Her Story

Chapter 3

The bell rings to signal the school day has come to an end and I race out the back doors of the school to see Levi standing in the tree line. I smile and walks over to him.  He looks over and smiles back. "Last one home has to make dinner." He says. "You are on." I smirk and we climb the nearest trees and gets ready. "3," "2," "1," "Go!" We yell at the same time and we take off leaping from tree branch to tree branch. "Do you think Jay, Alex and Jess would be proud of us for this?" Levi asks as we leap. "Most likely. They want us to stay on our toes and be prepared for when the time comes. I talked to Jess a few nights ago, She says it will happen when the moon is dark." I say glancing over.  He nods his head and then sighs. "That means tonight. I have been tracking the moon cycles for a few weeks now. Tonight is the night." He looks at me as we reach the forest entrance for Survivors cove. We hop down and walk calmly to our house and I can feel eyes on me from the trees behind us. I glace back but don't see anything out of the ordinary. I shrug and continue to follow my brother into the house. I stand in the kitchen making food my heart hammering in my chest. Levi sits at the table and taps his fingers on the table. I finish with dinner right as mother walks in through the front door.  "Good, Dinner is done. I thought I was going to have to scream at you." She says setting her stuff down. "Of course not mother. I am well aware of my duties at home." I mutter. She sits down next to Levi who scoots away from her with out her noticing. I set her plate in front of her and then serves up Levi and myself.  I sit across from her and we all sit in silence as we eat. Once our meal is done mother gets up and goes into the living room to watch TV. Me and Levi slip upstairs and we gather our bags ready to run. I watch the clock waiting for the right time. Soon it hits 11:00 pm and we sneak downstairs mother passed out on the couch the TV glowing. We reach the back door and I open it slowly but it still creaks. I stiffen as I hear mother shift but she doesn't get up. Once outside we race across the back yard and Levi bumps the wind charms setting them off. "GO!" I yell and push him ahead of me as we hear mother storm out of the house. "NO!! GET BACK HERE!!" she screeches and races after our retreating forms. "Don't look back Levi." I whisper as we sprint.  I hear mother behind us stepping on every fallen branch and twig. Suddenly my foot get caught in a rotted log and I fall shoving Levi forward. He turns back to me eyes wide with fear and Déjà vu. "Go Levi. Keep moving forward and don't worry about me. I will find you once I can escape again. I love you little brother. Be safe and keep your head up." I smile. Tears build up in his green eyes and he turns his back to me and races away and I watch his form darken then disappears blending with the trees and shadows around him. Mother grabs me by my neck and I swing at her but she just moves out of the way and pulls me to my feet anger burning in her eyes. "You stupid child! I give you both a home with a roof over your head, food on the table and clothes on your back and this is how you repay me? By running away?!" She snarls. I smirk. "Yeah, because you suck as a mother and now Levi won't have to deal with you any longer.  You will soon have no kids once I get away again." I snarl. She laughs darkly and drags me back to the house. I look over to see Jay, Alex and Jess standing in their backyard. I smile and flash them a thumbs up letting them know Levi got away. Jay turns and sprints into the forest and the other two watch as me and mother pass going into our house.