FrostBite

Chapter one (Cayden)

     The side of my face exploded in pain. My head snapped to the side, my hair fell into my eyes. I staggered, but didn't fall. I didn't cry out, I didn't fall, that would only get me hit again. I'd have to cover up the bruise tomorrow.
     "You spoiled brat! You think you can just run away? You think that we wouldn't figure it out?"
     "When have I ever been that lucky?" I mumble. I shouldn't have. The blow knocked me into the refrigerator. Pain blossomed behind my eyes and spread to my already throbbing temples.
     "Don't get an attitude with me," her voice was dead calm, that was worse then screaming. "You just had to interrupt my sleep,"
      Keep your mouth shut, don't react....too late. " It's not like I woke you up on purpose!"
     This time the blow hit my head. I feel to my knees, the room spinning. Something connected with my stomach and I fell to the floor. They kicked me again and a small wimpier escaped my mouth.
     "Get up," she hissed.
     I look up at,my foster parents, Emma and Eric. They weren't pretty, but they sure as heck weren't ugly. They didn't look like the type of people who like beating kids.
     Emma had long wavey hair that flowed to the middle of her back. It was such a dark shade of brown it looked black. She had a small gap between the too front, perfectly white, teeth. Her face was rounded by a bit of baby fat, but her waist was pretty skinny. You could see her dimples every time she pulled out one of her fake smiles. She had murky brown eyes, fake eyelashes, fake eyebrows, fake lips, and a fake butt.
     Eric had dark brown hair and eyes. His teeth are straight white, but his noose is crooked and too big. In public they were the picture perfect families, there faces bright, there smiles on. Here though, it was only a scowl.
     Emma's face twisted and she slapped me again. One minute I'm looking at her the next I see the floor.
     "I said get up!" her calm breaking. I pull myself up. "Go to your room. Now!"
     I stumble to the steps, and half walk half crawl up them. I stagger trough the first door on the right. When I get inside I fall into my desk and a picture falls onto the ground. I pick it up and the tears finally start to fall.
     The picture is of me and my twin brother, Cayden. I was on his back, and our friend was taking the picture. Back when we still had friends. We had the same golden hair, stormy blue eyes, and too happy smiles.
     I put the picture back, tears streaking down my face. A couple months ago Cayden ran away as the cops put it. But I knew that wasn't true. He'd never leave me with them. On the day the police came, I went into his room.
     The sheets and blanket were on the floor or hanging off the bed. The window was closed and locked. Things were laying on the floor. I saw a little bit of blood was on his favorite pocket knife.
     When the cops got here, the bed was made. The window was open, ecreything was in its place. The knife was gone, and so were some of his clothes. Almost like he'd runaway. Just like they wanted.
     I went to my bed and flopped down, pulling the cover over top of me. This had been my third attempt to run away. I tried to go out the window, but the tree that been in the perfect spot for my brothers window was too far from my window.
     The second time they had stacked up books in front of my door, so I tripped as soon as I tried to walk out the door. Both had resorted in a beating.
     This time, Emma had gone down for a midnight snack and caught me. That won't happen again. I'll wait a couple days, then leave. I'll find Cayden and we'll finally be safe, happy.
     I drift into an uneasy sleep, tossing and turning. Cayden locked up somewhere, crying out for me to help him. But didn't he understand? I couldn't help him. I needed him to help me! I needed,my brother.