All Roads Lead Home (Book #1)

Chapter 16

"Oh Krystah. We're so glad you're back. No matter what happens now, Anne won't be able to take you away. Not after she sees what that man did to you. I'm so happy you're all right though."

"Thanks Ava. I think I'm going to go to bed though, as long as you don't need any help with anything?"

In my head I'm silently pleading that she didn't. All I want to do is climb into bed, go to sleep and never wake up.

Actually, what I really want to do is grab Halloween and hide under the stairs to sleep. I just want to escape from the nightmare of the last few days.

"Oh no dear. You can go to sleep. Would you like some help getting up the stairs? I can call Ethan or Josh to help you."

"Um, I think I'll be alright Ava. Thanks though." I know I won't actually be fine, but I also don't want to be more of a burden than I already am. I need my independence right now. No, what I really need right now is my dad or Jayden.

"Okay Krys. Goodnight sweetheart."

"Night Ava," I say as I slowly hobble my way out of the kitchen with the crutches I was given. I hate crutches but I don't have a choice. I can't split my stitches or my leg will start bleeding again. But when I use the crutches I feel like an idiot. Choices choices... So many bad choices.

After the third step I'm already beat. I can't do this. Maybe I will sleep under the stairs in the little cubby. I've only been here one night and I already give up.

"Um Krys? You might want to get up to your bed before you fall asleep," Ethan says with a slight chuckle. I slowly turn with my forehead still resting on the crutch to see him standing to my left. I smile slightly at his attempt to make me feel better.

"I was actually thinking of sleeping in the cubby. That way I don't have to worry about going up and down the stairs," I say as I look towards the door. "Would that be okay with you?"

"Well that could work, but it wouldn't be very comfortable. You're not a little girl anymore and that cubby isn't very big," he says with another chuckle. "How about I just carry you up the stairs?" Ethan says as he steps towards me quickly. I flinch at the sudden movement. I hate this. Fuck you Mike. I hate you. You ruined my life. I hope you go to hell.

Ethan stops suddenly. "I'm sorry Krystah. I didn't mean to scare you," he says as he slowly steps back towards me. "Would you like my help?"

I slowly nod my head. He steps up beside me slowly. He reaches out and easily lifts me into his arms. His arms are tense as he takes the stairs slowly. I have the crutches gripped in my hands.

"You didn't scare me Ethan. I'm just on edge after everything that happened," I say. He relaxes his grip slightly. "I'm sorry to have all of this put on you guys. I didn't want things to turn out this way. If I hadn't..."

"You didn't do anything to make this happen Krys. He was a sick man and he did horrible things. You didn't do anything wrong," he says as he opens the door to my room. "Don't ever think that you did. Do you hear me?"

I nod my head yes. "Thanks Ethan. I needed to hear that."

"No problem kiddo. I know it's going to take some time to get through this, but we're all here for you. I understand."

I'm so glad one of us understands, because I sure as hell don't. That man ruined my life. And to top it all off, I haven't spoken to Jay since we got back. I know it's only been a day, but I thought he would have been here by my side since I'm back. He wasn't. After he took me to the hospital and brought me back home, he left and I haven't heard from him since.

"Good night Krystah. If you need anything, just holler," he says as he turns towards the door.

"Ethan?"

"Yeah?" he asks as he turns back around.

"Have you heard from Jay at all today?" I ask, hoping he has.

"I haven't, no," Ethan says as he sees the hurt clearly evident in my eyes."But he said before he left that he was heading into Buffalo with his dad helping his aunt with some moving. He said he's going to be back tomorrow."

"Oh okay."

"He didn't want to leave Krys. He told his dad he couldn't go, but they didnt have anyone else to help her move. He made us promise not to let anything else happen to you before he left."

"Okay. Thanks," I say as I climb into bed. "Goodnight Ethan."

"Night kiddo," Ethan says as he closes the door, shutting out the light from the hallway allowing the monsters to spring forward to devour my dreams.