Out of The Shadows

The Start of a New Life

I woke up to the sound of a door slamming and my name being yelled. I groaned; I'm not in the mood to be dealing with Nathan right now, especially since it sounds like he's pissed off.

"Alysha come here!"

"No! I wanna sleep and you woke me up! Go away!" I shouted back at him. Soon enough I can hear him running up the stairs, and my door being opened.

"Get up I need to talk to you."

"No." I pulled the covers over my head as Nathan walked further into the room. He ripped the covers off my body, the cold instantly giving me goose bumps. I groaned, sat up and glared at Nathan. If looks could kill, Nath would be a pile of ash.

"Stop glaring, drop the attitude and listen." He was stern and giving me the evils. I think it would be best if I just did as I was told. I sighed and sat up against the headboard with my legs crossed, waiting for him to continue speaking.
"You've been living with me for three years and your behaviour has improved from the 'incident' last year. I think I can trust you enough to let you out of the house- "

Before he could finish I leapt up from the bed and started bouncing on the balls of my feet. I was beyond excited. "Are you serious?!" I shrieked.

"Yes, but I'm not done yet so calm down and sit." I sat back down on the bed faster than lightning, eagerly waiting for Nathan to keep talking.
"There will be rules and you will be just like any other teenager. You will be going to school- "

"What?! But Na- "

"Quiet! Interrupt one more time and you will be punished. You know very well that I hate it when I'm interrupted so cut it out." He said sternly, staring me down before continuing. "Now, before you even step a foot out of this house you will need to learn the new rules and show me I can trust you outside. As far as anyone is concerned you and I are cousins. You are not to tell anyone of our real... 'Relationship'. Your name will be changing to; your first name will stay the same but you will take my surname. Any questions so far?"

"Why do I have to take your last name? Why can't I just stay a Harvey?"

"Because I said so."

"Cousins don't have to have the same surname."

"That's irrelevant. From now on you will be a Sykes. Get used to it. Now, as far as rules go there are the obvious ones: don't tell anyone about the real 'relationship' we have as I said earlier, you are not, on any circumstances, to try and contact any of your family or old friends, and you are not to try and escape because if you do, I will hunt you down and kill you; slowly and painfully. You got that?"

I gulped. I know he's dead serious. I don't plan on disobeying those rules. Last year was torturous, and I don't plan on doing anything that will get me in the basement again. I nodded my reply and continued to listen, although I didn't dare look directly at him. I have no idea why but a blanket of fear just engulfed me. I guess, remembering what happened, has stirred up some painful memories.

"Rules more specifically to do with school are obvious: school comes first, you are not, on any circumstances are to watch TV or use your iPad until you have finished any homework you have. You are not to skip or be late to any of your classes and if you get any detentions or anything like that you will be in serious trouble. And lucky last, if you are having any problems at school tell me, don't try to hide anything. Okay?" Nathan continued. When he said that last bit he sounded a little less stern and serious. I've missed this side of him; his kind and caring side. I rarely get to see it nowadays since the incident, and he has also been stressed out with work lately. I nodded my reply again and slowly looked up at him; he was slightly smiling, and that made me smile.
"There will be more expectations to." My smile faded. 'Is he legit? On top of his new rules there are more expectations?' He's got to be kidding.