Their Situation, Our Problem

Chapter 5: Amara

*edited 8/15/16 I just had to make some small changes that seemed more logical to me.

The car came to a complete stop in a deserted parking lot. Elijah parked in front of what looked to be a three-story building. It looked like the business sector of town with all the brown, beige, and black buildings around.

"Not to sound rude, but exactly what are we doing here instead of a, you know, police station like any other sane person would be," Amara asked? It was a valid question and after all, she wasn't the one in shock, therefore, her brain was very clearly processing all the horrible reasons why they were not at a police station and instead at an abandoned building.

Elijah turned in his seat and looked Amara straight in the eyes, "Blondie, I realize that this is a very strange choice of destination after everything you just witnessed but keep in mind that we were not the ones trying to commit illegal actions. We didn't try and kidnap anyone. We were not the ones with guns. We did not shoot at anyone. And we also did not leave you behind with those men. I am a paramedic, studying to be a doctor, my brother Nik is a fireman. And I'm guessing you know Rachel and Colton. We are not the bad people, but my brother is very stupid," Elijah turned to look at Colton as he said this, "and he makes mistakes. He made a really stupid and dangerous mistake. One that I will bring to the attention of the authorities but not until I am assured my family is safe and healthy. I just need to patch up Nik and look over my siblings and then I will drive you to your home the second I am done. I will even look at your ankle if you wish, but please just trust me. An hour of your time is all I ask. Please?" Elijah asked.

It was silent for a minute but she eventually nodded. She wasn't sure if what she had agreed on was the right decision or not, but she had to make one. She might not like Rachel and Colton all that much but she didn't think they hated her. If they had bad intentions Elijah wouldn't be asking for her permission. And if this was just a front, what was she supposed to do? Say no and crawl away. Their actions had been questionable, but they gave her a choice and she hoped she made the right one.

Elijah took her assertion with a noticeable relief. You could see him let out a breath of air as he turned to give his siblings instructions. Amara turned to see Sofia lost to the world. She was sitting next to Amara but her mind was completely out of this world.

"Are you ok?" Amara asked Sofia.

When Sofia didn't answer, Amara called out her name in the softest tone she could manage. Sofia's nonresponsive state scared Amara. She looked up as if to ask someone for help, but realized that the only people around were the Arsenic's and they were all currently walking into the offices they were parked in front of. She looked back down at Sofia and gently placed a hand on her back, which turned out to be the wrong thing to do. Sofia flinched and ducked her shoulder down as she hissed in pain.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't- are you ok?" Amara mumbled out.

Sofia took a deep breath before answering, "It's ok, I just-It- I think I have a bruise."

Amara didn't know what to say or do, not that she could do much. Her ankle was starting to throb and she was pretty sure she couldn't stand on her own. Before the silence could really become uncomfortable, the door on her side opened to show Colton.

"Up you go, princess," Colton said as he dragged her to the edge of the seat.

"Ow! What the hell, Colton," Amara exclaimed as he scooped her up into his arms and pulled her out of the car.

"We can't very well leave you two out here by yourselves," Colton explained, "Besides, it's illegal to leave children alone in a car."

Amara huffed at Colton's teasing remarks. She could deal with his childish tendencies. What she couldn't deal with was his light jostling of her and by default her leg. She turned to see Sofia with angry, squinted eyes, staring at Colton's head as she grumbled out from behind, "You're hurting her ankle, dickwad."

Colton stopped and turned to look at Sofia. He gave her a calculating look before his playful demeanor returned, "I don't appreciate the name-calling, but I'll forgive and forget- I'm gracious like that- because I know you don't really mean it."

He didn't wait to get a reply from Sofia before he turned back around and started walking again. This time with an obvious attention on Amara's ankle.

Amara was wrong. The building was not an office building but a warehouse. The ceiling was remarkably high. A sitting area stood just a few feet from the door. Off to the right wall was a small office. In front of them stood rows and rows of boxes. There seemed to be more behind the rows but nothing could really be seen from the front. Colton walked them over to the sitting area and deposited Amara in one of the long couches before turning and walking towards the rows full of shelves with boxes. Prior to entering a row, he turned back to them and made a stay motion with his hands before stating, "Stay".

"We'll be back in a little bit," he said as he disappeared behind the rows.

"He is, a dickwad," Amara said in the most serious voice she could manage. A scoff made Amara look up to see Sofia's face crack a smile. Sofia's smile made her smile, and soon they were both laughing. And not one of those ha-ha laughs but deep, long, out of breath laughs.

Their laughs soon died down and a new silence filled the room. The difference between this silence and the one before was that this one seemed lighter, freer, more comfortable.

After a while Amara spoke up, "Are you ok, Sofi?"

Sofia didn't respond right away, she took a deep breath, looked up at the ceiling and then answered, "I will be. Always am."

She turned to look at Amara with a small smile and questioning eyes, "Are you?"

Amara gave her biggest smile, "The glass is always half full."

They sat in silence a couple more minutes before Amara deemed it necessary to talk. They couldn't ignore the elephant in the room forever, but before she could get anything out, Elijah was walking out from behind the rows and to them.