Kids in the Dark

Chapter 10

The night passed as one infinite of darkness from which I was pulled by Jace's hands shaking my shoulders gently.

"Wakey, wakey sleeping beauty." He smiled. I let out a moan and threw one of my pillows at him.

"It's too early," I mumbled my voice rough from a night of no use, but still Jace continued.

"Come on, Raven made waffles." but even the thought of waffles drowned in syrup couldn't get me to move. I rolled onto my stomach, burying my head into my remaining pillow. Jace gave up, and the sound of his footsteps eventually faded away. The room was filled the silence I so desperately desired. I lay on my stomach thinking about absolutely nothing, my mind blissfully blank. I was perfectly happy with the idea for drifting back to sleep when there was a knock on the door, and the sound of it open.

"Ryder, get up mate." It was Theo. He walked over, and the bed sank a few inches lower under his weight. I rolled over to glare at him.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked in a small voice.

"Tell you wha- oh um..." Theo seemed to know what I was asking about.

"I thought we swore to tell each other everything. How could you keep this from me."

"Ryder, I wanted too, I just didn't know how." He explained. "I didn't even tell Mom, I just couldn't" The mention of our mom made my anger dissipate. I was still somewhat annoyed but the fact he didn't even tell Mom made me feel better. "Now come one. I know you want waffles." I still refused to move. I felt his cool hands lock around my ankles. My bare chest began to slide as he pulled me. I struggled against his grip, but in no time at all, I had fallen on the floor with a loud thunk, but Theo didn't let go. He reversed out the door and down the corridor dragging me behind him all the way to the kitchen.

"He's up." He announced finally letting me go. I shot to my feet and stretched. The smell of waffles drifted towards me and my stomach began to rumble, begging to be fed. Raven caught the look on my face and put a few on a plate before handing it to me. I licked my lips as I covered them in syrup, making my way over to the table and taking a seat beside Adam.

I shoveled the food into my mouth getting syrup all down my bare chest, but in minutes the plate was clear. I disappeared for a few seconds to wash it off but came back to find the others in the lounge area. Raven and Jace were sat together with Theo and Adam at a football table. "Come join us, Ryder." Adam beckoned me over and I took my place beside Theo.

We passed about an hour playing with Jace joining Adam part way through once Raven had disappeared to get dressed. She had suggested to us to do the same but we were all perfectly happy playing table football in our underwear. I was fine until I caught Jace staring at my scars again. I shot him a glare, but he didn't look away.

"Oh come on. They're just scars. Why don't you ever talk about it." By now Theo and Adam had stopped playing, watching the two of us like ready to explode grenades.

"I don't talk about how I got these scars because they're a constant reminder of an event I would give anything to forget. I almost bled out on my bedroom floor after my dad came home drunk and attacked me with a knife." I shouted, Raven reappearing. She had obviously heard because she then asked.

"But how?" I glanced at Theo who nodded in understanding, continuing the story.

"I got back just in time and took Ryder to the hospital. I told them he'd been attacked by a dog. When they asked where Dad was I told them he was out drinking. They stitched him back up, gave him a transfusion and I took him to our hideout, away from Dad." Everyone listened with bated breath, not daring to interrupt. Jace looked genuinely sorry he had asked and didn't speak, looking down at his feet.

We were all sat there in an awkward silence when Kyle came thundering up the stairs.

"Get your stuff. They're here, you need to go."

Next chapter is in Theo's point of view. I know I promised a longer chapter, and this one isn't very long. I'm happy to be updating lots this week, hope you're all still enjoying it - Flo