Alone

Three: Reunion

Carmine

As soon as the girl sent a text I asked for a picture of this Skylor she was sending for. I wanted to know who was coming. So I could know what was coming.
As soon as she showed me his picture, my heart eased. He looked like someone this girl would hang out with. Kind and gentle.
I thought for a minute. I didn't even know her name. I felt my cheeks heat up even more than they already were.
"Sorry. I haven't talked to anyone for a while.
She looked confused. "Why are sorry for not talking to anyone for a while?"
"I'm Carmine. Carmine Davidson."
Understanding lit her face in the dim light from her phone. "Nice to know your name. It's very pretty." She stretched out her hand.
I was confused. I had never been out of the house. So I didn't know what this gesture meant.
She must've read my expression. "How long have you been down here?"
"I don't know. Its been a while though." I gestured to the slash marks of made on the wall.
"Theses are a rough estimate of how many days I've been down here. I could tell when my foster parents would bring me food three times a day down here. But ever since they left, I've lost count. They boarded up the windows and locked me onto a shorter chain so I can only walk 2 feet away."
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that." Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her screen lit up and Stella read it and started to get up.
"Sky is upstairs. He wants me to walk him down here." She looked at me. "Is that okay with you?"
I nodded.
She could tell that I was joking but I was serious. I didn't want to be left alone for the rest of my life. Which wouldn't be for long. I had just ran out of food yesterday.
Sarah left and I immediately started praying that she would honestly care enough to come back.
Hushed tones sent my heart racing. What of this was a trap, and Sarah had lied and brought my foster parents to me. I never wanted to see them again. Not after what they had done to me.
"Carmine, I'm coming with Skylor. "
"Okay." I managed. My voice sounded squeaky. I didn't know why. But the thought of a boy seeing me after a week and a half with out showering and a hair comb sent jitters through my body. There was nothing I could do about it which made me feel even worse.
I put arm around Pepper for support, and hoping that Skylor didn't judge me for my appearance.

0-0-0

I didn't know what to expect. I hadn't talked to someone besides my foster parents since I was 13.
When I saw Sarah coming down the stairs by her flashlight, I assumed that Skylor was behind her.
"Carmine," Sarah introduced, "this is Skylor."
We locked eyes, and I immediately knew him. "Skylor?" I gasped. Never in the world would I think that I would see my cousin again.
"Carmine?" His big green eyes widened."I can't believe it."
He rushed forward and scooped me in a big bear hug. I felt wet soak into my shirt, and I allowed myself to cry with him.
"I thought I'd never see you agiain." He said into my shoulder.
"Thanks to Sarah." I looked up at her with a watery smile.
Sky realized that Sarah was still there.
"Sorry." He said wiping his eyes.
"It's fine." Sarah have him a hug, "I'm just glad that I could help. "
The next half hour was spent trying to figure out how to get the ankle chain off with out causing me too much pain.
Eventually, we ended up with the idea of cutting off the chain The thought of spending time in a hospital with tubes and monitors and nursed poking and priding and asking questions.
Then there was the police and their interrogation. A thought popped into my mind that made me panic.
What would my foster parents do if they figured out where I was? What would happen to me?
"Earth to Carmine." Skylor said, snapping his fingers in front of my face.
I shook out if my daze. "Sorry."
"We are going to call the ambulance so we can get you to the hospital as soon as possible.
"Oh. Okay." My hands shook.
Sarah put a hand on my good knee. "I know you don't like the idea, but what other choice do we have?"
I shrugged. I didn't want to go to the hospital, but how where was I supposed to go anyway. I didn't have a home. The only family I knew I had was Skylor. He was my foster parents nephew. Would Skylor lead them to me? That made me suddenly distrust Skylor.
"Let's just do what we have to do to get me out if here." I said leaning against the wall.
"Okay. Let's call."
Maybe it was a good thing that he might bring them.