Wolf Bite

Chapter 9

I was discharged the next day and was forced to go back home. Mom refused to talk to me, and the boys were uncharacteristically quiet. Our house had no sound. All you could hear were the tapping feet and creaking floorboards, and if you were lucky, maybe you could hear my brothers giggle, but that was rare. I was home for a week and two days, before I decided to just leave. Nothing was happening, and I wasn't about to let myself rot along with this broken family and home... but I couldn't leave without saying goodbye. I know I talk shit about my family, but I love them with everything I have... and without them, I wouldn't be here--well, without my mom anyway. On the night of December 2nd, I called my brothers into my room, already packed and ready. "Are you going somewhere?" Ross asked, immediately after walking through my door. I told them earlier to see me before they went to bed. "That's why I wanted to see you guys." I mumbled. Then a little head popped in, smiling. Someone's in a good mood. "Come here, monkey." I said, opening my arms to hug Ryan, who was already rubbing his eyes. Ross ignored my smile. He said, "You're leaving us again... That's why you want us here?" I sighed. Once Ryan heard that, his once tired eyes bursted open in shock. "No!" He said. I put my finger against my lips to shush him. The last thing I need is for mom to hear us. I nodded sadly at him. Ryan's eyes saddened. Ross seemed more mad than sad. My eyes filed with tears, for my heart was sad. To cheer them up, I began to speak, "Remember the time we moved to Lake Tahoe?" I asked. The room was still a silent space. "And we lived just a few blocks down from Starbucks?" Ryan looked up at me and smiled. "Yeah...." He replied. Ross chimed in, "Every day we would steal Mom and Dad's coffee, until they gave up and bought us our own." There was a joyful tone to his voice. Mission accomplished. We all chuckled. I don't know about them, but I could almost taste the coffee. "Oh yeah! And Cinnabun!" Ryan yelled. Then I hushed him again, while forcing back my laughter. That made Ross smile wide. "Yeah. We would always stain our uniform, remember? And Mom would get so mad at us!" Our three voiced filled my bedroom, all joyful voices. But in the middle of our reminisce, Ross and Ryan looked at each other and frown. "What?" I forgot all about having to say goodbye. Ross asked, "Dare.... Why are you leaving?" I could see the tears filling his eyes little by little, as he tried to fight them back. Ryan was doing the same. "Ross, I can't stay here anymore." The thought burdened me. "You don't love us." Ryan said, angrily crossing his arms. Then, he hopped off my lap and stood with Ross. Both were struggling. I felt how hurt they were deep within my bones. "Yes, I do." I said, trying my best not to lose control of my emotions. Lately, I can't get a grip. I think it has something to do with that bite. I think a lot of things are happening because of it, and that's the main reason I need to leave. I need to figure out who I am--what I am, and I can't do that stuck in this house with my dysfunctional family keeling me from leaving. If I can't come and go as I please, I can't live undet the same roof as my parents. "I can't be here anymore, boys." I said with a passion in my voice. My voice sang the blues as I spoke. "I am tired." They hugged me tight. "I'm tired of doing nothing. No one needs me here or wants me here...." They both pulled away from me and opened their eyes wide. "We want you here!" Ryan cried. There was no more battle with the tears. We were all crying shamelessly. "I know... I know..." I whipered. I searched Ross, who was so silent. I guess he knew this was coming. "Hey, stop crying. I'll be back. I'll see you again." Now I was just lying to make them feel better. "You promise?" Ross asked. "Promise us!" I remembered when we first promised each other something. Ross and I mean it when we promise somethin to watch other. It's the one thing that we can't break. Hesitantly, I reached out my hand to grasp his, and I mumbled under my breath. "I promise." I hugged them both the tightest I could, trying not to change my mind. I know that I don't always get along with them, but when it comes down to it, they're the only ones who truly act like family to me. I let them go, but Ryan took a few more seconds to let go of me. I looked at them both through the haze of my tears. "I love you guys." Ryan smiled, then ran out, and Ross said, "Love you," hugging me for the last time. "You primised." He mumbled. Then, he was out the door in a matter of seconds, leaving his words hammered into my brain. I bet you're wondering where I'm going after I run away. Well, I'm staying with Bree, so I won't be on the streets, okay? But anywhere is better than here. I quickly grabbed my back pack full of my belongings. I don't have much to bring. Then, I silently made my way down the stairs that led me to our huge living room, where I would rush toward the front door and never look back. Did I feel conflicted about any of this? See, I don't know anymore. I wanted to leave. I wanted to say goodbye to tthe life I knew, because the life I knew sucked ass. My heart thumped louder and louder every step I took. Thump. Thump. Thump. I thought I was in the clear,  when suddenly, I heard Lucas in his office, the closest room to the exit, where he spends time writing. Yeah. He's lucky. He's supposed to be this bestseller author. His books, I haven't read, so I don't really know what to say about that. I tried to sneak pass his closed, glass door, when I hurd him stop typing suddenly, sending an alarming sound of silence through the cold atmosphere. I saw the silhouette of his broad shoulders and muscular body stand from within the door. I was so lucky that his door was closed. Then I noticed his shadow grow bigger. He was coming  for the door. Shit! I stood in shock, watching the shadow slowly reach for the door nob and opened it. I didn't bother moving. "What the Hell?" He said after seeing me in my coat and a back pack over my right shoulder. "Where do you think you're going?" He whispered harshly at me. I sneered. The urge tell him off haunted me, as my heart sobbed. "I'm leaving." I said, firmly gripping the strap of my bag, not because I was nervous or scared, but because I was trying to hold back the anger that managed to creep its way into my heart along with the evergreen depression that I've already gotten used to feeling. "Excuse me?" He asked, widening his eyes at me like parent to their rowdy kids. No. I'm not a child anymore! And I'm definitely not his. "You heard me. I'm leaving. Not like you and my mother would care." He stepped back into his office, sat in his rolling chair, and gestured for me to sit down. I've never been in his office before. Looking around, I walked in. It was so weird being in there. He always called it the red zone, because no one was allowed in there. It was his Safe Haaven or whatever. On the wall hung pictures of us, the entire family, even Alex, my older brother, eho would now be 20 years old if he hadn't gotten into that car crash two years ago. He was dressed in a military jacket and an olive green T-shirt, smiling shyly at the camera. I remember when that photo was taken. That was the first time he told us about working for the Army. He dresses up and everything. Mom cried of course, and he talked about seeing the world and working with new people. I could never do that. It's hard to think about how easily a strong person like Alex could be gone forever in a matter of seconds. I miss him, fights and all. "We are going to have a very calm descussion." Lucas said, folding his arms and leaning into his chair. "I don't want to talk to you." I mumbled. "And I bet you really don't want to talk to me." His pitch black eyes evily sneered. Now the truth comes out. "No. I really don't." He grumbled under his breath, but then he continued. "I don't care where you go, Darien, but your mother will." I looked down at my knotted fingers and sighed. I don't care, and neither will my mother. He looked at me and nodded. "Can you at least tell me where you're going?" I felt my blood begin to boil. "I don't have to tell you anything." I murmured. I will never think of him as my father. That's just never going to happen. He glared at me after shifting in his chair and folding his arms. Then he nodded. "Just don't--be safe." I think he was faking his "fatherly" love. I slowly stood up and began to walk to the door. Before I grasped the handle I looked back at Lucas. We didn't really say goodbye. It was more like a last hurrah. I think we secretly hated each other, and we were both pretty happy that we didn't have to live under the same roof anymore. His expression was unreadable. I guess I should've said something like "Tell mom I love her" or "See you later", but i didn't.