SHADOWS IN DARKNESS

04

"Gly have her head rest on your shoulder. She really looks sick." I commanded my brother who at the same time looked worried yet clueless of what to do. When he gently pulled Ave's head to lean on his shoulder there was an even breathing coming from her.

I have been stealing glances at her. I don't know why but I just have this feeling of an protective brother.

"Yoon~" A soft groan though almost a whisper we all heard it. I looked back and saw her face, pain written all over it. "Where are you?...." she whispered again in a faded voice "I m.......miss.. you." With that a tear escaped her left eye falling down her cheeks.

I could feel my heart hurting. Is it really you? Have I really found you? It's been 9 years.

"Yoon~" she whispered again. "Why......." I looked away as I heard her sniffle then I felt my own tears fall forcing myself to look outside to stop myself from completely crying.

"Shhhh- it's okay~" It's Glynn's voice that sounded soft and soothing, comforting to ears. "It's going to be okay. I'm here." then she stopped crying.

I finally found you.....

After years of searching fate's still on our side..

Finally...

Jam, I found you. This time I won't let you go.

"What's your name?" I asked a little girl crying. She looked up, her eyes puffed red and bloodshot. Her face pale and bruised. Her body obviously is too skinny for an 8 year old, bruises are everywhere probably even hidden in a rug cloth she's wearing.

I heard about her and her family. They live near our place. A small rundown hut. Her mother works as a protitute and her father is a drunkard. Pity, a girl with miserable life that is the an 11 year old me who lives in the gutter could understand.

I handed her a lollipop, an old woman gave me when I was out begging for money in the street. She smiled and accepted it happily starting to munch on it removing the covers using her teeth. Probably too hungry, I thought.

"Jam." She mumbled  as I looked at her confused. "Name." she continued trying to say the words right.

"Yoon." I said back while removing my worned out jacket and wrapped over her petite cold body.

"Can...... you.......big............bro.....ther?" she said very slow forcing herself to talk with hesitation written all over her face.

"Of course!" I answered her happily. "I'll be glad to take you in as my younger sister!" I opened my arms wide when her eyes started to get watery. She threw herself to me silently crying.

Carressing her back to comfort her my hand moved to her hair, she doesn't smell someone who hadn't taken a bath for months but she smells weird. Her hair felt soft but then I felt something dried on it and some still sticky. Realization it me. The sticky thing, the weird smell, the bruises!

SHIT! I cursed internally. I was about to push her to ask but I felt a light snore. She's asleep? I carried her on my back making my way to our hide out.

"What are you doing with her?" Another street boy asked.

"That's the girl who gets beat up everyday!" Another one said.

"I'll bring her to my space. Get her back when she's awake." they both nodded.

"Be sure not to get caught by her stoned shit father though." They warned before leaving.

We live in an abandoned house with a well. A run down house but at least it had some roof to cover us from the rain. I made my way to the well to get some clean water to rinse off Jam's hair. Despite knowing what it was I don't feel disgusted but rather enraged at the person who did it.