The Fallout

A New Beginning

Photo at the top of the page is Ruby and Natalie.

Ruby's (POV)

I woke up to an empty bed. I blinked looking around to find Natalie no where to be seen. Panic ran through me, I jump out of bed running into the living room. My eyes scanned the room looking for a small blonde hair girl. I huffed setting my hand on the top of the couch. I looked towards her basket of toys and found her stuffed panda and elephant gone from the bunch.

"Ok so she isn't gone completely...where is she...", I whispered going past my dad outside sleeping on a chair.

My dad has always been like that ever since mom died, he's changed completely. His whole diameter changed towards us, how we looked to him and who we were to him. Sometimes I wonder if he'll ever come around out of his funk. If he'll ever love us the way mom did to Scottie and I.

I looked in Natalie's hiding place she wasn't in there. I stopped listening to a small voice talking. I smiled I knew it was Natalie, I ran into the kitchen stopping at the door. She looked up at me smiling widely. I walked towards her sitting down in the chair next to her silently.

"Who are you talking to nat?", I whispered.

She perked up on the table looking at me, "child police...yups!"

I sighed watching her talk to them on the phone. I leaned my hand on my chin and tried to listen to what they were talking about.

Natalie nodded handing the phone to me happily speaking, "it for you!"

I laughed and took the phone from her putting it to my ear answering it, "hello?"

"Hi! ruby? we wanted you to know the questions qualified and we're going to take you to the station.", she explained quickly.

I nodded replying, "ok? so we need to collect our things?"

"Yes bring everything you own, you don't need food she has it there."

I nodded staring at Natalie this was all coming too fast. What if dad goes into a rage and keeps Natalie back? I shivered trying not to think about what could happen. Maybe this was what we needed.

"So we will pick you both up around 1 so be ready you have 45 minutes to an hour."

I gazed at the clock it was already 11:55 we had enough time for packing. I told her thanks and ended the call grabbing Natalie taking her into the room locking the door.

"Why do that's rubie?", she asked scared.

I sighed rushing over to the closet grabbing our suitcases. She hopped up on the bed laying on her stomach watching me intently.

"Because nat...just because...", I replied going back to the closet grabbing all of our clothes on the rack. I set them in our suitcase starting to take the hangers out.

She nodded confused.

"Natalie can you help me out?", I asked flustered.

She nodded getting off the bed grabbing shoes out of the closet. I smiled watching as she tried to carry five pairs at once.

"Nat...two at a time.", I laughed folding the clothes in the suitcase.

She giggled nodding dropping three shoes, and trudged over to the bed placing the two shoes down. I smiled thanking her and went into the bathroom collecting toiletries. I watched from the side of the mirror in the bathroom. Natalie was sitting on the floor playing silently with her panda, and elephant. I shook my head shoving everything in a ziplock bag and walked out.

Natalie watched as I threw the bag onto the top of the suitcase. I huffed once more sitting down on the bed examining everything.

She got up off the floor and brought over her stuffed elephant handing it to me smiling, "here you tow."

I smiled taking it gently, "Natalie...i thought you loved this toy? you don't need it anymore?", I ask.

She shook her head, "no I want you need her more."

With that she walked away plopping back down on the ground talking softy to her panda bear. I smiled setting the elephant down next to me getting up to shut everything.

By the time I got everything done it was getting closer to 1. I sighed picking up the suitcase putting it safely in the closet making sure dad didn't see it.

"Natalie go in the kitchen I'll make lunch in a sec.", I said shutting the closet.

"It locked open please.", she replied pointing to the door knob.

I nodded walking to the door unlocking it. She thanked me and ran out of the room going into the kitchen. I left the room closing the door behind me walking into the kitchen.

"I wanna sandie!", she exclaimed getting up on the chair looking at me happily.

I laughed getting out a pan and turned on the stove. "what type of sandwich?"

She grinned speaking loudly, "milk one!"

I nod knowing to make her a grilled cheese. I made sure I put the stove on low and grabbed the cheese and bread together.

Watching, Natalie spoke almost screaming at the top of her lungs, "yummy nummy sandie!"

I winced flipping the sandwich over making the pan sizzle. My stomach grumbled as I inhaled the smell of grilled cheese.

"Here you go baby.", placing the sandwich down in front of her.

"Tank you!"

"Baby it's hot be careful.", I say cutting it up into four triangles.

She nods blowing on it like I taught her.

'Ding dong!'

"Coming!", I yell walking into the living room going to the door opening it.

"Hi ruby ready to go?", A lady asked me politely.

I nodded, "just let me finished getting Natalie ready she's finishing up eating."

She nods.

"Nat...come on finish up.",i say grabbing our jackets off the chair.

She swallowed nodding hoping off the chair running to the door, "I'm done rubie!"

"Ok baby!", I say walking into our bedroom going to the closet grabbing the suitcase.

I walked out of the room nodding making sure I had her elephant. I went to the door.

"Ok ready.", I said setting the suitcase down grabbing Natalie tugging her jacket on her. She squirmed as I put it on. Finally, I zipped up her jacket and sighed.

"Here's your elephant.", she took it kissing it on the head.

I picked up the suitcase nodding at the lady. We walked out, I shut the door behind us. I can't look back now I made this choice for Natalie's health and my safety. We got to a minivan, I went around back popping the trunk throwing the suitcase in.

"Rubie come on!", she yelled making me run to the side of the car getting in.

"Don't do that!", I yell putting on my seatbelt as we take off.

She whimpers, "I sorry daddy."

I realized I sounded just like our dad. what did I do...

Authors note: Hi guys! please please comment what you think. Also read my other book 'Because of Him'. Thanks! Don't forget to vote, share, and follow!

Love,

Xx-Jenny