Dead Silent

Chapter Six

'NO! HOW COULD YOU?!'

'I'm sorry, but this was the only way.'

'YOU TRAITOR! I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!' I screamed just as I was smacked by a large man in gray.

'Don't you dare do that again. She's a little girl!' Emily yelled.

I woke up to the smell of Alex's cologne and a feeling of uncertainty. I decided to keep my eyes closed while I think. There's a reason she handed me over to them, but it wasn't for money or to keep herself safe. She's never been that selfish. What the hell did they threaten her with? God, three years later and I still can't seem to figure it out. All I know is that Alex will never let it go. She lost our trust, and I lost my hearing.

It takes me a minute to realize that I'm not in her car anymore. I'm on a bed, but it's not very comfortable. I feel a tap on my shoulder and open my eyes. Alex is sitting in front of me while Emily is nowhere in sight.

"Where is she?" I asked.

'Bathroom,' he signed. "I got you some food from the diner down the street."

"Waffles and bacon?"

"With a small coffee. Just the way you like your 'on the road' breakfast." He smiled.

"Haha thanks!" I said as I sat up. I pulled his jacket over my shoulders and took the box from his hands gratefully. Emily walked out of the bathroom and his smile faded.

"So where are we?" I asked.

"We're just outside of Las Vegas," Emily replied. She walked over and sat on the end of the bed, giving me a warm smile that I didn't return. I leaned against the headboard.

'Do we still need her to drive us to L.A.? We can call a cab,' Alex signed.

'I guess not, but a cab wouldn't be the safest option. Plus, no need to pay the driver.'

'Fine.'

I took a bite of my waffle and looked at Emily, who had said, "Please don't do that."

'Do what?' I signed.

"That. You don't need to sign while I'm around. Use your voice."

'Why?'

'Because I miss hearing you speak. And I remember how you used to sing when you were little.'

"I stopped singing when I couldn't hear myself anymore. Then again, you wouldn't understand what it's like to hear absolutely nothing all the time. An eternal silence that cannot be broken by the beautiful sound of a violin playing, nor interrupted by the alarming noise of a gunshot," I said sternly and set my waffles down. "It's dead silent in here and it's all your fault!" I pointed to my ears, then stormed into the bathroom, closing the door. My face was hot and I could feel the heat radiating off of my body.

I pulled my brother's jacket off of my shoulders, hanging it on the doorknob. Taking a peek of myself in the mirror, I tied my hair up and washed my face. The cool water helped me calm down, but also made me realize that I shouldn't have said any of that. She didn't deserve to hear it. As I dried my face, Alex opened the door and glanced at my shoulder. He grabbed his backpack and pulled out a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and a small bag. I stared at my blue converse as he soaked a piece of gauze.

"Does it look bad?" I asked. I looked at his lips.

"Not as bad as it could've been. Should heal in a few days." He lightly dabbed the gauze on the wound. It started to burn like hell.

"SHIT," I yelled as tears started to form. I clenched my fists until the pain subsided.

"You were always such a baby when it came to pain," he said as he bandaged it.

"Well, it's not my fault that I feel like this crap is killing me. I told you to buy the one that won't murder me."

"Yeah, yeah. 'Get me the little foamy one! It won't hurt me as much!" he mocked. I glared at him and he stuck his tongue out at me.

"Ugh, whatever." I walked out of the restroom and decided to sit down in the chair across from Emily, who looked like she was on the verge of tears. I felt horrible about making those remarks, so I tried to think of what to say.

"Emily, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone off on you like that. I just... I'm sorry," was all I could seem to say.

"Don't apologize. It was my fault and I'm trying to accept that. I know that you guys don't trust me, but believe it or not, I'm trying. I know I made a huge mistake, but I thought it was the best thing to do at the time."

'I know you are,' I signed. "But I need to know something. Why?"