Tempting Fire

Pummel him into the floor

My face was blotchy from crying, I knew I had to be strong and find my way out. I looked towards my exits - the window where I could hear the wind battering against it.
The bedroom door that led me to them, accepting what they had said.
I shivered to think I had spent alone time with cain.

Conversation sparked up again as I tried to listen, it was more mumbled this time.

I would be classed as a missing person soon. I thought.
"We can let her go home, there's a house for rent two doors down. We would be close" it was ace speaking.
I liked this idea.
A thousand thoughts came and went, mum mum, Jen, cain, and everything in-between.
I had made my mind up as I walked towards the door, my only choice.
I walked down the dark corridor, the floor boards alerting them to my arrival.
The family pictures on the wall surprised me, I looked to see if cain was in any of them but there weren't instead a family, mum, dad and two sons. Care free smiles plastered on their faces, this was the type of family I had always wanted. Yes I had my mum but I wanted my dad too.

Standing in the living room, three strangers stared back. Cain. Ace and a girl. I recognise ace he's one of the boys in the picture, except there is no smile. Well none that reaches his eyes. Short blond hair that almost covered his eyes and he stood taller than Cain. The girl stood of to the side, her scowl aimed at me. Her dark clothes to match, I noticed the silver handles next, peaking up from her boots. Knives. Like Cains, but his were black.

I didn't look at cain even when he made a step towards me.
"What" someone finally spoke. It was the girl.
I replied but looked at ace as I did so. "I need to go home" the girl snorted and shook her head.
It was Cains turn to speak, "on one condition" I looked at him now. Hopeful. "Ace and Elise will be going to your school. They will check in on you at home too." He held his hand to stop Elise from speaking. Ace didn't look fussed, pleased even. Elise looked like she wanted to find a use for those knives in her boots.
"School" she chocked out. Cain gave her a warning glare.
"You best get to know your new friends" he smirked.
Elise a friend? It was my time to glare. I wanted to laugh. How can you be friends with someone that looked like she would take pleasure in pain. MY pain.
She accepted defeat which I didn't think would happen, she turned her back and sat down on the big brown chair I noticed had a rip down the back.

The situation dawned on me.
Yes I got to go home but will my life ever be normal? I left them and went back to the only place to have privacy. The bathroom. If I could find it, I wouldn't let them see me cry.
I was damned and I didn't understand how or what that means but it wasn't good.
I heard footsteps behind me and saw it was Elise. "Be nice" cain says after her, she snorted in reply.

"You better do everything we say, I will not get into trouble over you." She poked me in the shoulder as she said it. "And I swear to god if anything puts any of us in jeopardy, you will wish you had your silly dreams again"
She left instantly without me answering.
My heart was thumping, too loud to think. I just needed to get back to my mum.

What seemed like hours later, a knock sounds coming from my door.
It's Cain "are you ready" I wanted to laugh? Ready?
I swing the door open and walk past him "how long have I been gone" I don't look back.
"It's four in the morning" he replies.

Well I knew for a fact my mum was going to kill me. "Where's my phone?" I ask as we all pile into his black jeep. I sit in the back with Elise. He reaches into his pocket and hands it back to me. I press the home button on my iPhone but it's dead. No life. Like me when I get home.

A thought suddenly comes to me "all that mess? Rhys?" Panic filled my body. "It's sorted" comes from the front but I'm not sure which one says it.
What does it's sorted mean? I don't ask, too afraid.
It took less time than I thought to get to my house. I step out into the cold air, the wind had died down and was merely a breeze. The driver side door opens. "I can manage on my own" it comes out harsher than I meant. "You do no this is none of my fault" he replies.
I knew he was right.
The lights are on in the house, she knew and she was waiting. "What are you going to tell your mum?" It was all I had thought about on the way here. He continues to follow me to my gate. "That I fell asleep at a friends" I motioned towards Elise that was standing next to the car. "Which won't work if you hang around" but it was too late. The front door opens filtering light onto the path and onto me and cain. The sun had started to come up but it was still dark. 
Cain and I were standing close together which I hadn't realised until I seen the look on my mums face. Jen and her mum, Mrs Fraser were standing behind her. Shock on both their faces. "Oh shit" I hear cain whisper my thoughts. If he thought she hated him yesterday, he was wrong. Very wrong.
The look of worry and anger filled her face and it radiated off her. All I wanted and needed right now was her to take me in her arms, I knew that wouldn't happen. Not now. Her gaze fixes on cain and I feel the urge to protect him but he's the one that stands in front of me, I grab his hand from behind is back and squeeze it. For my own comfort.
"Mum" I started my excuse, one that I didn't have. Cain speaks as he moves to my side with my hand still in his, in full view. "I'm sorry Mrs Raye, we went to the drive in movie and well we fell asleep. It really wasn't the best of films."

"Asleep" she pauses like it's unbelievable. Which it is. "It's five in the morning" I probably should speak but I didn't. I squeezed his hand and told him to go.
"Mrs Raye we will go now" it was Jen and her mum speaking now. Taking my mums attention. I wish I could flee too. Mrs Fraser approaches my mum and embraces her. "If you need anything" I didn't hear the rest as cain is facing me now with a smile I didn't recognise, I take a step back.
"I will call you later" he says a little too loud and I want to stuff my fist in his mouth to shut him up. I know why he's smiling now as he is closer now and kisses my cheek. I hardly feel it but my face reddens.

He's trying to get me killed.
"No you won't, she will no longer have a phone" my mum says as she approaches and pulls me in. He winks at me.
If he had down that 24hours ago I would have melted into a puddle on the floor, but instead I want to pummel him into the floor. Jen and Mrs Fraser both gone, no longer in sight.

Entering the house is like a warm blanket.
"What is going on with you?" She doesn't let me answer and continues "you will be staying away from that boy. I mean drink, staying out late doing got knows what, you don't even know him, anyone can see he is trouble" I speak so she doesn't go on. She was judging him on his look, what she has always told me not to do. "I'm sorry" I truly was. I look down at my feet as she starts clearing away cups, making more noise, more than she needs to. Chase is hiding under the kitchen table looking up at me wagging his tail slowly. He knows mum is mad. I wish I could hide under there with him. 
"Just go to your room, you don't even realise what I went through tonight, you need to promise me you won't see him again. He's no good for you" her hands are on my shoulders and she lightly shakes me. I can feel her holding back. At a closer look now I can see she has been crying, her usual not out of place hair is everywhere.
I say what she wants to hear. "I won't see him again"
She nods and I know that signals for me to leave.

Walking up the stairs I wish chase had followed. I was scared to go into my room. My heart was trying to escape my chest.
My door was closed, my hands shook as I pushed it open. Pictures of Rhys slumped to the floor filled my head, but everything was normal. I didn't even jump when I saw cain standing next to my bed.
"Everything is the same" I ask. I search for answers. But there is none.
"Minus a lamp" he smiles. I stride towards him not sure if I want to kiss or slap him.

I do neither.
"What was that for" he holds his face with his hand. I punched him. Something I've never done in my life. I regretted it as pain radiated in my hand that still formed a fist. "It had to be convincing, don't forget I saved you tonight." He closed his eyes like he was trying to control himself. I reply "I won't ever forget tonight" I fought the tears once again. I killed someone.

"I will help you keep that promise you made" he says standing in front of me. His hand comes up to my forehead. I wasn't afraid of going to sleep, instead I was afraid of waking up.