Identical

Chapter 16

Olive

***

Daniel and Zach are very quiet kids. I went out to the living room to check on them and Zach had fallen asleep on Daniel's shoulder. When I walked in, Daniel held up his finger to his mouth, telling me to be quiet.

"How are you guys?" I asked in a whisper, then I realized that it was a stupid question.

"Zach was crying a lot earlier, but I think he's okay now," Daniel answered.

"What about you?" I asked.

"This isn't the first time he's hurt one of us," he said so quietly, I thought I misheard him.

"What do you mean?"

"My dad, he's hit me before, Zach too," he said, tears filling his eyes.

"Have you told anyone else?" I asked worriedly.

"No, Carly doesn't even know," he answered.

"Carly doesn't know what?" Owen asked coming into the room.

"Um, uh," Daniel was trying to regain his composure, but it wasn't working.

"Danny? Are you alright?" Owen asked with concern in his voice.

"Owen, can I talk to you in the kitchen please?" I intercepted. He looked confused, but he came with me.

"Olive, what's going on?" he asked definitely worried.

"Daniel said that this isn't the first time that his dad has hurt one of his kids," I said in a hushed tone.

"What?!" Owen asked, rage filling his expression.

"He said that he's hit Daniel and Zach before," I said solemnly.

"And Carly doesn't know?" he asked.

"Not according to Daniel," I answered.

Just then there was a knock at the door. Well, knock isn't the right term, it was more like a pounding. Then came the yelling. Owen and I shared a look and then he said, "Danny, can you and Zach go upstairs please? And make sure Carly stays up there."

"Okay," said Daniel. We could hear him wake Zach up and Owen waited to answer the door until they were up there.

"Is dad home yet?" Owen asked me.

"I think so, why?"

"Can you go get him please?" he asked, starting towards the door.

"Owen, wait," I said catching his arm, "What if it's Mr. Harris?"

"I'm almost positive it is," he said, "And if it is, I'm not gonna let him break our door down." 

With that, he went to the door and I ran to go find dad. I ran up the stairs and ran into Carly and the boys. 

"Olive, what's going on?" she asked.

"No time, stay up here. Have you seen my dad?"

"Ya, I think he's with your mom in their room. Seriously, what's going on?"

"Just stay up here with Daniel and Zach, okay? Don't go downstairs," I yelled and took off to mom and dad's room.

I passed Brayden and he asked the same thing as Carly, and I said the same things; not to let them go downstairs. When I got to mom and dad's room, I didn't even knock.

"Dad! You need to come down stairs!" I practically yelled.

"Olive, what's wrong? Why?" he asked getting up from the bed.