The Fallen

Kevin

When I stepped out the shower, Amirẻe was asleep. She'd wrapped the entire cover around her, resembling a burrito. She looked so comfortable that I didn't even think about waking her up. After all, she hadn't gotten much sleep.

I cracked the door to the hall opened and slipped through the threshold quietly, making my way downstairs and into the kitchen. Hopefully, when her family got home, Reynolds and Maresien wouldn't come back. That worried me more than anything. They knew where she lived, they somehow survived, and they had a weird obsession with her that I didn't understand.

Then again, there were plenty of things I didn't understand. I didn't understand myself, or why I care so much about Amirẻe. I didn't understand why I could create fire and knives and run inhumanely fast. I didn't understand why my memory was gone, where I came from, who I was. Why did the boy who kidnapped Amirẻe look so familiar to me?

I refused to let any harm come to these people, especially after how kind they've been to me. Mrs. Cynthia even started thinking about becoming my legal guardian until we find out who I am. I sat on a stool at the kitchen island and grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl. I would sit here until they got home, and if Reynolds and Maresien showed up again, I wouldn't give them the chance to cross the threshold.

By the time I finished a second apple, keys jingled in the door, and I could hear the voices of Corey and his mom as they stepped through the front door. I stood up immediately and walked over to them, eyes darting over them multiple times to make sure they were both safe.

Mrs. Cynthia's face was haggard due to her lack of sleep. I was honestly surprised to see her looking so exhausted, she'd always been so full of energy, but then again, having her daughter go missing had to be stressful.

"The police came by earlier, I sent them away." I spoke first, moving to grab some grocery bags that she was holding. Corey gave me his usual glare but didn't insult me for once.

"They didn't send a detective? That's strange." She smiled at me gratefully, handing me at least six bags. I would never know how she managed to carry all of them and open the front door.

"They looked sketchy to me, so I think you should be careful.

"Sketchy? How so?" She led me to the kitchen, motioning for me to put the groceries on the counter.

I felt like she wouldn't believe me if I told her the truth, I mean, who would? So, I just shrugged my shoulders, "They looked off."

"Well I'll keep that in mind." She eyed me warily. "Have you gained any of your memories back yet?"

"No ma'am. I'm still completely lost."

"How would you feel if we became your guardians then? I know I mentioned it once, but we never actually discussed it. We could take care of you here for a while. Someone will show up looking for you eventually."

"He's going to live here?" Corey shriveled his nose at me in disgust. "Well he can't stay in Alex's room. He's coming back for break!"

"Alex will be fine, he can sleep on the couch when he visits us." Mrs. Cynthia stooped down to unbutton Corey's jacket. "Now go upstairs and do your homework, this doesn't concern you." She gave him a motherly kiss on the cheek and sent him about his way, turning back to me.

"I'm pretty useless, I'm not sure why you would offer to let me stay here."

"Do you have anywhere else in mind? Of course, I won't force you to live with us." She started unbagging French bread, kale, cheese, and some vegetables. "Would you be a sweetheart and help me make dinner? I'm cooking Amirẻe's favorite food, since I know she's not doing well."