Protective Love

Chapter 1. The Backyard's Not Big Enough

Viviana Reyes, Age 8, Height: 3ft 10in (117cm), Weight: 45 - 48lbs (20.4 - 21.8kg) 

Cody Reyes, Age 8 (Viviana's Twin), Height: 4ft 2in (127cm), Weight: 58 - 60 lbs (26.3 - 27.2kg)

The rest of the brothers will be introduced later on in the story. (Stay tuned... :) )

Sometimes I get weird dreams. Not the fun kind with flying bunnies or candy castles. These ones are loud and confusing and make my chest feel all tight and buzzy. I think they're about the car crash. That's what my brothers say happened. They say that's when Mom and Dad went to heaven.

But I don't remember it right. Just flashing lights. Scary feelings. And sometimes crying. That's it.

Anyway. I'm Viviana. Or Vi, if you're my family. I'm eight years old and I live with five older brothers. I know. Five. It's a lot. They talk loud, eat too much, and boss me around like I'm made of glass. William's the oldest. He's kind of like my new dad, I guess. But also still my brother. Which is weird.

We're staying at our summer house right now. It's huge and surrounded by trees and smells like pinecones and dirt and sunshine. There's a big backyard that's almost a forest. You can't see the fence line unless you squint and walk forever.

This morning, after breakfast, I asked William if I could go outside.

"Only in the backyard," he said, holding up his toast. "Dean's watching from the porch. Stay where we can see you, okay?"

"I will!" I promised.

I really meant to.

The air was warm, and the grass was squishy and damp on my toes. I spun in slow circles just because it made the sky dance. Then I laid down in the grass and watched the clouds until a butterfly flitted by.

It was bright yellow. Like a dandelion that learned how to fly.

It landed on a bush near the trees.

I tiptoed closer.

It flew. I followed.

Just a little farther.

Then I saw it—my secret path.

It's behind a bush near the back fence. Nobody knows about it. Not even Cody, and he's my twin! I pushed through the branches and ducked under the leaves. My legs felt tingly with excitement and a little tired, but I didn't care. I kept walking. My heart always beats a little funny when I move too fast, but I've learned how to slow down when I need to.

The trees got thicker and then—there it was. My secret cave. My special hiding spot.

It was still there. My purple glitter rock. The tiny flashlight. The old journal with stars on the cover. The paper was kind of wrinkly but not ruined.

I sat down on the mossy floor, hugged my knees, and smiled.

They'd probably call me soon.

But just five more minutes.

Just five.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A soft breeze blew through the trees, rustling the leaves above my head like whispers. I had just finished drawing a smiley face in the dirt with a stick when I heard it—

"Viviana!"

I froze.

That was Dean's voice.

"Viviana! Where are you?!**"

I hugged my knees tighter and peeked out from the cave entrance. The sound of his footsteps crunching over twigs got louder. He was close. I looked down at the little glitter rock in my hand, wishing I hadn't followed that butterfly. Wishing I had just stayed where Dean could see me from the porch.