I wake up to a disturbing silence. I look over at my clock, it is 9:30? That's unusual, things around here being this quiet around her this time of day.
I get out of my bed and I run my fingers through my long, light brown hair. I walk downstairs and I let out a high pitched scream. My mom and dad, on the kitchen floor, dead and in their own puddle of blood.
I dial 9-1-1 and I press call.
"9-1-1, what is your emergency?" The attendant asks.
"I just woke up and found my parents dead." I say on between sobs.
I tell him my address and reassures me that someone is on their way. I stare at my parents lifeless bodies and I back against the counter. I notice a knife in dad's hand. Did he do this? If so, why didn't he kill me too?
The paramedics pick them up. The detective and an FBI agent take the knife to run DNA on it.
"Do you have any family?" The FBI agent asks.
"M-my uncle in La Push." I give them his number.
The agent walks away when he dials my uncles number. I sit on the porch and I watch them drive away; the paramedics. The police are looking for more evidence. They have proof I was in bed all night; they know I didn't do it.
"Go ahead as pack, Melinda." Agent Russo tells me. "Billy is having his son pick you up tonight."
I nod my head weakly and I walk to my bedroom. This house has never felt so empty. I get dressed and I begin to pack. A tear lands on a picture of my mom and myself. I place it in the suitcase. I begin to break my bed down when Jacob and his friend, Embry, walk in.
"Hey, Mel, let us get that." Jacob coos.
He and Embry get to work on my bed. I tug my belongings down to Embry's truck. I throw them in the backseat if his extended cab. They load my furniture on the back of the truck.
"Come on, let's get you home." Jacob kisses my head.
Jacob and I are birthday buddies, even the same age. He is just taller than me. I sit between Jacob and Embry the entire ride to La Push. Billy is on the porch in his wheelchair, waiting. I still miss my aunt.
"Hey, uncle Billy." I greet.
"Give me a hug, child." He grumbles.
I smile sadly and I sit on his lap. We hug hike Jacob and Embry pack my stuff to my room. Rachel and Rebecca pull up for their visit. I cry when they ask what I'm doing here.
"She found her parents dead; take it easy on her." Billy scolds.
"She's in your custody now." Rebecca says with a smile. "I am glad to see more of you."
I hug her then I hug Rachel. "Where are the husbands?" I ask.
"Back in Hawaii." They reply at the same time.
I smile and we all go inside. The house looks exactly the same as before. It hasn't been long since I've been here. I sit on the ragidy sofa and I turn the television on.
"This girl is too much like Paul." Billy jokes.
"Paul?" I question. "Oh, Lahote. What? How?!"
"That's the first place he goes, after eating." Billy chuckles.
"They aren't having a funeral for them; I just got a call from the FBI." Jacob says. "Mark killed Shania then himself. They were cut up too bad."
"That explains all the blood." I mumble.
Billy pats my knee and he rolls himself to the kitchen. I guess he is going to make dinner. Jacob and Embry disappear to Jacob's room for video games. I am much more mature that e is. Rachel and Rebecca go to help Billy.
I sigh a I make my way to the kitchen.
"Hand me the milk, child." Billy tells me.
Child has always been my pet name to Billy. I smile at him and I receive the milk from the fridge. 'Butter milk?' I make a disgusted face and hand it to him.
"Don't make that look, child." Billy jokes. "You won't even taste it."
"You really won't; or I won't eat the food either." Rachel smirks. "Paul would love you."
I groan. What is it with Paul and me? I sigh and I watch the three cook. When Embry leaves when it is supper time. Jacob sits beside me while Rebecca and Rachel sit across from us. Billy sits at the end of the table.
"I'm glad you're here, Melinda." Billy says. "It's sad on the terms; but I am happy to take you in."
"I'm glad to be here; Jacob, I wanna see Sam tomorrow." I tell him. "It's been a while."
Jacob nods. "I'll drive you out there tomorrow."
I smile before I finish off the baked chicken and garlic and buttermilk mashed potatoes. I go to my room after washing my dish. I change into some pajamas and I climb into my twin sized bed. I close my eyes and I drift off to sleep.
