The Wailing

Chapter Eight - Home

The trees were flashing by my vision as I stared out the window. My mind was on a never ending roller coaster, and I couldn't even see the end.

« Are you okay? ». Mrs. Dire sad smiled from the rear view mirror.

« Yes ». I never even looked up at either of them. I could feel Tate's eyes gazing on me, but I was suck into my own world at this point. My entire life, I have been with my parents. The never ending torture, agony, strife, it was just part of my life. Now I am being taken away, to a place I do not even know. With people I basically met just yesterday.

« What's wrong? ». Lathious asked.

« Leave me alone ». I whispered back. The trees were starting to slow down, and we made a fight turn back into the road they lived on.

« What was that? ». Erica asked.

« Where are we going? ». This was the best question I have ever asked in my entire life, and will forever remember the word that was about to come from her mouth.

« Home ».

*****

We walked in the front door of their house, and I crossed my arms to hide the embarrassment. I feel like a fish out of water, especially after the incident upstairs.

« Unfortunately we only have two bedrooms. You would have to share a room with Tate, if not I can always set you up on the couch in the living room ». She explained. I looked at Tate and he had a grin on his face.

« I guess I could share a room ». I replied quietly. Tate's grin grew even wider and he looked to the floor. Erica smiled at him, and we began the climb up the stairs. She opened the door to my new room and turned towards me.

« Well, there you go. I would like to speak with you this evening after dinner. Until then, just get settled in ». She smoothed my hair, and walked back down the stairs. Tate practically jumped in the room and started showing me what I already knew.

« This is the closet, and this over here is my bed ». I gazed to the floor, and he stopped talking. « I know it's rough, I've been in your place too. But I'm the person you can come to for anything ». He put his hand on my shoulder and smiled, and I smiled back.

« Thank you ». I replied. He nodded and left the room closing the door behind him. I gazed around the plain white room, and sat on the end of the bed. I raised my sleeve to gaze upon my internal wound. « What do I do now ». I sadly sighed.

« Believe in the trusted. Deceive the listeners ». Lathious echoed through my mind. I pulled down my sleeve and closed my eyes.

« Sometimes you make no sense at all ». I whispered.

« Larson, Mom wants you ». Tate said while coming into the room. I nodded my head, and went downstairs into the living room where both of them sat. The living room was just the same as the rest of the house, boring. A brown couch sat in the corner, with a tv in front of it. A black coffee table was next to the couch with a small golden rose in a vase on top of it.

« Please have a seat ». Erica gestured next to her. I sat down and they both just kinda looked at me for a moment, like I was some sort of new case file. « How are you feeling? » she asked.

« I'm fine ». I questioned.

« Are you aware of what is going to happen now? ». I shook my head, and she continued. « Well, this is your new home now. I have already contacted my work and they are getting the files ready ».

« Why? ».

« Because I'm going to become your new legal guardian ». Tate smiled over at me, but I was to stumbled by her words to pay attention to him.

« You want to adopt me? ». I whispered it more to myself then asking her the question.

« Well Yes and no. We will all still be friends and good partners, you just won't have to go back to that awful house. Now this can be your real home ». She intensified the word real, and I don't know if it warmed my heart or hurt it.

« What do you say? ». Tate asked. My mind was racing a thousand miles a minute. These people I just met have taken me into their home, and now want to somewhat adopt me? They could be evil, they could be murderers for all I know.

« Okay ». It was like a spell of some kind. I had no idea where the word came from, but it kind of just flowed out of my mouth. They both smiled and Tate went back upstairs.

« Larson, I think now is a good time to talk ». Erica grabbed a cup of tea from the kitchen and sat back down on the couch while crossing her legs.

« Okay ». I replied. Lately it seems like this is the only word I knew how to speak in this conversation.

« I am very happy to have you in my home, however we must go over rules ». She sipped her tea and placed it back down on the coffee table. « One, my bedroom is off limits, no one is allowed in there at anytime. Two, the basement is for laundry only, do not go down there at any other time. Three, tell me what's going on in your life, I want all the juicy details ». She spiced her tone at the end of her statement, but it was almost instantly changed with what she said next. « And four, never lie ».

My heart skipped a beat at that moment. I don't necessarily know why, there was just so much seriousness and aggression to the last part it made me question on what this woman really had to deal with.

« Accept ». Lathious whispered. I looked Erica Dire in the eye and with no hesitation, I replied.

« Yes ma'am ».

****

« Do you want to shower first, or in the morning? ». Tate asked while grabbing some clothes.

« I'll just shower in the morning ». I replied. He nodded and threw me some clothes. « What's this? ». I laughed.

« You don't really expect to stay in the same clothes forever do you? ». He smiled. I rolled my eyes and he went into the bathroom. I undressed, and put on a dark blue t-shirt with some sort of fruit I've never seen. The shorts I put on where pure white with a red waistband. They were Jock clothes, as Anna liked to call them.

« Only one pair of clothes that are actually mine, great ». I mumbled.

« Just for now, we can get you some new clothes but you'll have to wear my stuff for a while ». When I turned around to look at him I suddenly turned dumb founded. He had his shirt off with his black compression shorts on. He had a black spiral tattoo leading from his left shoulder all the way down his arm. His six pack bounced back at me like it was demanding me to look at it. And the size of his...

« Okay ». I stumbled. I tore my eyes away and stared at the ground. Tate grabbed a pillow and blanket and laid them neatly on the floor.

« You can sleep on the bed, I will sleep on the floor ». He smiled. I nodded and he turned off the light to the room. « Goodnight Larson ». He added.

« Goodnight Tate ». I replied. What was my life going to be now? Was it going to be good, or be worse? As my mind raced around, a small drop of water started to leak from my right eye. I wiped the tear, and forced myself asleep in my new home.