hatred. A piece of glass in his clutches fist. My head turns downwards and I see Sam, blood trickling down the back of his neck. 

 "Sam, oh my gosh!" Nicole's words are fast like they are connected. She rushes to Sam, hugging him like a baby.

 "What did you do!?" She screeches, stroking his head, picking shards out of his skin. "I bet it was you, little brat!"  Nathan pulls me towards him protectively, at the moment she lunges. She screams with rage when her face hits the floor. While she's down, Nathan grabs his gun and races downstairs, dragging me with him. He quickly gets the green faces and I am able to grab my camera. 

 "You can't run!" Nicole shouts, I hear her feet pounding down the stairs. Nathan hisses, keeping a firm hold on my wrist and starting to sprint. Despite the harsh, cold, slapping winds I'm able to keep pace with Nathan comfortably. 

 "Keep going and don't stop." He mutters, loud enough so I can hear him. We're able to run into the next street without slipping on the ice luckily. He abruptly stops, catching me off guard. He turns stiff facing a small black worn out car. He mumbles something before getting into the car. I follow him inside, buckling up. Once we're a good 10 minutes away from Nicole, I turn to Nathan.

 "This is your car right?" 

 "Yes," he grumbles, keeping his eyes on the slippery road.

 "How come it's parked a block away from the house, and also why haven't you used it?" I drown him with questions.

 "Because I don't like driving, and I keep it parked a bit farther away so no one knows where I'm staying." He answers curtly, flipping some hair out  his face. I don't know what, but something bubbled inside of me when he did that. Turning my face to the window, I decide to think about positive things. New York must have some good things about it, or then I wouldn't have wanted to come out and explore it. 

 Unless I wanted the opposite. 

 ~*~

 "Do you even have the slightest idea of where were going?" I complain, my legs aching from being in the car for so long. I itched to stretch them and relax. 

 "Honestly Hope all I know is that we're going to get lunch from somewhere!" He growls, obviously tired of my whining. 

 "Fine, Hope about this Italian place?" I suggest, pointing at a small, elegant, local looking shop. He mumbles something before parking the car I the side of the road. I let out a loud whoop, thankful to be out of the smelly car. We walk inside, trying to stay out of the cold as long as possible. 

 The smell of noodles hits my nose immediately. So I breathe through my mouth.

 "Why are you doing that?" Nathan asks.

 "What?" I ask, continuing my breathing.

 "Breathing through your mouth like that, it's so loud." He replies, raising an eyebrow.

 "Oh, I can taste smells if I breathe through my mouth." I inform him, walking an empty table. 

 "Huh, that's new." We start reading our menus, waiting for a waiter. Moments later, a young girl with blue eyes and curled auburn hair approaches us. Wearing an apron that reads 'Sofee's Italian Diner'. Don't I know that name from somewhere?

 "Hi how may I help you?" She says, sounding a bit bored. 

 "Noodles please!" I chirp, happy I can finally eat.

 "Just a sandwich, turkey and cheese, no lettuce or tomatoes though." Nathan answers, not tapping a second glance at her. 

 "Any drinks?" She adds, writing away on her notepad. 

"Uhm, what's Apple juice?" I ask, pointing at the drink area on the menu.

 "She means what does it taste like. Hope hasn't been getting a lot of sleep lately." Nathan interrupts quickly. The Waitress gives us a questioning look.

 "Well it's good to all the little kids..." She answers, looking at us strangely. 

 "Well then I will have it!" I say, a wide grin plastered on my face. 

 "Water." Nathan tells her plainly, looking around the shop. She walks of to the back. I notice Nathan messing with the green faces again.

 "What are those green faces Nathan?" I question, looking intently at the object. 

 "Its called money, you use them to get things. Pretty much everything cost money." He explains casually.

 "I'm surprised that you aren't surprised that I don't know what money is." I say, my sentence coming out almost like a tongue twister. 

 "Well, you've lived in an attic. How much are you supposed to know?" He tells me like I'm dumb, he immediately winces noticing what he said. I thought that he didn't think so low of me anymore. Honestly, I don't know what to feel. Right now I just feel angry and sad, and a little betrayed. Instead of replying I just look down. 

 "Hope, I'm sor-" His apology is interrupted when two plates are placed in front of us. 

 "Here you go." The Waitress says, oblivious to our conversation. 

 Nathan scowls, "I asked for no lettuce or tomatoes." 

 The Waitress let's put an exasperated sigh. "Can't you just eat it!?" Nathan pounds his fist on the table, obviously annoyed with her. A woman with few wrinkles, wavy black hair and brown eyes. 

 "Cosa stai facendo, Valentina!?" She demands, marching towards the Waitress. 

 "Mama!" She gasps, surprised by her Mother's appearance. She continue shouting at Valentina in a language that seems familiar. 

 "I'm so sorry-" she stops for a second, examining at my face.

 "Hope?"

 I wanna thank you all for the awesome sauces comments! A short chapter but good one!