THE KEY (book one)

|nineteen|

My parents conversation fill my ears. Arguing in the hallway they try to keep their voices to a minimum, but I press my ear against the door to hear them better.
"She's asleep Vernon. Why haven't you left them yet? The late nights, the cuts and bruises. They're hurting you Vernon!" She's yelling now.
"They're not hurting me calm down before you wake her. It's my choice alright."
"So what you sell them off? Then what? he's going to kill you?"
"No he won't that's my brother, it's not just business." My father says aggravated.
"He's not even your-" She pauses. "You say that now." She finishes. I can hear her walk away and I quickly jump up and hop back into bed.
My door slowly opens and my father walks in.
"I know you're faking." He says, I can hear the humor in his voice. I begin to laugh knowing he's about to tickle me.
"Are you getting the job done?" He asks getting down on his knees. His skin is pale and his eyes are dead, like he hasn't sleep in months.
"Job?" I question and he nods.
How would he know about that.
"Yea.. yea." I say concerned.
A random cold breeze flows through my room. I quickly cover up with the blanket to get warm.
"Errana you need to focus, do you understand? Lives are at stake here and there's only limited time left." He explains. I've never seen him so nervous before, at least I think he's nervous. The room is getting colder and the blanket isn't helping.
"You don't want to end up like him." His voice weakens like he's dying out.
I turn my head only to see Drew next me covered in blood.
I quickly wake in a panic grabbing the sheets panting and whimpering. I can feel my heart beating hard against my chest, as I try to catch myself from this horrific dream.
Footsteps approach my bedside. I frown sitting up quickly to see Levi. Before I can say anything sharp pain shoots through out my whole body, mostly my stomach though.
"I would lay back down if I were you." He says and I do so. His shirts cut up and he looks like he hasn't gotten any sleep, due to the dark circles under his eyes.
"What are you doing in my room Levi?" I question ignoring his statement. He pulls up a chair and sits next to me.
"This my room Erra."
I examine the room and realize it's not mine.
"Oh" It's actually bigger than mine.
"I see that now." I mumble a little embarrassed.
"How are you feeling?" He asks concerned, brushing his thumb over my right eyebrow.
"If I'm honest...horrible. How long was I out for?"
"An hour or so, they got you bad." He explains, and the memory floods in. I notice his right cheekbone is a little inflamed, he has a large cut under his left eye and a busted lower lip.
"Yea I feel it... all over. You know I totally had them." I say sarcastically rubbing my eyes.
"Yea...totally." He mocks shaking his head.
"Looks like they got you too." I point out, brushing my hand over his cheekbone. He grabs my hand and squeezes it. His expression softens and he says,
"Don't worry about me."  and puts my hand down.
"You almost lost your life and I don't know if I- we would be able to live with that." He glances away then looks back at me. I just stare at him in awe.
"Sorry." I blurt out not really wanting to and he chuckles.
"You need some sleep I mean that." He says standing up. He's right I haven't slept in like two days.
He fixes the blankets on me and tucks them in.
"I'm not a child Levi." I laugh.
"I know...but you are a crazy sleeper though." I can feel my cheeks get warm.
"Yep...one of my best qualities. Where are you going to sleep?" I ask tying my hair back.
"This lovely chair right here. I'll be fine. I'm gonna grab some ice from the cool, get some rest." He says yet again.
"Okay, okay I heard you." I say shaking my head. He chuckles and walks out closing the door behind him. I want to go to sleep but I'm afraid of what dream awaits me. I'm sick of being frightened awake. Covering up I look out the window into the city and sigh. Two more keys and that's it. I close my eyes and allow myself to fall into a deep sleep.