The Silver Lining

Chapter Four: Substitute

"There are always foster homes. I'm sure you would both find wonderful people." She said, knowing full well that I would not tolerate separation from Bree. All that we had left was each other.

I glared at her with vicious, unveiled loathing. I did not speak, knowing that the room was bugged. I was unable to do anything more than scowl at her fiercely. 

She did her best to look beseeching, like a concerned, fawning mother. As though she truly cared what happened to us. I wondered how many children had fallen for such an obvious ruse. I scoffed inwardly.

"Please, Sarah-"

"It's Scarlett." I interjected. 

"Scarlett. Please just let us help you and your sister. You need a safe place to call home." She continued, unabashed. 

Again I remained silent. 

"I could ensure that neither of you would be separated. You're both fantastic, amazing children that have been through so much. You deserve more. Bree deserves more."

I gritted my teeth at the underhanded blow. So if I didn't accept her offer, I wasn't being a good, responsible sister to Bree? That was it. 

"May I go now?" I asked stiffly. 

"Not until you sign this sheet." She was suddenly cold, her amiable façade slipping. I smirked, lifting myself from the chair and stalking out of the room, easily dodging security. I sped over to where Bree was waiting in the lobby and took her hand. 

"We're leaving. Now." I tried to soften my harsh tone, but every second that passed had me more and more anxious, the service agents would catch up to us soon.

Figuring there was no time I lifted her onto my back without protest, her eyes brimming with trust as I whispered for her to hold on tight. And then I ran, away from my past and away from my troubles. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Her small hand took mine without hesitation as I led her to the ice cream shop a few blocks away from our house. The day was sunny and cool, a perfect day in autumn. So I had decided to take Bree out for a change, now that I felt well enough. God knows we never had much of any time to spend together. 

"Can I get chocolate chip this time, Scar?" She asked bashfully.

I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped my lips at how cute her humble pleading appeared. I couldn't deny her much of anything. 

"Of course you can, you can pick any flavor you like." I smiled easily at her. The pain in my body was minimal, even now, and I was grateful that I was actually capable of enjoying myself for a change. Even my frequent, inexplicable headaches had ceased. 

I held onto her hand tightly as we walked across the street, keeping her close. When we reached the parking lot, she was telling me a story about her friend and another classmate when I spotted a sleek silver sports car in the parking lot. The man leaning against it was dressed in an expensive black suit, and looked more like he belonged behind a stuffy office desk on the top floor of a gigantic skyscraper than a little ice cream shop in the middle of a small town. He was staring at the ground, a pensive look on his face, almost as though he were focused on something far away, beyond mundane, tangible reach.

And then, as if he sensed my gaze he looked over, his mischievous green eyes glowing as he stared stoically at me. 

Something about his presence there struck me as strange, wrong somehow. It was as though every buried, primal instinct within me awakened and demanded attention. That the man standing before me was to be avoided at all costs. That his appearance was a façade, one used to lure prey into a false sense of security. And then I scoffed at myself.