Fighting to Survive

Chapter 4

We sat in that room for over an hour. When dad was done speaking. We all had the same question in mind. Where do we go from here?

"Are we in danger?" Ryker asks. Mom glanced up to dad in concern.

"We will always be in danger. There will always be some threat lurking around the corner," he replied.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jordan interrupted.

"You all will start to have assigned body guards. They will follow to your classes, friend houses, etc." Mom answered. Jordan and I share a look. Both of us knowing we would be followed everywhere. Although we didn't get along a lot. We both had our fair share of secrets from our parents.

"Can I get a new car?" Ryker blurted out.

"No," he gets shot down instantly. Ryker scowled at dad, who meekly smiles at his son.

                 "We all need to learn how to live this way now. Everyone needs to be open with each other. No more secrets. We can't risk being turned on each other due to the media," mom pointed out.

                    "The first appearance we will make will be two days from now. We will be attending a party to celebrate a good friend of mine's birthday. You all will dress in what is given to you. I expect the best behavior," dad scolded. I look down at the cheap fabric on the bed.

                     This all seemed too good to be true. But I was right all along. Uncle Jackson wasn't paying for any of this. My father secretly sat on top of a fortune too humble to boast. It explained the easy finances growing up, the easily solved problems.

                      And now the bodyguards and extra help around the house. Everything ran off of money. Our whole lives were a lie. I didn't know how to feel about this. I look up to see my dad looking out the window. Mom walks over wrapping an arm around his waist. Ryker and Jordan walk over to the window. Ryker immediately pulls out his phone to record. "What's going on?" I called out.

I caught the screen on Rykers phone as he turned his phone. It was pointed downwards reflecting the ground outside the window. There was rows of people lined up by the hospital doors. "The question is, do you want to go home?" My father mumbled. I look up to see him slowly turn his head to look back at me.

"I just woke up though. Don't the doctors have to still examine me?" I asked. He looks down at mom.

She shrugged, "well they already prescribed pain killers. I would just have to let your doctor know we will check up in a couple days. You were out for a while."

"What if they don't allow her?" Ryker asked.

"They will allow her. It's harder for patients to come to the hospital if the doors are blocked by paparazzi." Uncle Jackson commented. He was leaning against the door casually scrolling on his phone.

"I guess this means we can leave."

That folks is how we ended up being cornered by paparazzi in the hallway. They rushed towards us shoving a camera in our face. While another reporter held a microphone towards us. If anything, it felt like the zombie apocalypse. The urge to run away was heavy as I restrained myself. Ryker was my cane as I held onto him to lead me out. My feet still feeling weak. But I resisted the wheel chair since I didn't need it.