His Only

Chapter Four Blending

~Jake's Perspective~

I laid on the couch pretending to sleep so the nurses wouldn't suspect anything trying to keep myself occupied. Suddenly found myself thinking about the past.

~Flashback~

"Jack!" I said happily seeing my brother waiting for me.

My hunting trip went long so it had been months since I had seen him. He stood up running over hugging me tightly laughing.

"Jake! You jerk! You left me waiting for so long!" he said groaning overdramatically.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," I said rolling my eyes laughing.

"How'd your hunt go?" he asked excitedly sitting down on the grass.

I sat down next to him chuckling at his child-like excitement for stories.

"It went well. Nathan and I took out another four of them," I said proudly. "It went a little long, but we exterminated them."

His eyes were filled with admiration.

"They were hiding out near a large lake in a small cabin thinking they were safe," I said scoffing softly.

I reached into my pocket taking a rather large smooth stone giving it to Jack. He held it caressing the smooth surface while bringing it closer to his nose smelling the scent of the water on it.

"You remembered," he said happily.

"Yes, a souvenir for every hunt for my baby brother," I said laughing.

"Hey!" he said. "You are only two minutes older than me!"

I laughed as he tackled me. We rolled around trying to pin the other. After a few moments of wrestling, I pinned him down. Jack was breathing heavily looking up at my sixteen-year-old eyes.

"I wish I could be cool like you," he said sadly.

I got off of him helping him up.

"Don't say that Jack," I said frowning at him. "You are amazing. Trust me."

"I doubt it, but thank you," he said laughing. "Come on! You've been gone for so long! Let's celebrate."

He started running towards the village happily and I followed loving how happy and childish he was.

~Flashback End~

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I slowly opened my eyes looking at Sarah. She smiled apologetically.

"Sorry I didn't want to wake you, but some officers are here to talk to you again," she said. "If you are up for it."

"Okay," I said forcing a yawn.

"Would you like a coffee son?" the same officer from before offered.

"No, I'm fine. Just give me a few moments," I said sitting up and stretching.

Sarah left and he sat down on the chair pulling out the notebook and his pencil, but he looked up at me before writing.

"How are you feeling today?" he asked.

His question confused me a little, but the care and worry in his eyes made me feel at ease.

"I suppose I am past the initial shock and I can't help feeling a little sad she's still asleep, but I'm okay though. Thank you," I said unsure what he wanted me to say.

"Are you ready?" he asked to which I nodded. "How old are you?"

The question caught me off guard, but I knew where he was coming from.

"Twenty-six," I said the age I was changed uneasy whether he'd believe I was younger.

"How did you meet Emily?" he asked. "I know, but I have to ask."

I felt a bit uncomfortable with this line of questioning, but I had to answer.

"My parents and I were hunters you know, we gathered food for the village we lived in and we heard some noises. We found her mother bleeding out and while my parents tried to help her I picked up Emily since she was crying. Her mother didn't survive, but I helped care for Emily. A couple years ago my parents passed away and since then it has been her and I," I said hoping to convey my care for her as a guardian or brother.

He frowned thinking about my story. He looked over at Emily sleeping on the bed.

"Well sounds like a pretty rough life for the little one," he said sadly.

"Yeah, but we've managed. The village was family so it wasn't that bad," I said.

"What's your full name?" he asked suddenly.

"Jake Binishae," I said spelling it out for him.

"No middle name?" he asked.

I shook my head.

"And hers?" he asked.

"Emily," I said. "We named her when her mother died because she never got to tell us her name. I suppose the same last name then since we adopted her."

He nodded writing it down thinking deeply.

"Where do you two live?" he asked.

"In a village about," I started thinking. "Forty miles East."

"Forty miles?" he asked surprised.

"It's not camping unless you are far from home," I said chuckling sadly.

He smiled nodding understanding what I meant.

"I think I have no further questions, have a good day Jake. I hope she wakes up soon," he said getting up and leaving.

How long has it been since I said my own last name? I thought thoughtfully.

I moved back to the chair near her bed picking up her hand and kissing her knuckles softly.

"I love you, Emily," I said trying to stay optimistic. "I promise I will take better care of you."

The days went on slowly and I started hunting less and less. I noticed my unwillingness to leave the hospital causing the staff ample reason for concern for my own health. Sarah offered me a place to stay in exchange for helping her with some household chores as payment. I decided to accept her offer since it would make me seem less suspicious. Today she was going to take me to her apartment after work and show me around. I watched Emily holding her hand in mine.

"Sarah is offering us a place to live for a while, I can't stay in here forever sadly. The nurses look at me oddly noticing how little I eat, but cities are a weird place to be. They judge people so often here, but I will be back. I'll be spending every other day there doing some sort of chore, cleaning or laundry, for Sarah then coming back to you. I hope you wake up soon, but take your time and recover," I said holding her hand.

A few minutes passed and Sarah walked inside with her purse. I stood up looking at Emily again. I let go of her hand and applied a little more chapstick to her lips before kissing her forehead.

"I love you," I whispered softly.

I moved away from her walking over to Sarah. She smiled warmly at me trying to cheer me up.

"Ready to go?" she asked.

I nodded and she led me out of the room I took one last look before leaving. She walked me down the hall to the elevator pressing the button. Together we entered the elevator and there was another girl standing inside. Her hair was very short, dark black with hazel eyes and a strong jaw very similar to my own. An image of my brother popped into my head, but I dismissed it looking away from her. We stood inside the elevator as Sarah pressed the button. I could feel the girl watching me, but I kept my hands in my pockets trying to pay her no mind.

Is she a hunter? I pondered absently.

When the elevator got to the ground floor the girl walked out quickly. Something odd about her.