The Girl and Her Lost Souls

Chapter Seventeen

           

AMELIA

IT'S GOTTEN EASIER being down here. I've started getting used to the cold that's down in the cellar. Jaime mostly sleeps, but since Brandon began bringing down books, I haven't wanted to sleep at all. There are only footsteps above us now and then. The peace and quiet are kind of appreciated. I try not to think about my parent's and how they might be feeling now. If I do, I know it'll bring tears, and I can't have them see me cry.

Jaime and I talked about trying to convince Brandon to let us go, but Brandon only comes down to bring in the books and clean sheets. The other man, Lenn, brings down everything else. He gives me the creeps. There are times where I catch him looking at me. He had almost walked into the bathroom one time while I was taking a shower. Brandon had pulled him out of the doorway and shut the door hard enough that the door frame shook.

After that, I haven't wanted to go upstairs. Not even to use the bathroom, which has caused an unbearable smell in our room. Kevin hasn't tried to talk to us again. I don't even think that he's been back to the house. I haven't seen him since the first time I had gone to take a shower and passed him on the way. Jaime was getting irritated more and more as the days pass. It feels like it's been months even though it's only been a few days for me.

The cops must find something. I should have left a clue as to where I was going. Alex must be feeling miserable.

I think about Alex most of all. If he's found out by now that I'm missing, then he's most likely feeling bad. I don't want him to feel bad for a choice that I made. He may have pushed me to look for Jaime, but I didn't have to follow Kevin back to this house. There were times when I wish that I could have thought it through rather than rush into it.

If I hadn't rushed through it, I would have found a better way. Sometimes I think I should have told my parents or at least I should have told Alex and Jaime's mom. She wouldn't have believed me, but at least she'd have an idea to go off.

How could she not know that her husband's brother took her son? He had dropped hints while he was there. Not only that, Jaime had said the man who held the gun was short like his uncle. If Kevin had been bugging their family for the money they borrowed, why couldn't she see that taking Jaime was a negotiation?

I would have been suspicious of everyone. That's a lie. I wouldn't have been wary of family.

My family wouldn't attempt something like this. I guess I can say that I'm fortunate when it comes to that. We also don't have the type of money that the Danure family has. If we did, we wouldn't live in Texas. We'd live in California with the rest of our family. Dad never wanted a big job. He's always enjoyed his career. Well, until they started working him out of state. I wonder if he's staying home with mom, unlike Mr. Danure.

Looking over at Jaime, I can see that he's awake, but he's staring at the ceiling again. He does that a lot. He'll just stare at the ceiling or the wall, and he won't talk very much. He says good morning when I wake up, and good night when I go to sleep. There are no more conversations about getting out of here. Instead, he's accepted his fate to be here instead of safe in his own house.

Jaime finally glances towards me and makes a face.

"Why are you staring at me?" he asks.

"I'm just thinking. That's all." I run my fingers across the cold cement floor. It's so cold that when I pulled my hand back, I could barely feel the pads of my fingers.

"What're you thinking about then?" Jaime sits up and wraps his blanket around his shoulders. The shirt he has on rises a little and a small sliver of skin shows.