The Secrets We Carry

Chapter Twenty- Eight | Gone

Liv

The house was quiet, too quiet. All of my dads yelling and Adam's crying out, silenced. Silence often welcomes now felt like a blanket suffocating me.
The silence was finally broken as I could hear our heroes sirens. They were getting closer and I got up from my position on the floor and ran to my door, pressing my ear to it.
If my dad had Adam in the basement I wouldn't be able to hear them from my room. I knew this. Especially if he has him muzzled like he's done so many times before. I push the thought away not wanting to picture what he must be doing to him.

We're so close to being free from all the abuse and yet we can't escape it fast enough. I look out my window and try to see the front of the house. I can see police cars and a fire truck. I hear them slamming on the front door and I run back to my door pounding on it and screaming.

Moments later a firefighter and two police officers are opening my bedroom door. Relief floods through me and I try to rush past them before one of them holds their hand out in front of me, stopping me.
"Are you the only one in here?" The officer blocking my path asks.

"Yes, yes but my brother. My dad has him. They're probably in the basement." I go to push past them again, to run downstairs but they grab my arm this time to stop me. "What are you doing?" I practically yell at them.

"We need to make sure you're ok." There's a look of sadness on all three of their faces that confuses me.

"I'm fine. Did you not hear me." I could feel myself getting frustrated at the men in front of me. "I said, He has my brother in the basement." I go to move my arm away and the officer only holds on a little tighter.

"I need you to sit down." He says to me.

Is he for real? What the hell is wrong with him. I glare at him. "You're not listening to me." I yell and yank my arm back with such force I trip back a little. Catching my balance I bolt down the stairs and the three of them are fast behind me.

"Stop. Wait, don't." The one that was holding me yells.
As I get to the bottom of the stairs I turn to run towards the basement when I see my dad from the corner of my eye. I stop and turn to see him with two officers. He's crying and his hands are cuffed behind his back as he sits on the living room sofa.

Where's Adam?

I look around and see more officers and firefighters in the kitchen I run towards the kitchen as I feel the officer try to grab my arm again but I'm faster than him this time.

As I step into the kitchen the scene in front of me freezes the blood in my veins. My whole body stops and my brain refuses to process the sight.
There's two paramedics on the floor and a massive pool of blood. I push one of the firefighters to the side as I step forward.

Adams body is laying in the blood. His eyes closed and his face looks so peaceful.

I hear a scream and it takes me a moment to realize it's coming from me. I rush forward dropping to my knees.
I can barely see through my tears.

"Adam! Adam no. Please god no. Adam." I go to touch him, shaking him. His skin is like ice and my head struggles to tell me what's happening. That this is real.
I feel arms around me as I'm lifted off the floor.

"No, let go of me. That's my brother. Stop. No." I'm screaming and thrashing against the strong hold around my body as I'm carried out into the hallway.
I'm placed on the floor with the wall against my back. Three police officers and two firefighter stand in front of me. Blocking my path to the kitchen.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart. He's gone." The female officer says as she crouches down in front of me.

A moment passes as her words register. I feel the tears running down my face before the sobbing comes in at full force. Wracking my body with each breath. This can't be real, it can't be happening. We were so close.