Poor Little Things {ON HOLD}

Chapter Nine

There is no better word to describe what I feel like the next morning besides 'shit'. When I pull myself out of bed, it feels as if I am pulling two hundred more pounds with me. I stumble my way to the bathroom where I flick the lights on and turn on the faucet. I look up into the mirror, meeting my own tired, dark blue eyes (complete with bags). I determine then that I must be coming down with something. Perhaps all the cold air was a shock to my system after so long confined from it.

I dab my face with a cool cloth before throwing my hair up into a loose bun, putting on sweats and making my way downstairs. The twins are in the living room, glued to the little TV we sometimes pull out for them to watch movies on. Looks like Maisie convinced Corey to watch 'Frozen' with her again. I've lost count of how many times I've seen her watch it.

I hear something sizzling in the next room over and turn to see Elias standing in front of the stove, frying something on the burner. As soon as the smell hits me, I feel as if I might puke. I hold my hand to my stomach in an attempt to settle it. I bring my other hand to my mouth in a fist and try to block the smell.

"What's the matter?" Elias asks.

"I just...I don't know. I feel like I'm gonna throw up," I answer.

He gives an unimpressed look.

"Mikaela, it's bacon. You can have your vegetarian beliefs but that's a little ridiculous-"

"No, it's not that. It doesn't normally bother me."

"Then, what is it?"

"I think I might be sick. Maybe I caught something."

"I knew we shouldn't leave the windows open all the time when it's so cold."

"I don't think it's a cold...I don't know what it is. Might be a flu."

"Well, whatever it is, you need to get better. How 'bout some tea? I have some that's supposed to soothe an upset stomach."

"Sure."

"Call the twins for breakfast, would you?"

I turn and call for the twins. Maisie reluctantly pulls herself away from her movie while Corey promptly hops up and tromps to the kitchen. They sit up at the island as Elias sets a box of tea in front of me. I study it to see that it's a peppermint tea, made specifically for calming nausea and an upset stomach.

"How's that sound?" he asks, taking a teabag from the box and dropping it into a cup.

I shrug and nod.

"Don't, Corey!" Maisie cries.

"Mine!" Corey retorts.

Elias and I look to see Corey trying to steal three of Maisie's raspberries off her plate.

"Hey," Elias scolds, snapping once to get Corey's attention. "None of that. You had plenty of your own."

He freezes and removes his hand from Maisie's plate before going back to eating his own food. A cup of tea is handed to me and I take small sips. Just the smell of it helps me feel a little better.

"What are we doing today?" I ask, taking a sip of tea.

"Well, I have nothing planned for today. I was thinking that maybe you and I could go for a walk before lunch, though," Elias replies.

"What? We can't leave Maisie and Corey."

"Oh, we won't be gone long. They stay by that TV when it's on anyways."

I am hesitant.

"There's no risk. They know to listen."

I sigh and close my eyes. This is a mistake. I know it is before I've even done it.

"Alright...let me change into something warmer, though," I say, heading for the stairs.

"Don't be too long."

I nod as I ascend the stairs. I enter the bedroom and head for the dresser, where I retrieve a sweater and different pants. Where did I get all these clothes, you may ask? Elias brings them all back. By now, he's come up with a system for knowing what will fit me and what won't. I have no preference for anything he chooses. They're all clothes to me. The twins are easier to shop for. Their sizes are easy to guess.

I change too quickly for my liking and am in no rush to get downstairs.

I meander across the hall and find myself walking straight into a room Elias never permits us to be in. I can hear him downstairs with the twins so, I assume it's safe for me to venture in.

He keeps this room locked when he leaves and keeps the key in a safe in the kitchen that holds the keys to the house and every other key he may need. I've been able to sneak into this room a few times but, I have never been able to get very far. There is a box in the corner that has caught my eye each time I've spent brief moments in the room. Other than that, there is really nothing of interest.

Now, I take my chances with approaching that said box.

It's a simple, cardboard box with a date written in permanent black marker across the top. The date itself doesn't spark my curiosity.

I kneel and open the top as quietly as I can, making sure that I am still able to hear Elias and the twins talking. Inside, I find different objects, each making no sense in my mind. There's a newspaper in there though. That grabs me.

I pull it out and study the front page, which is really all I need. Across the top, in big, bold letters, it reads: 'DEVASTATING HOUSE FIRE'. I skim the article, forgetting to multitask and listen to the conversation downstairs.

The article describes a fire that killed an entire family. The corpses of the parents were found amidst the rubble. Authorities thought the fire was started by an oven that got left on. The house shown in the picture is black and in ruins, falling apart from the inside out.

I study the image. I know that this is probably Elias' family. He probably escaped the fire. However, why would he keep the article describing the death of his family? When your whole family dies, you usually try to forget it and move on over time. Why would he want it around?

"Mikaela!"

Author's Note:
Hi everybody! Thanks so much for all the support in your comments and votes. It is very much appreciated and I hope you are all enjoying my story! I am really looking forward to continuing this story and seeing where time takes these characters. ;)
Thanks again for checking out my little book.
–Stephanie