Locked Away (Preview)

Chapter 8

Far across the city, miles from where Kara and Jesse woke up, the sun shone brightly in the early morning hours as light beams streamed into the asylum-styled room. It made the walls a blinding white that could have easily burned someone's retinas out if they were overexposed to it. Ryan had learned to cope with it by getting his aunt to buy him a black and sorta dark blue comforter for his bed. In the early morning, he would hide underneath until he finally awoke. Yet the light was a formidable foe, as its intensity was only enhanced by the white walls. Ryan couldn't be in there for more than a few minutes after he awoke, even under the dark blanket.

Getting out of the room in the morning always seemed to be a luxury. Even if what was on the other side of the door wasn't the most ideal thing to walk into. Since Kara and Ryan arrived, their new guardians started fighting and drinking more. It was likely due to the stress they had added to their new guardians' lives. Not just financially but also mentally and emotionally. In Ryan's eyes, Kara and him were squatters for the most part, and all Ryan wanted to do was pay them back, but he didn't know how to make that happen. Ryan took a deep breath, then sighed as he shook off the thought and pulled down the dark comforter. Like most mornings, he was blinded, but it instantly woke him up, which in some ways was a benefit to the white room.

Today was a special day, though, since Kara had finally turned eighteen, and Ryan had bought a gift for her with his own money. Kara had told him not to do anything too special and didn't want him wasting what little he had. Let alone tell him what she wanted so he could only use his best judgement. The only thing that even came to his mind when he posed the question to himself was getting a charm for the charm bracelet she kept hidden in a jewellery box. Every year their mom would buy Kara a new charm, and with her gone, Ryan felt like he could try and maintain the tradition. In honour of their mother, he wanted to keep something going that had become yet another memory for them over the last ten years.

Pulling out a small box from under his bed, Ryan smiled as he admired the small charm he was just barely able to afford. It was a simple silver charm with cursive lettering on it that said, Big Sis. Ryan figured that it probably wasn't the optimal choice, but he reminded himself that it was the thought that counted. He hoped that Kara would acknowledge this and everything would go well. When she looked at it, he wanted her to think that no matter what, she'd always be his big sister, even if their lives took them in two different directions.

Ryan slid the little box into his pocket as he left the room. It was already late morning; Greg and Ginnie were up cooking a big breakfast for Kara's birthday. The kitchen smelt wonderful with all kinds of food varieties, from French toast and Belgian waffles to a multitude of fruits. It was the whole package.

"Good morning Ryan. Did you happen to hear your sister come in last night?" Ginnie asked as she sipped her coffee while sitting at the kitchen table.

"Nope, I was out cold," Ryan replied, but he knew that his sister was effective at sneaking in or out without making a noise.

"Hmm, well, she's very quiet then. Why don't you go see if she's awake and give her that present you got the other day." She suggested as Greg flipped another piece of French toast in his frying pan.

"Already on it," Ryan replied as he pulled out the dark box with the charm inside, and the sight made Ginnie smile. At the same time, Greg turned around to plate more food, and Ryan couldn't help but start laughing at the sight of Greg's kiss the cook apron.

"What's so funny, Ryan?" Greg asked as he looked down at Ryan and genuinely didn't seem to understand.

"It's nothing, just your apron." Ryan blurted out as he looked down at the ground to hide his laughter.