Knives
"Get down!" Everything was moving in slow motion, sprays of bullets flew everywhere. Painful screams will forever haunt me. Unable to move, Van pulled me to safety. Buckling up, Zack sped the car into the night. Looking around me I saw all of my brothers, K, Nate, Zach, Van, and Eli, but where were mom and dad?
"K? Where's mom and dad?" I said gaining the courage to cut the silence. All of them looked at each other than at me avoiding my eyes.
Finally K spoke breaking the silence. “Shay, I'm going talk to you like an adult so I want you to listen closely. Mom and Dad are resting in peace, six feet under." I was motionless and brain dead for the rest of the ride, trying to comprehend what just happened. The car suddenly lurched to a stop.
"Welcome to our new home Shay.” All the guys walked to the front door while I sat motionless in the car still in shock that I would never see Mom or Dad again.
Waking up, I started at the clock. 3:24. I relived that night for the past ten years and I have never had a good night’s sleep since. Making my way to the gym, I heard quiet noises down stairs. I snatched the baseball bat next to my bed and stealthily made my way down, stopping to listen behind the staircase.
“We should tell her, she has the right to know.” I heard Eli whisper trying to hold back the anger in his voice.
“No, we are not telling Shay, she’s too innocent. It will just put her in more danger.” I heard K say with authority.
“She is stronger than you give her credit, K” Van said standing up from his spot on the couch.
“I said No! And that is final.” K was now screaming.
I took this as my queue to come out. “Guys what did you want to tell me?”
They all shared a look then stared at K.
“Kaden? Nathaniel? Isaac? Vance? Eliot?” I paused between each of their names to give them a chance to answer. Only in serious moments do we use each other’s full names. In our family secrets are serious because we don’t keep secrets from each other. I started to stare them all down; hoping that one of them would crack.
Silence continued to drift thought the room. Of course K, the oldest, is the one to break the silence. “What are you doing up so early Shay?”
“I always get up this early to use the gym, not that you would know. Don’t change the subject.” I snapped. “What are you all hiding from me? We never have secrets.” I tried to steady my voice hoping it wouldn't crack and give away how much this affected me.
“I’m sorry Shay that we haven’t been home or have had time for you. We’ve all just been caught up with things.” He said softening his face and giving me the puppy dogface.
“To hell with that! The only one that I see anymore is Eli! Just spit it out!” I was furious. Nate the quietest of us all spoke up. “Shaylee you might want to sit down first.”
Taking a couple deep breaths I calmed myself and sat on the couch far away from all of them. K was giving Nate an evil glare but Nate just ignored it. He felt that Shay had the right to know.
“Shay, you’ve heard of the gang KNIVES right?” I nodded my head not knowing what this had to do with anything.
“We are KNIVES”
“I don’t understand?” I said still confused. Was this the big secret?
Nate opened his mouth but then closed it before he said anything. Nate sent a look to K, telling him to explain. K let out a sigh before talking “Mom and Dad were the original founder of KNIVES, and we are KNIVES. Kaden, Nathaniel, Isaac, Vance, Eliot, and you, Shaylee.”
As if by magic it all made sense, everything fit together like a puzzle. “That’s why mom and dad are dead? And why you guys are never home? Why we have this huge house with a gym? Why I’m not allowed outside?” I asked just to reassure myself of the obvious. K stepped forward and gave me a hug and just nodded his head.
"We don't want you to be apart of this life Shay. That's the only reason we didn't tell you. We want you to go out and live your life." K was speaking softly but with authority. K has always been a natural leader and being the oldest had the most authority.
"But how can I have a normal life if I'm not allowed outside?” I could feel that they were leaving something out.
K started rubbing the back of his neck. "About that...we were debating whether to tell you about KNIVES, but I guess you know now." He paused before continuing. “We were thinking that we change your last name and then you can have a normal life. If you want."
I stopped to think. It would be nice to have a normal life but would that mean I wouldn't be part of the family? "What about you guys?"
"We were going to be benefactors but after we change your name have no contact. We don't want to risk you getting involved." K said this with regret in his voice as he avoided looking at me.
"Is there a second option?” I couldn't handle the fact of living on my own without them. Before anything else could be said glass shattered everywhere. Bullets were flying everywhere. Van flipped the couch using it as a shield. Eli pulled me behind the couch and pulled two guns out, one from his jacket and one from his pants.
"Shay it looks like hiding you is no longer an option. If anyone attacks you aim for the chest.” Eli hands me one of the guns and clicks the safety, then runs off to join the rest of my brothers.
