The War Within

Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

After wandering around town for half an hour I began to feel weariness overtaking me. I needed rest. My stomach growled in want and my throat cried out to be satisfied. I grimaced to myself when I realized that my options had grown so few and that I was running out of places to go. I drove to the side of the road and pulled out my cell phone. After deleting all the unread messages I had received from Jonathan and my adoptive father, I scrolled through the contact list. Who would let me stay over at their house without asking me any unnecessary questions?

Adam was mad at me so he was out. James and Lucas most likely knew everything by now and were probably on his side too since I had ignored all of them the last few days in addition to choosing Rachel over them, so I could not ask either of them... So who did that leave?

I scrolled down my contacts again and let out a sigh. The only person left, who I knew would not turn me away even if it was for deceptive purposes, was my adoptive father.

My options had run out and I had nowhere else to go. I drove to my house reluctantly, feeling uncertain as to what I should do. Then an idea crossed my mind that seemed rather brilliant. They did not have to know I had come home. I parked my car a block away from the house, snuck in through my window since I had left it unlocked when I had left several days ago, and climbed into my bed.  Hunger and thirst again gnawed at my insides; however, I was too exhausted and weak to climb downstairs to satisfy my physical needs. Immediately I fell into a deep sleep riddled with the darkest of nightmares.

Thursday Morning

I awoke feeling weaker than ever before. I craved nourishment more than anything else I could have ever thought of that morning. I groggily crawled out of my bed and glanced at my clock. It was barely half past five and the sun was not yet up. I rubbed my weary eyes and hurried over to wash up in the bathroom while Jonathan and our dad slumbered on unaware of my presence as far as I was concerned.

After I was all cleaned up I slipped silently downstairs to the kitchen without turning on any lights. I poured myself a bowl of cereal since it would be the easiest and quietest thing for me to eat. With each bite I felt my strength slowly returning to me and the ache in my throat subsiding. I swiftly finished the food and then realized that I was still hungry. I poured myself seconds and added a bit more milk to top it off. I savored each bite as it touched my taste buds and then proceeded down my throat and into my stomach. As I took my last bite of cereal and finished off the leftover milk in the bowl I began feeling the effects of a full stomach. My strength had fully returned at long last. I set the dirty bowl and spoon in the sink and reached for the faucet to rinse my dishes. I froze in mid motion at the sound of soft footsteps entering the kitchen behind me. The kitchen light was flipped on in an instant causing my heart to catch in my throat.

I spun around and was met by the gentle and searching hazel eyes that belonged to none other than Jonathan.

“I didn’t expect to see you here…” he said when his eyes had adjusted enough to the light to see clearly who I was.

I stared at him wordlessly and waited for him to make his move. What did he want? Why did he have to be the one to come and find me? I was not sure what was worse, him finding me or our dad…

Did he even know that I was the one who had thrown the brick with the note attached to it through his window? Panic slowly began to ebb its way into my mind.

Where was Nekama when I needed him? What was I supposed to do now? Without his wisdom and guidance I could not help but feel utterly lost and deserted.