Dangerous smiles

Perspectives and threats

*???'s POV*
It was past midnight and I was still working on my English project. I needed to clear my head. I stood up from my desk and made my way downstairs with silent feet. I could see the light still on in the art room.
"Mom?"
"Honey! You're still up!" She jumped.
"Still working on my English project. I'm gonna go clear my head for a bit." I chuckled with a wry grin.
"Ok. Don't stay out til noon but it's the weekend so take your time." She answered with a tired smile. I nodded and walked to the door putting on my jacket and gloves as I went.
The cold winds bit at my nose and ears as I stepped out. Snow fell gently to the ground as I went, piling up on trees, sidewalks, and a few cars. I loved the pristine white of the snow. So simple yet so intricate while drawing or painting.
I had been painting my entire life as if I was born with a brush on my hand. The cold wind scrapped down my windpipe as if clearing everything away. The park was beautiful with the clean snow appearing as if someone had laid down a fresh blanket down. I smiled. As if acting on instinct I touched the thin necklace around my neck. The cross it held had seen some of the worst experiences of my life. I never took it off.

The bridge was my favorite part of the park. It was a beautiful landscape from the center of the bridge. I jumped up and sat on the ledge, thinking. The cold air iced my breath as my mind ran furiously. I likely was sitting there for a half hour before I heard it.

From under the bridge were sounds of muffled sobbing. I was instantly on alert. I got back onto the bridge and walked slowly towards the underside. The snow crunched under my boot and the sobs cut off abruptly.
"Hello? Are you okay?"
I got no response. I crept towards the underside and let my eyes adjust to the dark underbelly of the bridge. A kid, no older than thirteen was wrapped in mind clothing, despite the weather being below freezing. I slowly crept over to him, the whole while making non threatening gestures.
Do sign? Was all that I could make out of his signing. I had taken an intro American Sign Language class freshman year but had learned very little, and remembered even less.
Badly.
Leave. Now. Waiting - my brother.
I was skeptical. And heck I was going to let a little kid sit in freezing temperatures alone. But I had to gain his trust.
Fine.
I turned and crept out away from the bridge. I booked it home scaring my mother as I busted through the door.
"What are you doing?!" She yelled in shock.
"Trust me. Call Josh. He should answer. Tell him to get here now." I told her while grabbing blankets.
In her shock she just grabbed my phone and, flustered, simply called Josh. "Hey. Yeah he just told me to tell you that you need to— where are you going with those?!" She said as I blasted back out into the cold.
I rushed back to the bridge, scaring the kid as I nearly ran over him.
You ok?
Where - get these?
Home. Freezing temperatures, not safe.
Told - fine. Waiting - brother.
We wait together. Not safe. I repeated.
He didn't sign anything else. He didn't need to. I could see the explanation like words on his back. Scars.

It was at least three hours before a tired, injured boy, around three years younger than myself came limp running under the bridge. He scanned for a few seconds before he saw the kid. Then his eyes lit upon me.

"Get away from my brother! Who even are you?!" He shouted, his voice echoing under the bridge as if a hundred people had yelled it at the same time.
And I could ask why I found him under the bridge at one am, freezing. He refused to leave despite the cold. I signed in the dim light. Now I have an answer.

He looked shocked that I knew minimal Sign Language.
What are you implying?! He rapidly signed to me. Are you saying that I purposely meant to have him frozen?!
I gestured to his tattered clothing.
"Imagine what I thought when I go to clear my head and come up with new art concepts when from under me I hear sobbing. I scramble down to find a twelve year old kid, tired, hungry, and rambling that it wasn't safe. I try to talk to him but he can barely understand my broken Sign Language. Then four hours later an older kid (you) comes rushing under the bridge threatening and tackling me away from him while he himself is wearing a bloodstained hoodie and shirt. Now what the heck are you two so scared of?! And what can I do to help without being tackled?!" I screamed.

He looked familiar.

"That doesn't answer my question. Who are you and why are you talking to my brother?" I asked. The kid sidled up to his side.

"He was crying. I wanted to help. We may have more in common than you may think." I scolded. I understand not trusting a new person, but I was with his brother trying to keep him warm for hours. Figured he wouldn't be trying to kill me.

"I don't know where you came from, but clearly you can't go back there. You cannot stay with someone that clearly beats you. He has four gashes along his back. Did you notice that?" I taunted.
"I did. Me trying to get him out of the house is what gave me these licks." He replied quietly.
"I don't know you. But I need you to trust me a bit and come with me. I refuse to let you go back to who ever that was. You have your reasons as to why you haven't reported them and I'll respect that. But those lashes will slowly kill you if you continue. Please. We have a spare room." I said softly. He started walking dizzy. "Thanks but no thanks. We're fine, we're just extremely clumsy and our parents are cooks so we just fall on a lot of sharp objects. Really."
"I don't believe that for a second."
"You should."
"Stay out of my way. And stay away from my brother." He told me.
He started walking away and slipped on the ice.
"Ash?" The kid said. It was the first time I heard his speak. The older brother, likely Ash, tumbled into a snow drift. He didn't get back up. The snow was dyed red.
"ASH!" He yelled.

What did I just get myself into...