LACY

I quickly turn on my heel and run down the aisle of the church, out into the open. I glance at my watch, and see it's an hour and a half past noon. Everyone has left.

My heart races inside my chest as I run down the street, not even waiting for the Johnsons to come pick me up from the funeral. I just need to get away.

Who was that strange man? Why did he claim to be my brother? Was he just an ignorant man playing a joke on me? Or something more sinister?

I didn't recognize anyone from the Meetings at the funeral, but maybe that man was from the Meetings. Maybe he was sent to warn me, to scare me into submission.

Instead of running up the hill to the Johnson's house, I subconsciously wander back to the pebbled beach; my sacred safe haven.

The water is cool against my hands. I stand up after another moment, and curse myself for being so stupid and walking to another public space.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I feel like cold water has must been splashed over me. A sense of dread fills my stomach.

Peeling myself away from the water, I sprint up the grassy, tree-covered path far from the street until I come into a small clearing, and break back into the light.

My heart rate slows slightly when I see the Johnson house. I rush up to the front door, and burst open without even knocking.

A scream rips itself out of my throat when I see the sight in front of me— James, the strange boy from town, and Liam, the psychotic man from my family's funeral.

The two stand in the foyer. None of the Johnsons are in sight. Did they kill them? Is loving Cecilia dead? Curious Penny? Because of me?

Liam turns and smiles at me. "Darling sister," He takes a step towards me, and I back away. I reach behind for the door knob, but I feel the wall.

Someone's rough hand clamps around my shoulder. I look back and see a tall, muscular man wearing a suit holding me in place and blocking the door.

Tears spring into my eyes. Millions of horrible scenarios flash through my mind. I don't want to die, but today I probably will.

I am only fourteen, but I feel like I have lived through centuries. I feel like my heart has been aged more than my mind.

"Don't cry, darling. We're not going to hurt you. In fact, it's quit the opposite. You're in danger here, don't you see? You must come live with us— we are your brothers."

Liam's words make my joints snap back alive inside my body. I immediately begin to thrash against the man's grip, but he doesn't budge. I use my elbow and jap it into his head.

No reaction. After a moment, I only receive a small chuckle and a faint "nice try, sister" from the man holding me in place.

Liam isn't fazed by my sudden attempts to be set free, either. He smiles at me, eyes filled with lazy amusement. "Would you rather stay here, waiting till you are killed?"

"No one is going to kill me! I am safe here." I cry false words. I had never thought the people at the Meetings would kill me— but they most certainly might.

A new man emerges from around the corner. Shaved. Suit. He raises an eyebrow at me. "This isn't how I had planned our reunion to go, Lacy. You must understand this," He says.

"Let me go! This is kidnapping!"

He shakes his head in disappointment. "No, I'm afraid we have no time for this conversation. Everything will be explained later. You see, Clark's men are coming here as we speak."

Those words halt my every movement. The blood running through me suddenly turns cold. All color drains from my face. I stare at the man. "You're lying to me, are you not?"

A small smirk disappears from his face as soon as it appears. "Dear," He draws out, gazing at me slowly, "do I look like a liar?"

"Where are the Johnsons?" I change the subject.

"Safe." They most definitely are not.

I stop fighting. The rough man's grip from behind me loosens ever so slightly. The other man walks towards me, never breaking eye contact.

He stops a pace away from me. "Now that you're settled, let us go. We have wasted enough time as it is." He throws a harsh glance at Liam, who shrugs.

My body immediately seizes up in panic once again. "No, no, no. I most certainly do not trust you! You all look like psychopaths! Take me to the Johnsons— or social services. Now."

The man looks behind me at the other man. He nods ever so subtly. "Darling girl, there is no time for this dilemma of yours. Your safety is my priority right now."

Something pinches my neck. My muscles immediately feel like blubber, and I am scooped into the arms of the muscular man. My mind spins until it crashes and I black out.

~~~



I wake up in a luxurious bedroom. Sunlight floods in through the large windows on the wall by the bed. The walls are painted a light blue, and the comforter is white.

My head pounds against my skull. I blink a few times, trying to clear my blurry vision. My heart rate increases every second, and I feel blood roar through my ears.

I sit upright in the bed, and look around. A door is positioned to the right of the bed, and two other doors are on the wall on the left.

The first one must be the exit. I slowly slide off the bed, mindful of my fatigued state, and try to turn the doorknob.

It doesn't budge.

I immediately walk towards the two other doors. They reveal nothing, only a bathroom and a wardrobe that is creepily filled with dresses and shoes.

"Eh, you're awake! I didn't know what you'd be in the mood for, so I got Debbie— she's the cook— to make anything you'd want: pancakes, sausage, biscuits..."

The voice startles me. I swivel around, and see James. He flashes me a little smile. "Sorry about earlier. I didn't want to use sedation, but Adam can get impatient."

I narrow my eyes on him. "Impatient? You kidnapped me! This is illegal, a crime! Where even am I? Don't you know I have people who will look for me?"

James smiles. "No one will come looking for you, Lace. Your brothers are actually very connected throughout the UK."

"You. Are. Not. My. Brothers!"

He shakes his head. "You're wrong there. Well, I guess that you're half right. We're your half-brothers, but I think that still counts. Don't you?"

I can't believe this. These men must actually be mad in the head. I take a deep breath. I can't get worked up because then I will get no answers.

"My brother just died. My family is dead," I see, my voice catching slightly in my throat. My eyes begin to water, but not tears spill over.

"Wrong again!" He chirps. "Lace, you were kidnapped by your crazy mother. Not my mother, of course. She wasn't mad. We do share an equally insane father, though."

I think I might be sick. My mind runs with questions. James doesn't seem to take mind in my state, seeing as he continues to ramble on about our supposed familial lineage.

"You know, for the longest time I thought we weren't even related. Lucky we are though, right? Guess Pops was just a big liar." Another big smile.

I fall onto the floor. James comes up next to me. He crouches down to my level. "As Liam said before, Lace, we're family. We won't hurt you. You're finally safe."

How I want to believe that.

———

Hello, loves!

What a twist. But, who saw this coming?

What do you think of Lacy's "brothers"? Adam? Liam? Thomas? James?

Next chapter is coming soon!

Vote and comment!

Au revoir,

Eva