Fire and Ice

Chapter 20

Alyssa

Kaden only ate the soup I made because I was too pushy. And he was obviously hungry.

Once he was done, I took the dish into the kitchen and when I came back in, Kaden was on his feet, getting ready to leave.

"Whoa, you aren't going anywhere, buddy. Sit your butt back on that couch."

"Alyssa, I can't stay here."

"Yes you can, and you are." I crossed my arms. "You know I'm too stubborn to let you leave."

He sighed and slowly sat down again.

"Good." I walked over to the closet in the corner and pulled out a spare blanket. "You look exhausted. You're going to take a nap."

"For wanting to help me, you sure are bossy, Shorty."

I threw the blanket at him. "Only because you're being a toddler. I'm supposed to be the toddler."

"You're missing school. And you don't want me in your house."

"Too late."

Kaden smiled, but then he looked down, his face sobering. "Thank you."

My heart clenched and I walked over to him. "Are you sure you won't tell me what happened?"

He closed his eyes. "I don't want to hurt you, Shorty. My world..." He looked up at me with painful eyes as I sat in front of him again. "My world is too dark for you." He whispered.

My heart dropped. "Talk to me, Kaden."

"I can't." His voice was barely audible.

"Then I will. If it helps you."

"Shorty-"

"I have my own darkness. You wondered about my parents the other night? My father left when I was three. My mother stopped caring for me when I was ten."

Kaden was watching me carefully. He even looked... worried for me.

"I didn't feel loved or cared for. I- I felt useless, like I was a mistake. Like... I wasn't worth time or space." I swallowed. I had never shared this out loud, even with Myla. "I... I didn't want to live anymore." I whispered, my voice breaking.

Kaden took my hands. "Alyssa. You don't have to share this with me."

"I want to help you. No one was there to help me. I want to be there for someone else. I know darkness. Talk to me."

He went silent for a long moment. "My life is a mess." He finally murmured. "My father has me chained. I do what he says. If I don't, this is what I get." He gestured to his wounds.

"So what caused this? Why did he beat you?"

"My father is weak. He has men under his command. They do the beating."

I hated that. It made me feel sick. "And what was he punishing you for?" I asked hesitantly.

"I didn't answer his question. I never will."

"What question? Surely it's better to answer a question than be beat to a pulp."

"Not this question." His eyes met mine, and I could see the worry, the fear in his eyes. "My father saw you and I at the gym. He was asking me about you. He wants your name."

"Just tell him, Kaden, I don't care! I don't want to see you like this anymore."

"I do care, Shorty." Kaden snapped. "All he would want is to ruin you, to ruin your life just like-" he stopped himself and rubbed his face. "I can't see that again. Especially not with you. I'm protecting you."

"A- again?" I stuttered.

Kaden closed his eyes. "I had a sister, Ellie. She was one year younger than me." He visibly swallowed. "She... killed herself three years ago."

Emotion crashed through me. That hit personally. Not only that, but that was around the same time that I tried... ending it.

I didn't think. I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him in close. He quickly melted into the embrace, wrapping his arms around my waist. He seemed to forget his physical pain.

"I'm sorry, Kaden."

We sat there in silence for several moments.

His hold tightened. "I can't have that happen to you too, Shorty." His voice was tight, sad. "My father only wants you for the same reason he kept Ellie; to sell you."

I tensed up as Kaden pulled back. "Sell?" I whispered in horror.

Kaden nodded. "When she was thirteen, he began selling her for others to use. As soon as I found out about it I offered myself to take her place in some way. Instead, he put me into underground fighting. I stayed, agreeing to fight to free Ellie.

"It never happened. I continued fighting. Ellie was continually used. Until one night she finally broke." He swallowed. "I was five minutes too late. She was gone when I found her."

A tear slid down my face as he finished. His own eyes were pooling with tears.

"If he finds you..." He stopped. "I can't lose you too, Shorty. I can't. Until he loses interest in you, I'll continue taking the beatings."

"You can't." I choked. "You've taken enough abuse. For me, for your sister."

"I have no other choice. I'm chained down, Alyssa. I can't run."

"Yes you can. I'll help you, I will." I was feeling desperate. I couldn't stand by knowing his situation.

"I'm sorry." He murmured. "It's my life. I continue living it."

I moved next to him on the couch. "I'll still try." I cleared my throat. "You should sleep. I can tell you haven't."

"Thank you, Alyssa."

I nodded, giving a tiny smile that wasn't completely happy. I turned the TV on and let the movie on right now play softly. It was Finding Nemo.

We sat in silence as we watched it. But soon enough, we both drifted off to sleep.

* * *

I barely stirred awake, hardly able to register the world as someone moved. A warm body was no longer draped over my legs. I was ready to fade off to sleep again, keeping my heavy eyes closed.

A figure moved above me.

"You're worth it to me, Shorty." Kaden's voice whispered. Lips brushed my cheek softly.

I tried pulling myself awake, but I wasn't even moving. I faded back into sleep.

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I'm just not going to say anything ☺️
Thanks for reading (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)